Can't Let Her Live

Half a month passed before York Langston set foot on the island again.

I tugged the shawl tighter around my shoulders but didn't bother to move.

He limped his way over, his tone unusually soft. "What happened back then? That was on me. I'm sorry."

As he spoke, he opened a sandalwood box. The vintage design of the item was his clear attempt at buying himself into my good graces as inside lay a necklace. The jewelry was violet and glistened like glass.

"I know you'll love this birthday gift, Nicole."

My gaze drifted past the necklace, settling on his chiseled face.

Those deep eyes were brimming with affection for me. It might have been a flattering touch on the handsome man, if not for the agonized cries outside my cage.

"I didn't feel like eating. It has nothing to do with them."

The fruit on the table had been sitting out for hours, its skin just starting to turn.

To him, that was reason enough to order their hands and feet chopped off. They would eventually be thrown into the sea to feed whatever fauna lurking in its waters.

He ignored me and slipped the necklace around my neck.

The cold touch of it sent a shiver through my whole body.

"You were back in the country?"

"Yeah."

I let out a sneer. "You sure ran fast."

He smirked, his tone casual. "Not really. Almost didn't make it back alive."

My knuckles, hidden beneath my shawl, turned white. I didn't bother hiding the disappointment in my eyes.

He scoffed and lazily toyed with a lock of my hair. "You're heartless. You actually wished me dead? And to think that I even picked out this birthday gift for you."

I stayed silent.

He held me calmly, which was rare. Yet, the words he spoke made my heart stop cold.

"It's a shame, no? If I die, you'll never find out where Clint Zander's buried."

He kept smiling at me, but there was an unmistakable chill behind his eyes.

The tension in my lips eased, and I let out a silent laugh.

Now that? That was the real York Langston I know.

People said he was ruthless and unpredictable, but that barely scratched the surface. What he excelled at—what made him truly unbearable—was the way he knew your weak spot and casually poked at it every now and then. It wouldn't be enough to kill you, but it would definitely be enough to make you wish you were dead.

Six months ago—the third month since Clint went missing—I found York bleeding out behind a club Clint used to frequent.

He was in bad shape. Half his leg had been hacked clean off, blood pooling around him faster than it could be stopped.

I was frantic, crying so hard I couldn't think straight.

He couldn't die yet, at least not before he told me where Clint was!

Before I could even dial for help, he pressed a knife to my throat and growled, "To the docks. Now."

His right-hand man, Quinn Wesley, recognized me instantly. "She's Clint's girlfriend. We can't let her live!"

York shot me a cold glance but ignored the warning.

My Replacement

York took me abroad.

Then, he brought me to the island.

Rumor had it he loved me to death, keeping his prized beauty hidden away in a gilded cage. Even a young model who looked only vaguely like me could haunt his thoughts.

However, what most weren't aware of was that no one in this world wished for his death more than I did.

After he left, all the bodyguards and servants on the island were replaced with new faces.

I stared blankly at the bloodstains in the courtyard, still untouched and waiting to be cleaned.

Just then, a shrill female voice cut through the air from outside.

"Think you can stop me? You must have a death wish!"

Before I could even get up to open the door, it was slammed wide open as a mob of people rushed in.

The woman leading the pack was dressed provocatively, her demeanor as fiery as her outfit. When her eyes landed on me, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, but it quickly turned to fury.

"You're Nicole Justine?"

I barely had time to register her words before she rushed at me. Then, she slapped me across the face without warning.

"You slut! York nearly didn't make it back because of you!"

She shot me a scornful glance. When she finally took in my features, her anger flared even brighter.

So, she immediately raised her hand again, slapping the other side of my face.

"Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a kept pet! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll keep screwing things up for him!"

She was referring to York.

She didn't hold back, hitting me so hard that my vision blurred. At this point. I could see stars dancing in front of my eyes.

My body was still in shock, but my mind was sharper than ever.

The woman in front of me was Luna Xenakis, my replacement and York's new plaything.

She had perfect timing. I was starting to worry no one would ever set foot on this island again.

Anger simmered inside me, and I couldn't resist provoking her. "How'd you get in here? Does York even know you're here?"

Without his black card, no one could get in. As a result, I couldn't get out.

Luna sneered before kicking me to the ground. "Open your eyes, you idiot! York proposed to me! I can go wherever I please, including here!"

She smugly stretched out her hand, flaunting the diamond ring on her finger.

York proposed to her?

I squinted at the ring, its design strangely familiar.

Then, it hit me.

"He sure is stingy. Proposing with a ring someone else didn't want?"

Luna's face twisted with rage, the lie now exposed. She was so enraged that she lunged at me, ready to strike again.

This time, I raised my hand and slapped her right back.

She froze, utterly stunned.

I swiftly took advantage of her momentary daze and poured salt on the wound. "You saw the engraving inside? YN0607. Know what that means? The numbers are the date York and I first met. The letters? The initials of our names. This ring… you must've begged him for it, didn't you?"

Last month, York proposed to me with that same ring, saying he wanted to marry me.

I pretended to admire it before turning around and tossing it straight into the sea.

That was when he stormed off in a huff, not showing his face for half a month.

Soon afterward, the rumors began—he had found a young model to replace me.

Of course, I knew the gossip was planted by the servants under his orders, just a ploy to get me to bow down and beg for forgiveness.

Too bad for him, I never cared who he fancied or who caught his eye.

Even yesterday's punishment of the staff was just an excuse for him to vent his frustration.

"What lies are you spewing? York only has eyes for me! If he liked you, why would he lock you up like an animal?"

The Only Link I Had Left

Luna staggered to her feet, grabbing a fistful of my hair and slamming my head against the wall.

A wave of searing pain hit me, nearly knocking me out. My vision blurred, but instinct took over as I gripped her wrist tightly.

I lifted my head, exposing my collarbone. I deliberately curled my lips into a mocking smile and sneered. "If York finds out you came here to throw a tantrum, he won't let it slide. Locking me up was his way of protecting me. A man like him, broadcasting to the world that you're his girlfriend—do you really think that's a blessing?"

Luna's twisted grin spread across her face as if I had just told the most ridiculous joke. "You think he doesn't know I'm here? Don't kid yourself into believing you're important to him. You're nothing more than—"

She froze mid-sentence, her eyes suddenly fixated on my collarbone.

The violet jade necklace. The very one York had personally placed on me last night.

"Why is that on you?" she hissed.

She looked like a steaming kettle as she lunged for the necklace, her hands clawing at it.

After several failed attempts, I felt the chain dig into the back of my neck, drawing blood.

I couldn't help but cry out in pain as I lifted my gaze toward the outside.

The only sound was the distant barking of dogs—no sign of life anywhere.

All the guards York had stationed on the island were mysteriously absent, leaving me feeling vulnerable.

I let out a gasp of pain.

The chain finally snapped.

Luna's eyes lit up as she gazed at the necklace in her hands. "I heard that when York returned to the country, he spent a fortune at the auction—was it 100 million for this?"

I lay prostrate on the ground, my eyes drifting to Quinn, who was conversing with Luna.

Without him, she wouldn't have made it onto this island.

It was no wonder Luna believed she could be here—she mistook York's indulgence for affection!

Quinn glanced at Luna with a frown. "We should get down to business. There's not much time left."

Sadly for him, Luna was losing her mind. "What's the rush? I haven't even started teaching her a lesson!"

Suddenly, she produced a small fruit knife, waving it menacingly in front of my face. "Ending you quickly would just make it too easy. You've got quite the sharp tongue. I'm very curious to see how long you can keep that mouth of yours going!"

As she spoke, she signaled her followers to restrain me, forcing the knife's tip against my flesh.

The pain nearly sent me into oblivion.

Yet, Luna seemed to grow more excited with every passing moment, her slashes growing increasingly brutal.

Before long, my face was a canvas of wounds.

"Come, take a look."

Her laughter was manic as she made me look in the mirror.

My reflection stared back, blood dripping down from the gaping cuts.

Aside from the agony, my mind was blank. The only regret nagging at me was whether Clint would recognize me in the afterlife.

I instinctively brushed my fingers against the tattoo on my inner arm.

He had one, too, a reminder of the day we went together to get inked before he vanished. He chose a rose; I opted for a distant mountain.

He promised that once everything settled, he would take me back home to marry me and ensure a peaceful life together.

Unfortunately, he went missing shortly after making that vow.

"What's this?" Luna ripped open my long sleeve, a sly grin spreading across her face. "You little tramp! You're trying to seduce someone, and it's pretty low. Let's just take it out!"

"No!" I shouted in panic, my heart racing.

This was the only link I had left to Clint. It was my reason to endure each day on this desolate island.

She couldn't take this away from me, too!

I struggled against her, but the frantic movements only made the cuts on my face bleed more.

Still, I was no match for several men.