- 5 hours ago
Category
π₯
Short filmTranscript
00:04my father bought a pair of twin serpent shifters from a pile of corpses in the underground black
00:09market my younger sister chose the older brother at once the one who had fallen for her at first
00:15sight that left only the younger one the mute brother i knew any shifter who was not chosen
00:20would be sent off for humane euthanasia so i took pity on him and kept him he could not speak
00:26so i
00:27took him from doctor to doctor trying to cure his muses i practiced sign language for two hours
00:34every day just so i could communicate with him he was frail and because he was a serpent shifter
00:41the other bodyguards often picked on him so i secretly trained in combat myself strengthening
00:47my body so i could pay them back one by one on his behalf i thought my sincerity would earn
00:52his loyalty
00:53until the day the estate villa caught fire with both my sister and me pinned beneath fallen beams
00:59he looked at us and chose her without hesitation i'm sorry i have to save chloe first so he could
01:07speak after all as the flame slowly swallowed me whole he signed something only i could understand
01:15i owe you more than i can repay in this life and the next i will pay you back with
01:19my life
01:24when i opened my eyes again i was back to the day we were choosing our shifter bodyguards
01:29i stood there in a daze until i felt blood welling in my palm from how hard i was clenching
01:34my hand
01:36only then did i realize this was not a dream
01:41my sister shot me a glance then tugged on father's sleeve with a sugary smile
01:46dad if olivia isn't choosing then let me go first
01:53as she spoke father watched her indulgently while she flitted between the two tall serpent shifters
01:59like a cheerful little bird though they kept the upper bodies of men their long serpentine tails
02:04slid restlessly across the floor and their cold slit pupils shown with caution
02:10i think i'll take adam olivia is always by herself so she really needs a strong serpent shifter to
02:15protect her she sounded thoughtful and caring but her eyes never left the older brother alex not for
02:20even a second i kept my expression calm but the scene from my previous life came rushing back she had
02:25done the same thing then the one she truly wanted had always been alex yet she put on a show
02:29of concern
02:30and offered to leave him to me what i had not understood then was that her retreat had only ever
02:34been a tactic looking at her performance i had genuinely believed she meant it so i refused no
02:39matter what i could not bear to let her compromise and i did not want adam the younger brother to
02:44be
02:44put to death either until the day of the fire
02:50even then she was still saying save my sister first while reaching for adam at the first chance she got
02:58even though her own bodyguard alex was right beside her even though where she stood was far
03:03safer than where i was she was always like this certain i would soften certain the trick would
03:08work she never suffered any real loss yet somehow still walked away with a glowing reputation but
03:13this time i agreed whatever chloe wants my answer was so unexpected that the smile froze on her face
03:19she was not the only one shocked adam jerked his head up and stared at me surprise flashing through
03:24those cold reptilian slit pupils no father said sharply chloe is the delicate one she's the one who needs the
03:35better bodyguard this younger brother can't even talk he doesn't deserve to stay by her side understanding
03:43dawned on me so father had known all along yet he still brought adam here rather than truly letting my
03:49sister and me choose this whole thing had only been a performance to make it look fair i'm fine my
03:55sister had just started to relax ready to speak when adam suddenly opened his mouth sir i can speak
04:01i could not help glancing at him again in my previous life adam had spoken only once before i died
04:08and now he was talking already then i caught the understakeable wariness in his eyes and i knew for
04:14certain adam had been reborn too watching him fight so hard for this chance only made his final promise
04:21for my last life seemed even more ridiculous but that was fine i did not want him anymore either relying
04:28on the serpent shifter's natural agility and his constricting strength adam took down several retired
04:33special forces men standing beside father even father who had opposed the idea began to waver my
04:43sister lit up with delight she had always preferred adam's refined handsome looks if he had not been mute
04:49she would have been her first choice from the very beginning
04:55all right then adam will stay with chloe from now on as for alex he turned to the other brother
05:04you'll go with olivia
05:10at father's order a dark look settled over alex's face his icy snake tail lashed the floor in an
05:16irritation then gritting his teeth he bent down and melt sir please forgive me but i cannot obey what
05:24do you mean by that father might favor my sister but i was still his daughter for alex to refuse
05:30him in
05:30in front of everyone was an open show of disrespect if you refuse to protect my daughter then you can
05:37go straight to the disposal chamber i had known in my previous life that the shifter bodyguards father
05:43bought at enormous cost would be sent to the disposal chamber for humana eutherasia if they were not chosen
05:49i could not bear to watch a living person die before my eyes so i had kept adam by my
05:54side this time it was alex's turn
05:56i still said nothing but my sister panicked she rushed forward and grabbed alex's arm trying to
06:04pull him up from the floor alex if you don't go with olivia you'll die but alex only looked at
06:10her
06:10with naked devotion and shook his head firmly if i cannot protect chloe then death knows nothing to me
06:16at that a blush rose across my sister's face i could not help laughing olivia can you really just
06:23stand there and watch him die tears shimmered in my sister's eyes as she turned to face me from the
06:28brother's angle she looked heartbreakingly fragile dad if alex is this loyal to chloe
06:33then let both brothers stay with her i spoke up at just the right moment
06:39one more won't make a difference and neither will two
06:44that landed exactly where it needed to from the moment the two serpent shifters had appeared
06:49her eyes had never once left them father fell silent for a moment thinking it over
06:56olivia then what about you it's okay dad i'm the older sister of course i should give in to chloe
07:03everyone turned to look at me i only lowered my head and did my best to look considerate and
07:08understanding father smiled olivia's finally grown up but how will your safety be protected i lifted my
07:15head and saw the approval written plainly across father's face i also caught the note of scrutiny
07:21in adam's eyes but i had no interest in guessing what he was thinking and even less in caring
07:28send me to work at my brother's company dad i'll take care of myself in my previous life i had
07:35poured
07:35everything into holding on to adam in the process i forgot to secure my footing within this family
07:41there were three children in the house and i was the middle one i was not like my older brother
07:49burdened with father's expectations and i was not like my younger sister doled on as the baby of the
07:55family when i was seven i was sent away to a remote country villa and left to fend for myself
08:03i had only been brought back two years ago my brother was ruthless in business every time he returned
08:10from a trip he brought chloe designer handbags and limited edition jewelry even the lifestyle
08:16assistant at her side lived better than i did in my previous life i had to save up from my
08:21meager
08:22allowance just to pay adam's medical bills so if i wanted to improve my standing i had to prove my
08:29value
08:32my brother had never cared much for the unwanted sister of the family
08:39he did not meet with me personally he merely had the hr director assign me to the logistics department
08:45then ignored me after that i said nothing and quietly focused on my work i had not forgotten
08:51the business knowledge i learned in my previous life if anything i had become even better when the company
08:58became locked in a fierce acquisition battle with a rival i used sharp data analysis and negotiation
09:05tactics to secure the key project in one move only then did my brother formally met with me as a
09:12reward
09:13he transferred me into the core business division the company needed capable people and on top of that
09:19i was family that made me someone he could trust because of that i also came to know many of
09:25the group's
09:25inner secrets after i secured another major order my brother openly praised my contribution at the board
09:31meeting almost overnight my name spread through our social cluster i even outshined my sister who had
09:37worked so hard to build her image as a perfect socialist the day i returned to the estate villa
09:45she stormed into my room behind her stood the twin serpent shifter bodyguards flanking her on either
09:51side in a protective stance at a single look from her adam's snake body snapped toward me like a whip
09:57i never saw it
09:57coming the blow hit me hard and sent me crashing to the floor my sister curled her red lips into
10:03a cruel
10:03smile olivia let me teach you how a real heiress is supposed to act i looked at her coldly every
10:12inch
10:13of my body still burning with pain she paced a few steps at leisure like some arrogant peacock showing off
10:20its feathers you're a girl what kind of image is this throwing yourself into the business world like that
10:25and besides you used to know nothing yet in such a short time you've produced results this impressive
10:32brother must have been helping you behind the scenes if you mess up later the entire family will be
10:38humiliated right along with you and really who would ever want to marry a woman like you she curled her
10:43lip her gaze flicking toward adam behind her his thick serpent tail was coiled nightly on the floor
10:50so stop tagging along with brother stay home and learn how to be a proper young lady of the family
10:55i cut straight through her performance what exactly are you so nervous about her face flushed red i wiped
11:03the blood from the corner of my mouth and slowly pushed myself up from the floor chloe what gives you
11:09the
11:09right to say any of this are you speaking as brother's darling little sister father's precious daughter
11:18or the family's true golden child you've had everyone's love handed to you your whole life
11:23so what right do you have to criticize me for fighting for a little fairness of my own
11:30olivia tears spilled from her eyes instantly but i kept going you say i have no manners of reading
11:35that's because i was thrown out to the country as a child and left there with no one to raise
11:40me
11:40but whose fault was that
11:44sweet little sister if i hadn't held on to you for dear life you would have ended up a body
11:50floating
11:50in the man-made lake but when we got home you turned everything around on me
11:59you were the one who snuck out and yet you claimed i had taken you outside and caused you to
12:05fall into the water father punished me brutally because of it so explain that at last my sister
12:12broke down and started sobbing for real save the fake tears you're not the one who should be crying
12:18go ahead and keep playing your perfect little heiress with that i turned to leave but she suddenly grabbed
12:24my sleeve olivia i was just a child then i was talking nonsense it shouldn't count i'm really worried
12:32about you now how can you say that to me maybe i should just die as she spoke she actually
12:38lurged
12:39toward the wall as though to smash her head against it alex moved at once his snake tail whipped around
12:45her waist and loved her back into his arm his cold slit pupils fixed on me with fury olivia chloe
12:52is
12:52fragile enough already are you trying to drive her to death my sister collapsed against his chest crying and
12:58shaking her head it's okay i owe my sister this much before long her words dissolved into choking
13:05sobs adam looked at her with obvious pain then turned to me apologize to chloe i let out a cold
13:13laugh
13:14and what exactly are you adam said nothing he only looked at me with quiet reproach so i punched him
13:23using the opening and just the right angle i threw him hard enough to knock him to the floor
13:28even as a shifter caught off guard he still took the hit badly
13:34chloe screamed and rushed in front of him olivia what are you doing
13:39i flexed my hand isn't my sister the one who understands propriety then why can't she even control
13:47a bodyguard a shifter who attacks their employer belongs in the disposal chamber
13:53alex bristled his tail lifting dangerously but the look in my eyes stopped him cold adam wiped the
13:59blood from the corner of his mouth and stared at me as though i were a stranger i had no
14:03interest in
14:04dragging this out any longer so i left without another word the next day i planned to go straight
14:08to the company i had no desire to keep tangling with chloe and her two snakes but my bedroom door
14:14was
14:14shoved open again alex did not seem to think burging into a young laser uninvited was a problem
14:19in the slightest he grabbed my arm with brute force and pinned it behind me chloe's been kidnapped you
14:25have to come with me my face went cold i drove my foot into his leg and twisted free while
14:30he flinched
14:30you're chloe's bodyguard if chloe was kidnapped that's your failure what does that have to do with me
14:37it has everything to do with you alex's eyes were bloodshot with dark shadows beneath them like
14:42he had not slept all night if you hadn't provoked chloe on purpose she never would have run out and
14:48gotten taken before anyone else finds out you're coming with me right now you're going to trade
14:55places with her the door opened again adam stood there with sweat all over his face his serpentine
15:02tail shifting anxiously where's chloe is she back alex shook his head and pointed at me no
15:10but the kidnappers said they'll take an exchange this started because of you now it's time for you to
15:15pay it back you're insane i punched alex in the face too useless trash and you still dare put your
15:27hands
15:27on me alex spit out a mouthful of blood but he never loosened his grip on me i'm sorry olivia
15:37chloe's safety comes first even if this oversteps every line i have no choice when this is over
15:44you can do whatever you want to me he wrenched both my arms behind my back and turned his head
15:49adam help me i had trained in combat but against two serpent shifts with natural strength on their
15:55side i was still overpowered they forced me to the ground and stars burst across my vision gazed i
15:59lifted my head and met adam's cold slit pupils my voice came out in a blur his eyes were filled
16:06with
16:06pain and conflict in the end he shut them tightly as if he could not bear it i'm sorry a
16:14sharp blow
16:14landed against my neck and everything went black when i came to again the jeep was rattling over rough
16:22ground adam was sitting beside me you were reborn too his tone was certain i let out a cold huff
16:36that's why i know not a single word out of your mouth can be trusted
16:40his throat worked but for a moment he said nothing then quietly he said i'm sorry
16:51smack a visible red hand prank bloomed on his face at once what good is saying sorry it means
16:58absolutely nothing to me he lowered his eyes and did not dare look at me his voice came low and
17:03heavy
17:04this is the last time i swear it i said nothing his voice grew more urgent i'll get chloe back
17:11fulfill
17:12the last of my duty and then i will save you even if it costs me my life he pulled
17:16a family crest from
17:17inside his clothes and pressed it into my palm
17:24my mother told me to give this to my future wife i swear to you with all my heart
17:32i will not let any harm come to you
17:36the off-road vehicle came to a stop in front of the abandoned factory and from a distance i could
17:40already see my sister tied up outside at the exact moment we exchanged hostages my sister and i brushed
17:45past each other i caught the flash of triumph at the corner of her lip then she ran straight past
17:51me
17:53alex adam i turned to look adam caught her steadily with his tail and helped her upright
17:58while alex sliced through the ropes around her with clean efficient movements the two
18:04serpent shifters closed around chloe with almost reverential devotion guarding her at the center
18:07adam seemed to be apologizing over and over again blaming himself for failing to protect her
18:12i forced down the bitterness rising in my chest olivia you already knew this didn't you
18:19a hand reached from behind me and tightened the ropes around my body even more
18:24i opened my mouth wanting to say say something but before i could i was knocked unconscious again
18:30they injected me with a muscle relaxant and locked me in a dark damp basement the blood seeping from my
18:36body spread into the puddle beside me staining the water red clean her up someone from the ford family
18:40is coming one of the kidnappers waved a hand and ordered his men to haul me up we need to
18:45make
18:45sure the goods check out my limbs would not obey me they forced me into clean clothes and the agony
18:53was so intense i could not help crying out she's too damn loud stuff her mouth i was handled like
19:00a
19:00delicate doll dressed and arranged at their will and in the end they tied me to a chair
19:07suddenly footsteps sounded outside the door i looked up it was adam had he come to take me away
19:15we've treated miss olivia ford well fed her watered her didn't lay a finger on her more than necessary
19:21but if the ransom doesn't arrive soon we won't be so polite the kidnappers knife flashed coldly in the
19:27light reflecting adam's hard expressionless face how late can it be a storm crashed through me i wanted
19:37to demand why he was still waiting why was he still leaving me here but i could not make a
19:43sound all i
19:44could do was glare at him with burning fury how late midnight tonight is the final deadline of course not
19:55i assume your family won't go back on its word adam nodded when he looked at me his eyes were
20:01full of
20:02apology today is chloe's birthday if you go back now you'll steal her spotlight she'll be upset i promise
20:10i'll come back for you just hang on a little longer okay my rage blew straight through what was left
20:15of
20:15my reason i swallowed back the blood surging in my throat and cursed him in silence adam what are you
20:21waiting for are you really going to leave me here to be tortured to death a flicker of hesitation crossed
20:27his face but the instant he saw fireworks exploding over the city his entire expression changed with
20:33alarm chloe's birthday party has started i need to be by her side to protect her olivia i'll come back
20:38for you wait for me then he turned and hurried away the soft rash of his serpentine tail dragging
20:47across the ground fading with him one of the kidnappers laughed under his breath and looked me over
20:53you really some rich girl or are you just a fake stand in there dressed up a bitter smile touched
20:59my
20:59lips there had only ever been one true daughter of this family and it had never been me midnight came
21:05adam did not appear the kidnapper spit it on the ground she's a fake wasted my damn time do it
21:12i twisted my wrist and used the hidden blade i had prepared in advance to cut through the ropes
21:18i dropped to the floor when i looked up again there was nothing left in my eyes but but ice
21:25come out more than a dozen fully armed figures emerged from the shadows around us and subdued every
21:32kidnapper in the room boss it's all taken care of with the heavy smell of blood filling the room i
21:38stepped forward and walked out burn it a black suv was waiting outside a man in a french coat stood
21:46beside
21:47it i opened the door and got in i glanced at the family quest in my hand then tossed it
21:53into the flames
21:54without a second thought adam your sincerity is worth less than nothing behind me the towering fire is
22:04erased every trace from this day on olivia no longer existed what remained was only an enemy of ford group
22:12adam was distracted the dazzling lights of the birthday party blurred before his eyes
22:18until he could barely tell where he was or what time it was a security guard at the entrance wanted
22:23to
22:23come inside and report something adam cast one lingling look at chloe who was laughing and
22:27chatting brightly among the guests then led the guard off to a quiet corner
22:33chief adam the kidnapper said if the ransom isn't delivered soon they'll kill her adam's brow tightened
22:40how long until midnight
22:44half an hour today was chloe's long-awaited birthday party just moments ago she had invited him to join her
22:50in
22:50the rooftop garden but suddenly olivia's pale face flashed through his mind adam shut his eyes for a
22:56second then gave the order at once get the vehicle ready bring the cash and come with me adam where
23:01are
23:01you going a soft voice called from behind him he turned instinctively and saw a woman standing in the
23:08hallway wearing a custom gown and carrying an elegant little handbag how did you end up here by yourself
23:14she walked toward him slowly the hallway lights casting a soft glow over her face adam stared at
23:20her without blinking there hasn't been any news from olivia for too long i'm worried something may
23:25have gone wrong you don't need to worry chloe gave a light laugh as she stepped closer a strand of
23:30her
23:30hair brushed teasingly over his fingertips when i came back did i look like i had a single injury on
23:35me
23:35those kidnappers are only after money they probably wouldn't even touch a single hair on my sister's head
23:40so relax conflict churned in adam's eyes his snake tail twisted restlessly behind him
23:48but no buts
23:53chloe shot him a mildly reproachful look i promised you'd go to the rooftop with me you can't go back
23:59on your word if it really comes to it i'll go bring olivia home myself tomorrow adam felt a pang
24:04at chloe's
24:05compromise in an instant he pushed thoughts of me aside his arms started to move almost
24:10unconsciously toward her slender waist
24:14at that exact moment the security guard reappeared at the worst possible time adam shot him an icy look
24:21but what he saw on the man's face was laked panic a sense of dread rose inside him
24:26chief adam miss olivia she's dead
24:32what adam's slit pupils turned blood red in an instant he summoned his serpent form and shot out
24:38the door like lightning chloe was shoved aside by him so abruptly that she nearly fell
24:45but the one who caused it did not stop to check on her the way he normally would
24:50the fire raged through the entire night by the time the firefighters put it out
24:55the abandoned factory had been reduced to scorched earth no no that's impossible
25:02olivia can't be dead the look in olivia's eyes from the fire at the estate villa in his previous life
25:08rose before him once again for the second time he had left her alone in a fire
25:14for the second time he had cost her her life
25:19overwhelming despair drove adam nearly mad as he clawed through the ruins with his bare hands
25:26concrete shards tore his fingers open until they bled but he seemed unable to feel any pain at all
25:35then a fist slammed hard into his face adam remember who you are
25:42alex yanked him up from the ground by force fury blazing in his cold slit pupils
25:48you are chloe's bodyguard and besides someone like olivia who always knew how to cling to life would
25:55never die that easily what adam looked at his brother blankly his voice trembling
26:04alex swallowed hard then kept lying it was only a fire the kidnappers might have escaped
26:10with olivia or maybe this whole thing was staged by her from the beginning just to make everyone
26:15panic a spark slowly returned to adam's eyes and some of the tension drained from his body
26:23you're right she wouldn't die the corners of his eyes reddened with sudden emotion
26:30she wouldn't die she'd never bear to leave me behind like that
26:34we found one we found a body a rescuer shouted from not far away adam spun around
26:40a charred corpses sealed in a body bag was being carried out he stumbled toward it at once
26:46adam alex tried to stop him but adam knocked his hand aside before alex could finish the words in his
26:52throat adam had already pulled open the zipper the body was burned beyond recognition there were no
26:57features left to identify only a build similar to olivia's alex let out a breath
27:04the face can't be identified they'll still need dna testing it might not be olivia but adam was
27:11already trembling as he bent down and picked up a broken piece of a family crest lying beside the body
27:16it was the same one he had placed in olivia's hand before they parted
27:20brother it's her collapsed the family crest adam's knees gave out beneath him he clutched
27:26him to the ground a strangled wounded sound tearing from his throat like the cry of a trapped beast
27:31alex gritted his teeth and forced his shattered younger brother to leave with him what's done is
27:36done we need to go back and report to sir first when he saw that mr ford showed almost no
27:41reaction at
27:41all to olivia's death alex finally let out a quiet breath of relief but the moment they returned to the
27:47estate villa he froze adam had chloe pinned against the wall with one hand wrapped around her throat
27:54his thick serpentine tail coiled dangerously around her body for a second alex was too stunned to move
28:00then he lunged forward to stop him what are you doing that's chloe
28:07adam acted as though he had not heard a word his crimson eyes stayed locked on chloe
28:12was it you did you send those kidnappers you said she was being fed and cared for
28:18so why is she dead chloe's face had already turned red from the pressure on her throat
28:24barely able to breathe she forced out a few broken words no it wasn't me adam
28:30alex pried at chloe free with all his strength afraid adam might snap again he pulled her firmly
28:35behind him his eyes stayed fixed on his brother full of caution chloe is kind and innocent
28:40how could she ever do something like this instead of accusing her
28:51maybe you should think about whether olivia set this up to drive us apart adam laughed then tears
28:56running down his face she told me she was in danger i could have saved her if chloe hadn't
29:01stopped me i would have brought her back already chloe there was no trace of his usual tenderness now
29:07he spoke each word slowly and clearly tell me the truth did you have anything to do with those
29:13kidnappers adam you really don't trust me that much chloe's eyes brimmed with hurt and fragility
29:20huge tears spilled down her cheeks you've gone too far alex looked at her with obvious heartache as
29:27he barned at apologize to chloe right now adam stood perfectly still like an arrow drawn to its
29:34limit his gaze nailed to chloe answer me for a moment the two sides remained locked in place
29:38then a flash of resentment flickered through chloe's eyes she snatched the fruit knife from the table and
29:45pressed it to her throat the sharp blade cut a red line across her pale skin her eyes were bloodshot
29:51and
29:52she looked ready to die for it if you're gonna slander me like this then i'd rather die and prove
29:59i'm innocent alex rushed forward and swept the fruit knife away with his tail pulling chloe into his
30:04arms what are you standing there for do you really have to drive chloe to her death before you're
30:07satisfied chloe looked at adam with sorrow swimming in her eyes adam i know you don't believe me then
30:12kill me and let my death make up for what happened to olivia looking at her pale face adam thought
30:16olivia all over again he had already lost olivia nothing could be allowed to happen to chloe too
30:28adam took a few steps forward then lowered his head in defeat chloe i'm sorry his voice was heavy
30:35with exhaustion crying chloe threw herself into his arms he hesitated for a moment but in the end he
30:41raised his arms and held her only then did alex finally relax but as he watched the two of them
30:46in his arms something still stabbed at his heart like a needle across the city in a luxury apartment
30:53i looked at the encrypted email in my hand and curled my lips into a cold smile the people in
30:59my family
30:59had grown arrogant from their position in the business world anonymous reports exposing their
31:04financial crimes and illegal dealings had already been submitted
31:08and the relevant authorities moved in almost immediately father and my brother were both
31:13placed under travel restrictions pending investigation the group's once soaring stock crashed straight to
31:20the limit and now hovered on the edge of collapse jason why didn't you hand over the most damaging evidence
31:30to jason astor let out a soft laugh
31:37you're the ruthless one olivia aren't you worried that if you back them into a corner they'll lash out
31:43like rabid dogs i stopped being connected to them a long time ago the day news of my death reached
31:51the
31:52family father and my brother had not cared in the slightest even using me to get chloe back had been
31:58done with their full approval the insider i had planted inside the group had reported every bit
32:03of it to me to them trading an unwanted daughter for the jewel of the family was the best bargain
32:09they could have asked for but you were a little late that day my gaze turned cold as i looked
32:14at jason
32:15i don't need weak allies jason said arching a brow besides you were investigating them too weren't you
32:22before i could react he had already crossed the room and trapped me in the corner of the sofa
32:27his unnervingly sharp serpent eyes narrowed slightly and the alpha pressure radiating from
32:33him as the serpent king pressed down over the room olivia we only have one goal bring them down
32:39if i catch you playing games again don't blame me for making your death real i lowered my eyes then
32:46looked back up and leaned closer to him of course i'll do whatever you say his breathing hitched
32:52instantly he stepped back a few cases how are your injuries if you need anything just say so a smile
32:59tugged at my lips seeing the stiffness in his back i called after him is that you worrying about me
33:06his steps paused an irritation crept into his voice if you don't appreciate it forget it i could see him
33:12bristling so i quickly tried to smooth it over i appreciate it really jason gave a dismissive
33:19huff and pushed the door open leaving the room jason aston and i first connected after i began making
33:29a name for myself within the group power struggles in the shifter world had always been brutal our two
33:35families had long been sworn business rivals back then my family had sabotaged his during a major
33:41project nearly driving his group's company into bankruptcy in the end only jason the one carrying
33:48the strongest serpent bloodline was left holding everything together on his own he had no choice
33:54but to hide his edge if he wanted to keep the company alive later he set old grudges aside and
34:00approached me the daughter of his enemy with a proposal for an alliance hatred makes the best foundation for
34:08cooperation he needed the confidential information in my hands and i needed someone who could truly
34:14crush my family once and for all after i began feeding him intelligence his company started winning
34:21one major tit after another before long it was already showing signs of overtaking ford group at the
34:27celebration party that day i had a few too many drinks after greeting at jason i stepped out onto the
34:33terrace to get some air standing by the railing and looking out over the city at night i suddenly felt
34:40dizzy a pair of hands wrapped around my waist from behind and stated me so this is where olivia's been
34:47hiding the moment i heard that familiar voice the haze of alcohol vanished i shoved him away with both
34:55hands and saw that familiar snake tail at the same time adam his refined handsome face was drawn with
35:03exhaustion nothing like the confident man he had once been how did you find me i'm the family's bodyguard
35:11it's only natural for me to handle the family's business a bitter smile pulled at his lips
35:19father and my brother were under investigation and the group had been left leaderless naturally someone
35:25had to step in and deal with the mess they left behind no wonder the company which had seemed on
35:30the
35:31verge of collapse had shown signs of fighting back again i had thought we could press our advantage
35:36while the iron was hot i had not expected adam to step into this fight what do you want now
35:43everything i've done has been for you olivia adam looked at me with wounded eyes dragging his snake
35:49tail behind him he moved towards me step by step if i hadn't volunteered to help the family deal with
35:55all this i never would have had the chance to get away from them and come find you he grabbed
36:01my hand
36:02forcefully his skin was still cold just like a snake's olivia thank god i found you you have no idea
36:10how
36:10much i regretted not saving you that day i slapped him across the face that was your choice who else
36:17is
36:17there to blame the blow turned his head to the side yet he only started laughing softly almost deliriously
36:24olivia yes just like that punish me if it'll make you feel better then hit me his grip on my
36:30hand
36:30tightened even more hit me until you forgive me and once you do come back with me after you faked
36:37your
36:37death i drifted through every day like a ghost the memories of my past life and this one kept me
36:42trapped in place adam's slit pupils had gone red full of pleading later i wanted to follow you in
36:49death but my brother stopped me then the astra family which had been suppressed this all this time
36:55suddenly began to rise while our own scandals kept getting exposed one after one
37:03that was when i realized you might still be alive only you had access to all those core secrets i
37:09let
37:09out a cold laugh i had no interest in listening to any more of his nonsense several security guards
37:14appeared behind him and closed in no matter how strong adam was he could not start a fight here in
37:20the open you actually have new bodyguards how could you his eyes were full of disbelief as if he simply
37:25could not accept it wake up you're allowed to be someone else's bodyguard but i'm not allowed to
37:32have people of my own if you have even the slightest shred of conscience left then pretend you never saw
37:37me today because olivia died in that fire a long time ago his breathing caught if you try to take
37:44me by
37:45force or interfere with my plans i promise you will regret it
37:52his head dropped helplessly and all he could do was watch as i left under the escort of security
38:00i took a longer route back to the office who did you go see just when i thought no
38:05one had noticed jason's voice drifted out from behind me was it that serpent shifter bodyguard
38:12who's still obsessed with you i looked into his cold eyes and smiled helplessly hand on heart
38:17i didn't go looking for him he cornered me jason seized my hand when i looked down i saw he
38:23was
38:23pressing an ice pack from the first aid kit against the wrist adam had squeezed red anyone who makes a
38:29living with their brain should protect their hands too i stared silently at his focused profile
38:35then met his eyes before i was ready olivia those deep eyes felt as if they might pull me under
38:44we're allies whatever trouble you're in you can tell me but you are never allowed to betray me
38:55ever since he discovered i had secretly backed up some of his company's data as a precaution
39:00he had been wary of me but our families were sworn enemies i had to leave myself some kind of
39:06way out
39:06not wanting to damage the alliance i could only nod of course if anything like that ever comes
39:13up again i'll tell you first he raised a brow again i shook my head so hard it was practically
39:19rattling absolutely not there won't be a next time only then did jason let me go he packed up the
39:26first
39:26aid kit turned and walked away after that day adam never appeared again the company that had just
39:34began to recover collapsed once more beyond saving this time just as we were preparing to deliver the
39:39final blow and submit the most critical evidence of financial crimes to the police a visitor arrived
39:46it was adam he looked haggard his gaze moved past jason and landed directly on me olivia come with me
39:55jason's expression dartened without a word he stepped in front of me the pressure radiating from
40:00the strongest serpent king seemed to weigh down the entire room adam ignored jason's hostility
40:06completely and looked only at me the aster family is about to be dragged into this too you have to
40:12come with me i gave him a cold smile you expect me to believe you with nothing to back it
40:17up
40:19or is this just another trick you're pulling behind the scenes no
40:25adam's voice turned urgent i can't tell you the truth but listen to me olivia give me a chance to
40:30make this right there was nothing left in my eyes but frost then clearly i wasn't blunt enough last
40:36time adam the moment you chose chloe and abandoned me whatever there was between us ended
40:45as for your idea of making it up to me i find it filthy enough jason cut him off sharply
40:51adam she is my
40:52senior advisor now she is with me this is not a place where you get to make a scene get
40:57out the
40:58security outside the door rushed in at once but adam acted as if he had not heard any of it
41:03he stared at
41:04me his slit pupils tightening olivia if you won't come with me then i'll destroy this place i'll destroy
41:12the aster family a dangerous era spread from him his body shifted into partial serpent form ready for
41:19battle and his thick snake tail lashed restlessly behind him he was actually preparing to use force
41:25you dare jason gave no ground at all the guards behind him all pulled out elect batons and jason's
41:31own snake tail began to show ready to strike at any second why wouldn't i did i am taking her
41:35with me
41:36adam dropped into an attack stance as well the room turned razor sharp with tension moments away from
41:40violence i watched the absurd scene they were creating over me with icy detection and quietly picked
41:47up the letter opener from the desk while the two of them were locked in their standoff i suddenly
41:52pressed the blade against my throat and shouted stop both of you the tension snapped still adam's
41:58face went white olivia put the knife down jason was furious and alarmed all at once olivia what are
42:05you doing i ignored jason and looked only at adam my gaze absolute adam i told you before
42:12if you try to take me by force i will die right in front of you now get out olivia
42:19adam's voice shook
42:21drowning in despair do you really hate me that much yes i did not hesitate for even a second
42:35adam staggered back a step the tension draining out of his body he looked at me deeply and that one
42:40look
42:41held too much regret and too much despair okay i'll go his voice was hersky like a man who had
42:46lost his
42:47soul he turned and dragged his heavy snake tail out the door jason immediately strode over snatched the
42:53letter opener from my hand and snap have you lost your mind i pulled free from his grip and sank
42:59into my
42:59chair in exhaustion it was the fastest way to make him leave jason stared at the red mark the blade
43:07had left
43:08against my throat his eyes dark and unreadable in the end all of it turned into a sigh you are
43:13never
43:13doing that again jason stayed on guard for a long time but in the end the fallout adam had warned
43:19about never came but adam's sudden appearance had already proven that my family was making one last
43:24desperate struggle by the time we closed the net though the whole family had already collapsed like
43:28a crumbling tower the police obtained evidence that we had kidnapped there's enough their prisons
43:33father and my brother evicted under multiple counts including serious financial crimes and other
43:38illegal act with sentences added together they were facing long years behind bars and the group went
43:43completely bankrupt i went to see act chloe one last time in the visitation room she wore a prison uniform
43:49her face gone and worn with none of the shine she once had as the family's pampered grandcess
43:56the moment she saw me pure hatred exploded in her eyes olivia you bitch you didn't die
44:06this was you you did this to me
44:15what ruined you was your own greed and cruelty i looked at her calmly chloe
44:21you have to pay for what you've done she slammed her hands against the soundproof glass like a mad
44:26woman where's adam why isn't he here to save me he said he'd protect me for the rest of my
44:33life
44:36him
44:39i gave a faint smile
44:43probably somewhere out there trying to atone for what happened to both of us
44:50when i left i ran into alex outside the detention center he looked haggard and hollowed out the cold
44:56slit pupils in his eyes flickered with something accomplished when he saw me stupid little brother
45:01in the end he really did lose everything for me he owed me that i did not even slow my
45:09steps
45:12i found adam's grave in aquina quiet cemetery out in the suburbs
45:18the headstone was new
45:24it bore only his name jason told me that adam had destroyed the forged evidence
45:29that was meant to drag the astor family down with mine
45:33and as an insider he had also handed the police the deepest buried core evidence of the family's
45:39crimes
45:41after doing all that he went to the site of the abandoned factory and ended his own life there
45:50before he died he left behind only one scheduled message
45:56at least this way i protected her
46:01i said a bouquet of white chrysanthems in front of his grave
46:04him we're even now jason stood behind me in silence for a long time then suddenly he asked
46:11olivia did you love him breeze brushed across my face i looked at him and smiled a little
46:18i did once but that was a very very long time ago all i want is that in the next
46:25life he and i never
46:26get tangled up together again after that day jason and i did not see each other for quite a while
46:33the next time i saw him he shoved a thick document envelope into my hands what is this transfer papers
46:40for 30 of the company's shares along with authorization over all my personal assets his eyes burned as he
46:47looked at me from now on my fortune and my life are both in your hands i weighed the envelope
46:53in my
46:53hand and raised a brow and what exactly is this supposed to mean you're handing over your entire
46:59net worth and still expecting me to work for you for free he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer
47:05his breath brushed my ear carrying a thread of tension he could not quite hide olivia stop pretending
47:10you don't get it i'm proposing i looked up at him laughter rippling into my eyes turning
47:16your business partner into your wife that's a pretty calculated move his face turned red at once
47:21you just tell me whether you accept or not i do i nodded lightly his face flushed all the way
47:29through clasped my hand tightly tomorrow we're filing the marriage application tomorrow
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