Luke sped toward the countryside where they locked up Paul Du. His face was cold and aloof, eyes fixed on the road ahead. No one could see through his poker face.
This was the first time he'd been unable to protect Edward, and now his boss was badly injured. He felt both concerned and frustrated. He blamed no one for it but himself, his own carelessness.
He had thought that these few days would be peaceful, so he hadn't taken precautions. Yet, things happened. He made the most foolish mistake as a bodyguard -- being careless.
Boss! You're here! How's Mr. Mu?" An underling came forward and greeted him just when he stopped his car.
He's alright. Has the guy confessed?" Luke asked, his tone cool but also a bit mad. He was angry that his people hadn't arrived at the scene in time last night.
No, he's still in a coma. We don't know whether he's really unconscious or just faking it." The man answered timidly while keeping an eye on Luke's expression. He was trying to suss out Luke's mood right now. Was Luke sullen or about to hit the ceiling? He could only tell that Luke was definitely not in a good mood.
Have you ever thought of waking him up?" Luke stopped, turned around and cast a cold look.
"Well... We thought you want to interrogate him yourself, " The man replied inconsistently. Luke's eyes were so intimidating that he even lost the ability of talking smoothly.
What? Is this your first day or...I don't know. You can't even handle such a minor thing?" Luke said. His eyes grew even colder. He stared at the underling as if he would blow off his steam at any minute.
Sorry, boss. We'll do better next time." The underling bowed his head, afraid of meeting Luke's cold eyes.
Luke frowned and felt quite enraged. Maybe he should have given them more discipline and training. They couldn't do anything right. He hadn't punished them for arriving late last night, and now they left him another new problem. Was there a negligence in the hiring process?
Where is he? Take me to him." He had to get everything he needed from Paul's mouth. Edward had given the order. And he wanted to get the job done before Edward woke up, so he must do it quickly.
He's in the basement. Are you going to question him right now?" Luke didn't answer, but walked towards the basement. Maybe it was Edward's injury that made Luke colder than usual.
The underling didn't dare to fall behind, so he mustered his courage and did his best to keep up with his boss.
Boss." The two guards quit chit-chatting and stood up immediately at the sight of Luke. They got nervous when they sensed his somber mood. Their hearts sank, not knowing what might happen.
Wake him. If he's still in a coma, just ditch him in the crocodile pool. We'll chalk it up to you win some, you lose some." Luke ordered after seeing Paul on the ground. If he was faking, they'd soon know. He wondered if Paul would continue to fake unconsciousness after hearing what he said.
Yes, boss." The guards around took action right away. They fetched a barrel of water and poured it on Paul.
The sudden cold water made Paul shiver, which gave away the fact that he was awake.
Quit faking. Just tell me. I don't have much time to waste on you, " Luke said, and sat down on the bench. He looked at him playfully while crossing his legs domineeringly.
"What do you want to know? You have to tell me that at least." Paul asked. He had planned to ignore Luke's questions, but the threat of being fed to the crocodiles made him change his mind.
Don't even try to play tricks on me. You are not ready for the consequences." Luke cast him a disdainful look, then shook his legs leisurely as if he wasn't affected by Paul's denial, not at all.
I know nothing. What do you want from me?" As much as Paul dreaded being thrown into crocodiles, he was more aware of the explosive consequences of telling the truth. So he planned to stall as long as he could.
Laong, cut his hand off. The crocs are hungry, " Luke turned to a subordinate and ordered. It looked like that the man would not tell the truth until he was taught a lesson.
Yes, boss." Laong pulled out the sharp knife from his waist and walked to Paul, smiling evilly. As he twirled the knife, it became more frightening with the reflected light.
What... What do you want to do?" Paul kept retreating, his eyes focusing on the bright knife dreadfully. His voice quivered in fear.
"Nothing. It's just that our boss wants to use your hand to feed our crocodiles."
Laong was originally a gangster. He became a guard only after he worked for Luke. But he didn't forget how to play a villain.
No... Please don't. My hand is not big enough to be an appetizer for the crocodiles." Paul swallowed slobber in fear and widened his eyes at the knife. He was afraid that his hand would be separated from his body in a minute.
"Huh. Turns out you are so considerate to the crocodiles. Okay, then I'll just toss all of you in. This way you're definitely more than an appetizer." Laong put on a wicked smile and began rubbing his knife against Paul's clothes. He ridiculed him with an evil look which almost scared the shit out of Paul.
Wait, wait, wait. I'll tell you anything you want." Paul yielded. The knife never cut him, but he felt like the cold steel had been pressed against his skin. He was scared.
Fuck! You could have told us earlier. You've wasted so much time, " Laong said and kicked Paul as a way to let out his anger. His aggressive look was indeed like that of a street gangster.
Spill it. Tell us how Yakira plotted against Grace, the ex-wife of the president of Ouyang Foreign Trade. This time I want a clear answer." Luke emphasized with a darkened face.
Can I have a cigarette first?" Paul pleaded as he shook away the water dripping from his head, his lips pale. He knew how cruel Luke could be. The other night Luke ordered his men to hang him above the crocodile pool, making him pass out in fear.
Luke consented and cast a look at Laong. His handsome face put on a relieved expression and a victorious smile. In contempt he then looked at Paul who gazed at him in terror. Paul took the lighted cigarette Laong gave to him, took a deep drag on the cigarette and blew a series of smoke rings slowly. Through the smoke he cast a look at Luke, he then revealed the secret that was hidden for years.
Twenty years ago, Yakira, my cousin, couldn't take the fact that she was married to a poor blue-collar worker. So she started working as a prostitute to make more money. She was hired to attend a gathering with Leo and other business partners there. Leo didn't take her seriously. But just like in all the TV dramas, Yakira fell in love with him at first sight." Paul didn't continue until he took another smoke. Meanwhile, he tried to regain his composure while looking at Luke, but his trembling hands betrayed him.
"After finding out that Leo was the president of Ouyang Foreign Trade, she became more obsessed with him. She set up all kinds of coincidental meetings. She even hired a private detective to find out all things about him. That's how she knew that Leo had a sweet family with a cute daughter and a perfect wife. Then she began her plan to turn Leo into her man."
Paul sneered in self-mockery. He would have never agreed to cooperate with Yakira if he hadn't owed the usurer so much money. He had to pay his debt or he would be killed. So he chose the lesser of two evils, i.e. paid the debt and saved his own life first.
But what she didn't know was that Leo loved his wife very much. He didn't even respond to Yakira's seduction and kept a proper distance from her. His coldness worried her so much that she drugged him and faked a one-night stand with him. And this was just the first step."
Paul contributed a lot to this first step. He had used great effort just to get Leo on that bed. Though knowing that Leo was unconscious, he was still quite nervous as it was the first time that he had done something like this.
You're so shameless. Go on." Luke sneered and ordered. He had met with Yakira and knew a bit about her. Outside, she always put on airs as some noble woman. Who could have guessed that she was so filthy and evil inside?
"Men will be men. After the first one night stand, Leo didn't reject the second time, then the third...He began treating Yakira as his mistress and wrote her big checks without any hesitation. His generosity just confirmed Yakira's calculations about his affluence and massive assets. So she grew more and more unsatisfied -- and greedy."
Paul spat out a puff of smoke and licked his lips. Finally he was calmer than he had been. At least he stopped shivering.
Give him a cup of water." Luke ordered and frowned. He figured that the story was going to take a while and determined to listen patiently.
But Yakira wanted much more than just being a mistress to Leo. After she hooked up with him, she managed to divorce her husband. Her aim was clear: becoming Leo's legal wife. She implied one way or another that she wanted to become his wife, but Leo kept avoiding her after knowing her intention. It almost smashed her ultimate dream."
This was how Yakira determined to get her hands on Grace. After all, women were easier to deal with. Every woman, whoever she was, however much she thought she could take, would never be fine with her husband's affairs. And Grace was no exception.