Ace hurriedly walked into his residence, eager to change out of his uniform. However, his father's voice stopped him in his tracks. "It's now that you're done with your job," his father said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Ace halted, turning to face his father. "Yes," he replied, his voice neutral.
"Where have you been?" his father asked, his eyes narrowing.
Ace shrugged. "I was outside with a friend."
His father sneered. "Or maybe you were playing cards with your bastard friends."
Ace's expression remained calm, but he could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface. Without responding, he turned and walked away.
"Ace, come back here, you ungrateful brat!" his father shouted, but Ace ignored him, ascending the stairs to his room.
He slammed the door shut behind him, the sound echoing through the hallway. On the ground floor, Mr. Luck Alexander turned to his wife, who was walking out of her room. "Look at this child of yours, how bad he is to his father," he said, his voice filled with indignation.
Mrs. Clark Alexander looked at him calmly. "Leave him alone, please," she said, before walking away, leaving her husband standing alone in the living room, seething with anger.
In his room, Ace showered and changed into a black long-sleeved shirt and dark blue jeans. He sat on the couch, his eyes fixed on the floor, his mind racing with thoughts. After a long silence, he picked up his phone and made a call.
"Hello," a voice answered on the other end.
"Manson, let's meet tonight," Ace said, his voice low and serious.
"What happened?" Manson asked, his tone curious.
"I want to teach some people a lesson. Care to help?" Ace replied, his voice calm, but with a hint of menace.
"Of course, I care. What's the matter? Who do you want to teach a lesson to?" Manson asked, his interest piqued.
"Diana," Ace said, his voice dripping with venom.
Manson chuckled. "So, this time she's pissed you off. Aria, right?"
Ace's voice was laced with amusement. "Yes. Who wouldn't care about his beloved?"
Manson's tone turned serious. "You care about her so much."
Ace laughed, a low, husky sound. "Who wouldn't care about his beloved?"
In another part of the city, Diana and her friends were planning a party to celebrate their victory over Aria. "Let's meet there, then. Bye, girls," Diana said, as they parted ways.
An hour later, Ace and Manson sat in a bar, waiting for Diana and her friends to arrive. The waiter came over, chatting idly. "Miss Diana and her friends are enjoying themselves today. I wonder what they're celebrating. They seem happy."
Ace's eyes locked onto Manson's, a silent understanding passing between them. "She's right here," Manson said, a sly smile spreading across his face.
Ace stood up, his movements fluid and elegant. "She likes partying," he said, as they made their way upstairs.
In the room upstairs, Diana and her friends were laughing and chatting, celebrating their victory over Aria. "Girls, if not for you, we couldn't have completed the mission. Thank you so much," Diana said, raising her cup in a toast.
The girls cheered, clinking their glasses together. "Did you guys see how she looked when she got beaten?" one of the girls asked, giggling.
Ace and Manson burst into the room, their presence commanding attention. "It seems you girls are celebrating, but sadly, we're bored. What are you celebrating about, huh?" Manson asked, his smile cold and calculating.
Diana, ever the bold one, invited them to join the party. "We're celebrating something, of course. Care to join us?"
Ace's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on each of the girls. "Why not, since we're bored?" Manson replied, taking a seat.
The girls were on edge, sensing that something was off. Maya, in particular, was sweating bullets, her mind racing with thoughts of Aria and the beating they had given her.
Ace cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Manson, did you lock the door with the key?"
Manson shook his head. "No."
Ace's eyes locked onto Manson's. "Then I think you should lock it."
Manson got up, locking the door with a flourish. The girls exchanged nervous glances, sensing that they were trapped.
Ace's face was calm, but his eyes seemed to bore into their souls. "So, girls, tell us what you've done today. Everyone."
The girls tensed up, their minds racing with thoughts of Aria and the beating they had given her. But they tried to play it cool, thinking.