Kyle's voice was deep and commanding as he spoke into the phone. "Find the person who did this and end their career."
"Yes, boss," the person on the other end replied, before Kyle hung up.
Coming out of the room, Kyle headed downstairs to the living room, where Chloe and Max were seated, watching the news. As they spotted him, they looked up with worried faces, their brows furrowed in concern.
Their eyes were filled with a mix of anxiety and apprehension, as if they were waiting for Kyle's reaction to the news. Max leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, while Chloe's hands were clasped together, her fingers intertwined.
"You've seen it?" Max asked, his voice cautious.
Kyle hummed in response, his expression unreadable.
Chloe spoke up, her voice laced with relief. "Luckily, they didn't see her face, or else it would be a huge problem for her."
Kyle sighed, his chest rising and falling with the motion.
Before anyone could say anything else, Kyle's phone rang, breaking the silence that had settled over the room. The sudden sound made everyone's heads turn towards Kyle, their eyes fixed on him as he answered the call.
"Boss, we've sent her details to you," the man on the other end said, his voice firm and professional.
Kyle's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was firm. "Find her."
He hung up the phone, his eyes scanning the room before coming to rest on Chloe.
"Who are you finding?" Chloe asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Kyle's response was cold and dismissive. "None of your business."
Chloe rolled her eyes, a look of exasperation crossing her face.
Meanwhile, Lily hastily made her way to the restroom, her heart racing with anxiety. She locked herself inside and crouched down on the floor, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
The news had given her a shock, like a punch to the gut. The last thing she wanted to do was get entangled with a Mafia boss. She had seen firsthand the destruction and chaos they could bring, and she wanted no part of it.
Lily's mind flashed back to her past, to the painful memories she thought she had long buried. Her parents, her family, her life - all destroyed by the Mafia's greed and violence.
Karina followed Lily into the restroom, her face etched with worry. She crouched down beside Lily, her eyes filled with concern, and let out a soft sigh.
"Lily..." Karina murmured, her voice gentle as she reached out to stroke Lily's hair. "Stop crying," she cooed, trying to comfort her distraught friend.
"What will I do?" Lily asked, her voice shaking as she wiped away tears.
"I shouldn't have allowed you to go on that date," Karina said, her expression filled with regret.
Before Lily could respond, a loud bang echoed from outside, causing a commotion. The sudden noise made them both jump, and they exchanged worried glances.
They quickly got up and rushed out of the restroom to see what was happening.
Men in black suits sat down at a table, their presence commanding attention. They seemed to be waiting for someone, their eyes scanning the room with an air of authority. The other customers couldn't help but stare, sensing that something was off.
Lily and Karina exchanged a surprised glance as they approached the men. "Hello, sirs, what can I get for you?" Lily asked, trying to sound friendly despite the ominous atmosphere.
One of the men raised an eyebrow, his eyes locking onto Lily's face. "She's the one," he said, his voice low and gravelly.
Lily looked at him confused, wondering what he meant. Karina stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Lily despite being shorter. Her eyes flashed with a mix of fear and defiance.
"What do you mean 'she's the one'?" Karina asked, her voice firm.
The man's gaze didn't waver. "Boss wants you," he said, his eyes still fixed on Lily.
Lily's confusion deepened. "Boss? Which boss?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
The man's expression remained impassive. "Mr. Kyle ordered us to take you to him," he replied, his words sending a chill down Lily's spine.
Lily's gaze darkened, her eyes flashing with a mix of fear and defiance. She clenched her fists, her knuckles white with tension. Karina looked at her with worried eyes, sensing the storm brewing inside her.
"I'm not going," Lily replied, her voice firm but with a hint of fear trembling beneath the surface.
The man's expression remained impassive. "It's an order," he said, his voice firm but polite.
Lily's face twisted in anger. "Tell him I'm not going!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the cafe. The customers stared, their eyes wide with curiosity and concern.
The man sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. He nodded to the other men, and they filed out of the cafe, leaving Lily and Karina alone.
As they departed, the man pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He placed the phone to his ear, waiting for the call to connect. The ringing tone filled the silence, and Lily's eyes remained fixed on the man, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Kyle's deep voice commanded attention. "Speak."
The man hesitated before delivering the news. "She refused to come with us, sir."
Kyle's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anticipation. He pressed the space between his brows, a habit he had when he was deep in thought, and sighed. He had expected Lily to resist, but he hadn't expected her to outright refuse.
"Leave her," Kyle said finally, his voice firm. "I'll do it myself."
The man's voice was laced with relief. "Okay, boss."
He hung up, and Kyle's eyes lingered on the phone for a moment before he set it aside.
Lily let out a sigh of relief as she watched the men leave. She felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her and sat down on a nearby chair, tears dripping from her eyes.
Karina rushed to her side, enveloping her in a warm hug. "Lily, it's okay," she whispered.
In a grand, opulent mansion, a woman in her mid-20s sat on a plush couch, sipping a glass of wine as she watched the news. Her red gown hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her confidence and poise.
She was a vision of elegance, her long, raven-black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her piercing brown eyes sparkled with amusement as she listened to the news anchor.
Her full lips curled into a sly smile. "He has a woman? Interesting," she purred.
Just then, her assistant, a petite woman with short, pixie-cut hair and a friendly smile, walked into the room. "Miss Nikki, everything's ready," she said.
Nikki's smile grew wider as she set her wine glass aside. With a confident smirk, she said, "Okay. Kyle Smith, wait for me."
Days passed, and Susan was finally discharged from the hospital. As she entered the mansion with Mark, he guided her inside, his hand gently supporting her elbow.
"Get some rest," Mark said, his voice soft with concern, as he helped her onto the couch.
But Susan's eyes flashed with determination. "Don't you want to know who did this to me?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
Mark's expression faltered, and he stopped in his tracks. He sighed, his chest rising and falling with the motion, as he clenched his fists. His mind was racing, his thoughts consumed by the anger and frustration that had been building up inside him. He felt like his head was going to explode, the pressure and tension becoming almost unbearable.
He didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to think about the attack or the person responsible. He just wanted to be left alone, to process his emotions and figure out his next move.
But Susan's eyes seemed to bore into his soul, demanding answers. Mark forced a smile onto his face, trying to reassure her. "Get some rest, we'll talk about this later," he said, his voice tight with restraint.
He turned and walked upstairs, leaving Susan feeling frustrated and angry. She watched him go, her eyes blazing with a mix of emotions. How could he just walk away? Didn't he care about what had happened to her?
Susan's face twisted in anger, and she slammed her fist onto the couch cushion.