Gideon grabbed the man in black by the shoulder and yanked him back, landing a powerful punch to his face. The intruder staggered but quickly regained his footing, and the two men locked into a fierce struggle.
Sylvie’s hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone, her heart pounding in terror. She quickly dialed the police and pressed herself against the wall, watching helplessly as they fought.
The man in black was tall and overpowering. Within moments, he forced Gideon to the ground, pinning him down with crushing strength.
“You’re overconfident,” the intruder sneered, his cold eyes glinting with malice. He raised his fist, ready to deliver a devastating blow.
CRACK!
A vase shattered against the back of his head.
Stunned, the man in black staggered, momentarily dazed.
Gideon seized the opportunity. With a surge of strength, he pushed himself up, grabbing a shard of glass and plunging it into the intruder’s side. The man let out a strangled cry before collapsing to the floor, motionless.
At that moment, the wail of sirens pierced the night air.
The police burst in, weapons drawn. In seconds, they restrained the attacker, twisting his arms behind his back and hauling him toward the patrol car.
Sylvie, still trembling, barely registered the voices around her.
Gideon wrapped his arms around her.
"It’s okay. Don’t be afraid," he murmured, his voice low and soothing.
The warmth of his embrace broke through her frozen state, and the dam of emotions she had been holding back shattered.
She sobbed uncontrollably.
---
When they returned home, Ivy was already waiting, her face pale with worry.
The moment she saw them, she rushed forward.
"Sylvie! Are you okay? How did this happen? It’s my fault—I should’ve stayed home with you!"
Sylvie looked at her, her expression unreadable.
Something felt… off.
Ivy's anxiety seemed genuine, but an unease gnawed at the back of Sylvie’s mind.
That night, as the house fell silent, Sylvie lay awake, a lingering sense of suspicion keeping her on edge.
Then—
A faint creak of footsteps.
Sylvie's eyes snapped open.
She stayed perfectly still, listening as Ivy slipped out of bed and made her way to the balcony.
Carefully, Sylvie pushed aside her blanket and crept toward the door, straining to hear.
A flick of a lighter. The faint glow of a cigarette.
Then—
"Hey, are you out?" Ivy’s voice was low, almost a whisper.
Sylvie’s breath hitched.
"You were too careless," Ivy continued, exhaling a stream of smoke. "I gave you a chance, but you still messed it up. A weak woman, and you couldn't even handle her. Who do you think is to blame?"
A pause.
"Enough talking. We’re in this together. Don’t contact me again. Just wait for another opportunity—I’ll deal with Sylvie myself."
Ivy flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot. When she turned around—
She froze.
Sylvie stood in the shadows, her eyes locked onto Ivy with an icy gaze.
Ivy swallowed hard, forcing a nervous laugh.
"Sylvie… why are you still awake?"
Ivy's face flickered with panic for a brief moment, but she quickly masked it and turned toward the room.
"You called that man earlier today, didn’t you?"
Sylvie’s voice was cold, sharp as a blade.
Ivy stopped in her tracks. "What? No—how could I?"
"No?" Sylvie’s grip tightened around her phone, her body trembling. "That man… was your ex-boyfriend."
Ivy’s breath hitched.
"I was almost assaulted today. And you—" Sylvie took a step closer, her voice shaking with rage. "You ordered him to do it!"
She held up her phone, her fingers white from the pressure. Displayed on the screen was an old photo—Ivy, smiling, pressed close to a man. The same man who attacked Sylvie that night.
She had found it by digging through Ivy’s old social media.
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then—
Ivy smirked.
Gone was the pretense of panic.
"So, you found it?" She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Then there's no point in hiding it."
Her gaze turned mocking, filled with undisguised malice.
"Yes. I ordered him to do it."
Sylvie’s heart pounded. The sheer cruelty in Ivy’s voice made her stomach churn.
"But what can you do to me?" Ivy tilted her head, her lips curling into a sneer. "He didn’t actually succeed, did he?"
Sylvie’s entire body shook with fury.
"Why?" she demanded, her voice hoarse with disbelief.
Ivy’s expression darkened, a twisted smile still playing on her lips.
"I just don’t want you to have an easy life."
The final thread of restraint snapped.
Sylvie lunged forward and struck her hard across the face.
The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the room.
Ivy staggered, clutching her cheek as she crumpled to the floor. Tears welled in her eyes, but Sylvie couldn’t tell if they were real or just another act.
"Sylvie…" Ivy’s voice trembled, suddenly pitiful. "I’m sorry! Please don’t drive me away! I—I was a victim too! I didn’t know things would go this far!"
Sylvie froze, momentarily thrown by the sudden shift.
Was she lying again?
Before she could react, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"What’s going on?"
Sylvie whipped around.
Gideon stood in the doorway, his gaze shifting between them. His brows furrowed.
"Why are you two still awake in the middle of the night?"
