I screamed and rushed forward to stop them, but they tied my hands behind my back and forced me to the ground.
Amid the roaring flames, Lydia clapped her hands and giggled. “You should thank us—your shabby car has never looked this good.”
Her eyes glinted with defiance, while mine were stung with tears.
Without that car, today’s distinguished guest would not be picked up on time. If that happened, he could turn into a vengeful spirit and bring disaster upon my descendants. My teeth clenched, my eyes bloodshot. “You’ll pay for burning my car.”
Nicholas strolled over and tossed a card at my feet. “It’s just a car. I’ll buy you ten to replace it.”
“Master Shenford , I don’t look down on you, but some things can’t be solved with money.”
He waved my driver’s license mockingly.
“In Kingsport, I go wherever I please. There’s nothing I can’t handle. And you, Miss Zoe Jennings—not only are you using a fake license, but something this ridiculous?”
His smile turned sly. He jerked his chin toward his men. “Search her. See what kind of dirt she’s hiding.”
It didn’t take long.
“Her grandmother was a fortune teller—no wonder she’s strange.”
“She used to claim she could see ghosts at school, got bullied, then dropped out.”
“I heard she even went insane in a mental hospital, but her family took her home. Never studied again.”
I remembered—it was in that mental hospital that I met Master Samuel, the one who recruited me as a driver for the underworld.
Lydia crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “No wonder I felt unlucky the moment I got in the car. Turns out the driver’s a nutcase.”
I shot her a glance. If they’d never gotten in, none of this would have happened.
Because of my unusual condition, I can’t live a normal life, so I’ve been stuck ferrying souls between realms year after year.
My grandmother once comforted me: Fate changes quickly. If it can turn bad, it can turn good. Just wait.
But I couldn’t wait now—Nicholas grinned and said, “I wonder if your knees are as tough as your car.”
He wasn’t joking. A chill ran through me. Two fists can’t win against four hands. Enduring the sharp pain in my arms, I broke free and ran, but only managed a few steps before I was caught.
A thug slammed a palm across my face. “You dare to run?”
Heat and pain spread instantly, my cheek swelling. Tears pricked my eyes.
Then a wrench was pressed against my knee.
The crowd around us buzzed with excitement, eager for the show.
“Once I break your leg, I’ll buy you a new car.”
He knew exactly how to cripple someone. I hadn’t expected him to follow through.
Fear surged. “Mr. Shenford, I don’t want your car or your money. If you want me to apologize, I’ll do it.”
I dropped to my knees and kowtowed hard, my forehead striking the ground with a sharp crack.
Nicholas squatted in front of me with lazy amusement. “Weren’t you so tough just now? What happened?”
“It’s too late for that. But if you take us to the guest you mentioned, I’ll let you go.”
I shook my head furiously. Affairs of the underworld are off-limits to living.
The next moment, the wrench came down hard.
Pain exploded through my leg as my kneecap split, and I collapsed, rolling on the ground, clutching my knee.
“If you know what’s good for you, take us there now.”
Nicholas' tone carried a strange fixation. But if he offended that guest, the consequences would be catastrophic—his family and friends included.
I’m no saint, but Master Samuel’s rule has always been the same: never drag the innocent into underworld matters.
Gritting my teeth, I said, “It’s useless to go. Meeting a noble person isn’t that easy.”
