Chapter 1 A Fool
As evening fell in Junbert, Josephine Sommer hopped off the last bus returning to the city and headed toward the nearby alley.
She had always lived in the countryside, but her father called unexpectedly yesterday. He instructed her to return to the city that day to prepare for the previously arranged marriage with the Jaywalker family.
There was an eerie silence in a secluded alley with not a soul in sight.
The night breeze carried a hint of bloodshed.
Josephine stood still, her brows slightly furrowed. Could something have happened up ahead?
She didn’t want to get involved in any trouble, so she was about to turn around immediately.
Bang!
Suddenly, there was a dull thud as something heavy hit the ground. A person dressed in black collapsed rigidly just a few meters in front of her.
Without hesitation, Josephine caught sight of a broken wall nearby. She immediately crouched down in the shadowy corner of the wall.
She had just hidden herself when the moonlight cast a long shadow of a figure, who walked up and stood in front of the man in black.
Josephine held her breath, lifting her gaze to look ahead.
She saw a man clad in a white shirt and black trousers, the shirt stained with blood. He wore a black mask over his face, his eyes as predatory as a beast’s in the night, devoid of any semblance of emotion.
He was holding a dagger with blood dripping down the blade like thick red paint.
Have I actually stumbled upon a murder case? Josephine’s entire body was tense.
She grew even more cautious about concealing her figure.
Bathed in moonlight, she noticed a wrecked red Ferrari parked not too far off the roadside. Around it lay seven or eight men dressed in black, creating a gruesome scene.
A wave of anxiety washed over Josephine. Could it be that he single-handedly killed all these people? How terrifying!
She tried her best to make herself as small as possible, hoping fervently that the figure would leave quickly.
A moment later, the person turned around and began to walk toward the alleyway.
Josephine let out a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, the figure turned around, abruptly raising a hand.
Clang!
A razor-sharp dagger grazed Josephine’s face, embedding itself deeply into the wall.
A few strands of her severed hair drifted down to the ground.
A shiver ran down Josephine’s entire body. Have I been discovered?
The moonlight cast elongated shadows that enveloped her from above.
Josephine looked up, only to see a man standing before her, looking down at her from a superior position.
He began to speak, his voice hoarse. “Did you see everything?”
He glared at her with his eyes that were filled with wild, bloodthirsty rage.
Josephine couldn’t help but shiver as she looked at him.
While she was momentarily lost in thought, a chilling flash suddenly appeared before her eyes. The man ruthlessly thrust his knife toward her heart.
Josephine’s mind went blank. Am I going to die? He’s too strong and too fast. I can’t dodge this.
Suddenly, the man stiffened, a flicker of pain crossing his eyes, and his hand holding the knife froze in front of her.
Josephine was drenched in cold sweat. The blade, stained with blood, was less than five centimeters away from her chest. I can’t just sit here waiting for death. I’ve witnessed him committing murder, so he intends to silence me permanently.
In a moment of urgency, Josephine suddenly burst out laughing at him. “Are you playing hide and seek? How fun!”
The man cast her a puzzled glance, but his brow quickly furrowed. He pressed hard against his left chest while taking a few labored breaths, his expression one of intense pain.
Clutching the dagger in one hand and holding it against her heart, he reached into his pocket with his other hand to retrieve a small medicine bottle. Then, he unscrewed the cap with one hand and tipped out a single pill before tossing it into his mouth.
After he took the medicine, the agonized expression on his face gradually faded, and his gaze became noticeably clearer.
The man stowed away the medicine bottle and looked up to meet Josephine’s gaze, his eyes still brimming with murderous intent.
Josephine forced herself to meet his gaze, suppressing her nerves while feigning curiosity.
The two locked eyes as pin-drop silence filled the air around them.
A moment later, the man uttered coldly, “How much of what just happened did you see?”
Josephine widened her eyes, grinning foolishly at him. “Are you playing hide and seek? You’ve found me. Now it’s your turn to hide, and I’ll find you. Hehe.”
The man’s brows furrowed slightly, and after studying her for a couple of seconds, he let out a dismissive and cold huff. “Are you a fool?”
“Don’t call me a fool. I’m not!” Josephine retorted, her voice filled with indignation as she forcefully knocked the knife out of his hand.
However, the man wasn’t fooled. Instead, he swiftly pressed the sharp edge of his blade against her neck. “Stop pretending. A fool wouldn’t show up in a place like this.”
Josephine thought to herself. He’s quite cautious.
She pointed to the entrance of the alley, her voice bold and unapologetic. “Dad asked me to come back from the countryside, and I just passed by here. Are you playing hide and seek? I want to join!”
“Who’s your dad?”
“Caiden Sommer. You better play with me or my dad will beat you up,” Josephine snapped.
She deliberately mentioned her father’s name. The Sommer family might have been at the bottom of the elite in Junbert, but they were still wealthy. This fact alone would be enough to make any average thug think twice.
“The Sommer family?” A flicker of surprise flashed through the man’s eyes. After a few seconds of contemplation, he scoffed. “Are you truly a fool or just pretending to be? I’ll find out after a simple test.”
With a swift flick of his hand, the dagger that was pressed against Josephine’s neck suddenly slid downward.
Smack!
The first button of Josephine’s blouse was undone, allowing the cool breeze to brush against her skin, instantly giving her goosebumps.
The dagger continued its downward slide, flicking open the rest of the buttons.
Even as more of the buttons of her blouse were undone, Josephine remained still, allowing him to tear her clothes apart.
She had to prioritize her survival first.
As the several buttons fell to the ground, her clothing became half unfastened, revealing her delicate collarbone and large swathes of skin.
The man’s sharp gaze was fixed on her face, not missing the slightest change in her expression.
Josephine wore a bewildered expression as if she had no idea what he was doing.
The man’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he scoffed lightly. “How obedient. I’ll strip it all off, then.”
The sharp tip of the knife deftly hooked onto her bra strap, severing it into two. Suddenly, her chest was bare.