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nThe rioting, flashing lights of emergency service vehicles, the sound of sirens, and a huge, hectic crowd - this scene fills the street outside of the hotel at the dead of the night.

nWhile some of the attackers have been successfully apprehended, others are being carried on stretchers and placed inside an ambulance. The police and paramedics are currently dealing with the aftermath of the horrid onslaught of these yet-to-be-identified gunmen. On the other hand, both the hotel staff and customers alike are still in the middle of regaining their bearings.

nIt has been one terrible night for everyone. Along with the trauma is a few losses.

nFortunately for the people who had a direct encounter with the pursuers, nothing too serious had been inflicted other than a few minor injuries.

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"You okay there, Asher?

" Charles asked as he watched a paramedic treat his companion's wound.

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"It's fine, it's fine. The bullet didn't really go through,

" Asher coolly replied while his injured arm was being wrapped with a bandage.

n

"How noble of you, Asher. Saving the young miss of the Millicent's like that...

" Ray commended with a smirk, shoving both of his hands inside his pockets.

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"I was really surprised when you pushed Ms. Olivia away. Thought you suddenly got rough on the lady or something.

"

n

"Shut up. I don't need no praises for that.

"

n

"Oh, of course, you do, young man...

" then suddenly said the austere-sounding voice of a woman.

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"I owe you my daughter's life.

"

nAll three of them turn around to find Gertrude and Olivia coming their way.

nAsher stiffens at the sight of the wife of the Millicent's former head. Though he got complimented, he felt nowhere delighted nor appreciated at all. It's just that the way she said that was more out of the feeling of obligation rather than that of gratitude. But apart from this, he just really couldn't stand her presence - his persisting perception of her was the one that made him feel so.

nTo Asher, Gertrude is one detestable, loathsome existence due to the blood that is running down her veins.

nThough he doesn't know her well, he is more than aware of what she has been capable of. She resembles that certain someone very well, and it revolts him so much. He didn't even plan to come into contact with her tonight, but thanks to his heroic deed of saving her daughter, he has to waste his breath on her like this.

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"Sir Asher, is it? I'm very grateful for what you did...

" Olivia started as she stood before him.

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"I told my mother about it. Because of you, I didn't get to add to the casualties-

"

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"Never mind about me. The person you should thank the most is Cassie, right...?

" Asher cut her off and turned away, making her eyes widen a little in surprise.

n

"She was carrying you back then, wasn't she?

"

n

"R-Right... Yes, she did help me a lot.

"

n

"You mean that Cassidy...?

" Gertrude asked with scorn in her tone, earning his contempt even more.

n

"You can't be serious now, Olivia.

"

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"But, Mother, he is right. It's true that-

"

nBefore Olivia can continue, she suddenly catches sight of two figures coming out of the hotel.

nSeeing her astonished expression, everyone else turns to where she is looking at. All of them were then taken aback to find the two who went missing right before the police arrived at the scene. It wasn't only them whose attention was immediately caught, but almost everyone there turned in their direction the moment they went out of the building.

nAdrian is carrying Cassidy in his arms - both looking a little more disheveled than they were before.

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"Damn you, damn you, damn you! I'll really get you back for this,

" she hissed while she continued to hide her blushing face on his chest, too embarrassed to be seen by anyone at the moment.

n

"Just admit it. You were also so into it that you lost all your strength, and now I had to carry you because you said you couldn't walk...

" he quipped with a teasing tone.

n

"Besides, you didn't try to kick my groin this time. What could that ever mean, hmmm...?

"

n

"It means I'm saving my strength to beat you up later instead, scumbag!

"

n

"What kind of beating will that be? Can we do it in bed again-

"

n

"Shut up! Urghhhhhhh...!

"

nThe last thing Cassidy wants to do here is to blush even more. Her face might as well light up the whole place at that rate. She also doesn't want to get reminded of what happened back in that hotel room. It's already mortifying enough that she has let him do all those sinful things to her.

nIf it wasn't for a police officer knocking on the door, he would not budge at all.

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"Pervert! Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!

" Cassidy then began throwing a tantrum and kicking her feet around, her beet-red face still buried in his chest.

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"Right, right. I'm your pervert,

" Adrian simply sighed with a smile, comfortingly caressing the back of her head all the while.

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"Don't admit that while sounding so happy!

"

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"But I'm indeed happy.

"

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"Let's see about that once I punch you in the face!

"

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"You can't even move your own face now. How will you do that-

"

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"Oh, I'll do it hard! So hard that you can't talk like that anymore!

"

nWhile Gertrude and Asher only watch their lovey-dovey act with disgust, the rest of the onlookers are either baffled or amused. Some think that it is quite a romantic way of exiting a danger zone. Their banter makes the scene look all the more fluffy and sweet.

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"Thank goodness. Both of them made it,

" Ray said with a sigh of relief.

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"Indeed. How relieving...

" Charles seconded - though his gaze on the couple was neither baffled nor amused like the other onlookers.

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"They sure took their time, though.

"

nBefore they cross the other street where most people are told to stay in at the moment, Adrian finally puts Cassidy down. Though still a little weak on her knees, she trudged away and went ahead of him, giving him one last huff in aggravation.

nShe was already kicking too much that he might end up losing his balance, so he had to let go of her right then. Although he did get a hard time with that, he was more than delighted now that she was acting the same way as before.

nThey are finally back to arguing and pissing each other off. She is no longer ignoring him. He can take this treatment and many others as long as she will not put her distance - as long as she doesn't say that she can't care less anymore.

nThough his train of thoughts is completely out of place in this kind of setting, he can't help but think this way.

n'While I know for myself that I'm determined to make her feel the same, I'm also aware that it will never be easy. She has never been easy. I might even end up getting my balls thrown into the fire at one point...' Adrian thought as he only continued watching the back of his wife and crossed the road with her.

n'In the first place, I don't even know what type of men she likes. She never showed interest in such things, after all. I'm not his type. Neat and tidy are crossed out. What is it does she like, then?'

nIndeed, he is thinking out of tracks here now.

nHe should really mind their current matters in the meantime.

nWhile immersed in this deep and heavy pondering of his, Adrian has lost sight of reality for a moment - perhaps, quite too much that he didn't sense the unprecedented turn that was about to happen. But then again, nobody really saw any of this coming.

nIf he wasn't watching his wife the whole time, he wouldn't have noticed at all.

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"Cassidy, look out!

"

nAll of the sudden, Cassidy heard Adrian screaming her name. As she turned back around, she saw him already rushing in her direction before pushing her out of the way. That's when the entire horrific scene became clearer for both of them.

nA running car came zooming in from a corner without any warning, throwing them off guard.

nAdrian was the one who first noticed it coming and aiming for his unaware wife, which then prompted him to shove her away. With that, he has inevitably taken her place, and now, it's much too late for him to get out of the hazard zone.

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"Adrian...!!!

"

nIn what seems like a flash of lightning, the car speeds in and hits Adrian brutally.

nHe ends up getting mercilessly thrown all the way to the side of the road. The vehicle didn't stop. It just hastened out of the scene as if nothing happened, which made it clearer that it was indeed aiming for Cassidy. To begin with, its movement was too hasty and unstable - almost like whoever was driving it was not only in a mad rush, but they were also out of control.

nPeople began screaming at that very moment. Yet another chaos broke out.

nCassidy was beyond thunderstruck for a fraction of time, aghast shock and horror striking her numb. Her eyes are as wide as saucers while her lips are trembling uncontrollably. She then took more bloodcurdling seconds to make everything register in her head.

nOnce it did, Cassidy shouted Adrian's name once more - her voice so dreadful.

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