Ethan and Chloe turned toward the source of the voice—it was a black Mercedes van.
Behind the wheel sat Alexander.
“Alexander, don’t push it!” Chloe immediately glared at him.
Alexander sneered, then flipped Ethan the middle finger.
“You’ve got guts, kid. Got your ass kicked and still cruising in a sports car? Careful, next time I’ll beat you so bad you’ll be picking up your teeth off the floor!”
With a laugh, he slammed the pedal and sped off.
Ethan clenched his jaw, watching the van fade into traffic.
“Ethan, that guy’s just a lowlife. Don’t stoop to his level,” Chloe said, trying to calm him down when she noticed the anger in his eyes.
Ethan responded with a cold smile but didn’t say a word.
“Come on, I’ll drop you off,” Chloe offered, steering the car toward the main road.
Less than half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance to a run-down residential complex.
Not even a security guard stood at the gate.
It was the kind of place usually rented by laborers or folks trying to make ends meet.
Chloe frowned.
“Ethan, you live here?
Maybe you should think about relocating?”
“I’m used to it.
It’s quiet.” Ethan pushed the door open and stepped out.
Chloe followed him out and asked teasingly, “Not even gonna let me check out your place?”
All Ethan had was a small single-room rental.
It wasn’t exactly filthy, but definitely far from cozy.
He scratched his head.
“Maybe some other time. I’ve got to run to the store.”
Seeing he wasn’t in the best mood, Chloe nodded.
“Alright, I’ll stop by another day then.”
She got back in the car, did a smooth U-turn, and waved.
“Catch you later, Ethan. Let’s talk tomorrow!”
Ethan gave her a small smile and waved back before walking to the nearby supermarket.
Inside, he grabbed two speed bags and a couple boxes of ping pong balls.
Good for improving reflexes and speed—exactly what he needed to get stronger.
On the way back, he headed for Building Six.
It was an old-style complex with no elevator, so he trekked up to the sixth floor and made his way to the far end of the hallway.
Before going in, he activated his X-Ray Vision.
What he saw made his stomach drop.
Sitting right there in his room was a stunning woman with a dangerously cold look—that lethal assassin who had once tried to kill him.
Holy crap…
how the hell did she find me?
Ethan broke into a nervous sweat and instantly turned to leave.
“If you really think you’re faster than my blade, be my guest and keep walking.”
He hadn’t even made it to the stairwell when the icy voice rang out from behind.Ethan stopped dead in his tracks, a chill crawling down his spine.
Slowly, he turned around, forcing a smile.
“Oh hey, it’s you. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
What a surprise.
You could’ve called—you know, I’d have grabbed some snacks for the occasion.”
“Inside.
Now,” the assassin said coldly.
Ethan stayed put, every muscle tense, ready to bolt.
The icy pressure coming from her made it hard to breathe.
He had a bad feeling—if he stepped one foot inside that room, he might not walk back out this time.
“I’m not here to kill you today,” she said, voice like frost.
“But don’t feel special. If you’re not worthy, I still will.”
Ethan had no doubt she wasn’t bluffing.
He rubbed the back of his head, tried to crack a smile.
“Wow, killer words. So… what are we, exactly?”
No way out.
He had to play along.
He stepped cautiously into the room, circling around her like a wary cat.
The place was bare—just a bed, a closet, and a desk.
He sank down on the edge of the bed like a nervous groom, clutching the shopping bag he’d brought back.
He dropped it absentmindedly to the floor.
She closed the door behind her and walked toward him, her cold eyes fixed on his.
Ethan couldn’t figure out what she was here for this time.
She wasn’t saying a word.
The silence was unbearable.
He took a shaky breath and said, “What’s wrong? Got dosed with some love potion again or something? I can take a shower if that’ll help.”
She just kept staring, dead silent.
The silence weighed down heavy, making Ethan sweat bullets.
He activated his X-Ray Vision discreetly, hoping for a clue.
In a flash, he saw something from twenty minutes in the future.
Her voice echoed in the vision: “I want to be your wife.”
Thud.
That’s when Ethan’s legs gave out and he crashed onto the floor.
Wait, what?!
She wants to marry me?!
Well…
he guessed anything was better than dying.
He cleared his throat, trying to break the weird tension.
“You, uh, want something to drink?”
“I’ve… been compromised.” Her sudden shift to talking caught him off guard.
“My higher-ups found out I’m no longer… untouched.”
Ethan blinked.
“Okay?
And?”
“I belong to The Umbral Gate.
In cases like this, we’re given three paths,” she said, cold as ever.
“What are they?” he asked, curious despite himself.
“I won’t off myself. And I sure as hell don’t want to marry a slick little fox like you.”
So…
option two then.
Ethan instinctively hugged himself, eyeing the window.
“I found where you live and waited here.
But when I saw Chloe drop you off…
I changed my mind.
I won’t kill you.”
She looked him straight in the eye and said clearly, “I’m going to be your wife.”
“What?” Ethan stared in disbelief.
“Come again?”
“I can tell you and Chloe are close. My next target is a big shot in the Sparks family. I need you to use your connection with her to get in and get close,” Lila Shadow said calmly.
“No way!” Ethan snapped his head up, eyes blazing.
“Chloe’s my friend.
I’m not helping you hurt her family!”
“Then you die,” Lila’s eyes turned cold in an instant.
Ethan turned his face sideways, jaw tight.
“Then just kill me. I’m not gonna be your tool to murder someone’s family.”
Lila paused, sizing him up before speaking again, her voice icier than before.
“The guy I’m after isn’t even closely related to Chloe. The Sparks family is huge. Her branch is middle-tier at best.”
Ethan scratched his head, frustration rising.
“That doesn’t change anything.
I’m not a killer.
I’m a doctor.
I save lives — that’s who I am!”
“You think this is about principles?” she sneered, then pulled out her phone and showed him a picture.
“You won’t help me? Fine. I’ll just take her out first.”
Ethan turned to look.
The moment he saw the photo, his expression morphed into one of pure rage.
“You’re sick.”
The photo showed Martha Brooks — the woman who raised him, director of Starhaven Orphanage.
His hands clenched into fists, and his eyes were clouded with emotion, even glistening.
“You’re scared for her, aren’t you?” Lila smiled faintly.
“Then be smart. Help me, and not only will she stay safe — I’ll protect her.”
She swiped to another photo.
“This morning, some thugs showed up trying to pressure her to vacate the orphanage land. I had them dealt with behind the scenes.”
Ethan squinted at the image.
It was clearly Martha.
The orphanage.
The punks all crumpled on the ground.
Slowly, he sat back down.
“If you’d started with that, maybe we could’ve had a real conversation.”
He didn’t really have a choice.
He nodded.
“Good,” she said.
“In a month, I’ll take you to meet the higher-ups at The Umbral Gate. That’s the rule — I have to introduce my husband, the new recruit. You’ll swear loyalty, then go through their trials.”
Ethan groaned, rubbing his temples.
“There’s a whole process?”