According to the plot, Annie's husband Walker is Maya's most loyal protector.
My boyfriend Asa doesn't even need to be mentioned. Maya is his unattainable love, and he would do anything for her, even sacrifice himself to ensure her happiness.
"Now if we don't leave, it will be too late." Annie said, "Maya isn't an easy person to deal with. She deliberately called me, then disappeared, making Walker think that I kidnapped her."
"Walker is one thing he'll just be cold toward me, but what about Asa? That crazy guy can do anything."
I shivered.
That's true. When Asa took me to meet his associates, he had someone's leg broken and thrown into the open sea just because one of them dared to glance at my chest.
And I was just a stand-in. Asa could go that far.
If he really thinks I've hurt his beloved Maya, I wouldn't have enough lives to make up for it.
We have to go, we must go.
Hurt my feelings, fine, but hurting my physical safety is absolutely unacceptable.
Annie saw that I had made up my mind and asked me, "Do you have enough money?"
I shook my head. "No. But I know you definitely do, and I'm planning to use yours."
Annie: "..."
Fortunately, as best friends, Annie was prepared to support me financially.
After confirming that we had enough funds, we began discussing our escape plan.
After considering our options, there was only one viable plan.
Faking our deaths.
There was no other way. Over the past three years, Annie and I had become the closest women to the two major players in F City.
We knew too many secrets about the Lin family and the Stout family. If we didn't die, even if Walker and Asa let us go, there were too many eyes in F City watching us.
"Who goes first?" I asked Annie.
She said, "I'll go first, then you."
"Why not me first?"
I wasn't convinced. "I'd rather go first."
As everyone knows, the one who goes second has to clean up after the first.
It was Annie. Annie said, "Rock-paper-scissors."
She won.
I said, "Best two out of three."
She won again.
I snapped, "Fine, you go first then!"
Annie went off happily to prepare for her staged death.
I went home to pack.
The most valuable items were hidden in the basement.
But unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the basement, someone covered my eyes.
Asa blindfolded me with his tie and whispered in my ear,
"Where did you go?"
He had a faint smell of blood on him, though I wasn't sure if he had just killed someone.
Even though it had been three years, I still subconsciously feared Asa, my voice slightly trembling as I said, "I went to buy you a gift."
I held out my hand, revealing a silver brooch shaped like a rose lying quietly in my palm.
It wasn't particularly expensive, but Asa seemed very happy.
He picked me up and placed me on the piano.
"What do you want to hear today?"
I obediently said, "I like whatever you play."
Ten years ago, Asa's father hated him so much that he locked him in a psychiatric hospital.
Asa was abused and electroshocked every day, and he wanted to commit suicide countless times.
Until he discovered a rose garden in the psychiatric hospital, where there was an abandoned piano.
Every day, he played the piano there, and a girl would come to listen outside the wall.
That girl was Maya.
After I came to Asa's side, he planted a garden full of roses for me.
He had me wear a white dress and listen to him play the piano.
Today, Asa's playing was somewhat agitated.
He stopped abruptly halfway through, grabbed my calf, and pulled me into his arms from where I sat on the piano.
I landed heavily on the keys, the jumbled sounds drowning out my startled cry.
Asa began to kiss me, his kisses possessive and dominating, his breathing as chaotic as his thoughts.
He said, "Next time, don't leave without my permission."
"Mm..."
I answered obediently, yet Asa still seemed to lack sufficient security.
He tore off my dress and held me tightly against him.
I have to say, I am a bit luckier than Annie.
Annie only finds spending money satisfying.
My pleasures are more complex.
But I couldn't let Asa know.
When he held me in his arms, damp with light sweat, and kissed my cheek, I suddenly started to cry.
Asa kissed away my tears, his tone low. "Why are you crying?"
I said, "Do you love me?"
Asa's expression turned slightly cold.
