Chapter 9
Both Norah and Selena didn’t know how to swim.
The freezing ocean swallowed Norah whole, pulling her deeper and deeper. As she looked up at the faint light above her, her mind went completely blank.
She remembered how she had fallen into the water when she and Justin first started dating. Back then, Justin had panicked beyond belief. It was the dead of winter, yet without hesitation, he had dived in after her, dragging her back to safety.
When he saw that she was unharmed, his eyes had turned red as if they were about to bleed.
That was the first time Norah had ever seen Justin cry. He nervously held her tightly, telling her he had almost lost her. Losing her had been his greatest fear.
The second time she saw him cry was the day she broke up with him. He had never looked so helpless before. Like a lost child, he didn’t understand what he had done wrong. He had only begged her, over and over, not to leave.
Now, so much time had passed. Would he still save her?
Norah didn’t know. For the first time, she wasn’t sure.
The sound of rushing water filled her ears, drowning everything else out.
Suddenly, a silhouette appeared in the light above. However, that figure wasn’t reaching for her. It ran straight to Selena.
Still, fate had spared Norah. She did not die in the ocean.
V
When the rescue crew finally pulled her out, Norah saw Justin cradling Selena in his arms, checking her frantically for injuries.
He then glanced at Norah, sprawled on the ground, soaking wet, completely miserable.
She happened to be looking at him. Her gaze was hollow, like a shattered star.
Something deep inside Justin’s chest twisted violently–but he forced himself to look away.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he said coldly. “Selena is the woman I love now. It’s a given that I’d save her. I stopped loving you a long time ago. Did you really think I’d still risk everything for you like I used to?”
Norah sniffled lightly, then nodded. “I’m glad. I’m glad that you don’t love me anymore.”
He didn’t love her anymore… How wonderful.
Back at the villa, Justin coldly tossed a set of house keys in front of her.
“This place still carries traces of you. It’s unworthy of being my and Selena’s home. I will give Selena a new house–one where everything is fresh and untouched.
“I find it disgusting to keep this place. Consider it my gift to you. It’s my wedding with Selena tomorrow. Bring what you have to. Don’t miss it.
“After that, where you go and what you do… None of it has anything to do with me anymore.”
Norah didn’t refuse. She simply nodded, uttering, “Justin, I sincerely wish you happiness.”
For a split second, Justin’s footsteps faltered. But he never looked back.
Norah’s wish for his happiness was genuine. However, she wouldn’t be attending the wedding.
Just now, she had received her orders. The time for her fake death had been scheduled. She had a mission to fulfill.
There was no second chance for her.
On the day of the wedding, Norah stood in what had once been her and Justin’s home. She looked down at her phone, only to see that Justin had sent message after message, demanding her
presence.
“Norah, do you know what time it is? Why aren’t you here?
“You have 20 minutes. Show up. Now.
“Norah! Try breaking your promise and see what happens!”
She turned off her phone screen. Ignoring the frantic vibrations as message after message came through, she picked up a canister of gasoline and poured it across the entire room.
In the living room, a prepared corpse lay in wait, ready to take her place.
From that moment on, Norah Serpentine would cease to exist.
She pulled out a lighter, flicked it on, and tossed it into the gasoline. She then walked away without looking back.
She arrived at the National Intelligence Base an hour later. Her superior took the badge that had once belonged to her father and solemnly pinned it onto her chest.
“Badge No. 174768, reinstated. Norah Serpentine, welcome back to the force!
“Salute!”
