The purest hatred between me and Noreen began that year.

Noreen killed the dog I had raised for ten years—just to protect her little assistant.

In revenge, I stabbed that assistant five times, savoring his crazed screams as though admiring a work of art.

Everyone thought Noreen would take my life for it.

Instead, she simply tossed a divorce agreement in my face, her voice cold as ice.

"You're nothing but the Carter family's dog. Since you've gone rabid, then leave now!"

That night, I disappeared.

Five years later, I returned, standing in for my father at a grand banquet. That's where I saw Noreen's little assistant again.

He splashed red wine across my clothes and spat mockingly, "Well, look who it is. Turns out you're the dog Carter family cast aside."

I grabbed a champagne bottle and smashed it over his head.

"It's been five years and yet you still haven't learned how to act human? Tonight, I'll teach you myself."

——

Maxwell's scream split through the hall.

A group of his lackeys rushed forward, shielding him, shouting at me.

"Who the hell are you? Do you even know who you just hit?"

"He's the Carter family's precious princess's fiancé! Offend him, and Miss Noreen will destroy you!"

One sneered, blocking my way.

"Everyone knows Miss Noreen dotes on her man. Maxwell gets a single scratch, and she's ready to flip the world upside down. And you—you smashed his head open. I'd like to see how you survive this!"

Blood streamed down Maxwell's forehead as he glared at me, his face twisted with rage.

"Listen to me, Colin. Five years ago, I was merciful and let you live. Don't think I'll be merciful now! You're nothing but the dog Noreen raised at home. If I could destroy you once, I can destroy you again!"

I studied him.

I had to admit, Noreen had raised him well.

The man who once stammered and only dared whisper “Mr. Alba” to me now had the audacity to threaten me publicly.

But unfortunately for him, I've never been anyone's pushover.

Not five years ago.

Not now.

Surrounded by his lackeys, I glanced down at the broken glass scattered across the floor. Slowly, under everyone's stunned gaze, I crouched and picked up a blood-stained shard. I smiled.

"Maxwell."

I walked toward him, step by step.

"Five years ago," I twirled the shard in my hand, its edge biting into my palm, "I gave you too much face."

My eyes dropped to his stomach.

"What's wrong? Didn't losing one kidney last time teach you a lesson?"

I pressed the shard against his cheek, dragging it downward in a slow, deliberate line.

"Since you still don't remember..."

My smile was twisted, sharp and merciless. In a flash, I raised the shard and thrust it toward his abdomen.

But before I could drive it in, a hand seized my wrist, wrenching it back. Pain shot through my arm, and screams filled the air.

Maxwell's eyes welled with tears. He whimpered, voice trembling.

"Noreen... I'm scared."

Five years ago, when I pinned him down and stabbed him again and again, he had worn this same expression—terrified, pitiful, crying out, "Noreen, I'm scared."

The years overlapped.

And then, behind me, came a voice I hadn't heard in half a decade—low, cold, and achingly familiar.

"Colin. It's been five years."

"Tell me," Noreen's voice turned gloomy, "haven't you learned your lesson?"

Her grip wrenched my wrist outward, forcing the shard deeper into my palm. Pain made my brow crease, but unlike five years ago, I refused to yield. Instead, the sting only stoked the wild fire in my veins.

I clenched tighter around the shard, feeling its edge slice my flesh.

And just as Noreen tried to rip it from my hand...

I snapped my head around, flashing Noreen a smile.

"Long time no see... Noreen."

The shard in my hand plunged hard into her arm. Blood sprayed, blurring my vision in crimson.

Chaos erupted instantly.

Screams pierced the hall, shouts for security rose above the din, while whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.

"Who the hell is that? Does he have a death wish, stabbing Miss Noreen like that?!"

"Didn’t Maxwell say Miss Noreen threw out a Carter orphan five years ago—her so-called husband? Don’t tell me... that’s him?"

"Doesn't look like it."

"I heard that orphan had no one—no family, no friends. Just one dog. And Maxwell had it tortured to death overnight. Didn't everyone in high society see the video? They skinned the poor mutt alive!"

"Wait—look! Miss Noreen is smiling!"

As blood kept seeping from Noreen's arm, Maxwell cried out, "Noreen!"

Ignoring his own head wound, he rushed to her side. He shielded her with his body, glaring at me with all the fury he could muster.

"Colin! How dare you hurt Noreen! The Carter family raised you for twenty years, and this is how you repay them? Like an ungrateful wolf? Apologize to Noreen right now!"

I looked at Maxwell, barking like the head of the Carter clan itself, and laughed. Then I turned my gaze on Noreen.

"Five years, and you've raised yourself a dog who'll bare his teeth for you. Satisfied, Noreen?"

Maxwell's face drained of color.

Immediately, Noreen shoved him behind her, just like five years ago.

"Colin," her voice was cold, "whatever we had ended five years ago."

"I've said it before: my heart belongs to Maxwell. I never loved you, and I never will. I don't care how you've survived these past five years, or how you managed to sneak an invitation to tonight's banquet."

Her eyes cut through me like ice. "But you will never step foot in the Carter family again. I won't let you ruin Maxwell's life."

She looked down at me with merciless gaze.

"I was willing to ignore you tonight, as if you didn't exist. But since you dared to hurt Maxwell, you'll pay the price."

She clapped her hands, and security immediately swarmed in, circling me. One of them handed her a knife. Noreen took it, waiting for my answer.

I laughed.

"Noreen, do you really think the world revolves around you?"

I pointed to the knife in her hand.

"If you've got the guts, you'd better finish me off today. Because if you don't—"

I stepped closer, my voice dropping into a deadly whisper. "—when it's my turn to finish you... don't you dare beg on your knees."

Laughter burst from my throat, echoing through the now-silent banquet hall. Noreen's face darkened, her body trembling with rage.

And at that moment, I remembered—five years ago, she had made me tremble the same way.

Back then, she had used Darcy—my only companion, my dog—to break me.

She locked him in an iron cage, gagged him so his cries were muffled, and forced me to kneel. Each time I refused to beg, the blade cut deeper into his body.

I had been proud, unyielding—until then. Watching Darcy writhe in agony shattered me completely.

"Noreen!"

I had sobbed, my voice hoarse. "Please—don't hurt Darcy!"

"I was wrong! I admit it!"

I had slammed my head into the ground over and over, my forehead splitting, blood mixing with tears.

"I know I was wrong! I'm begging you!"

All I wanted... my only wish... was to take Darcy and leave the Carter family forever.

I had pleaded until my voice broke.

"Please... let him go. Let Darcy live."

I could never forget Darcy's eyes—that loyal, aching gaze that broke me more than any knife ever could. Nor could I forget the rage carved into my very bones, a fury that burned anew every time I looked at Noreen.

All I had left for her was hatred—not yet extinguished, but smoldering, waiting to ignite.

"Noreen," I said, each word bitten out, "you're nothing more than a dog Maxwell keeps on a leash. If Mr. Edward could see you now, he'd claw his way out of his coffin to drag you down with him."

"The Carter family is finished—and it's all on you."

Her hand shot out, fingers crushing my throat. Air vanished from my lungs, oxygen draining as her bloodshot eyes locked onto mine.

"Colin," she hissed, voice twisted with madness, "don't think for a second I won't kill you!"

She hurled me to the ground. Champagne glass shards dug into my skin, slicing me open in a hundred places. Agony shot through me, but before I could catch my breath, her hand fisted in my hair and yanked my head back.

"If I say kneel, you kneel. If I say die, you die!"

Her lips curled into a smile, cruel and taunting.

"But tonight... I don't feel like letting you die just yet."

She patted my cheek as though I were some pet.

"After all, how could I let such a fine plaything go to waste, hm?"

Her face blurred before me, so close I could smell her perfume. And in my mind, I heard Maxwell's mocking voice, echoing from that video he once sent me, dripping with pride.

"I only told Noreen that Darcy looked scary. She skinned him alive for me."

"Tell me, if I told her you were scary too, would she peel your skin off as well?"

"Hilarious, isn't it?"

"You may have been the Carter family's son-in-law by name, but in truth—you weren't even worth as much as a servant."

Now, staring into Noreen's gloating expression, bile and blood surged in my throat. As she raised her hand to slap me again, I spat a mouthful of blood straight into her face.

For one instant, shock flashed across her features—revulsion twisting her perfect mask. I laughed.

"That's right, Noreen."

I mirrored her tone, my lips curling. "How could you die so quickly? A game this fun... deserves to be played to the very end."

I hadn't come back to be spared.

I'd come back to destroy the Carter family—piece by piece.

For Darcy, whose death was so cruel it still tore at me, I would make every last one of them pay.

Seeing I would not break, Noreen abruptly let go of my hair and wiped the blood from her face. Her eyes gleamed darkly.

"You're right." Her voice was soft, yet chilling. "Some things shouldn't be rushed. They need... slow torture."

She straightened her back, eyes narrowing. "Since you've returned... then let's play properly."

Without another glance at me, she barked an order at the security guards.

"Watch him. Don't let him run."

Then, as though flipping a switch, her expression melted into tenderness when she turned to Maxwell.

"Does it hurt?" She gently brushed the tears from his face.

"I'll take you to a private room."

Maxwell leaned into her with red-rimmed eyes. "As long as I have you, nothing can hurt me."

His voice cracked, choked with tears. "With you... I'm not afraid of anything."

As they left, I sat slumped on the floor, wounds stinging, my body screaming with pain. Around me, the vultures circled—Noreen's sycophants spitting their venom.

"Who even is this nobody? Daring to hurt Miss Noreen—she spared his life tonight, and he should be grateful!"

"Exactly! I heard he's just some orphan Mr. Edward picked up off the streets. The old man raised him out of pity, and how does he repay it? By bullying Maxwell! No wonder he was thrown out."

"Speaking of—" one of them laughed, pulling up a video on his phone. "I still have that dog video saved. You remember it, don't you? The night Maxwell taught him a lesson."