The lively atmosphere of the party was filled with Gale's deep voice serenading me with a love song. His gaze never wavered, locking onto mine like I was the only person in the room.

As the song ended, a knock sounded at the door, breaking the moment.

Gale, being the closest, stood up to answer.

So when he asked for permission, I let him go without giving it too much thought. As a good friend, his team members helped, trying to cover for him. They turned up the music and whispered to each other.

“Captain really likes her, doesn’t he? From the way things are going, it seems like they’re going to go all night.”

“Flossie is wild. I’m kind of worried if the captain can keep up with her.”

I had no interest in indulging in their chatter and wasting time there. After grabbing my wallet, I quietly left the room.

As I passed by the bathroom, I overheard people teasing each other.

“Did you bring that ring made from your pinky bone?”

“If you want, I can put it in.”

Gale’s voice followed, low and gravelly. “You little slut.”

The next words were unfit to hear, making my stomach churn.

What followed made my stomach churn, the noises too explicit to endure.

I stepped outside into the cold night air.

The sharp breeze cleared my head a little as I pressed my hand against my aching chest.

I wandered aimlessly for a while, finally stopping by the river.

The clock on my phone read 12:00 AM.

“Happy birthday, Alex,” I whispered to myself.

I faced the moon, clasped my hands together and silently prayed. My birthday wish this year was to leave this world soon.

[Countdown: 3 days]

At exactly midnight, Gale returned. He left the limp Flossie behind to watch me blow out the candles. But when he came back and didn’t find me, he panicked, searching everywhere.

“Baby,” a hoarse voice called from behind me.

I turned around to find Gale standing there, sweat glistening on his neck, his red-rimmed eyes filled with panic.

“Why did you leave the party and go off on your own?” Then he glanced to the side and added, “Do you like the view by the river? How about we celebrate your birthday here next time? Would you like that?”

I just stared at him, not saying a word.

“Baby…” he said, his voice trailing off.

His face paled. Gale Holden, a hitman with countless lives on his conscience, was scared. It was obvious, but he wouldn’t admit it and he wasn’t willing to risk explaining and making a slip-up.

Finally, I gave him a soft smile. “Alright.”

That one word was enough to make him exhale in relief. Gale pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Don’t disappear like that again, baby. I swear, I’ll lose my mind.”

I patted his back lightly, signaling him to let me go.

“You’ve got a mission tomorrow. Let’s go home.”

This mission was set in a dense rainforest, notorious for its danger. No one else dared take it, but Gale was willing to risk it for the hefty payout. Back home, while adjusting the surveillance feeds, an unexpected figure appeared on the screen.

Flossie. Gale had taken her to the rainforest with him. The two of them stuck together like conjoined twins, inseparable the whole time.

“Gale, I’ll wait for you,” she said, her voice dripping with anticipation.

“After it’s over, we can have some fun in the water.”

I stared at the screen, stunned by the absurdity of it all.

Gale narrowed his eyes at her. “Stay hidden,” he warned, his tone sharp.

Then, just like that, he switched into combat mode.

“Daisy.”

His voice over the comm snapped me out of my thoughts.

I activated the voice changer. “I’m here. All units on standby.”

Time ticked by and soon the screen in front of me lit up with a familiar prompt.

[Countdown: 2 days]

“Commence operation,” I instructed, my voice steady.

“Repeat mission directive: Eliminate the fugitive known as ‘Snakeback.’”

I couldn’t relax; I had to be on guard every second because one small slip could cost lives. Fortunately, everything went smoothly and it didn’t take long for Gale and his team to infiltrate the enemy base. Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, a terrible feeling struck me. All the lights suddenly went out and I could hear a few men speaking over the communication radio.

“She is here.” 

“Even Gale doesn’t know…” 

“Daisy is his wife.”

I froze. The air in my lungs seemed to be sucked dry. The man laughed wickedly.

“This will be a very interesting show. He’ll have to choose between saving his wife or the woman he loves.”

Something flashed before me and everything went dark.

[Countdown: 1 day]

The connection between me and Gale’s team was severed. In the dense, perilous rainforest, every step became a struggle for survival.

“Damn it!” Gale cursed, his frustration palpable. “How the hell did they find Daisy?”

I had always kept my identity shrouded in secrecy. No one knew—not even Gale. The thought that I’d been caught was almost laughable if it weren’t terrifying.

When I regained consciousness, my head throbbed and my thoughts were a jumbled mess. Through the suffocating fabric of the burlap sack over my head, I could hear muffled sobs.

“Let me go! If you hurt me, Gale will come for you! You’ll regret doing this!”

The voice was unmistakably Flossie’s. The woman who had insisted on tagging along for the mission now found herself in the same predicament as me.

Then, I felt the effects of the sedative they had injected into me. I couldn’t speak. But they hadn’t even bothered to gag Flossie.

I watched the time on the system display move quickly; I guessed the moment was near.

And sure enough, a few seconds later, Gale burst in.

“Snakeback!” he shouted. From the sound of his footsteps, I could tell he was badly injured.

“You finally came, Gale. Welcome! I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment.” A hand gripped my shoulder as Snakeback laughed evilly.

“It’s time for the ultimate choice.”  His smile twisted into something even more grotesque. “Your tear-streaked little lover…” He gestured to Flossie, who was sobbing uncontrollably on the floor.

“Or your steadfast partner, Daisy.”

I could see Gale’s eyes darken, the red fury blazing beneath the surface. Snakeback’s men had the room surrounded, leaving no gaps for escape.

Flossie whimpered pitifully, calling out for Gale with desperation.

Meanwhile, the pressure on my shoulder intensified, sending sharp jolts of pain radiating through me. My body ached, but I couldn’t make a sound.

Gale’s grip on his weapon tightened, his knuckles white. He was paralyzed, unable to make the impossible choice.

Snakeback cackled, clearly enjoying the torment he inflicted. To heighten the stakes, his men tore at Flossie’s clothing, exposing her to the cool air. Gale’s mark was still visible on her skin—a detail that seemed to enrage him.

“Stop!” Gale bellowed.