Chapter 2

A Hundred Failed Assassinations

From the day they declared war...

The rules changed.

It was no longer just business.

No longer just the mafia.

It became personal.

They didn't hire assassins.

They didn't send mercenaries.

They wanted only one thing—

To kill each other with their own hands.

Because only then would victory feel complete.

First Attempt

It was midnight.

Heavy rain poured over the city.

Adrian received intelligence that Vivian would personally inspect one of her cargo ports.

He went alone.

A black pistol rested in his gloved hand.

Standing atop a warehouse, he watched her step out of her car.

Their eyes met across the rain.

Vivian slowly pulled out her own pistol.

Neither hesitated.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets echoed through the port.

Containers exploded into sparks.

Before either could land a fatal shot...

A fuel tanker, struck by a stray bullet, erupted into flames.

The explosion separated them.

By the time the fire was under control...

Both had vanished.

Second Attempt

Three months later...

Vivian infiltrated one of Adrian's underground casinos disguised as a dealer.

She walked silently behind him.

A dagger gleamed beneath her sleeve.

Just as she raised it—

The lights suddenly went out.

The entire building lost power.

Within seconds...

Gunfire erupted everywhere.

Rival mafia members had launched an attack.

Chaos swallowed the casino.

When the emergency lights returned...

Adrian was gone.

Vivian clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"...Lucky."

Third Attempt

Adrian cornered Vivian inside a private elevator in her headquarters.

There were no guards.

No cameras.

Only the two of them.

The elevator stopped between floors.

Adrian drew a knife.

"So..."

"No bodyguards today."

Vivian calmly reached into her coat and revealed her own blade.

"I was about to say the same."

The confined space became a battlefield.

Metal clashed against metal.

Each strike aimed for the other's heart.

Each movement was precise.

Neither gained the upper hand.

Suddenly—

The emergency brake failed.

The elevator dropped several floors.

Both were thrown to opposite sides as the safety system activated just before impact.

The doors forced themselves open.

Security rushed in.

Neither wanted witnesses.

Without a word...

They walked away in opposite directions.

Fourth Attempt

During an international summit in Switzerland...

Vivian stood alone on a balcony overlooking the snowy mountains.

Adrian silently approached from behind.

His pistol was already aimed.

"I finally found you alone."

Without turning around, Vivian replied,

"I've known you were behind me for the last thirty seconds."

She spun around instantly.

Her gun was already pointed at his forehead.

The cold wind howled between them.

Finger on trigger.

Finger on trigger.

One movement...

One bullet...

One death.

Then—

Boom!

A helicopter nearby lost control because of a sudden mechanical failure and crashed into the courtyard below.

The explosion shook the entire palace.

Smoke covered everything.

When it cleared...

Neither was there.

Fifth Attempt

Adrian secretly entered Vivian's penthouse at three in the morning.

Moonlight illuminated the room.

She appeared to be asleep.

He silently walked toward her.

His hand tightened around the knife.

"This ends tonight."

Just as the blade descended—

Vivian suddenly opened her eyes.

She caught his wrist with surprising speed.

"I was wondering how long you'd take."

She had never been asleep.

She had been waiting.

The bedroom instantly became another battlefield.

Furniture shattered.

Glass walls cracked.

Neither showed mercy.

Then—

The fire alarm activated.

Someone in the neighboring apartment had accidentally started a kitchen fire.

Automatic sprinklers flooded the penthouse.

Security teams rushed upstairs.

Adrian disappeared through the balcony.

Vivian stood there, drenched, breathing heavily.

"...Coward."

A voice echoed from the darkness below.

"Finish your sentence after you learn to kill me."

She smirked despite herself.

"...Arrogant bastard."

After Two Years...

They had crossed blades...

Exchanged bullets...

Thrown punches...

And stood on the edge of death countless times.

Yet somehow...

Fate refused to let either of them die.

People began whispering strange rumors.

"Maybe they're cursed."

"No..."

"They're simply impossible to kill."

One afternoon, Alen entered Adrian's office carrying a thick file.

"Boss..."

Adrian didn't look up.

"What?"

Alen sighed.

"I've counted."

Adrian finally raised an eyebrow.

"Counted what?"

"The number of times you and Miss Chater have tried to kill each other."

"...And?"

Alen placed the file on the desk.

"One hundred and twenty-seven."

Silence.

"...One hundred and twenty-seven attempts."

Adrian stared at the number without expression.

Alen rubbed his forehead.

"At this point, Boss... I'm beginning to think fate itself is interfering."

Adrian closed the file.

His voice was as cold as ever.

"Fate doesn't interfere."

"It delays."

Meanwhile, across the city, Vivian's executive team nervously informed her that Adrian had once again survived another deadly encounter.

She looked out through the glass walls of her office at the skyline.

"So," she murmured quietly, "you survived again."

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips before disappearing.

"Good."

"I don't want anyone else to kill you."

"When Adrian Vance dies..."

"It will be by my hand."

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