<h4>Chapter 1 - Prologue: That night</h4>


    Thunder was heard from afar. Followed by the heavy pour of the rain. The dark clouds became darker, no stars could be seen, even the moon seemed to be hiding.


    Below the heavy rain, a tragic scene urred.


    In the road, ck cars were opened and abandoned. Dead bodies scattered around the cars.


    In the middle of blood and guns, a beautifuldy sat on the road with a blooded man on herp.


    Her beautiful wedding dress stained with blood. Her shiny and long ck hair that was freed from the bun flowed freely on her pale shoulders. Even thedy was covered with blood and rain, it cannot cover her stunning beauty.


    On her usual cold and indifferent face there was a rarely seen emotions stered on her while holding the man.


    Fear, panicked, anxiety, confusion, exhaustion, and hopelessness were all could be seen.


    Her tears flowed in rhythmic with the rain. She had never cried so much like this in her life. Not even in her parents funeral, nor in her grandfather''s death. They are all indifferent to her.


    But this man...this man who made her heart beat, who made her smile,ugh for the first time, made her feel wanted, precious and loved...


    The man who brings ''life'' in her empty, dead life.


    This man who already hold her heart and life.


    If he died she would not know how to live again. She cannot live without him.


    "No...Linfeng...Linfeng...don''t leave me...stay awake..." thedy hold the man tightly and gently.


    The man tried to open his beautiful eyes. Even the man was covered in blood and his wet hair it did not hide the beautiful features of the man. His eyes that always sharp, cold, and full of vigor were now dimmed and in daze.


    He tried to see the beautiful woman whom he swore his life to protect to, to care and to love.


    He fought to open his eyes and be awake. But he cannot see her face clearly. He reached her face with his bloodied hand and feel her beautiful features. He began to reminisced the past.


    " Zhi''er...do you remember when we first met? When I saw you...you already captured my heart...from that day...No matter what I did to stop my feelings from g-growing...I ...I cannot help to love you and be mine....this must be my retribution...for being selfish...I am incapable...and let your life be at stake...you should live in luxury, with a perfect life and I cannot give it to you...forgive me..." Linfeng said between heavy breaths.


    "No...no... You''ve done everything you can to save me. I don''t regret it to escape with you...I cannot live with that beast. The only thing I regret in this life is to hold back my feelings for you. We should have enjoy those times...The times were together...without care to the world...because I''m weak, I don''t hold power enough to protect both of us...if I just be strong and powerful they can never separate us or bully us...it''s my fault..because I''m so weak...." Xiong Zhi cried harder. She never told this him before, nor told him what she truly feels and how she truly feels about him.


    Linfeng tried to strengthen himself to wipe her tears.


    "What are you saying...I should be the one who must protect you....because I''m born lower than you, I did not hold power to be with you...cough.." he cough more blood.


    "In the next life time if we meet, I will surely fall in love with you again...cough cough..." he cough a couple of times.


    " In the next lifetime, I will be strong and hold every moment of us. I will express to you all my love...never to regret again..." Xiong Zhi said with conviction. She had never been this determined before. But atst, it was toote. If she was given a second chance, she would do everything in her power to stopped this from happening. She would defy her faith.


    She saw his eyes were dimming and his breathing be slower.


    " Without you I cannot live...wait for me...we''ll be together soon...." she whispered.


    She watched as his eyes closed and stop breathing.


    The heavy rain continued to flow endlessly. Xiong Zhi stared at lifeless Linfeng, her eyes were empty and her heart died at same time the man died.


    She slowly looked up on the dark sky. Shey there and think about her tragic life.


    She had wealth


    She had brain


    She had beauty


    She had a handsome fiance.


    Life seems to be perfect for her. That''s what they said. That''s what they know.


    They did not know that..


    She was an orphan. She never experienced being love by her parents even when they were alive.


    She had an unloving grandfather who only used her as a pawn to expand his business. Arranged a marriage to her with a beast in prince''s clothing.


    She had a schemer and evil rtives who eye her like a wolf. Ready to pounce at her wealth.


    So what of wealth? So what of her surname Xiong? They cannot be used. They were thorny decorations.


    Her beauty? Her brains? It cannot be used...She was only a puppet and a model of her grandfather.


    She had never be herself. That''s why she grew to be cold, indifferent, and never opened to anybody.


    Until he came...


    Zhi looked at the man and caressed gently his cold face.


    He be her light. She did not care about him at first. Not even give him a nce before. Thinking he was only another pawn his grandfather put to stay at her side. But he''s different. He cares, even she did not look at him, he always gently give her reminders, advice, courage, and warnings that an aide should not cross.When the world scheme at her, he was the only one who patiently stay at her side. He gives herfort, protection and love.


    He let her feel loved.


    He was the only one in her life that she never regretted to known.


    Now her most precious one was gone.


    He''s gone.


    Xiong Zhi closed her eyes and stayed at his side holding him endearingly.


    She did not feel the cold nor the heavy drops of the rain that prickled on her skin.


    For hours, she did not move. She did not even hear the sirens and shouts. While her breathing was bing fainter she whispered.


    "Never again to be weak...Never again wasted our precious time...I''ll promise...In the next lifetime... I will protect you...and..love you..."


    The police approached thedy who had man on herp. He tried to talk to her and noticed something. He felt her pulse and said.


    "What a tragic...everyone is dead here."


    The dark sky witnessing the tragic scene thundered once again.