1 Back to the Homeland.

The morning today was serene. The bright red sun that had just appeared over the horizon illuminated not only the world but also everyone's morning routine. The blue sky took on an orange hue with a pink glint from the bright first rays of the sun.

Everyone in the area was already going about their morning routine. The birds' chirping soothed and absorbed everyone's negative energy as they sang a lovely song that was too enticing to ignore.

It was a daily occurrence for everyone in Italy.

However, for a particular girl in the ST Morenzo apartments, the daily occurrence wasn't these beautiful things but her dreams that had been haunting her for four straight years.

"I... I didn't do anything. Spare my life, please,"

"No, I beg you,"

"I would do anything. I will even serve you,"

"If you want to save your life, why don't you get on your knees and beg for your life?" the voice was still cold after all these years.

"I... Please don't hurt me,"

"Water. Give me water,"

"I... I can't. Don't -"

Splash! She was thrown into the river, and she gulped a mouthful of water in shock. Drifting into nothingness, that's what she was doing in her dream. Just like always.

In the luxurious high society of Italy with the best security in the state, a girl was lying on her bed, covered in sweat from head to toe.

Soft, painful moans reverberated in a hotel room no. 1109

Her body moved on the bed with discomfort, along with the bedsheet that displayed her olive skin.

Her thigh-length long brown hair was sprawled on the pillow, and her skin glistened with the peeping sunlight from the curtains falling on her body that, shone the sweat even more.

As she twisted, gasping for air, her deep slumber was broken when she heard her phone going off.

With deep long breaths, she opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling to calm her raging heart.

The same nightmare. It has been the same thing ruining her life ever since. She shook her head and turned her body to the left.

"Hello?" She answered the call with a groan, her head hurting like she was run down by a truck.

"Why weren't you picking? I have been trying for almost half an hour. Anyway, are you ready for the airport? I am coming to pick you up in ten minutes," a manly voice came from the other side, and the girl, who was pre-consumed in her sleep and dreams, opened her eyes wide before looking at the time.

"It's 4 already? Why didn't you wake me earlier?! You son of a -" The girl ended the call and threw her phone on the bed.

She jumped out of bed and rushed straight to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

"I swear, if I catch Grey, I am killing him with my bare hands. I told him I had a flight to catch, and he still dared to make me drunk by spiking my drink," She gritted.

Yesterday, she had gone out to meet her friends one last time before she was off to her hometown. Her hometown, where her family lived along, with many memories.

The plan was simple. Meet her friends without telling them about her departure and notify them only after she is already back in her hometown.

However, things didn't end well, and Camilla found she was leaving because she works in the airport and her friend probably told her or because it was Senior Drake who leaked this information.

Long story short, everyone wanted a farewell party from her. She had told everyone that she wouldn't drink because she had an early flight. But did anyone listen to her? Of course not. Grey spiked her drink.

That stupid sh*t!

After eight minutes, she walked out of the bathroom and quickly wore loose, comfortable clothes over her undergarments. It was good that she had packed her stuff and rechecked it thrice earlier, or things would've been difficult.

She stuffed her phone in her pocket and was about to lock the door when she paused and looked at the apartment that had been her haven from the world for four long years.

"Thank you for making my life bearable and protecting me from myself for four long years," The girl said, promising herself and locked the door before rushing to the lift with her large suitcase and duffle bag.

The door of the lift opened, and she lifted her suitcase to put it inside when a large hand clasped over hers, stopping her midway.

"Let me help you," she heard a husky voice and raised her long eyelashes to look at the man in front of her with surprise.

"Senior Brian?" She gulped, and the man lifted his brows at her.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were on a mission and -"

" -and you'll leave without telling me," Senior Brian scoffed, and the girl blinked her lashes before shaking her head.

"That wasn't my intention, Senior. Grey told me you couldn't be reached, and I didn't want to disturb you. The last time someone tried to contact the seniors of the mission, things didn't end well," She entered the lift with him.

Both of them didn't say anything for a few seconds, and the man heaved a deep breath.

"Will you be gone for long?" He asked, and she supported herself on the back side of the lift before humming.

Her eyes were closed, and Brian looked at her from the corner of his eyes before nodding to himself.

"I am not sure. My graduation is completed already. Mom said I should return. Grandpa misses me. I think I will do my post-graduation there besides following my dream of becoming an actress," The girl sighed, and Brian hummed again.

It's not like there was much he could do to stop her anyway.

"Just so you know, we had plans of building one of our headquarters in China. Don't think you are some special case for whom we are creating an entire base," Senior Brian said, and the girl bit the inside of her cheeks to control her lips from twitching too much.

"When is your flight?"

"In about three hours," the girl's words made Brian nod as he placed her stuff in his Porche and accelerated the car.

After forty minutes, they parked in front of the international airport in Italy, and Brian took out her stuff from the car before placing it down.

She was about to turn when Brian held her hand and pulled her close.

"We will... I will miss you, Cara," Brian said before cupping her cheeks.

"I know. You will see me soon. On big screens, conquering the world," she smiled, and Brian smiled for the first time since he came to pick her up before nodding.

"I will be the first one to buy the ticket for any movie that you make, I promise," he promised before caressing her head.

"And you won't tell me where your hometown is, right?" Brian asked, and she smiled knowingly, making him sigh.

"You'll hear about me once I become famous. Don't worry. It will be soon. I will complete my post-graduation along with part-time gigs in the movies," She smiled, and he hummed.

"You should leave, or I won't be able to see you leave. I know you have a biological family there that you love and adore, but we are your family too. If you dare to forget any of us, I will catch the first flight and tie you up before kidnapping you," Brian threatened, and she chuckled before nodding and turning around.

As soon as she turned, the soft genuine smile she had on her face that was reserved for her close ones immediately dropped, replaced with a cold unapproachable demeanor.

Senior Brian was right. Her dear ones were there in her hometown in China, and so were the ones who gave her the biggest traumas of life. The ones because of whom she left the country because she was too scared to live with her demons there.

It was tough. Living with her demons in a new country was better than living in a place that would constantly remind her of what had happened to her.

Thus, this time around, she was ready to make everyone pay, pay for what they did to her and what traumas they threw her way.

They must be living with happy smiles on their faces, probably unbothered and unaware of what they did to her, but it would change soon. She would make sure of it.