Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Aaron stared at Emily's body, his eyes gleaming with desire. As he lunged forward to embrace her, she playfully dodged him, saying in a flirtatious voice, "Mr. Hughes, why don't you have another drink?"

But his patience had worn thin. He grabbed her forcefully, pinning her to the couch. "Trying to get me drunk?" he growled.

Aaron closed his eyes, lost in the moment. Emily, feigning seduction, lay against him with half-lidded eyes.

Suddenly, his heavy breathing transformed into a startled cry.noveldrama

He seized Emily's wrist, hissing with rage. "You bitch! You're dead!"

The smile on Emily's face had long been replaced by intense hatred. She had driven a shard of glass-secretly picked up from the floor-deep into Aaron's neck.

As he gripped her hand, she used her free hand to clutch his throat. Blood stained her hands, but she showed no fear.

Once, she couldn't even kill a fish. Never had she imagined that one day she would take a life in such a brutal manner.

Despite his injury, Aaron was still stronger. He quickly threw her off.

Emily crashed onto the floor into a pile of glass fragments. Ignoring the pain, she grabbed a broken bottle and lunged at his neck again before he could rise from the couch.

When she had decided to return to Eclipse Lounge, Emily had been prepared to die. Now, fighting with all her might, she too suffered a slashed throat. Both were covered in blood.

Fortunately, Aaron's injuries were severe. He eventually collapsed from blood loss.

Emily was exhausted but refused to die this way-she wanted some dignity in death. She fumbled for her phone to call the police, then struggled to her feet, wrapping a tablecloth around herself.

These actions drained her remaining strength, but she was determined to stand. Barefoot and draped in the tablecloth, she painfully made her way to the door and out of the private room.

The first person who saw her screamed. Then, screams erupted throughout the lounge.

She walked slowly but with unwavering determination.

Peggy couldn't bring herself to approach, asking from a distance, "Emily, what happened?"

Emily didn't answer anyone's concerned questions.

Before she could exit Eclipse Lounge, the police arrived. The last to enter was Faris. Seeing him, Emily's vision blurred.

She smiled weakly at him and whispered, "I killed Aaron. I avenged my father."

At that moment, her strength failed her. As she collapsed, Faris caught her just in time.

Grasping his hand, she struggled to speak. "I killed someone. Will I pay with my life? I'm willing to die, but can I die in a hospital? My brother needs my heart to survive." After Faris spoke with the police, they took her to the hospital by patrol car.

"Hold on, Emily. You'll be alright," Faris gripped her hand the entire journey, encouraging her as she grew weaker, coughing blood several times.

"Faris, I hate you!" she whispered.

Faris swallowed hard, his voice tight. "Don't talk. Save your strength."

Emily shook her head, touching his face with effort. "But I... love you more! Yes, I'm foolish... but only for you."

The police car reached the hospital entrance, but Emily's hand had already fallen limply.

The doors opened; doctors waited with a gurney.

Faris carried her out, placing her gently on the stretcher. He removed his coat to cover her bloodied body.

This wasn't the outcome he had wanted.

He kissed her blood-stained lips as tears finally fell onto her face.

Seeing her condition, the doctors rushed to prepare her brother's heart transplant surgery her final request before leaving the hospital.

Her brother survived thanks to her heart, though no one told him it was his sister's heart beating in his chest.

After the surgery, Faris visited him in the hospital room. When asked about his sister, Faris only said she had gone somewhere far away and wouldn't return soon, so he would take care of him instead.

Yulia had heard about Emily's death and noticed Faris's depression. Whenever she saw him at the club, she kept her distance.

But one day, they found themselves trapped in an elevator on the 18th floor- unavoidable proximity.

Confined in the narrow space, Yulia stood silently in the corner.

Suddenly, Faris pinned her against the wall.

"What are you doing?" Yulia tensed, sensing his unstable state.

"Dakota," he called hoarsely, staring at her.

Yulia pushed him away. "Let go of me. My name is Yulia."

Faris wouldn't release her, his expression pained. "Dakota, don't you remember anything? Not even when you see my hand?"

He raised his hand, showing her his missing finger, but Yulia remained confused.

Without waiting for her response, Faris continued, "When you hold a gun, don't you remember? When you watch boxing matches, don't you remember anything? Nothing at all?"

Yulia stared at his anguished face, feeling an inexplicable sadness, but she couldn't give him the answer he sought.

The elevator doors opened. People outside witnessed the scene but awkwardly dispersed, pretending to see nothing.

Faris finally released her and walked out.

Yulia followed, watching his dejected figure, lost in thought. She knew she had lost a

portion of her memories—had they known each other before?

Outside the club, the night was illuminated by countless lights.

Faris stood motionless at the entrance, deep in thought.

Yulia passed him, hurrying to leave.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Faris tackled Yulia to the ground.

Looking back, they saw a bullet hole in the club door.

While Yulia was still in shock, Faris grabbed her hand and ran to a car at the curb, quickly driving away.

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Several cars gave chase. Yulia noticed them.

"Who are they?" she asked.

Faris drove at breakneck speed, eyes cold on the road. "Bad people."

After running several red lights with the pursuers still behind them, Faris turned into an alley, emerging on the other side. Temporarily losing their tail, he maintained his speed, heading out of town toward a large factory.

Nearby was an overgrown field. He drove into the tall grass where the car would be concealed in the darkness.

Faris directed Yulia to get out, pointing across the field. "Cross through here to reach the main road. Catch a taxi and go home quickly."

"What about you?"

Logically, Yulia should have left immediately, but something seemed off about him today-like he was ready to sacrifice everything. She felt concerned.

"Don't worry about me. Just take care of yourself."

Faris lit a cigarette, gazing at the distant factory.

Seeing Yulia hadn't moved, he turned to remind her, "Go now, or you won't be able to

leave later. Staying here will only burden me."

Since he put it that way, Yulia had no choice but to follow his directions into the tall grass.

After she left, Faris walked toward the factory.

This was Aaron's ceramic factory. His death had sent shockwaves through Seabreeze Harbor's underground business world. Though he was gone, his brothers and descendants continued his illegal operations.

As Faris entered the factory, he heard cars approaching. Simultaneously, security guards rushed out.

Faris hid behind a vehicle, avoiding detection. While the guards ran outside, he slipped into the factory's basement.

He had long suspected the basement was Aaron's illegal operations headquarters. That

night, he finally found evidence but couldn't escape successfully.

Taking a gun from the basement, he discovered guards waiting outside.

They spotted him, and a hail of bullets followed.

Hit twice, he sought temporary shelter.

Fortunately, the basement warehouse was cluttered, providing good cover.

His wounds bled profusely, soaking his clothes.

Knowing he might not escape, he sent three messages from his phone.

First, he sent photographic evidence to the police.

Second, a message to Starlight City prison. Yanis had mentioned Aaron's cooperation with Rhyns years ago before Faris worked for Rhyns. To help Yanis atone, Faris had decided to assist the police in capturing Aaron and dismantling his operation.

He also left a message for Yanis: [As a man, remember to stand tall.]

The third was for Dakota.

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It read: [Dakota, I don't know when or if you'll remember the past. It doesn't matter.

I won't forget that I owe you in this life. Until we meet in the next.

With the messages sent, he had no more ties.

He put down his phone, leaned against a wooden crate, and lit a cigarette. Hearing approaching footsteps, he called out, "You should know better than I do—I'm surrounded by explosives. If you're not afraid to die with me, come ahead. Having so

many of you die with me would be worth it."

The footsteps stopped. They were afraid.

They called to him, trying to lure him out.

Faris ignored them, crossing his legs to sit more comfortably as he scrolled through photos on his phone.

Many were of him and Emily, mostly from their outings when she had smiled so

happily.

He had given her great joy and terrible cruelty.

A young woman in her prime, now gone. He owed her his life.

He found a small video from that snowy evening on the mountain-recorded through

his own deception.

Though he had threatened Emily with it, he never intended to show it to Ethan.

He had lied about deleting it, unable to part with it.

Two women-one he had yearned for but never possessed, one who had given him

her heart only to be betrayed.

Finishing his cigarette, Faris heard police sirens and smiled.

"The police are here," someone said anxiously.

A harsh voice responded, "If they dare come in, we fight."

"Deal with me first," Faris called.

They looked up to see him standing on a crate, gun in hand.

They immediately aimed at him, but Faris remained calm, lighting another cigarette.

After lighting it, he played with his lighter and smiled at them. "I prefer quick

resolutions, not drawn-out affairs."

With that, he tossed the lighter toward the nearest crate.

The men retreated in fear while Faris stood on his crate, cigarette between smiling lips,

like someone admiring a view from a bridge.

A massive explosion erupted, flames everywhere.

"Faris!"

Through layers of fire, Faris thought he heard someone call his name.

It was the last sound he ever heard.

What could money buy at this moment? Nothing.

Faris had only one life to give.