Chapter 90:Another body is going to need an ambulance

Chapter 90: 90:Another body is going to need an ambulance

Nova selected a few pieces of jewelry before moving to the clothing section. Her eyes widened in quiet appreciation, the garments displayed were completely to her liking.

"I want the first three," Nova stated, her gaze lingering on a striking set of black, red, and white gowns.

The attendant bowed politely, but just as she reached for the dresses, another woman cut in. With a haughty flick of her wrist, she tossed her credit card at the attendant and snatched the three garments away.

"These dresses—I want them," the woman declared, turning to stare at Nova with an arrogant smirk. "A beautiful lady like you won’t mind, right?" she added provocatively, her tone a thin veil over the raw envy burning in her eyes at the sight of Nova’s striking features.

Nova clicked her tongue against the inside of her cheek, a subtle tell of her rising irritation. "Why are such nuisances crossing my path this afternoon?" she thought with icy annoyance.

Taking Nova’s silence as submission, the woman snorted. "Since you have nothing to say, I’ll take that to mean you don’t mind."

Nova simply stared at her. "Target information," she commanded inwardly. Instantly, a familiar, translucent blue screen flickered to life in her field of vision.

[Ding!]

[Target Information Downloaded]

[Name: Susan Darson]

[Age: 18]

[Status: Adopted Daughter of the Darson family]

[Threat Level: 0.05%]

[Note: just a spoiled thing and lack proper speech manners]

Scanning the dismal threat level, Nova exhaled a soft sigh. "Return the clothes," she ordered, her voice dropping to a freezing chill.

The sudden shift in the air caused Susan to shiver, but she quickly rallied her false bravado. "What? You still want them? Name your price, then. I’m not unreasonable, I’ll pay you off. But these three dresses? I want them all."

Nova’s stare grew heavier, pressing down on the girl like a physical weight. "Do I look like I lack money to you?" Her voice was no longer just cold, it was laced with a dark, palpable danger.

Susan gritted her teeth. "Who knows? You could be entirely fake, just trying to get attention. I’m saving your face. Besides, I’m highly interested in the surgeon who did your plastic surgery. It looks almost real—it nearly fooled me. Mind introducing us?" she mocked, her smile twisting cruelly.

Nova arched a perfect brow. "I don’t mind sending you to meet him right now if you’re that desperate," she replied, her smile growing utterly devoid of warmth.

"Nova, do not kill this girl yet," Anah’s calm, grounding voice echoed abruptly in her mind.

"She is the one desperate to meet her creator. I didn’t send the invitation, but it would be a shame not to grant her wish," Nova countered inwardly, the dangerous curve of her smile widening.

"Just ignore her," Anah insisted softly.

Susan shuddered visibly beneath the weight of Nova’s dark expression. "Why do I feel like she meant something much more sinister?" Susan thought, a spike of genuine dread piercing her chest. She cleared her throat awkwardly and hastily shoved the three dresses back toward the attendant.

"I won’t bother with someone like..." Before she could finish saving face, another voice shrilled her name from across the floor.

"Susan! Susan! Why are you over here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!" the newcomer panted, rushing over. Then, her gaze snapped to Nova, her eyes going wide. "Wow... so beautiful," she breathed. "How do you know this gorgeous lady?"

Susan shot Nova a wary look. "I don’t know her. I just liked these three dresses, but she got to them first."

"Oh!" the friend nodded, completely oblivious to the suffocating tension in the space between them. She turned to Nova with entitled brightness. "Miss, since our Susan loves these dresses, you should just leave them for her. Go to another section and pick out whatever else you want."

Nova’s glare sharpened into absolute daggers, the air around her practically freezing. "Out of my way before I lose my temper."

It was as if their bodies were suddenly seized by a primal survival instinct. Without thinking, both girls immediately stumbled backward, clearing her path. Their hearts pounded wildly against their ribs as they exchanged terrified, bewildered glances.

Nova didn’t spare them another look. "Pack them for me," she instructed the attendant smoothly. Pivoting on her heel, she walked away to browse the next aisle.

The attendant scrambled to comply, bending down to retrieve Susan’s discarded credit card. She handed it back with trembling fingers before hurrying after Nova.

"Oh my goodness, she looked terrifying," the friend murmured, clutching her chest.

"You felt it too? She’s not someone to provoke. I’ve never met anyone with an aura like that. Let’s just get out of here," Susan urged, pivoting toward the exit. But her friend grabbed her wrist.

"Wait, I need your help with something first," she pleaded.

"With what?" Susan asked, brows furrowing in impatience.

"I saw two insanely handsome guys over by the lounge area. I want the silver-haired one—trust me, it’s love at first sight! You can take the other man, and I’ll take the silver-haired guy," she gushed, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson.

Susan forced a strained smile. "I’m not interested in men right now," she replied, attempting to pull away, but Yolka held fast.

"Susan! Just come with me. You’re only saying that because you haven’t seen him yet. You will absolutely fall for him the second you do. Let’s go!" Yolka insisted.

"I have a terrible feeling about this," Susan warned, her anxiety spiking again. "If they turn out to be violent, I’m not stepping in. You’ll be facing the consequences on your own."

"And if everything goes smoothly?" Yolka challenged.

"Then congratulations to you," Susan muttered.

"Let’s go." Yolka eagerly dragged Susan toward the lounge. There, Raymond and Cassian sat in striking, relaxed stillness, casually scrolling through their phones as they patiently awaited Nova’s return.

"H-hello," Yolka stammered, blushing furiously as her gaze locked unblinking onto Cassian’s perfect features. "My... my name is Yolka. C-can I have..."

Before she could stammer out the rest of her sentence, Cassian’s voice cut through the air. It was a merciless, bone-chilling drawl that hit Yolka like a physical blow, wrapping around her throat like a death threat.

"Get out of here before I lose my temper."

Behind Yolka, Susan’s jaw dropped in horror. She immediately scrambled backward. "That exact statement... it sounds way too familiar," she realized in a panic, taking several rapid steps backward until she was safely out of the immediate blast radius.

Yolka bit her lower lip, foolishly unwilling to give up her prize so easily. "I just want to make friends. We could exchange contacts! Could... could you just take one look at me first?" she pleaded, her eyes fixed desperately on Cassian.

Raymond finally glanced up, raking a look of profound disgust over Yolka before soundlessly returning to his screen, utterly dismissing her existence.

Cassian, however, slowly lifted his head. His eyes were devoid of humanity—cold, lethal, and brimming with the promise of violence. His hand subtly ghosted toward the concealed weapon at his side. He was fully prepared to draw it, right up until his predatory gaze flicked over Yolka’s shoulder and caught sight of Nova in the distance.

Instantly, the tension bleeding from his posture vanished, replaced by an easy, languid grace.

"You want my number, huh?" Cassian drawled, deliberately pitching his voice to carry across the boutique, just loud enough for Nova to hear.

"Shameless," Raymond murmured under his breath, instantly recognizing exactly what Cassian was trying to do.

Cassian allowed a slow, sinful smile to curve his lips. "Now it’s my queen’s turn to pamper me," he thought in dark amusement, his eyes locked on Nova.

Right on cue, Nova paused her browsing. Hearing his voice, she turned toward the lounge. The moment she spotted Yolka in front of Cassian, her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. A heavy, suffocating, almost tangible aura of pure murder rolled off her in waves, instantly dropping the temperature of the entire store.

"Congratulations," she thought darkly as she began her approach. "Another body is going to need an ambulance."