Chapter 20

Ivy ran out of the room, her high heels clicking on the marble floor as she desperately sought escape from the horror she had just witnessed. She didn't stop until she reached the bar, where she grabbed a bottle of liquor from the table and made a swift exit.

The cool night air hit her like a slap in the face, but she didn't slow down. She kept walking, the bottle clutching tightly in her hand, until she found herself alone in a deserted alleyway. It was there that she finally stopped, her back against the wall, and unscrewed the cap of the bottle.

The liquor burned her throat as she drank, but she didn't care. She needed something, anything, to erase the image of that dead body from her mind. Born into a mafia family, Ivy had always been sheltered from the cruel realities of their world. Her brother and father had always kept her away from it, but now she had seen it up close and personal.

As she drank, Ivy's mind raced with thoughts of what she had just seen. The way Victor had killed that man, the way he had looked at her with such intensity... it was all too much to bear. She drank until the bottle was empty, until she felt numb and detached from the world around her.

Meanwhile, Liam was busy flirting with the girls at the bar, completely oblivious to Ivy's departure. That was until Victor appeared, his eyes scanning the room with a sense of urgency. He spotted Liam and strode over, pulling him away from the girls with a firm grip.

"Which way has Ivy gone?" Victor demanded, his voice low and menacing.

Liam shrugged, confused. "How would I know? She was with you."

Victor's expression turned cold. "Idiot, she just got out of here. I have to find her. Clean the mess inside."

Saying this, Victor turned and ran, leaving Liam staring after him in confusion. Liam's eyes narrowed as he wondered what was going on. Was Victor really concerned about Ivy's whereabouts? And why?

Liam shook his head, chuckling to himself as he watched Victor disappear into the night. Victor was impossible to understand, always acting on his own terms, never explaining his motives. What had he done now? Liam wondered, a hint of amusement still lingering on his face.

With a shrug, Liam headed back inside, his mind still reeling with questions about Victor's actions. He knew he had to clean up the mess, but he had no idea what he was walking into. As he entered the room, he was met with a sight that made his blood run cold.

**************************

Ivy stumbled through the crowded market, her eyes blurred and her head spinning from the vodka. She clutched the empty bottle in her hand, her fingers wrapped tightly around it as if it were a lifeline. She bumped into people left and right, but she didn't apologize or even notice. She was too far gone, lost in her own little world of alcohol and anger.

As she turned a corner, her eyes landed on a Korean fish shop. The sign above the door read "Live Fish" in Korean characters. Ivy's eyes widened as she pushed open the door and stumbled inside.

The shop was dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of saltwater and fish. Ivy's eyes adjusted slowly, and she saw rows of tanks and boxes filled with live fish, crabs, and other sea creatures. Her heart ached as she gazed at the trapped animals.

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged Korean man with a kind face, approached her. "Welcome, miss! What can I help you with?"

Ivy's expression turned from sadness to anger in an instant. "How dare you keep them like this?" she slurred, her words barely intelligible. "They should be free in the ocean!"

The shopkeeper looked taken aback. "I'm sorry, miss. I just sell them to people who want to eat them." Ivy's eyes flashed with anger. "Eat them? You're monsters! Free them, now!"

The shopkeeper hesitated, unsure of what to do. Ivy's anger was contagious, and soon the other customers in the shop were staring, uncomfortable.

The shopkeeper's face turned red with anger. "Look, if you don't want to buy it, then go away from here; don't waste my time, stupid girl."

Ivy's eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you call me stupid? Me, Ivy Elizabeth Smith, an idiot? Who do you think you are? You even know who my fiance is."

The shopkeeper snorted. "Who is your fiance? Even if someone is a mafia king, I am not afraid. Now go away from here."

Ivy's face twisted in rage. She raised the bottle and slammed it onto the counter, breaking it into sharp shards. She pointed the jagged edge at the shopkeeper, her hand shaking with fury.

"Free them quickly, otherwise..." she threatened, her voice low and menacing.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened in fear as he stumbled backward, his hands raised in defense. The people around them gasped, some screaming as they scrambled to get away from the scene. A few brave souls pulled out their phones to call the police.

Victor's eyes scanned the dark and crowded streets, his mind racing with thoughts of Ivy's safety. The neon lights of the market stalls and street vendors cast a colorful glow over the scene, but Victor's focus was solely on finding Ivy. He had been searching for her for what felt like hours, but there was no sign. Just as he was starting to lose hope, he spotted something familiar—Ivy's purse, clutched in the hands of a group of rough-looking boys.

Victor's instincts kicked in, and he strode towards the boys, his anger simmering just below the surface. "Where did you get this purse?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing.

The boys, taken aback by Victor's sudden appearance, exchanged nervous glances. One of them, clearly the leader, sneered at Victor. "What's it to you? Go away from here. I got it first, so it's mine."

Victor didn't have time to argue with them. He knew that every minute counted, and he needed to find Ivy fast. He reached into his coat and pulled out his gun, the metal glinting in the dim light.

The boys' eyes widened in terror as they took in the sight of the weapon. They cowered, backing away from Victor in fear.

"Where did you get this?" Victor repeated, his voice cold and deadly.

One of the boys, still shaking with fear, stuttered out an answer. "A girl had dropped it on the road, and I picked it up from there."

Victor's eyes narrowed. "Which way has that girl gone?" The boy pointed, still trembling. "Towards the market."

Victor didn't hesitate. He took the purse from the boy's hand, shoved the gun back into his coat pocket, and took off running towards the market. As he ran, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had to find Ivy and make sure she was safe. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that something had happened to her.

He burst into the market, his eyes scanning the crowded stalls and shoppers. The vendors and customers alike parted as he pushed through, his eyes fixed on the figure of Ivy, stumbling through the crowds, her eyes wild and unfocused.

Victor's heart skipped a beat as he pushed through the crowds, his eyes fixed on Ivy. He had to reach her, had to protect her.

**********************************