Once an assassin, always an assassin.

"Nice question," she replied, her voice smooth yet filled with an edge sharper than a dragon's talon. It was evident that the sweet, innocent girl he once knew had transformed, perhaps revealing what had long been hidden beneath the surface.

"You know the answer to that question, or better still, save it for another day. What goes around comes around, my dear." Her words were laced with confidence.

The air grew thick with anticipation as she spoke.

"Let's get down to business; it's payback time," Eva declared, a smirk illuminating her features . The phrase sent ripples of unease through Marcello's heart.

"Payback?"

Marcello lifted an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing at the edges of his lips. He leaned back against the bed, feigning nonchalance as he tried to decipher the tempest of emotion swirling in her deep green eyes.

"And what do you think you're going to do?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Eva snarled, raising her whip with a grace that belied her fierce demeanor. With a flick of her wrist, the whip arced through the air, lashing out at Marcello.

The leather coiled around him, its touch firm yet purposeful. He winced as the whip's edge grazed his skin. The pain was sharp but fleeting. Yet, he held his tongue, refusing to show any weakness as he met her fierce gaze, determination spiraling thicker than the fog around them.

"You think you can intimidate me?" he said, his voice steady, resonating with a confidence. "I will make you pay for this, Eva. You know how this is supposed to go."

"What a curious notion," she replied, her lips curling into a smirk, eyes alight with mischief. "You presume to believe that I fear your threats, my-dear-husband? "

"Ah, I know, but one day is for the owner, dear Marcello." Eva's voice turned low like the rumble of distant thunder. "You made me pass through hell yesterday, and now, it's your turn to feel what l felt when you whipped me mercilessly. "

She stepped closer, her presence a tempest as the air crackled with arcane energy

" And don't worry, l already accomplished your mission for you."

As Eva watched a waiting for Mercelo to wake up, a strange buzzing sound caught her attention, a rhythmic vibration that seemed to pulsate through the air.

It came from his wardrobe.

She blinked, puzzled. There was no logical reason for a buzzing phone in mercelo's wardrobe, especially not at this hour. Curiosity piqued, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and approached the wooden closet.

As she he pulled open the heavy door, it was filled with dust motes. Behind a pile of forgotten clothes, she spotted a sleek, black phone that seemed oddly out of place, its rounded edges reminiscent of a bygone era. Yet it felt like a personal inventory because it had a screen on it.

Before she could think twice, she picked it up. It was surprisingly cool to the touch, almost alive. The buzzing intensified, and as she pressed the button on the side, the screen flickered to life.

To her astonishment, it resembled a device straight out of the early 80s, a time long past. But it was functional, and that was all that mattered.

The screen displayed a text message notification, and her heart raced as she he navigated through the cryptic interface. To her suprise, the messages spoke of elimination missions.

Each one detailed a name, an address, even a brief description of the target, along with all the pictures.

Before Eva could process what she was seeing, the phone buzzed again. A blurry image appeared on the screen, along with another name and address. It was clear now that this was no ordinary phone. No wonder the owning keep it hidden.

Besides, she was so familiar with such things. Afterall she too had the same profession before but the difference was, she as Lewis had principles. Unfortunately, Mercelo has non.

She decided to eliminate the target for Mercelo who was still unconscious.

Immediately she returned back home, so did Mercelo wake up.

She made sure that she flagged him mercilessly just the way he did to her, untill Mercelo was so stranded and helpless, his wounds were fresh, he winced but no tears or wailed escaped from him.

Eva leaned in closer, a smirk blossoming on her face, "we're done for today. Do you wish to continue our little game?" she asked, her voice laced with mischief. "Or shall we move to the next stage of your lesson?"

Mercelo strained against the binding bed, his resolve attempting to overshadow the pain.

"If that will make you happy, then go ahead," he replied, though his words dripped with sarcasm.

" Haha.."

This prompted a laugh from Eva, clear and free. "You think I seek happiness in your suffering? Oh, sweet Mercelo, you still misunderstand my intentions." She stepped back gracefully, weaving her fingers through intricate hand signs.

"This is not about happiness. But my– fuckin– life ."

The man laying on the bed tied fixed his gaze on her. "Just pray l don't get out of here, otherwise, l will killed you for the second time you w*tch!" He thought.

" Haha.." Eva laughter chimed in the dim room, but it held no joy. She devilishly smiled. "I know what your thinking, you feel like skining me , right?"

Yes, indeed, she was right.

Mercelo was still convinced and so sure that he had killed Eva, but how she come to be alive baffled and puzzled him.

"Mercelo." She teased while climbing on top of him. " You know, we make a perfect combination. We can be friends cause l clearly don't love you, or we can be enemies under the same roof. The choice is yours."

She wasn't remorse, rather she was dominate and confident.

"Keep you friends close, but keep your enemies closer." She said while opening his pant zipper. " But do you even have a friend?" She scoffed.

What ever dirt that Mercelo did to her, she did them all to him including having intimacy after flogging. And even did it better.

What could he possible do? he was tied and helpless till morning.

The soft light of morning spilled through the open windows, casting a golden hue on everything it touched.

Eva untied the ropes that bound him to the bed, when he wakes up, his whole body was wounded , the pain had intensified and throbbed him.

A low moan escaped from the other side of the bed. It was her husband, Mercelo, nestled in a pile of blankets, his face twisted in pain as he stirred from a restless sleep.

Eva quietly turned approaching him, her heart pounding with a mix of mockery and laughter.

"Aassh!" Mercelo cried out as he tried to turn, instinctively making a movement that sent waves of pain crashing through his body. His wounds, a gruesome tapestry of cuts and bruises.

"Hubby, are you okay?" Eva's voice, filled with concern, cut through the room. Yet beneath her lay a suppressed laugh,

"What happened? How did you get wounded?" she gently probed, making her way closer to him.

"I don't know," Mercelo gasped, confusion etched on his brow.

His eyes, however, wandered beyond his aches, landing on Eva. The shock coursing through him grew deeper, for the first time in two years, she was unscathed. No bruises or gashes marred her skin. Instead he was.

Marcelo struggled to sit up, grunting as pain throbbed from his ribs.

Eva got up from the bed and headed to the same drawer where Mercelo keeps the ointment that he uses on her.

"Since you want to play this game, l will tag along." She said inwardly. Then sat besides Mercelo applying the ointment on his wounded body gently as she blew with her lips slight cooling the pain.

"Eva, thank you." He glanced at her behind the mask he was happy seeing Eva taking good care of him.

Unable to walk because if the throbbing pain inflicted on his body, Mercelo had to be indoor for the whole day..

Going downstairs, Eva met lady Sophia whose face was cold and glum as she gave her a sharp gaze that could freeze time if given a chance.

"What did you do to him? Without greetings, she shot at Eva. For a moment, curiosity spiked Eva. " Why is she so much concerned about Mercelo?" She thought .

She raised her eyebrows and looked at the old lady before her. "I did what he did to me, it's not bad if he taste the taste of his own medicine. Do you have a problem with it."

"How dare you? Who gave you the audacity, the temerity to treat him like that?" Lady Sophia's voice rose, her frustration bubbling over. Her pointed fingers gestured toward where Eva was standing.