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Perhaps she was always like this.

Mason Nightshade thought to himself.

In his heart, he preferred her this way, stunningly sharp like a sword, so no one could hurt her; those who approached her would be cut by her keen blade.

Mason wished to hold Aurelia Shaw up as such an unapologetic, overbearing person who doesn't know the heights of the sky.

"As long as you have the ability."

Mason curved his lips in a smile, a flicker of light dancing in his eyes.

"Think I can't kill you?"

Aurelia raised an eyebrow, her peach blossom eyes filled with audacity, her face vibrant and exceptionally beautiful.

"No." Mason uttered a single word, "If anyone could kill me, it would definitely be you." He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Because I will never guard against you."

Warm breath stirred next to her ear.

Aurelia's gaze suddenly became sharp, and with ghostly speed, she drew a knife, moving it toward Mason's neck. When the blade was an inch away, it deviated slightly, grazing his skin, leaving a fine bloody mark instantly.

Aurelia looked up at Mason, not expecting him to genuinely not evade it, not realizing that she subconsciously shifted the blade an inch; otherwise, Mason's neck would have a big hole by now.

"Didn't I say I wouldn't guard against you?" Mason chuckled softly, touching his neck and looking at the blood on his fingertip, frowning slightly, gazing at Aurelia with a wounded expression.

"Honey, how many times have I been hurt because of you now?"

Mason extended his right hand, where a deep wound lay in his palm, simply treated but not bandaged, inflicted by her a few days ago.

"One..."

Mason counted, then pointed to his neck, "Two... three..." He rolled up his sleeve, his arm still bandaged, but the wound no longer seeped blood like before.

"The old wounds haven't healed, and there are new ones. In the country, there aren't three people who can injure me like this at such a close range, and abroad, no more than five. Honey, you should take responsibility for these injuries on my body! If my men knew their former officer was covered in scars, they'd laugh at me."

Mason cheekily brought up a wry smile, blinking at Aurelia, as if there was a tail wagging behind him, waiting for praise from his master.

Aurelia laughed, "I've heard that repaying debts and returning favors are justified, but never of anyone actively seeking a beating and demanding someone else to take responsibility for it. Wouldn't it be worse if your men knew their officer played the victim?"

Mason didn't expect his good intentions would be turned around on him as something he sought out himself.

Yet, isn't that exactly what he's done?

Not to mention suffering these injuries for her, he might do something crazy just to make her smile.

"Yes, I brought it on myself, but..." Mason paused, suddenly lowered his head, and softly murmured, "I also want to ask for a little reward."

His thin lips lightly brushed over her creamy-white foot.

He raised his head to look at her, as if having gained a great advantage, smugly curling his lips, "If I only do loss-making deals, it would be too much of a loss for me."

Aurelia was stunned, staring at him in disbelief, the spot on her instep where he kissed feeling as hot as if it had been burned by lava, her toes curled, and she could only glare at him in anger and astonishment.

Mason's lips lifted, and he stood up, his tall figure blocking the light behind him, the deep emotion in his eyes boldly revealing the feelings in his heart, gazing unblinkingly into her eyes.