"All done."

Serena had her eyes shut, mentally reciting a list of herbal remedies to distract

herself. Just as she was about to reach the hundredth one, Nicholas finally finished with her hair.

She immediately tried to turn away, to escape the feeling of his fingers weaving through her hair and brushing against her scalp.

But just as she moved, Nicholas drew his fingers back.

The warm touch of his fingertips grazed the skin on her neck.

A shiver ran through her...

It was a jolt that went straight to her core.

Serena practically jumped, whirling around and taking two steps back. Her clear,

bright eyes widened as she glared at him.

Little did she know, the way she looked right then...

...was so adorable that Nicholas was struggling to keep himself in check.

The corners of her eyes, slightly upturned, were tinged with a faint pink. Her bright eyes were wide, and her face had lost its usual lazy indifference, replaced by a vibrant, lively beauty.

Did this... did this mean that Serena's feelings for him were stronger than he'd imagined? Otherwise, why would she get so flustered from a simple touch?

A smile crept into Nicholas's eyes. His mesmerizing eyes crinkled at the corners, holding a captivating allure.

Serena's ears burned again.

*Smile, smile, smile. What's so funny?* she thought. *The moment things get tense, he resorts to using his looks. Such a show-off, strutting around like an arrogant peacock!*

Serena tore her gaze away from under her long, dark lashes and started walking toward the elevator. "I'm going to go see how... ahem, how Hazel is doing with her dress. She's not used to wearing gowns, so she might need some help.”

The sharp click of her high heels echoed in the empty space, each sound like a tap against Nicholas's heart.

The hem of her fiery red dress swayed as she walked away. That slender, graceful back was dazzling.

The smile in Nicholas's eyes deepened as he took a long stride and followed her. They stood side by side in the elevator.

Nicholas glanced at her, watching the girl who, despite her tense emotions, maintained a look of calm composure.

His thin lips curved slightly as he smoothly changed the subject. "That friend of yours has some impressive skills just like your she managed to ride a motorcycle right through the Blackwood family estate's defense system. Her background can't be simple."

"If you want to know something, you can ask her yourself," Serena said, her dark

lashes lowered. "If she's willing to tell you, that is.”

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, a

thoughtful expression appearing in his star-like eyes. "A moment ago, I thought heard your friend.call you

something Demon?

Nicholas deliberately lowered his voice on the last word, his tone laced with a hint of mystery.

He was not unfamiliar with that codename.

It was the stuff of legends in the

Gray Zone, belonging to the one who

controlled the medicine and

intelligence networks of that

shadowy territory. It was also the title of the leader of the Ghost

Alliance, one of the three major powers whose name alone struck fear into people's hearts.

They called this person the 'Living Demon.'

How old was Serena?

Twenty years old, and the Living Demon of the Gray Zone?

Nicholas's lips curled into a smile.

He wondered just how many other identities the girl had. One after another, each

more astonishing than the last.

He couldn't wait to see what surprise her next identity would bring.

The elevator arrived on the second floor.

Serena stepped out.

Just as the man followed her, she stopped, tilting her head slightly and narrowing her beautiful eyes. "Are you testing me?"

“I'm just curious how a young woman like you ended up with a nickname like that,” the man said with a frank expression and a low chuckle.

Serena shot him a look before walking off again. “Then you can stay curious."