A female police officer , worried she might be shaken , had wanted to accompany her to a hotel , but Claudia sent her away with the excuse that she needed time alone . She stared at the ruins for a long time before finally moving her numb legs . Walking to her car , just as she was about to open the door , she spotted a figure in the grass . Calmly , she opened the door , took out a fruit knife , and approached slowly . Pushing aside the overgrown weeds , under the blanket of stars a sharp , handsome face came into view . Even lying down , the man's tall frame and strong build were obvious . His closed black eyes carried an air of mystery , and with blood smeared across his face , his already cold and distant features looked even more aloof . Most importantly , he was someone she knew . Claudia nudged him with her foot . " Tsk , what poor thing have we got here ? " She admired the broken beauty of the fallen man for a moment before turning to leave without hesitation . But as she turned away , a long , pale hand caught her ankle . The man had opened his eyes at some point . Those deep , whirlpool - like black irises locked on her in wonder . " To treat your savior so heartlessly , Ms. Lancaster , isn't that a bit too cruel ? " Weren't young girls supposed to be soft - hearted and righteous ? Claudia wasn't the least bit surprised he knew her name . From the way the police chief himself had come to greet him in fear and respect the other day , it was obvious this man's identity was unusual . But so what ? " Every TV drama tells us never to pick up strange men off the roadside . And besides , don't you think right now you look exactly like some fugitive killer ? " she said firmly . What decent man would be lying in the grass at midnight covered in blood ? Sterling - who really had just fed two men to wolves tonight - let out a low , amused laugh . " Is that so ? But doesn't a killer pair perfectly with an arsonist ? " 1/5 9:37 Tue , Oct 7 His gaze lingered with a smile on Claudia's suddenly darkened expression . Though lying on the ground beneath her , he carried himself with calm authority , as though he were the one looking down from above . No matter how much she grit her teeth , Claudia still ended up dragged into Sterling's ploy . She brought him back to her tiny apartment , and when the man deliberately leaned against her shoulder for support , she flung him straight onto the sofa without care . The motion was anything but gentle , and Sterling groaned . " You really don't want to go to a hospital ? " " No need . Someone will come soon ." Claudia looked at the bloody wounds that seemed far too serious to leave untreated . She hesitated . " What's wrong ? Feeling sorry for me ? " Sterling's brows lifted , his tone laced with mockery . Claudia's face was serious . " No. I just don't want you dying in my house . That's unlucky ." " Don't worry . Even if I did die , someone would come to collect the body . " " If they can collect the body , can't they just take you while you're alive ? " Her expression practically shouted : Hurry up and leave already . Sterling barely hid the curve of his lips . " No. Because I have to give you the chance to repay me . " Claudia's face fell . Though he joked , he didn't let his guard down for a moment . After resting briefly , he forced himself up and casually inspected every corner of her apartment . He had lost a shocking amount of blood , his face pale , yet he didn't utter a word of complaint . The way he methodically checked the place - clearly the work of someone used to danger . Claudia pretended not to notice . She had no interest in him , no curiosity . Her life was already in ruins - she didn't want any more chaos . 275 9:38 Tue , Oct 7 When Sterling finally stumbled and half - collapsed in front of the sofa , Claudia was already in the kitchen boiling wontons . Too much had happened in just a few days . She hadn't even had a proper meal . Now , back in her own space , all she felt was hunger . Ten minutes later , she set down a steaming bowl of wontons on the table and lazily wandered back to glance at the man lying on the rug . She had noticed in the car already - his willpower was incredible . Anyone else would have passed out from so much blood loss , but he had stayed alert , always watching the rearview mirror . He was either a criminal or a man being hunted . If not for his refined appearance , like some noble young master , she would have thought him nothing but a man who lived with a blade at his throat . " Hey , still alive ? " she asked , too lazy to bend down , giving him a nudge with her foot . Back in her safe little home , Claudia had changed into a simple white dress . Her bare feet padded across the floor . Her delicate face was tense , her slender legs swaying slightly as she moved , her pale ankles gleaming like fine jade . When he didn't respond , she pressed the soft curve of her toes against his chest . Hmm . His heartbeat was strong enough . Claudia pressed harder , jabbing him a few more times . Ever since he had scared her in the car with tales of the tortures his enemies would inflict if they caught him , she had wanted to do this . If not now , when ? A cold hand clamped around her foot . " Ah- " 7 Sterling stared at her , exasperated at being caught feigning unconsciousness . Her eyes betrayed a flicker of guilt even as she tried to look unfazed . He hadn't been fully out - no injured man could survive her torment otherwise . Besides , if he hadn't stopped her , that foot of hers would have ended up on his face . 3/5 9:38 Tue , Oct 7 82 Every time he touched her , he was gripped by an odd hunger for her skin , an urge to hold it , knead it . And despite himself , he squeezed . Smack- The world froze . Her foot had snapped up into his jaw . So this was the price of having restless hands . Sterling's chest heaved , but he caught her ankle again and pressed it back against his chest . His bloody palm left a red smear on her white foot , staining its purity with his darkness . His deep eyes held an unreadable emotion . " Mr. Romero- " Two men suddenly burst in . Claudia's eyes widened . She recognized one - the assistant Clint , whom she had seen at the police station . The other , a gaunt , drowsy man with messy hair and a medical kit , had to be the one Sterling had been expecting . Claudia shot them both a condemning glare , then turned that same accusing look on the man still clutching her foot . The message was clear . Breaking into private property ? Picking locks ? And you claim you're law - abiding ? But Clint and David Dune were far more shocked than she was . Good heavens ! Save them ! What were they seeing ? The Reaper himself - the man who had thrown even naked beauties to the wolves without blinking - was now lying there , holding a woman's delicate foot as if it were a treasure , wearing an expression of utter contentment . And hadn't he been injured ? How was he still playing these games ? Truly an iron man . Would they even live to tell the tale of what they'd witnessed ? 4/5 9:38 Tue , Oct 7 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!