The rhythmic beeping of the treadmill blends with the soft chime of the watch strapped around Julian Chen's wrist.
He taps the button, and the machine gradually slows. Sweat clings to his chiseled body, defined by daily discipline and relentless control—traits that mirror the man himself.
Ross Lau, his ever-efficient assistant, steps into the private gym just as Julian dismounts. Without a word, he hands over a clean face towel.
Julian wipes his brow, eyes already sharp with thought.
"What time does Alex arrive?"
"He didn't say," Ross replies, falling into step beside him as Julian strides toward the bedroom.
Julian stops briefly.
"Who did you send to pick him up from the airport?" he asks, wiping the sweat on him.
"Director Zhou." Ross answered.
Julian tosses the towel, which Ross catches on reflex.
His frown deepens and he send Ross a glare before opening proceeding inside.
At the bedroom door, Julian halts—one foot in, one foot out. He looks over his shoulder.
"Clothes?"
"Miss Jiang said she laid them out for you already."
A short nod is all Ross receives before the door closes in his face.
Inside, Julian steps into his luxurious, dimly lit bedroom and freezes for a second.
Abigail, wrapped in nothing but a towel, sits before the mirror.
Her bare back glows under the vanity lights. She turns with a slow smile, her eyes lighting up as she rises and saunters toward him.
"You're early," she purrs, arms sliding around his neck and she plant a kiss on his lips.
Julian doesn't hesitate. His hands find her waist, pulling her close.
He meets her lips with urgency, craving something more than he admits even to himself but Abigail stops him.
"You are going to be late, Mr. Chen" she murmurs with a breathy giggle, teasing as she draws back.
"The company can wait" he said moving his face to take her lips fully but she tilt her head back.
"Lulu's on her way. I need to get ready."
Julian's grip tightens slightly.
"You shouldn't have kissed me, then."
Julian captured her dark rose lips, imprisoning them into his. He trails his fingers down her spine.
His eyes flicker to the edge of her towel and just as his hand begins to loosen it, a knock interrupts.
"Mr. Chen?" Ross Lau's voice came.
Julian mutters a curse under his breath, jaw tightening with irritation.
Wanting to punch him until he can no longer hear his voice.
Abigail sighs and pulls away, reapplying her lipstick in the mirror, her mood soured as well.
"What is it?" Julian growls as he swings the door open.
"Alex landed early. He is heading to the company as we speak."
Julian slams the door shut without another word, moving briskly to the closet. His motions are mechanical now—cold, efficient.
Then he head inside the bathroom to take a shower and came out soon.
Abigail already puts on a white dress, his favorite and Julian also dresses in silence.
He plants a kiss on Abigail's cheek as she slides on heels.
"I'll see you in two days after your trip."
"Lulu's stuck in traffic," she says sweetly, putting a final touch to her face.
"Do you mind dropping me off?"
"Hmm"
Taking the elevator down to the secret back entry to avoid the prying eyes watching them recently, they soon arrived outside and wait for the car.
Ever since tabloids leaked their hand-in-hand photos, the media has been relentless.
Being a model under the company's agency, rumors of their relationship has been flying around.
"She's a model under our agency," Ross had reassured him.
"We've managed the rumors."
"There better not be a slip-up," Julian mutters now as they walk toward the car.
Ross nods and hurries ahead, pulling the door of sleek black car open.
Abigail glides into the passenger seat. Julian slides in beside her, already absorbed in his tablet.
Abigail scrolls through her phone, casting him the occasional glance but saying nothing. She knows this mood—his business mode. Untouchable.
Julian tries not to make a big deal out of it but he couldn't help but question Alex early arrival, two hours before the said time.
He had spent the weekend in his vacation house with Abigail after getting the report of her pregnancy and plans to marry her despite her grandfather's objection.
And the thought that his grandfather has a hand in making Alex arrive early and heading directly to the company.
He flips the screen, trying to focus, but the tension under his skin won't fade.
Just as he flips to another report, the car jerks.
He lurches forward, tablet slipping from his hands. He turns sharply toward Ross.
"What the hell was that?"
"I—I'm sorry sir. Something's wrong. The brakes…"
Before he can finish, the car veers again.
Julian hits his head against the front seat. Dazed, he blinks, barely registering Abigail's scream. The world seems to tilt.
His eyes flashes to the road and Ross Lau makes another swerve, trying to avoid crashing into another vehicle.
"Ross! Hit the freaking brakes!"
"I am! They're not responding!" Ross replies, his feet hitting the same spot severally and he almost collide with another car.
"The brakes wouldn't work sir." Ross says in a panic and makes more dangerous swerves, trying not to kill others.
Julian's breath catches. The vehicle speeds up, swerving dangerously. Horns blare. Tires screech.
Abigail also starts to panic at this point.
"Julian, I don't want to die!" Abigail sob, clutching his arm in a death grip.
Julian wraps an arm around her protectively, instinctively shielding her—and the baby. His mind is racing. Fear prickles at his spine, sharp and cold.
Ross Lau try to think of what to do to avoid the looming accident, the car keep increasing speed on its own and the warning light alert them of the danger.
The sound adds to Julian's panic state of mind and he loses concentration.
The car goes into more dangerous turns which force everyone gluing to their seat while Ross Lau lost his grip on the steering causing them to finally crash into a woman on a tricycle about to make a turn to the road they are on.
The windscreen shatters, breaking into the car.
The right rear view mirror fly off the car, Julian use his body to shield Abigail from the glasses and the tiny pieces pierce his skin.
The car turn again shattering the window glass on Julian's side, the pieces hit him painfully but he is unable to make a sound rather he screams inside.
The roof crushes down. The side windows burst. Pain screams through his legs.
Julian move his eyeballs to see Abigail stuck at the back seat and Ross Lau 's head drain in blood, he gasp for breathe not wanting to give up
He hears her muffled cry.
Ross groans.
And then—
Silence.
Julian's vision fades. The scent of blood. Glass crunching.
His last thought: Not her. Don't let her die.
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