The scholarship student I sponsored for three years, Julian Vance, finally graduated from college. He stood at my door carrying large bags of Homemade Jam, his tanned face full of rustic gratitude. "Sarah, without you, I wouldn't be here today. Please accept this small token of my appreciation." I smiled and invited him in, heart feeling warm. Just as I turned to pour him water, a cold voice suddenly sounded in my mind. [This apartment location is great. Kill her, and it's mine.] My hand holding the cup shook, water spilled all over the floor. Chapter 1 I took a deep breath, poured another glass of water, turned and walked back to the living room, a decent smile on my face. "Julian, drink some water." "Thank you, Sarah." He took the cup, eyes still so simple and honest. [Her parents' old house is also worth a lot. Heard her mention last time, it's in the old school district downtown. Tomorrow I'll go 'visit' them in the name of thanking them for their cultivation.] [Wait until their whole family dies 'accidentally', I will be the owner of this house. Then use her identity information to apply for loans, figure out a way to get her company's money too. Perfect!] This young man with a rustic smile was sipping water, eyes full of "longing for future life". And my back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, clenched fists, barely kept myself from screaming. Not an hallucination. This brother-like student I sponsored for three years, treated like family, is listing poisonous murder plans one by one, ready to bite the hand that feeds him anytime! Chapter 2 Run! Call the police! This was the first thought flashed in my mind. But I can't. No surveillance at home, no substantial conflict between us, acting rashly, what to say when police come? They will only think I'm mentally ill. Startling the snake, this wolf Julian who looks simple but is actually vicious, will only hide deeper, use more covert means to deal with me and my family. Must be calm. I forced a smile, pointed to the jam he brought: "Julian, you are so thoughtful. Had dinner? How about eating here, I'll cook something for you." Julian immediately put down the cup, eyes lit up, smile more "sincere". "How can I accept that, too much trouble for you Sarah!" [Eat, of course eat. Just right to add the stuff I brought. This is Death Cap Mushroom powder gathered from mountains in my village, ground into powder, colorless and tasteless, internal organs fail within three hours after eating, even gods can't save. Police will only identify as food poisoning, accidental death.] My heart sank to the bottom. He even brought the murder weapon! I glanced at that bulging cloth bag, seemingly rustic local specialties, actually my death warrant. "Not trouble, not trouble at all." I stood up, tried to make my voice sound normal, "What do you want to eat? Let me see what's in the fridge." I need an excuse, an excuse to leave his sight and seek help from outside. "Sister, I love whatever you make." Julian rubbed his hands, face full of expectation, "Right Sarah, the dried bamboo shoots I brought make the freshest soup, how about stewing a pork rib bamboo shoot soup tonight?" The dagger is revealed. My heart beat wildly, but face smiled: "Okay, good idea. But..." I frowned pretending to be distressed: "Such a coincidence, I ate seafood two days ago and had some allergy, doctor said diet should be light these days, meat soup temporarily can't drink." A trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed on Julian's face. [Pity, originally a pot of soup could solve. But it doesn't matter, she always has to drink water.] I pretended not to see, walking towards kitchen while saying: "It's okay, I make for you. I'm happy watching you eat. Let me wash rice first." Kitchen and living room are semi-open, he can see my every move. Can't call, can't text, any abnormal move might arouse his suspicion. Back to him, brain spinning fast. I need a helper, a helper who can immediately understand my situation, and is tough enough, plays cards not according to common sense. Police won't work, friends are mostly ordinary white-collars like me... Suddenly, a name jumped out of my mind - my cousin, Vinny. My cousin is a "tough guy", mixed in streets early years, now opened a Private Security Firm, keeping a bunch of brothers, specialized in handling some "hard to handle" troubles. Although he looks unreliable, we grew up together, treats me better than real brother. Only he can use unconventional means to deal with this unconventional demon in front of me. Chapter 3 I smiled and poked my head out from kitchen: "Julian, I promised a cousin before to help him introduce a reliable intern. You just graduated looking for job right? How about I call him over, you chat face to face?" "Job?" Julian's eyes instantly brightened, greedy light flashed past. [Just right! Wait until she's dead, I can justify entering her company under the name of "internship", prepare for next step!] His inner voice made me more certain, this is an excellent bait. "Yes," I took out phone, pretending natural to scroll contacts, "My cousin opened a company himself, very generous, just lacks a smart assistant, I think you are especially suitable! If you are willing, I'll call him over to sit, eat together by the way." "Willing! Of course willing!" Julian stood up excitedly, "Thank you Sarah! You are really my benefactor!" I smiled, dialed cousin Vinny's number in front of him, and pressed speaker. Phone rang twice and connected, came cousin's hanging tone: "Hey? Sarah, why remember calling brother? Is it cheated by some scum man again, want brother help you settle?" A big stone in my heart landed, cleared throat, used a relaxed and slightly showing off tone said: "Get out! I'm introducing talent to you! Remember that college student Julian I sponsored mentioned to you? He graduated, came to see me today, I thought your company lacks people, let him go help you." Julian immediately leaned over, nervously and politely shouted to phone: "Hello Brother Vinny!" Vinny on the other end stunned a bit, then laughed loudly: "Okay, since you introduced, brother must give face. Like this, I happen to be nearby, arrive in half an hour, I bring bottle of good wine, let's chat while eating." "Okay, then you hurry up." I emphasized, "Right brother, when you come over, by the way help me deal with that Mad Dog from old man Wang downstairs." Vinny's voice paused: "Mad Dog? Didn't old man Wang raise a Poodle?" My heart tightened, but tone still calm: "Sigh, don't mention it. Don't know what happened recently, that Poodle like crazy, wants to pounce and bite when seeing people, very fierce. Yesterday even wanted to rush into my house! I a girl, scared watching. Didn't you raise several big dogs, bring a Sturdy Iron Cage over, lock it up first, avoid hurting people." I spoke very slowly, very clearly. "Mad Dog", "Want to rush into my house", "Sturdy Iron Cage". This is the secret code between me and cousin. Childhood we lived opposite doors, neighbor raised a vicious dog, once almost bit me, was cousin carrying a baseball bat, blocked it in corner, saved me. Since then, "Mad Dog" became our code for "Extremely Dangerous Villain". Phone other end silent for few seconds. I can even imagine cousin's playful face, smile instantly disappearing expression. "Okay, I know." His voice became steady and brief, "Cage, I will bring. Lock door at home, wait for me." Hung up phone, I let out a long breath. Julian unaware, still immersed in joy of getting good job. [This cousin sounds like a stupid rich man, just right, wait I inherit Sarah's everything, then swallow his company too.] Killing intent surged in my heart. Swallow my cousin's company? Julian, you won't have this chance. Today this home, is the iron cage prepared for you. Chapter 4 Half an hour, long like a century. I pretended busy in kitchen, washing vegetables, cutting vegetables, but corner of eye never left Julian in living room for a second. He sat on sofa, seemingly uneasy, hands constantly rubbing on pants, like a nervous youth about to interview. Actually thinking in heart: [Why this woman always dawdling in kitchen? Rice not cooked yet. When her stupid cousin comes, will there be variables?] [No, can't wait anymore.] [Still have to follow original plan, let her drink spiked water first.] My heart thumped, saw him pick up water cup, stand up walking towards me. "Sarah, you worked hard, rest a while. Let me help you." Face still hanging incomparable concerned smile. But I saw, at moment approaching, his fingertip quickly wiped on cup rim. Some colorless tasteless powder, already quietly dissolved into water. "No need no need, I'll be ready soon." I hurriedly waved hand, heart almost jumping out from throat. "Sarah, just drink mouthful water, look you busy sweating all over." He involuntarily handed water cup to my mouth, eyes carrying a trace of unquestionable paranoia. I stared dead at that cup of water, dissolved inside, is deadly poison causing organ failure. What to do? Knock over directly? That is undoubtedly tearing face immediately, with my physical strength, simply not his opponent. I had a bright idea, body suddenly swayed, pretended unstable, kitchen knife in hand "accidentally" slipped, clatter fell on ground, tip pointing right at his foot. "Ah!" Julian scared screamed, instinctively jumped back step, dodged kitchen knife. Water cup in his hand also because this violent shake, spilled big half. "Sorry, sorry!" I panicked apologized, hurriedly squatted to pick knife, "Too tired working overtime these days, little low blood sugar, dizzy." Julian face gloomy terrible, but soon recovered that honest look, only deep in eyes added a trace impatience. [Waste! Even can't hold a cup of water steady!] [Seems gentle way won't work. This woman is more alert than I thought.] He bent down, reached hand want support me, I however heard his inner vicious voice roaring. [I have to tie her up first! Later her cousin comes, find chance lure him to balcony, push down from behind! 20th floor, die for sure. Then come back solve this woman, say they siblings quarreled, accidental killing then suicide in fear of crime.] My body stiffened. "Sarah, are you okay?" He supported me, other hand quietly reached towards cloth bag putting local specialties before. Side of that bag, impressively exposed a section of rough hemp rope! Chapter 5 "Ding dong! Ding dong!" Just at moment Julian finger about to touch hemp rope, doorbell rang. Urgent, loud, like a lifesaving thunder. Julian movement suddenly paused, face flashed a trace suspicion and irritability. [Who? Didn't her cousin say half hour? Only twenty minutes!] My heart wild joy, busy broke free Julian hand, almost rolling crawling rushed to door. "Must be delivery, fruit I ordered arrived!" I randomly found excuse, hands busy feet messy to open door. Julian closely followed behind me, eyes staring me like wolf, one hand already touched pants pocket, there hard, like a folding knife. He had killing intent! My hand on door handle, constantly trembling because nervous. Outside door, must be cousin. Please. I fiercely pulled open door. Standing outside, indeed is cousin Vinny. He didn't come alone. Behind followed four strong men wearing black T-shirts, each muscle solid, eyes sharp, look like trained fighters. And leading Vinny, changed past playfulness, expression cold like a block of ice. His hand, really carrying a half-person high, flashing metal cold light pet steel bar cage! Scene once very weird. Julian face instantly white, hand holding knife handle in pocket also suddenly froze. [What happened? Why came so many people? Still bringing cage?] [Could it be... she discovered? Impossible! Where did I reveal flaw?!] Vinny gaze like falcon dead locked on Julian, deep voice asked: "Sarah, is it him?" I heavily nodded. That instant, Julian eyes completely changed. All simplicity, gratitude, shyness disappeared without trace, replaced by angry from embarrassment of being seen through and poison quenched resentment. "What do you want?!" He fierce appearance but weak inside roared, "Sarah, what mean you? I good heart come see you, you actually called a gang of hooligans to deal with me!" Not wait me speak, Vinny already waved hand. "Do it!" Two strong men behind him pounced like tigers down mountain, one each side, instantly twisted Julian arms behind back, dead pressed on ground. Julian desperately struggled, mouth emitted beast like roar, but under absolute power suppression, all resistance appeared so ridiculous. Other two quickly entered room, closed door, and carefully checked all corners. "Brother Vinny, safe." Vinny then threw iron cage "Clang" sound on ground, walked to suppressed Julian, squatted down, used hand patted his flushed red face. "Kid, guts not small ah, idea hit on my sister head?" Julian dead stared me, resentment in eyes almost turned into substance: "Sarah! You this poison woman! I saw through you! You simply not sincerely want help me, you just want treat me as pet charity, satisfy your pathetic superiority! Now I graduated, no utilization value, you want kick me away, even find people humiliate me!" He started inverting black white, trying shape himself as victim. If I didn't hear his inner voice, really might be deceived by his grief and indignation look. [Must make big! As long as police come, I am weak! A poor student beaten by mafia called by sponsor, public opinion will stand my side! That time I not only can escape, can also bite her back, ruin her reputation!] I listened his inner calculation, only felt a burst nausea. "Cousin," I coldly opened mouth, "Search his pocket, and that cloth bag." A strong man immediately stepped forward, searched out a sharp folding knife from Julian pants pocket, and from that cloth bag full of "local specialties", dug out a roll rough hemp rope, and a packet wrapped in oil paper, emitting weird smell yellow powder. Vinny picked up that packet powder, smelled under nose, face sudden change. "This is 'Cyanide' local recipe," he eyes ice cold looking Julian, "Kid, you good ah, even this insidious thing brought!" "I don't know what you talking about!" Julian still hard mouth, "That is pesticide used in my hometown! You guys planting stolen goods framing!" He roared while looking me with forest cold eyes, seemed saying: Sarah, you have no evidence. Yes, I have no evidence. These things, he can completely quibble. Even police come, at most illegal possession of controlled knife, simply can't convict him attempted murder. But today, I simply didn't plan go conventional route. I looked at Julian dead pressed on ground, slowly opened mouth: "Julian, you think why I suddenly called my cousin?" Julian stunned. I slowly walked to him, squatted down, looked straight into his eyes, used voice only we two can hear, word by word said: "Because, I can hear." Julian pupils, at this moment, fiercely shrank into needle tip size.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "390545", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel