Oceans Between Us, One Moonlit Return

Start Reading

I was the chosen shield for the ruthless gang lord's beloved.

Three years into our marriage, I was kidnapped by his enemies for the eighth time.

Ace arrived with his men to rescue me. The negotiation lasted barely five minutes before the young girl's call came through.

Ace, my dare game led to a kiss, but I want to save my first kiss for you.

Can you come to me?

The moment Ace turned to leave without hesitation, the knife plunged into my abdomen, blood gushing out.

His men, just like the seven times before, paid them off and then sent me to the hospital.

In the ambulance, I vaguely overheard someone speculating if I'd live to see the day that girl could stand on her own.

They burst into laughter, while I wept silently.

The mission to save the gang lord had failed, and the system was about to erase me.

Ace, I won't make it to that day.

The doctor sighed softly beside my ear.

Ms. Spiller, your uterus was already damaged from your last miscarriage, and now it's been stabbed in that very spot again.

I'm afraid you won't be able to bear children anymore.

I stared at the pristine white ceiling, my voice sounding as if it came from a distant place.

It's fine.

After the doctor left, I heard the system sigh too.

Mission failed. You will be erased.

Do you want to restart the mission and continue saving him?

I shook my head. Erase me.

Understood. Erase protocol initiated. You have 72 hours remaining.

I closed my eyes, the silence around me almost unnerving.

But soon, a strange impulse led me to open Chloe Vance's live stream.

Today, she was painting live from the hilltop mansion Ace had bought her.

The young girl, in Ace's oversized men's shirt, her hair in a messy bun, was mixing colors in front of an easel.

In the camera, her cheeks were flushed, and her smile was pure and lovely.

My clothes? Oh, they're my boyfriend's. My own shirts were just impossible to wear.

It was quite intense last night, actually.

As she spoke, she glanced back shyly at the person just out of frame.

She mumbled, I never expected my first kiss and first time to happen on the same day

A man's deep, gentle voice drifted in. My apologies. I'll be gentler next time.

The chat exploded with cheers.

[Chloe finally got her man! More daily couple content, please!]

Couple content is a bit tricky. My boyfriend has a special job, so he can't show his face.

As she spoke, a little red paint stained the sleeve of her shirt.

Chloe let out a small "oops," and the man's long, slender fingers reached over to roll up her sleeve for her.

A cute little peach ring on her ring finger was revealed.

It's okay if it gets dirty.

Chloe's blush deepened. She giggled, then was suddenly pulled away by the man.

From off-camera, sounds of kissing and heavy breathing, leaving much to the imagination, filled the air.

The live stream comments flew by, one catching my eye:

[I think I just heard Ace Evans, the gang lord.]

The man spoke, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.

I am not.

The live stream abruptly ended. I put down my phone and drifted back into a heavy sleep.

I dreamt of a time I was cleaning and accidentally got dust on his white shirt.

I apologized profusely, but he still flew into a rage, scolding me for touching his belongings.

He threw that white shirt away like trash, and I never saw any of his clothes in the house again.

The last image in my dream was Ace's back.

It was eerily similar to his back over the past three years, each time he'd rushed off because of Chloe, leaving me to my torment.

I woke up groggily, and the first thing I saw was a peach ring.

My gaze traveled upwards to Chloe, who had changed into a simple T-shirt and jeans.

She was cheerfully sipping chicken soup from a thermos.

The housekeeper's face held an apologetic expression: "Mrs. Spiller, it's all my fault. I only made one serving of soup for you, and it turns out Miss Chloe loves it too."

"Oh dear, I drank it all! Clara, I'm so, so sorry!"

Chloe seemed to just realize it was my nourishing meal, and her eyes welled up with tears.

When Ace walked in, he saw her clutching her hands, repeatedly bowing to me.

Clara Spiller, what are you doing now?! Chloe came to see you because she was worried!

The housekeeper looked a little awkward, wanting to explain, but Chloe cut her off:

Ace, please don't be angry. My mouth was just so greedy. As soon as I smelled the chicken soup, I couldn't help but have a couple of sips, and then I just drank it all Clara has every right to be mad at me

She cried so piteously that Ace's heart ached.

It's just a bowl of chicken soup. You can have all you want when you're discharged. Why are you picking a fight with Chloe?

He looked coldly at the housekeeper: Chloe hasn't had much appetite lately, and she rarely enjoys your chicken soup. Go back now and make another pot, and deliver it to Chloe's hilltop mansion.

The housekeeper scurried away. Ace's expression softened as he bent down to wipe away Chloe's tears.

Don't cry anymore, or you'll be a little mess.

Chloe broke into a smile, throwing herself into his arms. You're making fun of me again.

The two left the hospital room, giggling, and silence once again settled around me.

To my surprise, the familiar cycle of misunderstandings, scoldings, and accusations, which had played out countless times, now stirred no ripple within me.

I no longer wanted to argue, to make a scene, or to explain myself.

An hour later, as the doctor was checking my wound, Ace's henchmen sauntered in, urging me to get discharged quickly, as his enemies were still stirring.

One of them, taking pity on me, asked if I wanted more pain medication.

I shook my head. It's fine.

I've grown accustomed to this pain.

His men dropped me off at the doorstep, tossing a bag of medicine at me before driving away.

Ace treated me as if I were nothing, and his people regarded me like dirt.

I unlocked the door, carrying the bag, only to find the house cold and empty; even the cleaning staff were gone.

Ace's call came through, his voice as cold and devoid of warmth as ever.

Chloe's not feeling well. Your housekeeper is meticulous, so I sent them all over there.

You'll have to stay by yourself for a few days. They'll come back once Chloe feels better.

He said it as if it were the most natural thing, as if the person who had been stabbed five times by his enemies and nearly died was Chloe.

Okay.

Hearing my indifferent tone, he paused for a moment, then continued:

Jot down anything you want to eat, and the housekeeper will make it for you when they come back.

Okay.

Even through the phone, I could sense his frown.

What's with the attitude, all for a bowl of chicken soup?

Clara Spiller, don't you forget, when I married you, I told you you were just a shield for Chloe. Don't think that after three years as Mrs. Evans, you can walk all over Chloe!

I nodded mechanically. Okay.

You

Just as his anger flared, Chloe called out to him.

Ace, come quickly and have some cake!

The call ended.

48 hours left until the system erased me.

I felt a little hungry, but when I went to the kitchen, I found all the groceries gone, the refrigerator completely empty.

Due to Ace's peculiar identity, he never allowed me to order takeout.

I rummaged through the cupboards and drawers, managing to find a single packet of expired instant noodles.

The kettle had been broken and unrepaired, so I used hot water from the water heater to prepare them, then placed the bowl on the dining table.

My phone chimed, showing Chloe was live streaming.

Today, they weren't at the hilltop mansion. The background seemed to be a hot spring resort.

Chloe, in a loose T-shirt, was eating chocolate cake while interacting with her viewers.

The man off-camera occasionally speared a piece with his fork, gently feeding it to her.

[Can't you really show your daily romance? Those fingers definitely belong to a hottie!]

Chloe stuck out her tongue. My boyfriend is the most handsome man in the world. Every time he smiles, my heart just melts.

He chased me first, but I'm a bit timid, afraid of everything, so I dragged it out until now before saying yes.

The cake is sweet, but not as sweet as we are.

The man stroked her hair, and her cheeks turned crimson when she smiled.

Chloe finished half the cake, and I finished my unappetizing instant noodles.

In the live stream, her other phone lit up. Her eyes went red as she looked at it, revealing a surprised expression.

A few seconds later, she burst into heart-wrenching sobs in front of over a hundred thousand viewers.

The live stream abruptly ended. I was still in a daze when Ace's call came through.

He immediately launched into a furious tirade: Clara Spiller, all for a bowl of chicken soup, for a few housekeepers, you actually posted about Chloe and me dating online!

If Chloe gets hurt because of this, dying ten times wouldn't be enough!

I opened my mouth to speak: I don't know what you're talking about. After I got home, I was just eating

Still denying it? Chloe said she only accidentally sent those pictures to you, no one else has seen them, not even me!

Besides, the resort where we're eating today, you've been there before.

You were just in the live stream. I saw you.

His last few words were laced with a grinding fury.

If I were in front of him right then, he would probably have kicked me down, forcing me to my knees to apologize to Chloe.

Just like last winter, when Chloe had period cramps and specifically demanded I take care of her.

But my body was weak after the miscarriage, and I had barely uttered Im sorry before he grabbed my shoulders and shoved me down.

That day, I must have knocked my head ten times, leaving my face covered in blood, before Chloe finally cried and said she forgave me.

Ace's angry breathing from the phone dragged me back from my memories. I looked down at the instant noodle soup and said, It wasn't me. I had no reason to do that.

Chloe cried again.

Ace, someone outside seems to be watching me. I'm so scared

After the call ended, I sat motionless at the dining table, lost in thought.

Sure enough, just ten minutes later, Ace's men punched in the code and burst in, dragging me out like a sack of potatoes.

Hurry, Boss wants you to shield Miss Chloe!

The hot spring resort had an enormous floor-to-ceiling glass window.

I was instructed to sit at the dining table in front of the window and read.

In the safest corner of the room, Ace was gently comforting a weeping Chloe.

Don't be scared. I'm here. I'll protect you.

She buried herself in his arms, her delicate hands clutching his expensive custom cashmere sweater.

Ace, will they kill me? I'm so afraid, I hate pain

No, they won't. It's safe here. Ace promises you'll be fine.

Her sobs gradually subsided, and Chloe sniffled.

Ace, what would I do without you?

Don't talk nonsense. How could you be without me? I'll always be with you, until we grow old.

The sounds of their kissing were too obvious. Even if I concentrated on my book, every detail reached my ears.

The sounds lasted for half an hour, only stopping at the final stage.

Ace, Clara is still here. She is your wife, after all. Maybe you should find someone to protect her?

Ace glanced at me coldly. If she hadn't exposed our photos and location, you wouldn't be so scared. She deserves this.

I desperately wanted to read the words on the page, but my vision was blurred.

Why did tears still fall, when I supposedly no longer felt that agonizing pain?

I didnt understand, and I didnt want to.

After an unknown amount of time, the accumulated pain and exhaustion of the past few days made me drift off to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of "24 hours left" ringing in my ears, accompanied by Ace's slap across my face.

Clara Spiller, how could you be so vicious, sneaking in while I was asleep!

As I quickly stood up, I pulled at the wound on my abdomen, letting out a sharp gasp.

Don't play innocent. Tell me, where is Chloe?!

It was then I realized I had somehow entered the bedroom.

And Chloe was gone.

I don't know. I remember I was at the floor-to-ceiling window last night

Cut the crap. Where did you send Chloe?!

I shook my head. I don't know.

Clara Spiller, you'd better genuinely not know, or I swear I won't let you off!

Ace said, gritting his teeth, then stormed out, making countless calls until he finally located Chloe.

Get a few men here, and bring her along!

I was bound at the feet and trapped in the back seat of Ace's car. He drove himself, pressing the accelerator to the floor.

In three years of marriage, this was the first time I'd seen him lose control like this.

When we arrived at the beach, Chloe was tied by her wrists and suspended from a boat, crying hysterically.

Ace, why did you take so long? I'm so scared, please save me!

Chloe!

Ace shouted her name anxiously, then glared menacingly at the enemies on the boat.

Let her go. I'll give you my wife, plus two territories and ten businesses, in exchange.

The leader of the enemies, his face scarred, grinned. Deal.

As I was slowly hoisted up, Ace was tightly embracing Chloe, whispering soothing words.

When I reached the highest point, he turned and walked away with the woman he loved.

I saw that back again, but this time, Chloe was by his side.

The enemy leader lit a cigarette, then glanced sideways. "Do it."

The searing hot iron pressed against my skin, and I couldn't help but cry out in agony.

Just kill me!

He shook his head:

If you die too quickly, it would be an injustice to my fallen brothers.

Better to slowly torture you, so everyone in the underworld can see that Ace Evans isn't so terrifying after all.

I struggled and twisted my body, but the branding iron always found its mark, hurting me so much I couldn't even speak.

I don't know how many times he burned me. I was on the verge of losing consciousness from the pain when they finally lowered me.

But just as I caught my breath, I felt a sharp sting on my wrist.

He cut my wrist with a knife, then plunged it into the sea!

Blood flowed into the ocean, instantly staining the seawater a vivid red.

I was pressed down, unable to move, but my head was forcibly turned to my wrist, forcing me to watch my own blood drain away.

Suddenly, I smiled.

Ace, if I die here, will you find another shield for your young girl?

Or will you simply marry her and take her home?

But either way, it will no longer concern me.

My consciousness gradually blurred. Before I completely slipped away, Ace's men finally arrived, belatedly.

I heard muffled negotiations, and then I was lifted onto an ambulance.

Inside the vehicle, they were playing cards and laughing raucously, their noise keeping me from sleep.

In my daze, I heard someone say: "Boss truly dotes on Miss Chloe. He wasn't even going to pursue it, but the moment he saw Miss Chloe's wrist was scraped, he got so angry he personally killed all those people."

"Hey, have you heard? Boss decided to retire from the gang for Miss Chloe."

When I was resuscitated, the system informed me I had six hours left.

I suddenly remembered what they said in the ambulance.

Ace, because Chloe's wrist was scraped, was going to retire from the gang.

I looked down at the bandaged wounds on my wrist and the countless scars covering my body, a bitter smile on my face.

Something that took me three years to achieve was, it turned out, so easily accomplished.

Only, the one who completed the task wasn't me.

With four hours left, I ignored the hospital's protests and, leaning on my fragile body, returned to the villa.

Before I left, I wanted to take one last look at that medical report.

But when I struggled back, I found the yard in disarray, the house completely empty.

The guest bedroom was turned upside down.

The things in the drawer were gone.

I hastily called Ace. He answered, full of impatience: I'm going to retire from the gang. All my previous properties will be sold, and I'll buy new ones after everything's clean.

Just find somewhere to stay. Once Chloe's emotionally stable, we'll get a divorce.

I opened my mouth: But the things in my bedroom drawer

Clara Spiller, don't push your luck!

Chloe's injuries are all your fault. Sending my men to save you was already more than enough. Are you seriously expecting me to buy you a separate house just for the jewelry in your drawer?

I had nowhere to go, and I didn't need to find a place to live.

With three hours left, I sat on the doorstep, basking in the sun.

The sunlight warmed my skin, but it couldn't thaw my gradually chilling body.

The garden gate creaked open, and I looked up to see Chloe, arms crossed, leaning against the gate and staring at me.

You're truly lucky. You still haven't died.

I paused, then smiled softly. Soon. Don't worry.

She was about to say something when she suddenly heard a sound and immediately dropped her arms.

Tears sprang to her eyes.

Clara, I didn't mean it, please don't be angry, okay?

You just got discharged, you shouldn't get upset. I'll ask the housekeeper to make you some chicken soup right away

Before she could finish, Ace burst in, enraged, his phone held up in front of me.

The chat log displayed a message someone had sent him.

Boss, your wife is quite something. She mass-emailed your enemies, telling them you love Chloe, and they should go after Chloe from now on, not her.

Photos and addresses are all there. Chloe's social media accounts have been exposed.

Ace, in a frenzy, kicked me hard in the chest.

I shouldn't have sent anyone to save you. You'd be better off dead there!

I gasped for air, and as I looked up, the sun blinded me.

A gun was pressed against my forehead, the barrel icy cold, sending a shiver down my spine.

It wasn't me.

In these three years, I seemed to say those three words often.

Chloe ran over and stopped him, crying, Ace, Clara didn't mean it. It's my fault for taking the person she loved. It's normal for her to hate me, so please don't hurt her. She just got out of the hospital

It's okay if the accounts are gone. It's fine if they come after me. I can handle it

Ace hugged her, his heart aching. He turned to look at me, his teeth gritted.

I really regret ever finding you. You're restless and vicious!

His men called him:

Boss, several of our enemies are offering bounties for Miss Chloe's life, what should we do?!

Maybe you should take Miss Chloe abroad to hide. Someone must have told them Miss Chloe is at the villa, they're already heading that way!

Ace's eyes flickered. I know who told them.

He started a live stream, appearing on camera for the first time in his life, but quickly turned the camera to face me.

I am Ace Evans. As of today, I'm retiring from the gang and will no longer be involved in underworld affairs.

All of you who have grievances and grudges, come find her. Everything I've done in the past was at her instigation. Now, I no longer wish to be with her. She's yours to deal with.

I gasped for air. I shielded Chloe for three years. Now you want me to die for you?

Ace grabbed my collar and dragged me all the way to the main road.

As he threw me down and walked away, he left a cold parting remark: This is all your own doing. Whether you live or die is up to fate.

This was the last time I saw his back.

Cold, resolute.

He disappeared. Not even ten minutes later, countless enemies swarmed from all directions.

They unleashed all their pent-up resentment and fury on me, no one holding back.

My tendons were severed, my legs broken, and countless knives plunged into my chest.

They roared for revenge for their relatives, brothers, and friends, gripping my chin and demanding an apology.

But I felt as if I had lost all sensation of pain, only staring blankly at the clear blue sky.

It was good. Before I died, I could see a vast expanse of blue, not a single cloud in sight.

Just like the day I first entered this world.

Mission failed. Erase protocol initiated.

In one hour, all your identity information will be erased. Clara Spiller will completely vanish from this world.