Hellbound With You Chapter 1 Take me there

"Mr. Qin, I really love you!!!" A woman's voice reverberated through the shadowy, frigid concrete underground parking garage, startling Abigail so much that her phone nearly slipped from her hand.

Abigail was simply heading to her parked car, yet she never imagined stumbling upon a love confession in such a gloomy, icy location.

"What did you say?" A chilling, husky deep voice reached Abigail's ears, causing her to flinch despite not being its recipient. Likely, the man's utterly intimidating aura triggered her reaction. His tone held a merciless chill. What began as a romantic declaration now felt like a fatal blunder!

"I said I love you," the woman's voice rang out again, as Abigail heard, "I love you so much! I already fell for you the first time I saw you." She sounded deeply emotional.

Abigail held her breath, anticipating his reply, but silence stretched on. Though tempted to glance over, she knew it wasn't appropriate. She remained still until the man finally spoke.

"Is that all?" came his curt response, leaving Abigail gasping in shock.

'Wow… he's ruthless.'

"W-what?" The woman sounded completely stunned.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"I… I've been in love with you since the start. I've been your girl for two months now, but you've never shared your feelings about me. Mr. Qin, I… all I want is… I just want you to love me back."

From the lady's trembling voice, Abigail sensed she was on the brink of collapse, yet the man's tone refused to soften. Instead, it grew even more threatening in his reply.

"We're done," he stated indifferently, without any hint of concern. His voice lacked even a shred of warmth.

"W-w-what?"

"I won't repeat myself."

"W-why? Mr. Qin, what a-are you saying? This isn't… The contract I signed clearly stated I'd be your girl for three months! It's only been two months, but now you're saying we're over? What do you mean by –"

"Miss Song… didn't you read the contract properly?" His voice turned icier, nearly brutal. "Cheng, come here and read the clause she overlooked."

Abigail felt stunned to her core by their astonishing exchange. "A contract? Heavens, what is this about?"

The tension escalated, urging her to flee, but any movement would expose her. Helplessly, she stayed concealed, forced to eavesdrop despite her reluctance.

"Miss Song, this is one of the two key conditions in the contract you signed." A new male voice chimed in. "The contracted girlfriend may request anything but one: love or affection. Should she demand reciprocated love, the contract voids immediately."

Abi's shock overwhelmed her, compelling a quick peek. She simply couldn't accept this bizarre scene. Such an absurd scenario unfolding in reality was beyond belief for her.

Spotting the woman, her hand clamped over her mouth. 'Isn't that Ina Song? The celebrity actress?!'

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Why would such a stunning beauty plead for this man's love? Worse, their bond was merely contractual?! Ina Song, the glamorous star, serving as some cold-hearted man's hired girlfriend? The scandal would rock the entertainment industry!!!

Abigail's gaze then turned to the man, but his back blocked his face from view.

"I warned you ages ago. I don't do love and never will. You, especially, should know exactly how I handle contract violations." As he spoke, Abigail shuddered watching Ina Song crumple to her knees. The revered goddess, idolized by men everywhere, seemed drained of all vitality in an instant. Moments later, a burly man in black hauled her to another vehicle. Once Ina Song's car vanished, Abigail snapped back and ducked out of sight.

However...

"Come out. I know you're there. NOW!" The man commanded, freezing Abigail in terror for what felt like ages. Realizing he addressed her—and recalling his aversion to repetition—she held her breath and emerged.

"Come over," he ordered, as Abigail slowly raised her face. Nervousness gripped her intensely. Never before had anyone instilled such profound fear and anxiety in her lifetime.

When their gazes locked, Abigail nearly gaped in shock. The man standing there was insanely handsome—no, that description fell way short. She felt certain he surpassed every celebrity she'd ever seen by a hundredfold in looks. He stood tall. His jet-black hair seemed finger-combed and slicked back from his face. His jawline was powerfully chiseled and ruggedly masculine—absolute perfection in her view. He appeared far too flawless to be real. She was completely awestruck, having never been so struck by any man's appearance before. How could a mere human male possess such mesmerizing beauty? No surprise that a gorgeous woman like Ina Song would desperately crave his affection!

Yet this breathtaking being was glowering down at her. His eyes brimmed with hostility, making her crave to shrink into the floor and vanish. His stare embodied the ultimate 'if looks could kill.'

"Who are you? A paparazzi?" Abigail recoiled from the venom in his tone. His icy gaze flickered with a perilous glint, chilling her deeper than the frigid air. She couldn't shake the thought that this man perfectly matched the inhumanly alluring demon king from her favorite novels.

After gulping down her saliva, Abigail compelled herself to reply.

"No, I'm not." She shook her head, but his eyes narrowed further, and then he stepped forward, closing the distance.

Each footfall echoed like a countdown to explosion in her mind, yet astonishingly, she held her position even as her knees quivered slightly. She amazed herself.

As he halted less than a meter away, she instinctively bit her lower lip. He examined her intently, eyeing her like helpless prey. One glance into those eyes told her 'dangerous' barely scratched the surface.

"Little lamb… did you hear everything?" he questioned, his stare sharper than any blade. He glared with clear murderous intent. Never had she witnessed eyes so stunningly beautiful yet lethally frigid. Those killer eyes could stab straight through any soul.

"I'm sorry, I… I didn't mean to –" Abigail stammered a response just as he lifted his hand toward her throat. Terror made her flinch and squeeze her eyes shut, bracing for a chokehold.

But nothing occurred. Hesitantly, Abigail peeked open her eyes.

He remained silent. His attention fixed entirely on her vibrant yellow knit scarf. Somehow, the razor-sharp icicles in his gaze melted away, supplanted by a strange, serene emptiness.

Her eyes dropped down, and seeing his fingers toying with the scarf's edge, Abigail froze solid once more, her heart pounding wildly like a hammer in her chest.

"Yellow…" he whispered to himself while letting his hand fall, and his expression shifted anew. The harsh chill from before had vanished. "Go home," he commanded, then pivoted to depart.

Abigail let out a breath as she observed his retreat. She ought to have fled now that the demon had spared her unharmed, but she remained rooted, eyes fixed on his flawless, elegant silhouette fading away.

Clenching her fists until her knuckles whitened, she abruptly shouted.

"Wait, mister, please wait!"

The chauffeur had swung open the car door for him. Her call reverberated through the chilly garage, drawing his glance back.

"What?" he responded without fully facing her.

Boldly, Abigail advanced toward him. Adrenaline surged through her, igniting courage. Her knees steadied, and fear in her eyes gave way to determination.

"Was everything you said true? That you do not do love?" she pressed, positioning herself under a meter behind. "Are you really sure you won't fall for anyone?"

Finally, the man spun to face her. Disbelief mingled with intrigue in his smoky gray eyes as he sized her up.

"From what I understand, you're willing to make someone your girlfriend as long as she won't demand for your love, right?" she continued.

A heavy silence hung between them briefly. Through slitted eyes, he stared, appearing stunned as if beholding some impossible entity.

"Why are you asking?" His lips twisted into a sly, entertained smirk, though skepticism laced his voice.

"I'm just curious. Is it true?" she replied, remarkably composed.

"So what if it was, and what if it's not?"

Abigail sealed her lips firmly. "If it's true, how can you be so sure? Do you really believe that you will never fall for anyone? Ever?"

A low chuckle was what she received in reply. When the man laughed, he resembled a devil. His laughter failed to light up his eyes, yet he appeared somewhat amused somehow? She couldn’t quite tell. His expressions proved too elusive for her to decipher.

"Yellow, tell me. What exactly are you trying to say?" He toyed with the edge of her scarf once more, his slender lips arched in a perilous, playful smile.

"I… I’m just saying I don’t think you’ll be an exception. Maybe you haven’t met that special someone yet who wields an axe to crack your heart open."

"Little Yellow, are you saying you want to try me?"

Gazing into his eyes, Abigail stayed quiet for a beat before nodding in response. Resolve burned in her eyes.

He laughed.

Furrowing her brows, Abigail sought to convey her earnestness, but voicing her seriousness only seemed to amuse the man further.

Once his laughter faded, the man continued. "Are you thinking you could make me fall in love someday? Too bad, Yellow... Countless women have attempted that already, and besides… I don’t believe you’re capable of it." His gaze swept from her head all the way to her toes.

"And you heard me right—I don’t do love. Never. So don’t squander your brain cells on such notions." His voice smoldered, even as his face held a smile.

Abigail remained unshaken. "How about you try me? I promise I won’t demand that you love me back." She vowed it, lifting her hand like a Girl Scout, which drew another laugh from the man.

"Yellow, you’re such a fearless little girl." His smile vanished, a sharp edge slipping into his tone.

"Please stop calling me Yellow! My name is Abigail. And I’m not a little girl! I’m turning twenty-two soon."

The man’s face shifted suddenly again, and he chuckled. Some enchanting quality made his laugh echo in her ears. Unexpectedly, his laughter sounded so captivating.

"Indeed, you’re one brave little girl, Yellow. Do you know who I am?"

"No."

"Yet you remain here, offering yourself blindly?"

She nodded, and now an wicked smirk crossed the man’s face. He eyed her head to toe a second time, licking his seductive lips before stepping closer. A long, elegant finger tilted her chin upward.

"Little lamb, hear this: you stand at hell’s gates right now. This path will destroy your life. Are you prepared to plunge into hell alongside me?" His eyes flared intensely. A fierce warning burned there, and Abigail realized he meant every word—the threat was utterly real.

His fierce demeanor caused her to tremble faintly, but the caution failed to deter her. Never in her life had she felt this bold—or deranged. Her mind raced with visions. The dire consequences of leaping into this insanity terrified her, of course, but… whenever she considered her future, could anything be more frightening now? Wasn’t this precisely what she craved? A man just like him?

With the silence stretching out, the man’s lips twisted into a victorious, taunting smile as his hand rested on her head. He tousled her hair and bent toward her.

"Hell’s no paradise, not for a little lamb like you. I’m certain you know that. Flee now while this demon king stays merciful and composed." He murmured.

Then he spun around to depart, utterly nonchalant, as if nothing had transpired. Yet after merely three steps, the girl called him back once more.

"The hell you’re describing..." she murmured, "I… I want to see it for myself… Take me there."