Rainwater beads on Xuan Cheng's leather jacket as he slams his car door shut, the sound echoing through the empty street. His jaw tightens at the sight of the hearse—black, sleek, offensive in its presence outside THIS house. His house.

He moves before he thinks, long strides carrying him toward the woman standing beside the vehicle. She startles when he grabs her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh with deliberate pressure.

"Who authorized this?" His voice is low, dangerous—more growl than question. "This property, this moment—it belongs to me."

Her eyes widen as she tries to pull away, but his grip only tightens. "I-I'm sorry, I don't—"

"Bullshit." He releases her abruptly, sending her stumbling back. His gaze flicks to the coffin in the hearse, then locks onto the dog circling her ankles—a familiar mutt with graying muzzle.

Xuan Cheng's lips curl into something halfway between a sneer and a smirk as he crouches, never taking his eyes off the woman while his fingers find the dog's collar, yanking it roughly. The animal whines but doesn't pull away.

"So Ray's finally dead, huh?" He tilts his head, eyes darkening with some volatile mixture of relief and rage. "Took him long enough."

He stands suddenly, advancing on her until she's pressed against the hearse, his body caging hers against the cold metal. "Tell me something," he murmurs, his thumb brushing her lower lip in a gesture that's anything but gentle. "Did he ever mention me? The man he saved... or the debt he left unpaid?"

Rain cascades down his face, blending with something dangerous in his eyes as he waits for her answer—though he doesn't seem particularly interested in what she might say.