The city at night was a living beast—its streets pulsing with neon lights, its alleyways whispering secrets in the dark. In this world, power was currency, and the weak were nothing more than stepping stones for those willing to seize control.
At the heart of it all stood Lady Nyx.
Her name was a legend whispered in the underworld, spoken with both reverence and fear. Selena Yue ruled with ruthless efficiency, her empire built on blood, shadows, and unwavering control. Betrayal was met with a quiet disappearance, enemies were eliminated before they could even strike, and those who dared to challenge her learned why the Queen of the Underworld had no equal.
But even queens had their secrets.
Hers was a little flower shop on the corner of an old street—insignificant, quiet, untouched by the chaos she thrived in.
And within it, Elias Cheng.
A florist. A man so far removed from the world of crime that he didn't even recognize her the first time she walked into his shop. He had smiled at her like she was just another customer, his hands covered in soil and the scent of fresh petals clinging to his skin.
Selena had intended to leave after buying a single flower.
But she came back. Again. And again.
Something about Elias's presence was unnervingly calming. His gentle, unwavering warmth was a stark contrast to the ruthless world she lived in. And perhaps—just perhaps—that was why she kept coming back.
He didn't belong in her world. He wasn't afraid of her.
And that made him the most dangerous weakness she could ever have.
But Selena had built her life by eliminating threats before they became problems.
The only question was—when the time came, would she be able to eliminate this one?
Because if there was one rule in her world, it was this:
Anything that blooms in the dark is doomed to wither.