The place the man told is something like him. The place is isolated with no more than two cars passing by. Being on the Western side of the river, this place isn't much known or at use.

Reaching where the man told her to, she stops the engine and waits inside, eyeing around the place. There's not even a proper road. Half the surface is not cremated.

Shi Lian has never been to this place. The place looks creepy, even if it's daytime, the place doesn't give her good vibes at all.

Her phone rings at the moment, making her startle. Cursing, she grabs her phone and receives the call.

The creepy man's sneery voice fills her ear. "You came in time. I appreciate your punctuality."

Shi Liam rolls her eyes, growing impatient. She does not come here to hear his appreciation. "Cut the crap. What do I have to do next?" she asks, snapping at him.

"Take the ring and pass the road. You will see the lighthouse to your far right. Come there. I'll be waiting for you" he informed.

"Got it. I'll be there soon" she asserts and the call ends. Shi Lian feels nervous. What she is going to do is not some child's play. The man cannot be trusted and who knows if he tries to kill after getting the ring? She feels anxious, feeling as if something bad is going to happen.

She taa kea s deep breath, calming her nerves and when she is ready, she steps out of the car, the ring is inside her jacket pocket.

She passes the road, cautiously looking to her left and right, and reaches the other side. Stepping up on the circular stage-like structure, she looks around her to find the lighthouse. The sunlight is making her eyes narrow and her nose scrunch.

There is the lighthouse! She steps down the stage and heads towards the lighthouse which is a few distances from where she is.

She cannot help the weird feeling she is getting. It's as if someone is tailing her. When she was driving up here, she felt a car following her but it quickly left her mind afterward.

She reaches the lighthouse entrance and stands there, looking for the creepy man. Her feet are hurting because of walking so much with those heels.

She is already irritated and when the man is nowhere to be seen, she gets more annoyed.

Having enough of waiting, she dials his number. He picks, this time in two seconds. "I am already here. Where are you?"

"So eager to see me, Shi Lian?" he sneers. "Turn around, I am right behind you," he says. Meekly, she straightens her back and turns around. There is no one. She narrows her eyes to get a more clear view and she sees a figure, coming out of the lighthouse. The figure comes closer and she gulps, nervous to see his face.

She scrutinizes, seeing the creepy man coming out. But she cannot see his face because he is wearing a mask. A full white and black skull mask covering her whole face just leaving space for his eyes.

She should have covered her face as well, she thinks to herself.

Approaching, she stands in front of her, leaving some distance between them. He appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties, completely different from what she thought. His body appears to be fit and his dress looks decent. Not some poor cheap stud, who lacks money.

"Afraid to show your face?" she sneers, in a mocking tone.

"Kind of," he says. Her eyebrows rise hearing his voice. It's completely different from what she heard on the phone. In reality, his voice is deep, not at all creepy. How is that possible?

"Curious about my voice, Shi Lian?" he asks, reading her expression.

She does not say anything so he says instead, "I used voice changer when talking to you. Safety measures had to be taken."

She rolls her eyes, her arms are crossed in front of her chest. He then demands, "You have the ring?"

"Yes, I do have. Do you have the material I want? Because I don't see anything in your hand" she retorts.

He smirks, the mocking kind of smirk. Reaching into his pocket, he takes out a pen drive and shows it to her. "I am a man of my word, Shi Lian."

"How can I believe you that the things aren't fake in that?" she implores, suspicious of him.

"As I said, I do not use suck tricks. I do fair trade."

She does not trust him at all. But how can she check whether the materials in the pen drive are true and legit?

She does not have her laptop and her phone does not support the e t pen drive function. Judging the size, it won't for into her phone.

"Fine, but if I got to know it's all fake, you will be paying the price" she threatens, pointing her index finger at him.

He raises both his hands in the air as if surrendering himself.

Now it is his time to question her. "Where's the ring?"

She takes out the box from her pocket and opening the lid, shows the ring to him. She is nervous as hell. The ring is fake and if he gets one percent suspicious, her plan will flop. She eyes him, her heart rate getting faster the more he gazes at the ring.

"Beautiful" she hears him saying. He then turns his attention on her, "Very well Shi Lian. You did a good job."

She breathes a sigh of relief, the sweat making its down her back. Her face gets sweaty and because of nervousness, her forward is dampened with sweat.

"Well, so pass me the pen drive and get the ring," she asserts. "I have other things to do as well."

"There's another thing, Shi Lian," he says, "the money."

Shit. That completely slip from her mind. She isn't going to give him money, but still, she needs to show him, she actually has it with her.

"I have it in my car" she fabricates, her voice loud. She cannot let him think or give him the chance to get suspicious.

"Why do I feel there's more to this story?" he wonders, taking a step forward. Scuffing his chin, he said aloud his thoughts, "Are you playing tricks on me, Shi Lian?"

She blinks twice, sweating profusely. No no, she has to be cool and not let him think she is playing tricks on him. "I ain't that capable," she tells, laughing to hide her trepidation.

He does not ask further questions to which she is glad. "Hand me the ring" he orders.

She walks up to him and hands the ring and in return, he passes her the pen drive.

Taking their things, they both come back to where they were standing before.

"Go get the cash now, be quick" he orders, looking at the ring. She does not have any cash. She thinks of going to her car and flee without letting him know.

She turns around and just as she starts walking, the man calls her from behind, stopping her midway. Her heart beats so fast and she can hear it. Did he find out?

Meekly, she turns around and when she does, the man is only one distance from her. When did he come so close?

"What now?" she inquires, her voice unstable.

He shows her the ring to her face. She gulps, glancing at the ring and then at him. "What?"

"Pretending to be innocent? How dare you try to trick me, Shi Lian?" he booms, glaring at her.

Shit. What she never wanted to happen, it is happening. But how did he knows?

"What are you talking about?" she still keeps her innocent semblance on. She cannot disclose until he gives her a solid reason.

Gripping the ring with his index finger and thumb, he throws the box away and shoves it in front of her face. "What did you think, that I won't recognize it?" he grits, his voice dangerous. "The original one has a small petal engraved at the back of the ring, but this ring does not have that."

She has no idea which petal he is talking about. She never looked that into it to know that there's actually a petal drawn. Shit, she should have observed the details carefully and thoroughly.

"Have nothing to say now? I told you earlier DO NOT TRY TO TRICK ME, yet you did" he roars, grabbing a handful of her hair and tugs it forcibly.

Shi Lian hisses, struggles to break free but he is too strong. Her head is paining and he is applying more and more force as she tugs her hair roots.

"Let me go!" she protests.

"You don't know what I can do" he threatens and with a force, he pushes her away. She falls to the ground with her hand getting scratched by the rocks and stones down. She hisses, the pain coming into effect.

"Stupid bitch! You thought you could trick me?" he snarls, looking down upon her.

Shi Lian feels it's her end. Now that he knows, he will not let her go so easily. What can she do now?