The Devil's Favourite Obsession

"Marion, stop," Cixi interrupted, slapping her palm against the laundry machine before her friend could jumble together some other terrifying warning. "Focus on exactly what I am saying."

Marion immediately closed her mouth, putting her spiralling thoughts on pause.

"There is exactly one man in this entire world that I care about, and that is Cassian Crown. So stop bringing Officer Bill into this. And Stop talking about blind dates," Cixi stressed every single syllable to forcibly impress upon Marion’s brain that she understands it can only be Cassian. How absurd it sounds, instead of his trying to court her, she has to seduce him. Even in the animal kingdom, it’s the male who attracts the female species. Cixi mentally patted her head for self-consolation.

Marion took a deep breath, absorbing Cixi’s words. She grasped what she was saying, yet part of her still found it hard to fully comprehend.

"Cixi, he has already fallen for you. I truly don’t understand what more you are anxiously searching for. Are you trying to make a guy who’s already head over heels for you fall even harder?

Cixi gave her a sceptical glare, but Marion held her ground.

"Listen to me," Marion pointed an accusing finger. "Do you think Martin would ever actually kill someone just because someone misbehaved with me? He might throw a few punches and get punched in return, but killing? Never. Cassian severed a man’s head without blinking. And he blindfolded you so that you did not have to witness the bloodbath that followed after that. If it weren’t been for you, Lily and I would have been forced to watch the massacre. You are already halfway into his murderous heart, Cixi. What are you worrying about?"

What Marion said made absolute logical sense only if they were discussing any normal man; Cixi might have genuinely believed that. But Cassian Crown was different; no, he was complicated with ’Triple C’ predator — Complicated Cassian Crown. The standard rules of romance did not apply to him, as per Reaper.

Marion picked up another shirt to fold. "It is incredibly sweet that you came to me for relationship advice, Cixi. But realistically, out of Lily and me, do you sincerely think I happen to be the expert on making men fall deeply in love? If I possessed that specific knowledge, Martin would be holding a fresh bouquet of roses on his knees for me every single morning and night."

Now that Cixi sees Marion’s perspective, she does have a valid point, but Cixi refused to accept it because it was only partly true.

"You made a deeply toxic misogynist marry you," Cixi argued. "And look at him now. After so many years and raising three children, he still maintains loyalty to you..." Marion carefully listens to Cixi while folding Melisha’s dress. "Do you know the exact statistical increase in cheating partners over the last ten years?"

"We got married when we were eighteen years old, Cixi. We were among those young fools who blindly believed in eternal love, watching Hollywood movies... And then adult reality slammed into us like a thousand raw volts. The moment the children arrived and the financial expenses skyrocketed, the romantic love immediately threw itself right out the window."

"So you are saying you fell in love and married because of Hollywood?" Cixi asked, sounding almost wounded.

"Pretty much!" Marion proudly blamed the entire entertainment industry.

Cixi stared blankly at the wall. "So... I just need to force Cassian to watch a classic Hollywood romance movie?"

The moment she said it aloud, Marion nearly choked on her own saliva before bursting into laughter, dropping the socks into the basket.

"Yes. Absolutely," Marion wheezed sarcastically. "Because forcing a fully grown, psychopathic mafia boss to watch a romance film from the 1900s is definitely going to work. Why not?"

Cixi narrowed her eyes, shooting a dark glare at her friend for mocking her.

When Marion’s loud laughter died down into harsh pants, her expression slowly shifted back to a deeply serious anchor.

"I listen to Martin," Marion summarised quietly. "I do exactly what he demands without ever launching a verbal protest, even in bed. I forcefully play the role of the submissive woman because that is exactly what his twisted ego requires. You need to figure out exactly what Cassian likes. Even though I genuinely believe you are hitting your head against a concrete wall for absolutely no necessary reason, considering he is clearly completely obsessed with you."

"Obsession is not love, Marion." Cixi clarified Marion. Why does she need to make her friend give so much explanation when she only needs to know how to make a man fall for her?

Cixi bit the inside of her cheek, thinking of something, then finally decided to share the exact ’Kitten Story’ that the Grim Reaper had imparted to her.

Cixi recited the details of the cat and Cassian.

As the story unfolded, Marion’s face slowly went blank with confusion. By the end of it, she did not seem certain what advice to offer anymore. The whole thing made Cassian sound almost bipolar, as though he carried two different selves inside him — one who cared with possessiveness and another who did not care about the cat at all.

"There is a massive difference between a pet cat and an actual human female, Cixi," Marion logically pointed out.

"Who sacrifices a pet, Marion?" Cixi countered at once. "People sacrifice humans all the time, but not pets."

Cixi definitely had a fact.

"In my opinion, you should give up on this altogether and try dating a normal man first. But before that, ask Cassian Crown whether he would even allow it." Marion’s tone turned dry again. "Otherwise, he might execute the poor man in front of everyone, and then all the witnesses would probably die too, simply because nobody stopped him from taking you on a date."

Though it sounded intensely sarcastic, Marion’s dark eyes revealed she was dead serious about the bloody prediction.

Cixi could not entirely disagree. Still, she had no desire to pursue anyone but Cassian. The Reaper’s strict curse demanded Cassian.

"You are not helping me at all, Marion," Cixi groaned, dragging both hands heavily down her tired face.