"The police station isn't always a place for the guilty," Emily said casually, a faint smile spreading as she glanced at Lyna through the rearview mirror.Her tone was light, but there was a firmness that couldn't be ignored.Lyna, sitting in the back seat, seemed increasingly anxious. She gripped the hem of her shirt tightly, trying to calm herself, which had been filled with fear. "But what can I do there?" she asked in a slightly stuttering voice, clearly not fully understanding the meaning of the suggestion."Yes, take shelter," Emily answered without hesitation, as if it were the most logical thing. "Brian also said you need a place to take shelter, right? If you rely solely on Brian, you're not necessarily safe. Besides, he himself doesn't necessarily have a safe enough place to hide you."Those words made Lyna pause. She slowly looked at Brian through the gap between the front seats, her eyes hopeful, as if waiting for an answer that would give her some comfort. But Brian remai

Brian maintained a faint smile, even though the atmosphere in the room felt incredibly tense after his statement.Mr. Thomas's hand, which he had just held, still felt warm, as if a sign that the agreement had truly been reached, even though it was fraught with uncertainty and hidden interests from each party."Hopefully, this collaboration won't be detrimental to us," Brian said in a calm tone, yet filled with implicit pressure."Of course," Mr. Thomas replied quickly, almost too quickly, as if afraid the opportunity would be lost if he hesitated even a little.That evening's meeting ultimately ended on a less-than-comfortable note. While it appeared to be a business deal, each person in the room was actually harboring their own thoughts and plans.Brian had successfully thwarted the wedding plans that night, and at least given Lyna a year to breathe.However, when Mr. Diego rose from his chair, his face still showing dissatisfaction, Brian immediately raised his hand, signaling for

Brian stared intently at Diego, trying to confirm that what he had just heard wasn't just empty talk."Can you take me there?" Brian asked seriously, his eyes never leaving the man's face.Diego paused for a moment, as if considering something, then finally nodded slowly. "Yes," he replied briefly, but it was enough for Brian to understand that the door he was looking for was beginning to open.That night's conversation ended with an agreement that wasn't explicitly stated, but strong enough to bind them both to their respective goals.They exchanged phone numbers, a small step that was the beginning of something much bigger. Brian knew that from now on, he would have to play it safe, because the deeper he went, the greater the risks he would face.When Brian returned to the apartment, Emily was waiting for him, her usual relaxed expression, as if nothing major had happened."How is it?" Emily asked, leaning back on the sofa, her eyes on Brian curiously."Everything's fine," Brian rep

"Oh my, what should I do?" Brian muttered, his eyes fixed on the woman now limp in his arms. What had started as a minor inconvenience in the middle of a relaxing evening had suddenly turned into something troublesome.He turned toward Emily's table, hoping for help or at least some attention from her.But what he saw was the opposite. Emily seemed to be enjoying herself, laughing with her friends, not even sparing a glance in Brian's direction. It was as if Brian's world and Emily's world were running on separate paths that night."Just take her to the back, there's an empty room," the bartender said casually, as if this sort of thing happened every night.Brian, unfamiliar with nightlife customs, simply nodded. In his mind, the "empty room" must have been some kind of rest area for people who were extremely drunk. Without thinking, he carefully picked the woman up and followed the instructions.A waiter then came to help, leading Brian to a quieter back alley, away from the din of m

"Emily?" Brian hissed.Brian was shocked to see the figure standing in the doorway. His previously foggy eyes fluttered open, as if he had found a last hold amidst his fading consciousness.However, before he could say anything else, his body suddenly weakened, and he fell unconscious onto the bed.The woman who had been on top of Brian showed no signs of panic; instead, she tried to resume what had almost happened.Her hands moved again, trying to elicit a response from Brian's now unresponsive body."Let him go!" Emily snapped in a voice full of pressure, her eyes blazing with anger that was hard to conceal.The woman turned her head in annoyance, clearly displeased with the presence that had interrupted her plans."Who are you?" she asked defiantly, as if feeling no guilt whatsoever."I'm his girlfriend!" Emily replied firmly without hesitation, taking a few steps forward, indicating that she was serious.The woman laughed sarcastically, her eyes darting to the weak Brian lying the