“Mara, I’m sorry,” Ethan said as he stepped out of the car. “I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”Mara turned to him, her face filled with rage. “How long have you known?”“Long enough,” Ethan replied quietly.“Then why haven’t you said anything since then?” she demanded.“Because I also found out you saw the face of the agent who did it,” Ethan said. “And I know you got close to me to uncover who the person was and why your father died.”Mara let out a bitter laugh and tapped her forehead. “So you knew all this time and still kept me around?”“Yes, I did,” Ethan answered. “I tried pushing you away because staying with me will only bring you danger. Just like today. If Dav didn’t want to taunt me, he would have killed you the second he saw you. But he wanted to be sure if you actually meant something to me.”“Oh really?” Mara replied. Another sharp, mocking laugh escaped her lips. It was not a happy sound. It was filled with pain and self-mockery.“Am I important to you?” she asked s

“Your record is quite impressive,” Jerry taunted, raising his fists above shoulder level. “But I hope you can keep up.” He lunged forward with blinding speed. His punches came like a machine gun, fast and heavy. Ethan blocked and dodged with precision, but each impact sent pain shooting through his arms. Jerry’s fists felt like they were made of steel. “Among the fifteen elite agents of yours I’ve killed,” Jerry sneered as he pressed the attack, “ten of them begged for death after I broke their bones.” He leaped high and delivered a powerful punch that sent Ethan staggering back. Ethan rubbed his arms, trying to ease the throbbing pain. “Your bones will break if you keep blocking like that,” Jerry mocked. Ethan bounced lightly on his feet like a seasoned kickboxer and gave a mocking hand gesture, inviting Jerry to come forward. Jerry charged again, his punches even faster. This time Ethan didn’t block. He dodged smoothly, stepping back and creating distance. “Come on!” Je

Ethan and Mara finally returned to the safe house long after sunset.The moment they stepped inside, Keon looked up from the couch, clearly eager to hear what had happened during the trip. But the angry look on Mara’s face made him stop himself from asking questions immediately.She brushed past them without saying a word and disappeared down the hallway.Keon waited until her footsteps faded before turning to Ethan.“What happened?”Ethan dropped onto the couch with a tired sigh. “We couldn’t find Tony or his mother.”Keon frowned. “His mother?”Ethan nodded once. “Or at least where she used to be.”Keon stared at him for a few seconds. “You never told me you were going to see his mother.”“Yes. I didn’t.”A bitter smile appeared on Keon’s face.“You don’t trust me?”“Of course I trust you,” Ethan replied immediately. “If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.”Keon stayed quiet.Ethan leaned back and rubbed his forehead. “I trust you. I just don’t trust what you might do to Tony once you s

Kira stepped out of the office, leaving Mara alone inside.The moment she reached Ethan and Uncle Mark outside, she folded her arms and frowned.“So you just left me there with your ungrateful friend?” she barked.But the irritation on her face quickly faded the moment she noticed Ethan’s expression.The teasing mood disappeared instantly.Ethan looked tense. His jaw was tight, and his eyes carried a weight she had not seen since they were younger.Kira’s voice softened.“What happened?”“Where is your brother?” Ethan asked immediately, ignoring her question completely.Kira glanced at Uncle Mark.The old man avoided eye contact, and that alone told her Ethan already knew something serious.“He’s on a mission,” Kira answered honestly.“Sit.”Ethan’s voice was calm but firm.Kira obeyed immediately without argument.No matter how playful she acted around him, she had always respected Ethan deeply. To her, he was more than an old friend. He was someone she admired growing up.Ethan lean

“What did you do?” Keon asked immediately.His fingers tapped nervously against the armrest of the chair while one of his legs bounced nonstop against the floor. The man looked more invested in the story than a kid listening to bedtime tales.Ethan glanced at him calmly.“What else was I supposed to do?”Keon leaned forward.“So what did you actually do?”Ethan answered bluntly.“I kissed her.”Keon froze.“You what?”“I kissed her.”“You mean a complete stranger?” Keon asked in disbelief. “Someone you met by chance in the middle of a dangerous mission?”“Obviously,” Ethan replied casually. “I grabbed her hand and kissed her.”Keon stared at him like he had just heard the most impossible thing in human history.“No, wait,” he interrupted quickly. “I heard the kissing part. That’s not the issue.”Ethan already looked annoyed.“If another person told me this story, I’d say okay, normal human behavior. But you?” Keon pointed at him dramatically. “You barely behave like you even notice wo