Quinn had little to take with her. She left behind the material possessions that Alexander hadvished upon her without a second thought. With a simple suitcase in hand, she stepped out of the grand entrance of the vi. She cast a final nce at the home she had shared with Alexander for the past three years. Then, without looking back, she walked away.


    Lost and unsure of where to go, she wandered aimlessly along the road outside the vi, enveloped by the darkness of the night.


    ''He gave me two weeks,'' she thought to herself. ''What is he trying to prove?''


    ''Is he trying to show me that I can''t live without him?'' she pondered.


    Penniless and without a destination, Quinn found herself in the exact predicament Alexander had predicted. Without him, she was homeless.


    She didn''t know how long she walked, but as the night deepened and the temperature dropped, she wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the cold.


    Eventually, she found herself at a well-lit underpass that sheltered several people. They had each imed a spot for themselves, each engrossed in their own world.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Quinn chose a spot farther away from them. She crouched down, hugging her suitcase against the cold, hard wall.


    The people seemed to sense her presence, casting curious nces in her direction. Quinn curled up tighter, avoiding their gazes.


    Those who sought shelter under the bridge were usually the destitute homeless, migrant workers trying to save a penny, or idle gangsters. Among them were two such gangsters, better dressed than the rest, each with a mobile phone in hand. The two gangsters approached Quinn, whistling in her direction. "Hey, sweetheart, what''s a lone girl like you doing around here?" they asked.


    Clutching her suitcase, Quinn kept her head down, trying her best to ignore them.


    The men squatted down, one on each side of her. She was immediately hit by the strong odor of cigarettes and the stench of unwashed sweat. Their bad breath was palpable as they spoke. "Come on, we''re not the bad guys here. How about a little chat, huh?"


    "Yeah, you seem decently dressed, not like someone who''d be living at an underpass like us."


    The two of them crowded her, squeezing her space so tightly that Quinn started to struggle for breath. She abruptly stood, attempting to leave, but one of the gangsters yanked her back. Quinn lost her bnce and fell onto the ground.


    "We already said we''re not bad guys. Why are you running off? Say something," demanded the one on the left, even daring to put a hand on her shoulder.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!


    Her heart pounded in her chest, and Quinn felt a cold sweat break out on her palms.


    "Why so silent? You''re not a dummy, are you?"


    The gangsters chuckled and reached out to touch her face, but Quinn turned her head away, dodging the touch. The man meant to be yful but was surprised by her reaction. "Are you really a dummy?"ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Quinn clenched her teeth, looking up at the gangster with a pale face that was suddenly illuminated by the light.


    Surprise flickered in the gangster''s eyes. They were taken aback by such a pretty womaning to stay at such a ce as they did.


    The two exchanged a nce, their intentions clear without a word.


    ''Since she''s a dummy, this will be easy,'' they thought to themselves.


    "Sweetheart, it''s so cold here," the first one coaxed, "let''s get you to a hotel."


    "Yeah, hotels are good. They are nice and warm," chimed in the other one.


    The two of them, in sync, were pulling her arm, trying to lead her out of the underpass. But Quinn was no fool. She knew these guys were up to no good and began to resist. Seeing her struggle yet remain silent, the gangsters were convinced she was a dummy. That emboldened them to drag her even more recklessly toward the darker areas. When Quinn realized she couldn''t break free, panic set in, and she sank her teeth into one of the gangster''s arms.


    Hissing in pain, he let her go. But as Quinn tried to escape, the other one pulled her back, twisting her wrist behind her, immobilizing her.


    The bitten gangster grimaced in pain, rubbing the sore spot, then roughly grabbed Quinn by the cheeks.


    "Truly a dummy, huh?" The gangsterughed heartily as he pinched her cheeks hard, his other hand prying her jaw open.


    "Bite me, will you? Come on, why aren''t you biting now?"