"Ariana."


    I was about to leave when a male voice called out to me. Even if I didn''t turn around to look at him, I could tell who he was based on


    the voice.


    I gazed at the exit, which was right in front of me. Then, I let out a deep breath before stering a smile on my face and turning. around to face the man. "Neal."


    I didn''t expect to meet Neal at the detention center. After all, he had gone through so much trouble for my sake. I owed him a lot.


    Lasked Neal the same question that Zachary had asked me earlier. Are you doing well?"


    Neal pursed his bottom lip in response. Though he seemed strong and unbreakable in his uniform, his red-rimmed eyes hadpletely. given him away.


    He was standing on the other end of the corridor. Slowly, he began approaching me.


    "Thank you."


    "I''m sorry."


    Once Heal stood before me, our voices rang out at the same time. He scoffed before breaking out into a smile, revealing his pearly. whites. He took off his cap before asking, "Are you free right now? Let''s grab a bite together." I was a little hesitant about the offer, but Neal then added, "I


    Π


    remember you owing me a meal "


    I didn''t say anything in response. Yet, Neal continued, "If you think it''s inconvenient for us to be alone, then I''ll invite my squadmates as well"


    I hated owing other people favors the most, especially...en said favors consisted of promises I had made. But it seemed that I''d have to break that promise today.


    Neal''s bright eyes slowly dimmed. He nodded before putting on his cap once again. Then, he took a step backward.


    "Got it."


    We seemed to be around the same age. It was as though he was only a year or two older than me.


    I stood in front of Neal,pletely decked out in luxury brands. Meanwhile, he gave me a proper salute as an enforcer d in a uniform. Only then did he turn his back on me. It was as though he was bidding me farewell with the utmost respect. At that moment, I could feel a rift growing and expanding between Neal and me. I just stood where I was and watched him walk away from me. Even after his silhouettepletely disappeared from my line of sight, I remained where I was.


    Back when I was a university student, I remembered Neal having confessed to me. But it was so long ago, not to mention the way he had mentioned it was very vague.


    "Ariana, I''ll keep protecting you as long as you''re awyer."


    The young man was all tanned because of his training. He stopped a few steps in front of me before turning around to look at me, a smile


    24


    adorning his face. He kept walking backward the whole time too.


    "I''m going to get married once I''ve graduated. I won''t be troubling you anymore."


    Back then, my smile was free from worries. I didn''t overthink whatever Neal had said to me. I enjoyed sharing the things that made me happy with him. But at the same time, our es never intersected with each other during that time frame. After Neal escorted me home onest time, I could see his thin. frame crouching against the tree outside my residence through the window. He happened to be punching the ground out of frustration.


    His back was trembling as well. I guessed that he was crying. Once again, I saw hurt shing across the eyes of the young man who had once secretly cried his heart out under the tree.


    All encounters and farewells often came with a lot of uncontroble factors. Zachary and Cindy''s case was a good example. No matter what, love could never conquer all obstacles in life. This was the absolute truth.


    If I were to get closer to Neal, I''d end up bringing him nothing but misfortune. "I''ll treat you to a meal... but now''s not the time," I murmured under my breath.


    Suddenly, a member from the Criminal Investigation Division ran over to me. I didn''t know him, but I recognized his uniform.


    "Ms. Jones, Captain Steele wants me to ask you if you''re interested in seeing Brittany.


    Did I want to see her? She was nothing but a scapegoat. But since. both Ss and Neal wanted me to see Brittany, I might as well do it. So, I nodded in response.


    I followed the officer all the way to Brittany''s room. That was when ! saw her for the first time.


    She looked quite simr to udia-petite, skinny, and had an angelic face. But the biggest difference between her and udia was that udia could easily mask herself as an innocent and harmless young woman.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    On the other hand, Brittany had a pair of sharp-looking eyes that made her look bitter despite her dainty appearance.


    Based on her face, I could tell that Brittany had not grown up in a rich family filled with love and care


    "Do you regret having done it?" I asked.


    Brittany shook her head. She tilted her head at a 45-degree angle to look at the cement ceiling above her head. A look of longing could be seen on her face.


    "I don''t regret it. It''s just a shame, you know? I''m so close to being


    with him."


    ""Who is he?"


    "udia promised me that she''d throw a banquet one monthter. She said she''d make him fall in love with me."


    "Is he your ssmate?"


    Brittany shook her head. "He''s the most gentle man in this world. He''s the only thing that brightens my suffocating life."


    Suddenly, she looked at me. "Hey... Ariana, I''m udia''s friend. Can you just do me a favor and spare me this time? If I keep getting locked up here, I won''t ever have a chance to approach him."


    I watched as Brittany crouched down and covered bef


    began crying after that I didn''t know why, but I thought that y resembled the former me


    "Let me tell you a story. A long, long time ago, there was a gut who noticed a boy at first nce. She might not know what romantic love meant, but she know that the boy was so outstanding that she


    st needed to give it her all to fight for the right to next to ben


    "The boy excelled in Math, so the gil did her best to be a worthy opponent just so she could stage an encounter with her at the Math Olympiad.


    "He was great at ying instruments, so the girl immersed herset in mastering an instrument. That was how she showed up at the sam piano recital as him.


    "The girl did her best to improve herself to bes outstanding and win over the boy''s family. But you... you used the wrong method


    "There aren''t any shortcuts in bing outstanding, especially when the methods you use involve hurting others. Do you really think that the gentleman you mentioned would like you after you''ve used such despicable methods?" After Brittany heard the whole story, she removed her hands from her eyes. Tears began sliding down her cheeks.


    "Ariana, udia told me all about you and your husband. You worked so hard to win him over, but are you happy now?"


    My mood was slightly affected because of the question. I never expected that I''d fail to answer a question from an immature university student.


    "It doesn''t matter if I''m happy or not. I''m fine with it as long as I''ve


    given it my all and don''t have any regrets in life. I hope you don''t regret your actions like you imed just now."