Deceived and Trapped


    "Once As finds out who daredy a hand on me, he''ll deal with them. Navi can easily abandon you at a critical moment, saying it was his subordinate''s decision and had nothing to do with him. You can judge for yourself."


    After saying that, I calmly sat down. The smell of blood in the room and the tension of betting my life on this story I had made up made me feel exhausted and extremely ufortable.


    I nced at Tristan. "What time is it?"


    I asked that question to maintain myposure, but to be honest, I really wanted to know the time. My mind was on fire, and I had no idea what was happening inside or what this ruthless killer, Mird, would do.


    Tristan raised his hand to check his watch. "It''s 4 p.m., Mrs. Chloe."


    I grew nervous. There were only three hours left until Xavier''s operation.


    Mird looked at me calmly, but he seemed a little nervous himself. He scrutinized me intently, afraid I would deceive him.


    "You can take me back to your base since As is there. You can easily hand me over to Navi too," I continued to goad him. "Or maybe you have followers you can trust at the base. You can ask them if As is there."


    I tried to give him a way out. I was sure As must be at the base by now.


    Mird looked at me then turned to say something to his men before stepping out.


    His men immediately perked up, and Tristan tapped my shoulder. "Mrs. Chloe, may I pour you some water?"


    I nced at him. When I saw the brightness in his eyes, I understood the hint. He was asking me if he could take action.


    I surveyed the armed men around us. There were roughly 13 of them, not including Mird, who had left.


    "No." I shook my head. We were entirely outnumbered, and I couldn''t let Tristan take the risk.


    At this moment, Mird returned briskly to the room.


    His face was more contorted, and he seemed paler. He stared at me intently, circling around me without speaking.


    I was certain that he had confirmed what I had said.


    Tristan looked at Mird. "What now? Do you see the truth?"


    Mird suddenly rushed toward me, and Tristan immediately shielded me. "Stay back!"


    Ignoring Tristanpletely, Mird approached and looked at me emotionlessly. He almost looked like he had lost his soul.


    Then he spoke sinisterly, "If I help you, what''s in it for me?"


    I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in my nerves dissipate.


    Meanwhile, Mird grew more anxious after asking that question. It was as though my tension had been transferred to him. "It depends on what you want."


    I looked into his eyes as he stared back, seemingly trying to figure out if I was lying. He focused intensely


    on me, afraid of miss details.


    "Will you give me whatever I want?" he asked.


    "Tell me what you want." I remainedposed, and my tone was firm.


    He looked at me, and I met his gaze


    I


    without flinching. I knew what yThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    doing. As long as he was


    up Thad the upper hand.


    The room fell silent, and the atmosphere felt oppressive.


    I wasn''t in a hurry. I looked at him arrogantly, waiting for him to speak.


    "If... if I want to return to the Huffman family, can you help me with that?" He finally voiced his biggest dream.


    I looked at him, incredulous at his request. Then I smiled lightly, and his eyes suddenly flickered, his face turning cold.


    "You can''t do it?" He saw my


    indifferent expression and felt embarrassed and angry. Suddenly, he raised his gun and pointed it at my head. "Are you ying me?"