Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
It was cold when we got back to New York.
Ravi went to work after he sent me home. He didnât return all night.
In the morning, I drank a cup of coffee and ate a piece of toast, then went to school. After returning from vacation, I felt much more relaxed. Although I still had scars on my body, I was no longer afraid.
âAs I walked down the long hallway leading to the classroom with a textbook in my arms, I felt like everyone around me seemed to be deliberately avoiding me. Was I being too sensitive? I turned a corner and met Emma.
âHi, Irina. Where have you been the past two days?â
âLwasnât feeling well, so I rested at home for two days.â
âL understand. How are you now? Do you feel better?â
âYes. As soon as I saw you, I felt better.â I smiled at this cute girl beside me. When everyone distanced themselves from me, only she was still with me and willing to be my friend. âHow are you? Are your injuries healed?â
âMy injury wasnât serious to begin with. I felt happy when I saw that they were all punished. Oh, right, why wasnât Suzy in the picture?â
I shrugged and gave her a look that said, âI donât know.â
We reached the classroom and the other students came in. The professor walked in with a tablet and started the dayâs class.
After class, Emma and I headed to the canteen. A boy blocked our way.
âare you Irina?â he asked bluntly.
âLam. Who are you?â
âIâm Suzyâs brother, Stephen.â
âWhat do you want?â
âHand my sister over.â
â[ donât know what you mean.â
âStop pretending. All the girls present that day were kidnapped by your people, except Suzy.â
âI donât know where she is.â I pulled Emma along as I prepared to leave.
Stephen grabbed my arm. âThe police have already filed a case for investigation. You canât escape. Come with me to the police station.â My arm was grabbed tightly by him. I tried to break free but couldnât.
Emma moved to block Stephen, but he shoved her away and Emma fell to the ground.
âHow can you treat girls like that?!â I was furious. I couldnât stand him treating my only friend so rudely.
âHow did you guys treat my sister? Sheâs still missing!â His expression was fierce as he dragged me forward.
At that moment, a man in black appeared in front of us. He was tall and had dark brown hair. His sunglasses blocked his eyes, but he seemed familiar. I felt like I had seen him somewhere. This man didnât say anything, Just as he stopped in front of us, he used one hand to twist Stephenâs other arm behind
his back and kicked him in the knee. Stephen fell to his knees in pain.
After subduing Stephen, he walked toward me. He had one hand in the pocket of his shirt, as if he was going to take out something. I immediately realized that it was a gun. I quickly pulled Emma and ran towards the crowd.
âRavi wants to talk to you,â the man said loudly.
I stopped and looked back at him. Now, he was holding the phone that he had just pulled out. I heard Raviâs voice on the other end of the line.
âIrina,â Ravi said.
I walked over awkwardly and took the phone.
âRavi.â
âYou went to school?â
âYes.â
âGo home. Let Daniel take you home.â
âDaniel?â
âYes. From today onwards, heâs in charge of your safety. Iâll go back early to accompany you tonight.â
âOkay.â I hung up and returned the phone to Daniel. âThanks for saving me earlier.â
âMy pleasure.â
At that moment, I saw Stephen get up from the ground and walk toward Daniel with a large rock. Before I could warn Daniel, he quickly dodged, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, then backhanded Stephen with a shoulder throw. Stephen was slammed to the ground and screamed in pain.
âWhere the hell did you take my sister? Iâve already called the police. Youâll all go to jail!!â
âTm afraid Iâll have to disappoint you.â Daniel gave him a disdainful look.
I sat in the living room with my beloved piano. I felt conflicted. Too much had happened recently. Why would my mom want to go back and where was Suzy? I had no idea. I just hoped that playing the piano would calm me.
1 felt two large hands on my shoulders. I knew it was Ravi. He was standing behind me with both hands on my face. I tilted my head back to look at him. He kissed my forehead.
âYou look so beautiful when you play the piano, Irina.â
âThanks.â I hesitated, but in the end, I opened my mouth to ask him. âI have something I want to ask you.â
âI you want to ask about Suzy, I donât want to answer.â
âRavi, where is she?â He let go and turned to leave. I immediately stood up and chased after him, then stood in front of him. âYou must know, right? Youâre the one who locked her up, arenât you? What did you do to her?â
âItâs none of your business.â
âRavi, let her go. Her brother is worried about her.â
âMy job has never been to help others.â
âLocking her up for the past few days is enough punishment for her.â
âIâs not enough,â Ravi said coldly. I could see the anger in his eyes.
âWhat did you do to her?â
âDonât ask anymore.â
âYou killed her?â
Ravi looked at me, but I couldnât read the emotions in his eyes. He had always been good at hiding his emotions. He didnât admit it, nor did he deny it. He walked past me with an impassive expression.
âYou killed her, didnât you?â
âYes,â Ravi said through gritted teeth. I could tell he was trying to control his emotions. âShe deserved it.â
âNo, Ravi.â I shook my head in disbelief. âShe went overboard, but she didnât deserve to die!â
âAnyone who hurts you has to die.â He lowered his voice and said word by word. Every word sent a chill down my spine. Ravi walked up the stairs and left me alone in the living room..