Chapter 148

Sage didn’t dare to sign anything recklessly. So as she took the paper to make the two men lower their

guard, she reached into her pocket to grab her phone to call the police.

But just as her fingers touched her phone, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and forcefully

pulled her back.

“Ah!” Sage screamed in fright, swinging her fists and kicking with her legs blindly in an attempt to fight

back.

“Hey! It’s me!” When Sage heard lan’s voice, she stopped struggling.

She looked up and saw Ian’s face. However, because of how dim the streetlamps were, Sage couldn’t

make out his expression clearly.

“How did you get here? Where are they?” Sage asked, her heart still racing.

Ian’s voice was grave. “They ran away. Why did you come to such a sketchy place for your walk?”

Having calmed down, Sage felt her legs go weak. She sat down on a nearby rock. I just happened to

be passing by! Who knew I would encounter them? Call the police, quickly!”

Sage took out her phone, but Ian said coldly, “No need. The police won’t find any evidence here. I’ll

send someone to investigate and handle it.”

“I have evidence!” Sage raised the piece of paper, but to her surprise, her hand

was empty.

Ian saw through her thoughts and explained kindly, “They were obviously experienced. As soon as they

sensed something was wrong, they grabbed the paper and ran. They wouldn’t leave any evidence for

you,to use against them.”

Earlier, Sage had been so focused on figuring out how to call the police that she hadn’t noticed the

paper being snatched away, nor had she noticed Ian approaching.

“Let’s go home,” Ian urged.

Sage shook her head, saying, “Wait, my legs are weak. I need to rest for a little while longer.”

Ian gave her a strange look and crouched down in front of her. Sage couldn’t believe what he said next.

“Hurry up and get on!” Ian said impatiently.

Sage hesitated for a moment before obediently lying on his back. Ian held her legs and hoisted her up,

walking forward with her on his back.

As she lay on Ian’s back, Sage recalled being carried by her grandfather in the same way when she

was a child. His broad shoulders and warm back gave her a sense of comforting security.

Now, lying on Ian’s back, she found that his back was similarly broad, warm, and. reassuring. She

could even catch a faint whiff of his cologne.

Ian’s steps were steady. Even though Sage wasn’t heavy, he grew tired after carrying her for a while.

However, he didn’t ask her to get down nor, did he show any sign of annoyance.

“Ian, if only you had been this patient with me in my previous life- No! You didn’t even need to show this

much patience. Just a little less disgust and

indifference would have done.

“If you had treated me like you treated others, I wouldn’t have been so paranoid and done so many

crazy things.

“If only that were the case, I wouldn’t have ended up being framed, sent to at mental institution, and

suffering stomach cancer…” Sage thought to herself.

“Are you crying?” At that moment, Ian’s teasing voice echoed in her ears and interrupted her thoughts.

“You dared to bite and even fight against me. Why are you so shaken up by those guys‘ threats?”

Sage didn’t even know when tears had started streaming down her face. She wiped them away with

the back of her hand and said, “I’m fine now. Put me down.

Hearing her voice suddenly become cold and distant, Ian looked back at her. “Are

you burning bridges with me now?”