Eugene was about to leave, but Azalea stopped him before spreading her arms. “Can you hug me, Eugene? Just for one moment.” He eyed her coldly. I have a girlfriend. So, no.”
She closed her eyes, and the tears kept falling down her cheeks. After a momentary pause, she said in a broken voice, “I know, but we might never meet again. Can’t you just hug me like I’m your sister?”
She tried to throw herself into his embrace as she spoke, but she failed. Eugene had managed to keep her at arm’s length before she could even get into his arms. “Don’t obsess over something that will never be. I have told you we’ll never be a thing.”
Azalea stared at him in disbelief, her eyes glistening with tears. “I know. You don’t have to keep reminding me. But I’ve liked you for a long time, so I can’t possibly cut off all those feelings right away. Can’t you just grant me one last wish?”
“No,” he answered tartly. Right then, a gunshot roared across the air. By instinct, he pulled her to his side and kept her behind him. When he took her to a hidden spot, he saw a bullet buried at the spot where they had been standing just seconds ago.
Eugene shuddered slightly. Who did this? Did they come for me? I can’t believe they even had the guts to shoot me right outside the police station. He called the cops and told them to check out the bullet. He wanted to know if it was an accident or an attempted murder. A moment later, he hung up, and another call came.
The number was a familiar one, but it still caught him by surprise. Olivia? Why is she calling now? He wanted to pick it up, but Azalea was leaning on his chest, and he shoved her away. Fortunately, she stood back and said nothing.
He picked up the call, but for some reason, he spoke carefully, “Olivia? W-What’s up?” Olivia replied calmly, “I was just worried. How is the investigation going?”
He heaved a sigh of relief before answering, “I just got out of the police station, and the suspect has confessed to everything. They’re going to write an article and release it on the news. Then, the rumors will be no more.”
She said, “Good to hear. Where are you right now?” Eugene threw a glance at Azalea. “I’m on my way back to the company. Once I settle down, I can go home tomorrow.”
“Are you alone?” He shifted his gaze to Azalea once again. Dammit, I don’t wanna cause a misunderstanding. I guess I’ll just keep it a secret. She’s not here right now, and any explanation might sound awkward. A moment later, he replied, “Yes.”
With that, her tone turned ice-cold when she next spoke, “Be careful, then.” Then, she hung up. He stared at his phone in confusion. W-What was that? Is she mad? Is it because I’ve been out for too long? He gasped in silence when that thought flashed across his mind.
A ton of cops had emerged from the police station, and Eugene felt more at ease now. Those terrorists aren’t gonna do anything with them here. He turned to look at Azalea. “You should go back to City Palace. It’s dangerous here.”
Just then, she held his hand tightly. Like a child, she requested, “I’m scared. Can you take me home?”
