Chapter 68
“I’ll find it,” Lexi said, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay composed.
“Give me a little time, and I’ll bring Juffer back to you p>
Sebastian’s piercing gaze didn’t soften.
“Go now. And Lexi…” He gestured to the door, his voice low and final.
“…if you can’t find it, don’t come back p>
Lexi nodded sharply, determination flashing in her clear eyes.
She ran from the hospital, Sebastian watching her disappear into the city.
The movement made his wound sting; the cut along his arm reopened, and he hissed through clenched teeth.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Connor.
Time was already slipping away.
Lexi’s day became a blur of frantic searching.
She took repeated trips to the police station, distributing “lost dog” flyers in the crowded streets of New York.
Wrapped in layers to avoid recognition, only her eyes peeking out, she drew curious glances from passersby.
Hours passed, and the city offered no clues.
Her throat burned from calling Juffer’s name over and over, until a man’s voice broke through her haze.
“Sir… you seen this dog p>
She handed him a flyer carefully, her exhaustion showing.
The man froze, staring at her.
“Lexi…is that you p>
Her heart sank.
“Sir, you’ve got the wrong person,” she said sharply, trying to turn away.
But a hand caught her arm, firm yet gentle.
A low chuckle followed.
“I never get it wrong, Lexi. And by the way, your pinky curls when you lie. Don’t believe me? Check p>
Her gaze fell to her hand—and sure enough.
The tell was there, subtle and unmistakable.
Only someone who knew her completely could notice it.
Only one person…
“Are you looking for someone else’s dog?” he asked, voice softer now.
Lexi froze.
It was him—Julian, the one person she never expected to see here.
He took the flyer from her and studied it carefully.
“I’ll help you distribute them,” he offered, a quiet warmth in his tone.
“Two people are better than one p>
Lexi steadied herself, suppressing the tiny tremor in her shoulders.
“No. I can handle it myself p>
She snatched the flyer back and marched ahead.
Julian quickened his pace, keeping up with her.
“Lexi, don’t reject my help just because you think I’ll interfere. That’s not fair p>
Her steps faltered.
She turned slowly, icy eyes flashing fire.
Her lips curved in a faint, pained smile.
“Julian… please, stop being good to me. If you keep helping, I’ll fall into impossible fantasies again. Since it’s impossible, don’t create possibilities where there are none p>
Even as he walked beside her, just a few steps away, she felt a distance of a thousand light-years.
Her stubbornness was impenetrable; once she decided, no one could stop her.
The sun dipped low, painting the city in warm golds as Lexi trudged back to her apartment, weary and tense.
Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted Logan asleep on her doorstep.
“Kicking him,” she muttered, nudging his leg lightly.
“Ow! Do you know I’ve been waiting here all day?” he protested, hopping to his feet.
“And you thank me by kicking me? Truly cruel p>
Lexi didn’t have the energy to argue.
She had taken leave from filming, and her scenes were being covered by others.
“I didn’t ask you to wait,” she said tiredly.
Logan mumbled, annoyed but not letting up.
“I knew you’d say that.” He frowned at the door.
“Open up p>
“I’ll open it when you leave,” she replied coldly, gesturing him away.
This was her space, and she had no interest in letting a stranger in.
His patience snapped.
He reached for her bag to grab the keys, and in the scuffle, the flyers fell to the ground.
He snatched one, scanning it quickly.
“Your dog went missing p>
“None of your business!” she snapped, lunging for it.
A sharp rip echoed as the flyer tore in half.
Lexi sighed heavily, anger flaring, and strode to the elevator.
“Listen,” Logan called, his tone suddenly serious, “these are rare dogs. Even if someone picks one up, they wouldn’t eat it—they’d sell it. There’s a market in this city, a place that trades dogs. You should check there—you might find it p>
Lexi’s eyes widened.
“Where p>
Logan’s smirk returned, like a boy unwrapping a gift.
“I’ve been there. My own dog was stolen by a trafficker with nothing more than a sausage. Took me ages to track it down, but I got it back. The kind of thing someone can steal with a snack shouldn’t even exist p>
His gaze sparkled under the neon lights, but there was something chilling in it.
Lexi shivered.
His cruelty, masked behind charm, made her uneasy.
Sebastian might be cold, but his care for Juffer was absolute.
She could only imagine the fury if Hound were stolen…
Shaking off the thought, Lexi focused.
Juffer had to be found.
Nothing else mattered.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, disguising herself.
Logan nodded, leading her into the underground market.
Rows of cages met her eyes, each containing dogs of all breeds.
They sat silently, sedated, awaiting their next transaction.
“Don’t worry,” Logan said lazily.
“The traffickers want a high price. They won’t abuse them. And the buyers aren’t short on cash either p>
The red-hued lights made Lexi’s stomach turn, but she forced herself to step forward.
“Why buy dogs that already have owners?” she asked.
Loyalty is what made a dog valuable—wouldn’t they turn on their buyers?
“Because these dogs aren’t ordinary,” Logan said with a grin, coldly precise.
“Some only produce one pup in several years. Why bother raising one yourself when you can take one ready-made? Never forget: the world isn’t kind. Nothing is truly loyal p>
He smiled like sunlight blazing across a field—but in his glassy eyes, Lexi saw nothing but illusions shattered.
He had to have been betrayed before—otherwise, how could he have become so cold?