Chapter 148
Chapter 148:
Her voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks, her frail frame shaking uncontrollably.
Yelena frowned. The girl’s fear seemed genuine—her trembling hands and tear-streaked face painted a vivid picture of distress. Yet, that nagging unease gnawed at her. Her instincts, honed over years, whispered that something was definitely off.
Yelena checked her watch. The evening was still young, and there was no pressing reason to head back. She decided she could spare some time to help.
A flicker of concern crossed her mind—what if those two men really were lurking near this helpless girl’s home?
“Where do you live?” Yelena asked, her voice calm but probing.
The young girl’s face lit up like a firework. “My house is just around the corner. Come on, I’ll show you! And by the way, I’m Reese Fowler p>
Without hesitation, Reese took the lead, skipping a few steps ahead with the carefree energy of a child.
Yelena sighed, brushing aside her unease from earlier, and followed.
It turned out Reese wasn’t exaggerating. Her home was barely a ten-minute walk from the bustling city center, nestled in a quiet corner.
Yelena had braced herself for the sight of a run-down shack, maybe even a flimsy structure patched together with scraps. But what greeted her was a modest, single-story home. By the standards of this neighborhood, it was more than respectable.
“Come in, Miss!” Reese called out, her small voice brimming with hospitality. “Let me get you some water p>
Yelena’s tone was steady as she replied, “There’s no need. I’ll be leaving shortly. Those two didn’t follow us, so you’re safe for now. But you need to be more careful in the future p>
g∆𝗅𝑛𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝓸𝗺, – 𝓃𝑒𝓍𝓉 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝗈𝗇
Her words carried a quiet but firm warning—she wouldn’t always be around to intervene.
Reese hesitated, her smile faltering before she nodded. “I understand p>
Still, the girl pressed a glass of water into Yelena’s hands. “Thank you for helping me. Please, at least take a sip before you go p>
Yelena studied the young girl for a moment, finding her insistence unusual but choosing not to comment. She took the glass, holding it loosely as she asked, “Where are your parents p>
A flicker of something—fear, perhaps—passed through Reese’s eyes. Her words came haltingly. “I don’t know where my dad is. He hasn’t come home all day. My mom…” She paused, swallowing hard. “She left a long time ago. She’s never coming back. I went out to look for my dad this morning, but then I ran into those bad men p>
Yelena nodded slightly, keeping her thoughts to herself. It did sound pitiful, though something about the delivery felt rehearsed.
“You look tired, fighting those bad men,” Reese said again, her voice now tinged with an almost pleading note. “Just have some water p>
That was when Yelena’s instincts flared. She froze for a split second, her grip on the glass tightening. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
As Yelena held the glass, a thought struck her. If Reese had truly been wandering outside all morning, the water in the glass should have cooled by now—the glass was ordinary, not insulated. Yet the water was warm, like it was poured just moments ago. How was that possible?