Chapter 182
Chapter 182:
As she stepped inside, the market was already alive with energy.
Walking through the market, Yelena scanned the stalls carefully, her eyes sharp and calculating. Yet, nothing caught her attention—no hidden gems or overlooked treasures.
Many of the items were lackluster, and some vendors were clearly selling fakes, preying on naive newcomers hoping to strike gold.
Navigating the underground market without a sharp eye was a recipe for disaster. It was a place where deception lurked in plain sight.
Her gaze then settled on a small shop tucked away from the main hustle, where an unassuming black stone caught her attention.
It was unremarkable at first glance—small and pitch-black—but something about it drew her in.
She moved closer, intrigued, when an all-too-familiar voice sliced through the air. “Yelena? Am I seeing things? What are you doing here p>
Yelena sighed, already recognizing the voice before she turned around.
Sure enough, it was Sonya, standing a few paces away with an expression full of smugness.
Yelena already regretted her decision to leave the house. Of all days, why today?
To Yelena, Sonya wasn’t just a person—she was a walking embodiment of trouble, and trouble always had a way of finding her.
“Is this place yours? Or am I breaking some secret rule by being here?” Yelena retorted, her tone heavy with sarcasm. “Or maybe you’re just blind and can’t tell what I’m doing p>
Sonya’s face twisted into an irritated scowl, her voice rising in indignation. “What are you saying? I should be the one complaining here! Why do I keep running into you everywhere? You’re like some annoying shadow I can’t get rid of p>
Yelena raised an eyebrow at the sheer absurdity of the accusation. Her? A shadow? She was perfectly fine here until Sonya barged in.
𝒆𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓴 𝒄𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓱𝒆𝓻𝑒:
Her gaze flicked to the man standing beside Sonya. It was Roger, looking worse for wear. His dark circles and pale complexion hinted at sleepless nights and far too much indulgence. His disheveled appearance carried none of his usual bravado, and yet his lecherous expression lingered.
Yelena’s lips quirked into a subtle sneer. Fantastic. The two of them together. Trouble seemed to follow her like a magnet today.
Yelena rolled her eyes and ignored Sonya, focusing intently on the raw stone that had just caught her interest.
She had been in a good mood, but the atmosphere had soured. The unwelcome stares and sneers grated on her nerves, though she refused to let it show.
Roger, standing nearby, couldn’t take his eyes off Yelena. There was something about her—the unshakable coolness in her demeanor, the quiet confidence—that only made his gaze linger. It stirred something primal within him, a twisted desire to assert dominance, and his eyes burned with a possessive intensity.
Yelena caught the look and frowned in disgust.
The man looked utterly haggard, yet he still had the audacity to ogle her. It was revolting. If it weren’t for the crowd, she would have happily taught him a lesson he’d never forget.
Crouched over the raw stone, Yelena’s steady focus only seemed to stoke Sonya’s ire. Sonya’s lips curled into a sneer as she spat, “Do you even know where you are? Every stone here is worth more than you could dream of. You don’t actually think they’re free, do you p>
Sonya couldn’t stand the calm, unruffled air Yelena carried, as if she belonged in a place like this.