An eerie stillness weighed down the room as Selena sat on the couch, scrolling through news articles of her own death. The silence was shattered by a sharp knock at the door. Her gaze snapped up from the phone screen, tension instantly crawling across her face. She stood up slowly, holding her crutches and carefully moved towards the door.
"Who's there?" Her voice was steady, though her grip on the crutches tightened.
"It's me, Mika."
Relief flickered across Selena's features as she limped toward the door. The moment it opened, Mika rushed in, disguised in a cap, mask, and oversized sunglasses.
"Selena!" Mika pulled her into a hug. Selena winched, "Ah— careful. "
"Sorry." Mika stepped back immediately, steading her by the shoulder before helping her sit. Mina's eyes dropped to her injured leg, worry etched across her face.
"How bad is it? Where else are you hurt?"
"Just a fracture," Selena answered quietly. "Two stitches on the head, but I'll live." She leaned back, trying to sound calm though the pain clung stubbornly to her.
Mika's fists clenched. She ripped off her cap and hurled it onto the floor. "They did this to you? They'll pay for it ten times over."
Selena's gaze hardened. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her expression calm but her eyes burning. "I'll return soon. Just waiting for this leg to heal."
Impatience flickered through Mika as she tapped her foot against the floor. "And the plan you mentioned earlier?"
Selena's face shifted, all softness gone. "Before that… there's something else I need to deal with."
"And... What is it?" Mika leaned forward, her voice low.
"A guy."
Selena's gaze shifted to the bags lying on the table. Mika followed her gaze and frowned.
For a while, they started silently at those bags. Mika slowly whispered, turning to Selena, "who was that?"
"My doctor," Selena muttered, her eyes narrowing at the window. "Or at least, that's who he claims to be. He said he saw the accident, found me unconscious, and took me to the hospital." Her hand brushed across the stitches on her forehead. "But why didn't he inform the police? And how does no one know that, in all the noise about Selena Leonard's death, there was a girl left half-dead on the road? He's been helping me too much—it can't just be coincidence."
Mika's eyes scanned the luxurious suite. "So… all this—your clothes, the room—he arranged everything?"
Selena gave a small nod.
Mika tapped her fingers against the table, thinking. "What was his name again?"
"Julian Cross."
Mika froze, her brows knitting together. "Julian Cross… I've heard that name before." Her voice was almost a murmur. She shook her head quickly, as if dismissing the thought. "Something's off. You shouldn't stay here. We need to move you somewhere safer."
"I was thinking the same."
Across the city, Julian stood in front of the window, flipping pages of a file. His face was calm and his eyes— sharp and focused. His desk was filled with pages and articles, his room was very quiet— the only sound that could be heard was of flipping pages and nothing else. Julian's gaze shifted to the desk as his phone buzzed. He sat down on his chair clearing the mess in his table as a message blinked
"2,000,000 transferred to your account."
He frowned, confused. A second text flashed across the screen:
"All the money you spent on me, I've returned. Thanks for everything. —Suzy."
Julian stared at the message, his chest tightening. His hand shot to his phone as he called the hotel manager.
"Where is she?" His voice was sharp.
"Sorry, sir," the manager stammered. "She just left—with another woman."
"I told you to keep an eye on her!" Julian's voice rose, anger lacing every word.
"We couldn't stop her, sir. There was no reason to—"
Julian cut the call, frustration pressing against his temples. He tore off his glasses, dragging a hand through his hair.
"Selena…" His voice dropped to a whisper. He slipped the glasses back on, his jaw tightening. "I need to find her.