CHAPTER033 OLIVIASPOV Hey,hey,Isaid,tappingthereporterscheeks.
Herbreathingwasbecomingmoreshallowbythesecond,andpanicclawedatmychest.Damnit,wherewastheambulancewhenyouactuallyneededone?Ifhelpdidntcomesoon,shewasgoingtodierighthere,rightinmyarms.MyhandstrembledasIpressedlightlyagainsthershoulder,unsureofwhattodo.
Then,outofnowhere,Ifeltafirmhandonmyshoulder.
Getup.Amansvoicecommanded.
IturnedsharplytoseeAdrianstandingover me,hisexpressionunreadable.
Wow,thatstheCEOofWestwoodIndustries.Someonewhisperedinthecrowd.
AsuitedmanstandingbesideAdrianoneofhissecurity,nodoubtraisedhisvoice.
Partysover.You canallleave.Thesituationwillbetakencareof.
Athiswords,themurmuringcrowdhesitatedforamomentbeforegraduallydispersing.Cameraflashesdimmed,andonebyone,people walkedaway,eitheroutofintimidationorcuriositysatisfied.ButnotbeforeInoticedsomeofthemstillrecording,theirphonessubtlyheldattheirsides.
Adrianstoodthere,watchingme,hisgazeheavywithsomethingunreadable.IcouldfeelmypulsepoundinginmyearsasIlookedupathimfromwhereIwaskneelingnexttotheunconsciousreporter.
Ididntmeanto,Iblurtedout,myvoiceshaky.Sheheldontome,andthishappened.
AslowsmirkcurledonAdrianslips.
Ifthatswhatyoureplanningtotellthecops,hesaid,hisvoicelowandalmostamused,thenyouredefinitelygoingtojail.
Mybreathcaughtinmythroat.Jail.
Mybodywentrigidattheword,andmyhandsinstinctivelyclenched.No,no,nolcouldntgotojail.Thatwasntanoption.

Thatwasabitmuch,dontyouthink?headded,watchingmyreactioncarefully.
HowwasIsupposedtoknowshewouldfallintothe street?Ishotback,thepanicstillbubblingundermyvoice.
Adriandidntanswerrightaway.Instead,hereachedintohispocketandpulledoutahandkerchief,tossingitlightlyontomylapasifthiswasnothingmorethanaminor Successfullyunlocked!inconvenience.
Letsgo, heordered,hisvoiceleaving noroomforargument.
Gowhere?I asked,mythroatdry.
CHAPTER033 If youdontwanttoendupbehindbars,youllcomewithme,hesaidsimply.
Ihesitated,mymindracing.IglancedoveratJuliansdriver,whohadbeenwaitingbesidethecarthiswholetime.Hemetmygazeandgavemeaslightnodbeforepullingouthisphone,mostlikelycallingJulian.
MyhandstrembledasIlookedbackdownatthereporter.Herclothesweresoakedinblood,herbodyeerilystill.
Youdontexpectmetojustleaveherhereinthiscondition,Isaid,turningmyattentionbacktoAdrian.
Buthedidntevenglanceback.Hesimply turnedonhisheelandwalkedtowardtheconvoyofblackCadillacescaladeSUVsparkedonthesideoftheroad.Hissecurityteammovedinsyncwithhim,theirpresencealonemakingitclearthatIhadnorealchoicehere.
Iswallowedhardandlookedbackdownatthewomanonelasttime.
Sheneededhelp.
ButsodidI.
Thisworldwasntkindtopeoplelikemepeoplecaughtinsituationstheydidntaskfor.Ihadalreadyseenfirsthandhoweasyitwasforthetruthtobetwisted,andforvillainstobe madeoutofvictims.IfIstayed,Iwouldonlymakethingsworseformyself.
Slowly,hesitantly,Iplacedthereportersheadgentlyonthegroundandpushedmyselftomyfeet.
Witheverystepawayfromher,aweightsettleddeeperinmychest.

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Icrossedthestreet,mylegsfeelingheavy,andstoppedinfrontofoneoftheSUVs.Amaninablacksuitopenedthedoor,andwithoutanotherword,IslidintotheleatherseatbesideAdrian.
Theconvoystartedmovingsmoothly,blendingseamlesslyintothenighttraffic.
Forafewmoments,therewasonlysilenceinsidethecar.
Then,unabletotakeitanylonger,I turnedtowardAdrian.
Wherearewegoing? Wereleavingthisarea,herepliedcoolly.
தா Ifrowned.Whydidyouwantmetofollowyou? Insteadofanswering,hepulledoutatabletandtappedthescreen.Avideostartedplaying.MystomachdroppedasIsawmyselfonthescreenme,shovingthereporter.Themomentplayedoutincrystalclarity,capturedfromananglethatmadeitlookfarworsethanitactuallywas.Theway herbodystumbledintothestreet.Thewaythecarcameoutofnowhere.
CHAPTER033 Someonehadrecordedeverything.
Adrianwatchedmecarefullyasheheldthetabletup.
Yousee,Olivia,hesaidsmoothly,theladyyoupushed hasdoneherpart.Nowitstimeforyoutodoyours.
Myheadsnappedtowardhim.
Doneherpart?Myvoicewas barelyaboveawhisper.Whatthehellareyoutalkingabout? Hissmirkdeepened.
Youthinkyoureaheadofme,hemurmured,tiltinghisheadslightly.ButIwantyourtoknowImalwaystwostepsahead.
Asickfeelingchurnedinmystomach.
Whatareyousaying?Idemanded.
Adrianleanedbackagainsttheseat,completelyatease.Thereporter?Shellbefine.

Hiswordssentajoltthroughme.
Whatdoyoumeanshellbefine?Iasked,dreadcurlinginmygut.Shewasbleedingeverywhere.Shecould barelymove… Adrianchuckledlightly.Thatswhyshewaspaid.
Ifroze.
Mybrainstruggledtoprocesswhathehadjustsaid.
Shewas…paid?Myvoicecameouthoarse.
Adrianturnedhisheadslightly,hissharpeyesgleamingunderthediminteriorlights.
Letmebequickwiththis,hesaid,voicecalmandcomposed.Itwasallstaged.Sodontworry…youdidntkillanyone.
Iblinked,mymindblank.
Staged? Iturnedmyheadslowly,lookingoutthewindowattheaccidentsceneinthedistance.Thecrowdwasdispersingnow,theflashinglightsofemergencyvehiclesjuststartingtoarrive.
IturnedbacktoAdrian,my/mouthslightlyopenindisbelief.
Thedriverthathither,hecontinuedsmoothly,thereporter,andeveryonewhorecordedyou…theywereallpaidbyme.
Istaredathim,realizationcrashingdownonmelikeatidalwave.
Ididntpushherhardenough.
Thecarhadpulledoutofnowhere,attheperfectmoment.
Thevideofootagewasconvenientlycapturedatananglethatmadeitlookintentional.
wasallplanned ItwasallAdriansdoing