LOGINThe black flats were soft and comfortable, both the upper and the sole.Even with the injuries on Camila’s feet, as long as she didn’t put too much pressure on them, the pain was manageable.She took a quiet breath, placed her feet together, and lowered her head. “I’ll pay you back.”Asher, who had been about to return to the driver’s seat, glanced at her. “No need,” he said calmly. “I’ve got some savings. It may not be much compared to your family’s, but it’s more than enough to buy you a pair of shoes.”“It’s not just the shoes,” Camila said. She lifted a hand and wiped her face before looking up at him again. “There’s also the money you gave me at my door last time. I remember it. When I start making money, I’ll pay you back…with interest.”Truthfully, it wasn’t a large amount. Altogether, it didn’t even add up to much. If she asked, Alfonso would have given her far more without hesitation.But maybe that was exactly why it mattered.This wasn’t money from her father. It came from
“Maybe your mother’s case isn’t as simple as it looks,” Asher said quietly. “Maybe she didn’t choose to end her life just because of depression and her illness.” He paused, then continued, more measured this time. “But the case has been closed for months. If it’s going to be reopened, there has to be new evidence.”He looked at her. “You were the one closest to her. You’re in the best position to investigate, to look into the things you’re expecting.” His lips pressed into a thin line before he added, “If one day you do find something… and if you’re willing to trust the police, then come to me.”Camila’s pupils shrank slightly. After a long moment, she said, “But you’re not a cop anymore.”Asher hesitated. Then he replied, “If you trust other officers, you can take the evidence straight to the police department and file a report.”It sounded like he had already decided to stay out of it. And yet, in the end, he still got involved.Not only that, he had said far more than he intended.
Camila was in terrible shape.She knelt on the ground, the soles of her feet smeared with mud and blood, yet she didn’t seem to feel any pain. She just stared blankly at a green leaf resting in her palm.Asher had already made up his mind, he wouldn’t get involved with her anymore.He remembered that decision now. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he pulled it away, frowned, and turned to leave.In the quiet surroundings, his footsteps were soft, almost unnoticeable, but Camila still heard them.Slowly, she lifted her head. It was just a casual glance at first, but her eyes landed on a tall, familiar figure walking away.Even from behind, she knew it was him.So even he didn’t care about her anymore?No… he must have seen her. And it was precisely because he saw her that he chose to leave. In his eyes, she must have become even worse, someone consumed by revenge, like a broken, dangerous person.He was a police officer. Of course he would hate her, for everything she had sa
Her breathing became ragged, her whole body trembling. “It’s your fault too!” she cried. “You’re guilty! You’re one of the people who killed my mom!”Outside the hospital room, a doctor had just arrived to check on her. Hearing the girl’s hoarse, desperate shouting, he stopped at the door.Inside, Alfonso sat there, silent.He didn’t defend himself.He let her hit him, blame him, vent everything she had held in for so long.Only after her emotions began to settle did he finally lift his head, his eyes filled with exhaustion.“I married Elsa… because I had no choice,” he said quietly.
On the wide stretch of green lawn lay a girl, young, pale, her skin almost blending into the white of her dress, standing in stark contrast against the grass beneath her.She lay there quietly, motionless.Dressed in white, she looked pure and fragile, like a piece of snow that had fallen out of place in the warmth of spring.Then, suddenly, a thin mist seemed to rise.The girl, who had been lying still with her eyes closed, opened them. Her gaze locked onto him, cold, sharp, filled with something dark and unbearable.“Why…? Why did you hurt me like that?!”Her voice rang out, not loud, but piercing, like a blade driven straight into the chest.Asher jerked upright in bed, his brows tightly furrowed as he looked around.It was a dream.He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.‘Why did I had dreamed about Camila? There was no reason for it.…Or was there?’And another question ran through his mind. ‘Was it because I hadn’t taken her to the hospital himself?’He pushed the tho
Camila struggled against his grip, furious. “Don’t play mind games with me. If you know something, then say it! If you can’t, then it’s just empty words meant to manipulate me!”Asher looked down at her stubborn face, her defiance still blazing despite how powerless she was in his grip.A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.“What I can tell you,” he said, “is that even if you really gain the power to expose what you believe is corruption, the only thing you’ll destroy is your own future as a journalist.”The weight of those words made her go still.Camila stared at him, stunned. “Why?” she asked after a long moment, her voice almost hollow. “Because the police in Seattle can cover everything up? You think nobody in this country can hold them accountable?”“It’s not that no one can hold them accountable,” Asher said, his voice measured and firm. “It’s that they didn’t do anything wrong. No matter how hard you try, you can’t force false charges onto innocent people.”He
The whole morning had been a little easier because of Liam’s help. By lunchtime, though, Camila was already rushing out of school. Just half a day had felt like an entire year.Even though sitting next to Liam had made things a little less unbearable, she had no intention of staying for afternoon c
The more potential Camila had shown before, the more disappointed Miss Jessa felt now.After a long pause, she addressed the room.“Is anyone willing to switch seats with Sarah?” Then she added firmly, “This is the only time I’m allowing a seat change for this kind of reason. No one else is going t
Maybe it was guilt that made Asher personally drive Camila to school that morning.For once, she didn’t try to cause trouble. That alone was rare enough to make even him suspicious.A girl who usually bristled like she was covered in thorns had suddenly become quiet and obedient. Even Asher found i
Camila didn’t know where she was going.Lately, she’d felt lost all the time. The only thing she was certain about was that she wanted to escape that house. As long as she didn’t have to go back, she didn’t care where she ended up. Even sleeping under an overpass would’ve been fine.She ran forward







