Chapter 3

"Listen, you need to leave now," the head of security said. "If you don't, we'll have to remove you by force."

Two security guards moved in to grab me.

The older woman tried to reassure me. "Don't be afraid. This is a country governed by the rule of law. They can't just do whatever they want."

But the head of security shoved her aside and pinned me to the floor. "Just throw him out."

I was still struggling against them when someone suddenly shouted, "The police are here!"

I let out a huge sigh of relief.

But the moment I saw who had arrived, I wanted the ground to swallow me up. Mortified, I kept my face down on the floor, too ashamed to look up.

"What happened here? It's Christmas Eve. You should be home getting ready for the holidays instead of causing a scene here."

After getting a quick rundown of the situation from the bystanders, Ray Bennett, my old neighbor, turned his attention to Miriam and me. I was still pinned to the floor.

"Alright, you two. Tell me what's going on."

Miriam hurried toward him, hoping to speak to him privately, but he raised a hand to stop her.

"You don't need to come that close. We can hear you perfectly well from there."

She gave an awkward smile and took a step forward anyway. "Officer, I need a word with you. It's not something for these people to hear."

The head of security also tried to signal to Ray, clearly hoping he would keep the crowd from overhearing what Miriam had to say.

The older woman struggled to her feet, clutching her sore back.

"What is it that we're not supposed to hear? I've been here since the beginning, and all I've heard is you making false accusations against this young man. If you've got something to say, say it in front of all of us. Let everyone hear it."

I silently prayed that Miriam wouldn't reveal her powerful connections in front of the whole crowd.

Just then, her phone rang. She answered, and the crowd fell silent, straining to hear. The man on the other end was so loud that everyone could make out every word.

"Honey, what's taking you so long?" a man's voice boomed through the speaker.

"Honey, I've run into some trouble," Miriam replied. "Let me get this sorted out, and I'll head back."

Kevin barked, "Just drop my uncle's name if anyone gives you grief. Let's see who'd dare mess with the mayor's family!"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock.

I wanted nothing more than to grab Kevin by the shoulders and slap him upside the head. The man was a complete moron who couldn't do a single thing right.

"Officer, we all heard that," someone else called out. "You can't let her off just because she's related to some big shot."

The older woman added, "That's right! The young man's still lying on the floor!"

Miriam hastily hung up the phone. She certainly didn't want this incident to damage the reputation of the powerful man she was counting on.

But everyone had already heard enough. I was in serious trouble with my dad now.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and Miriam was visibly rattled. The situation had spiraled out of her control.

"Everyone, quiet down!" Ray called out before turning to Miriam. "Since this incident has caused such a commotion, let's hear what really happened."

"I... He..." She stood there stammering, unable to string together a single coherent sentence.

"Let him up," Ray said, and the guards reluctantly released me.

"Young man, get up!" the older woman said. She shoved the guards' hands off me and hauled me to my feet. "The police are here to back you up now. So what if she has connections? You don't have to be afraid of her!"

I lifted my head and cringed as I locked eyes with Ray. I never expected the precinct chief himself to show up for a routine call at the mall.

He looked just as surprised to see me, then glared at me in exasperation. "You really do know how to give your old man a heart attack, don't you? Now tell me—what happened?"

I explained what had happened. "I came here to buy Christmas gifts and happened to run into her. She accused me of stalking her and demanded that I pay for her purchases. When I refused, she wouldn't let me leave."

The moment I finished speaking, the older woman beside me scoffed in disgust. "Honestly! The nerve of her! She can't afford it, yet she wants to act like a big spender. When this young man refused to pay, she even made up lies about him bleeding her dry."

With the older woman once again backing me up, the crowd turned on Miriam, shouting that she should be arrested.

"Let's see who dares take my wife away!"

At the shout, the crowd parted to make way for Kevin. He came striding in, wearing a black fur coat that made him look like a bear in human form.

"Which precinct are you guys from? Do you even know who my uncle is? Do you have any idea what'll happen if—"

I hurriedly shouted over him before he could finish. "Kevin Patton, shut up!"

He turned toward me, his face lighting up with delight.

"Finn! I didn't know you were here too. Perfect timing! Someone's bullying my wife. You're the mayor's son! Tell your dad to have that guy arrested!"

Ray looked at me with a faintly amused expression.

Too embarrassed to meet everyone's astonished stares, I lowered my head and muttered, "Kevin... that guy is me."