Chapter 5

It wasn't as if I'd never thought of going to the police in my previous life. The truth was that Kieran always caught me before I could even get to a police station.

"Who are you? Where do you live? What report would you like to make?" the elderly policeman asked impassively.

"It's—"

Kieran suddenly appeared behind me and cut me off. "This is my wife, sir. We simply had an argument, which resulted in some conflict between us. Sorry for the inconvenience!"

"No! I'm not his wife!" I explained desperately.

"Stop causing a fuss, Linnie. It's far too late at night for that. Let's continue our argument at home, alright?" Kieran asked with false tenderness, looking nothing at all like the devil he had been in my previous life.

"Another one kicking up a pointless fuss! It's illegal to make a false report, young lady, so don't go seeking trouble!" the elderly policeman snapped before leaving in annoyance.

"Hey! Sir! Please don't go!" I called helplessly after him, grasping desperately at this last straw.

Kieran put me on his shoulders and walked toward a black sedan in the distance. "I'd like to see how you're going to get away now, Linda!"

Kieran was a martial arts practitioner, so he was well-built. Even though I tried my best, I couldn't free myself from him.

I unconsciously started shedding tears of despair.

Was I going to fail to escape him in this life as well? How was he able to find me every time?

A familiar voice called out from behind me, "Linnie?"

It was Scott.

I struggled to lift my head and cry out to him for help. "Save me, Scott!"

When Kieran saw Scott approaching, he smoothly set me down.

Without another word, Scott threw a heavy punch at Kieran that knocked him several feet back.

Scott grabbed Kieran by his collar, looking abnormally furious. "Kieran Zucker! Who gave you the guts to come looking for my woman?"

I stood to one side. It took me a long time to gather myself again.

How did Scott also know I was here?

Thanks to my experience from my previous life, I'd cut my SIM card in half, turned off my phone, and put on gloves and socks before leaving the house. I hadn't left a trace.

Out of fear of being discovered, I even deliberately crossed a wide river to wash off my scent. Then, I'd hidden in the most inconspicuous underpass I could find deep in the mountains, where signal strength was at its worst.

Where exactly had I gone wrong that they found me despite all my efforts?

Before I could figure things out, Scott suddenly hugged me tightly.

He looked at me with genuine urgency. "You're frightened, aren't you, Linnie?"

Kieran had long since disappeared.

When Scott saw that I wasn't answering his question, he took off his coat and draped it around my shoulders. "It's really windy outside. Let's go home!"

In response, I took out a knife and held it to his neck. "Confess, Scott Quinlan. Who exactly are you? Why didn't you ask me why you passed out after eating the cake? You and Kieran are in cahoots, right?"