Chapter 22

Patricia shuffled into the elevator, dragging her feet lazily. Her bag hung around her neck, showcasing her exhaustion, and her bloodshot eyes betrayed a sleepless night. Each word John had spoken to her replayed relentlessly in her mind. The events of yesterday were enough to keep anyone awake.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, and she let out a heavy yawn as she stepped out. Her scream got stifled when she saw Marco standing in front of her office door. "What are you doing here?" Her voice came out unusually high-pitched.

"I came to apologize... Are you okay? You don't look well. Those people lied to me," he gritted out. "I went to the station, and they told me they released you as soon as you gave your statement. I didn't know they lied. Did they hurt you?" He cupped her face, his eyes filled with concern as he gazed at her. She blinked at him in disbelief.

"Are you okay? The mosquitoes there must be hungry; that's probably why you didn't get a good night's rest. You look like