âHey, finally caught up, huh? I thought you wouldnât dare.â
Standing at the villaâs gate was Hannah, leaning casually against the iron bars, her gaze sharp as she scrutinized Anna approaching.
If the girl made any suspicious move, Hannah was ready to take her down without hesitation.
But seeing Anna, she was somewhat surprised. She had expected a reckless assassin to have followed her here, but instead, it was this seemingly dubious young girl.
âYou knew I was following you?â
Anna looked at Hannah, slightly taken aback. Hannah, dressed in a sharp suit with no hint of femininity and her short hair slicked back, sported a bandage on her right arm, looking every bit the formidable figure.
Not someone youâd want to mess with, thatâs for sure.
Hannah smirked with a hint of pride. She had undergone formal training, not something those run-of-the-mill thugs could match.
Spotting Anna trailing her had been too easy. Miss Aliceâs villa was in the suburbs,no taxi would follow all the way there without reason.
Not to mention, Hannah had grown suspicious midway and had the driver stop a few times. Each time Miss Aliceâs car stopped, the taxi behind them did too, blatantly obvious.
The driverâs tracking skills were laughably poor.
âThat driver was so unreliable.â
Anna muttered under her breath, her initial plan to sneak in now busted.
âSo, you donât look like youâre here to harm Miss Alice. What do you want?â
âThis isnât a place for messing around.â
Hannah waved her hand, about to shoo her away. Anna didnât seem to have any ties with the underworld,she probably just followed out of curiosity. If this girl was also after Miss Alice, then Miss Alice was really unlucky.
âMiss Alice?â
Was she referring to the girl next to Ryan? Anna had only caught a glimpse from afar and didnât know who she was.
Anna was at a loss for words, her simple tracking attempt so easily foiled. Maybe she should leave and plan a more careful approach for another time.
But the security here was more intense than she had anticipated. Would she even get another chance?
âUgh, nothing to do with Miss Alice, and you wonât leave.â
âAre you related to that guy?â
Hannah touched her chin, pondering. Anna looked clueless, a blank slate.
That âguyâ was naturally Ryan. Hannahâs opinion of him had plummeted to rock bottom,she couldnât even bring herself to say his name, referring to him only as âthat man.â
âRyan?â
Anna hesitated for a moment, her curiosity piqued by Hannahâs words.
Under her hood, her eyes darted to catch Hannahâs expression, which clearly conveyed her disdain when she mentioned him.
âOh, so youâre here for Ryan?â
âWhatâs your relationship with him?â
Hannah was genuinely curious now, scrutinizing Anna more seriously.
Dressed in a black hoodie and a plaid pleated skirt, she looked about the same age as Miss Alice, probably a student too.
Though her face was hidden behind a mask, the glimpse of her eyes suggested she was likely attractive.
Was Ryanâs charm really that strong? He had been gone for days, and yet people were still looking for him.
âRyan is my senior.â
Their relationship was quite simple, and Anna didnât hesitate to explain.
Yet, as she spoke, there was a hint of dejection. Her affection for Ryan might just be one-sided.
Did Ryan still remember her?
Anna observed Hannah, feeling uneasy, especially when Ryan was mentioned.
She couldnât quite gauge Hannahâs attitude, but it seemed like she wasnât particularly on guard against her.
âInteresting, heâs your senior, huh?â
Hannah mused, a slight smile playing on her lips as she watched Annaâs expression become uneasy. She had pretty much figured it out.
If it was just a schoolmate relationship, why all the secrecy? School friendships arenât that deep.
This girlâs relationship with Ryan was definitely not simple, probably more than just classmates, maybe even a bit romantic.
Typical Ryan, a real piece of work, flirting around and even daring to covet the pure Miss Alice
Hannah looked at Anna, somewhat sympathetic, then silently made up her mind.
No matter what, Hannah was determined to rescue Miss Alice from that jerkâs clutches. Even if Miss Alice hadnât fallen yet, it was only a matter of time before sheâd be ruined.
âSo, you came here because you noticed your senior was missing and youâre looking for him?â
âYou want to take him back?â
Hannahâs right hand dipped into her pocket, pulling out a pack of womenâs cigarettes. She pinched one between her fingers and offered it to Anna.
Anna frowned slightly and waved it away without taking it.
Her frown wasnât about the cigarette,it was because Hannah had so easily voiced her intentions.
Now that her motives were exposed, was Hannah trying to stop her?
A storm seemed to gather in Annaâs eyes, quickly turning into a heavy cloud of suspicion and coldness.
Her hand slipped into her pocket, gripping something hidden inside.
Even if she seemed outmatched by Hannah, Anna knew she had to try. Any chance to bring Ryan back was worth taking.
âRelax, relax.â
Hannah glanced at Annaâs fidgeting hand with a sigh. Were all young girls these days so quick to draw weapons? She never had to be this fierce when she was younger. Times really had changed.
Lighting the cigarette and taking a deep drag, Hannah exhaled a cloud of smoke, her mind made up.
She had been unsure at first, as merely being classmates wasnât enough to confirm her suspicions.
But Annaâs obsession with Ryan was clear, fitting the profile Hannah needed.
She had a plan, a plan to rescue Miss Alice from Ryanâs grasp.
âI can help you meet Ryan, but in return, you have to promise me one thing.â
Hannah spoke calmly, her gaze casual as if they were just making small talk.
Annaâs eyes widened in surprise, her body tensing as she clutched the object in her pocket even tighter.
âI said relax, Iâm not after anything from you.â
Hannah rubbed her forehead, slightly frustrated. Were the youth of today really this violent, or was it just her intimidating appearance scaring the girl?
âIâll let you see Ryan, and you, do everything in your power to get him to leave.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âSimple, right? Itâs exactly what you wanted to do anyway.â
Hannah spread her hands, offering the deal. Anna looked at her suspiciously, unable to believe what Hannah was proposing.
It was clear Hannah was part of the villaâs crew,she had no reason to help Anna after seeing through her intentions.
And to go against her employerâs wishes?
âAnyway, thatâs my offer. Iâm not one to beat around the bush. If you agree, come here tomorrow morning at nine.â
Hannah didnât waste more time arguing with Anna. She just waved her hand and walked away, leaving Anna alone at the gate, lost in thought.
Hannah knew Anna would come tomorrow,the girlâs determination was evident.
Hannahâs plan was simple: if Anna could persuade Ryan to leave, that would be ideal.
She couldnât directly force Ryan out, but if he left on his own, then what did it have to do with her?
If Ryan remained stubborn and stuck around Miss Alice, that was fine too. When the time came, sheâd just expose Ryanâs philandering ways, and Miss Alice would see his true colors.
Either way, Hannah wasnât worried about Miss Alice being unable to discern the truth.
Anna stood at the gate for a while longer. Ryan had already gone inside, out of sight.
Before the guards could approach her, she pulled her hood tighter and left, not wanting to draw too much attention today.
Sheâd go back and prepare. Even if tomorrowâs meeting was a trap, sheâd still show up.
As for taking Ryan away, sheâd planned to do that even without Hannahâs suggestion.
âRyan, wait for me. Iâll definitely come to rescue you.â
Anna touched the cold object in her pocket and whispered softly as she looked towards the villa.