Chapter 176

Chapter176.

Sherry suddenly fell silent, her racing thoughts slowing. She suddenly hugged me, “Who... who is it?”

My heart pounded. We looked at each other, simultaneously thinking of the gas explosion. We checked the time: it was midnight “Ding dong”

The doorbell rang again, its effect as terrifying as The Ring. We instinctively backed away from the door. Sherry, who’d just told me not to be afraid, was now filled with terror.

“Tell me honestly, did you order takeout without telling me?” Sherry pretended to be calm, but her voice trembled.

I knew she was just saying something to bolster her courage. I pulled her back onto the sofa.“Let’s pretend we didn’t hear it; just ignore it.”

Sherry nodded, “Mm.”

The nod froze mid–motion. Through the glass balcony door left ajar, midnight wind rippled the white curtains like ghostly breaths.

The glass door was open! Sherry’s mind exploded.

I followed her gaze and also took a deep breath.“You forgot to lock it this morning! Always rushing out last–minute!”

“I promise I locked it!”

Z “Calm down; we’re on the 31st floor! No human could scale this–what’s next, Spider–Man?”

Sherry was silent for two seconds.“I swear I locked it! Question my pretty face, not my excellent memory!”

I was silent for two seconds. So, she meant the person knocking was a “ghost,” and there was another “ghost” inside? We were surrounded?

“Call the police!”

“I’ll do it!”

Sherry immediately took out her phone. Only the police could save us now.

As she dialed, the lights went out, and the doorbell rang urgently twice. I swept my phone around the room, my heart in my throat.

“Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong-”

“Knock knock knock-”

The doorbell rang repeatedly, now accompanied by knocking. Sherry reported the incident to the police. The dispatcher told us to stay put and not open the door; they’d arrive as soon as possible.

Hanging up, the phone’s light reflected on our faces. Our terrified, pale expressions were like a horror movie scene. We sat back–to–back on the rug, using our phones to illuminate the surroundings, wary of an attack.

“Is anyone there?”

After about five or six minutes, besides knocking, there were voices. Had the police arrived so quickly? Impossible.

We didn’t respond. Then we heard the sound of someone unlocking the door...

The door opened silently. Snapping out of our shock, we scrambled to the nearest bathroom.

“You...”

) 06:51 99.4%

< Chapter170 The intruder only got out one word before being drowned out by our screams. We gasped for breath in the bathroom Outside seemed quiet.

Suddenly, Sherry grabbed me, pointing to a door nearby. The bathroom had a door leading to the balcony; it was slowly opening, there was nothing outside.

We swore we were materialists, we didn’t believe in ghosts. But now... a chill ran down our spines. Was there any chance that we talked about that dead boy too late at night and he had come for us?

As we thought this, a face slowly appeared, a magnified handsome face right before us. Our hearts almost stopped “Ladies, don’t run, it’s me,” Cody whispered outside, trying not to scare us.

#

We really wanted to beat him up!

“Do you know what time it is? You freaked us out!”

“Mr. Jones sent me to protect you...”

Cody glanced at Sherry and added the word “two.”

Soon, the police arrived. Sherry explained that the knocker was our friend. The power outage was a simple circuit breaker tripping. To reassure us, the police thoroughly checked the apartment. Finding no one, they left.

That night, Cody slept on the sofa; Sherry and I were in the bedroom. Neither of us could sleep.

“Why don’t you ask Evan to handle the Crowe family? I’m afraid we might die before getting the evidence,” Sherry said dejectedly.

“Even if he’s willing to help... What if he demands something inappropriate in return? If I agree, it becomes transactional. Maybe I’m being cynical. But indebted to him, could I ever refuse his future requests? That’s still a transaction.”

Sherry said, “I don’t think you should paint marital devotion like a horror flick.”

Me:“Marital devotion is transactional at its core. I don’t want to deal with Evan. I’d rather bargain with Julian–let him marry that venomous creature and breed demons. At least his demands are predictable.”

Sherry pondered.“Okay, let them revel temporarily. Once we solidify evidence, we’ll bury them under public outrage. Homicide charges don’t evaporate, even for aristocrats.”

I remained silent, closing my eyes. The plan was made.

Sherry looked at Olivia, who was seemingly asleep, and smiled: Some people act so clear–headed, yet they don’t even realize they’ve fallen in love.

Everything could be traded, except sincere love.

The next morning, I went to the police station with Sherry to write a statement of forgiveness. Julian rushed over when he heard the news. I’d already finished when he arrived. We met at the door.

“Olivia, I’m glad you accepted my offer. I know you’re mad at me. Tell me what you want? Anything. I’ll compensate you!” Julian looked at me anxiously, his eyes full of pain and pleading.

“...Julian, have you no shame?! You’re disgusting me!”

Sherry wanted to hit him with a rock.

I walked past Julian. He chased after me, unwilling to give up. A car slowly approached in the distance.