Chapter 6

The next evening, I arrived at the tree early.

Footsteps approached from behind the tree, uneven and dragging.

Three thugs emerged from the alley.

They saw me, exchanged a lewd glance, and swaggered up to surround me.

I took a step back, my spine hitting the rough tree trunk.

The corner of my eye sharply scanned the deeper shadow at the other end of the alley.

It was Julian.

One of the thugs reached out to grab my arm. I sharply slapped his hand away.

My voice was laced with deliberately amplified terror and trembling.

“What do you want? Get away from me!”

“Feisty little thing, aren’t you?”

Another thug spat, pressing closer.

I pretended to struggle, pushing and shoving, letting out terrified whimpers.

Sure enough, just as one thug’s hand was about to grab my collar.

“Stop.”

Julian stepped out of the shadows.

He lunged forward in a few strides, pushing away the thug closest to me.

He yanked me behind him, shielding me with his body.

Julian had clearly trained; his movements were clean and precise, making the thugs stumble back.

The thugs muttered curses, helped each other up, and fled.

I coldly observed the performance tailored just for me.

In my memories, I would have been trembling in fear at this moment.

Clinging to him like a lifeline, falling even deeper into his dependency.

But now, it only made me sick to my stomach.

In the darkness, only his footsteps approaching me remained, along with his chillingly gentle voice.

“Alice, are you okay?”

“Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

I looked at him with scorn.

“Julian, putting on this little show, is it amusing?”

He seemed not to have expected me to call him out so directly.

The tenderness on his face gradually faded. He didn’t immediately refute, nor did he admit it.

He just quietly watched me. After several seconds, he let out a very soft laugh.

His voice was filled with a curious amusement at being seen through.

“My Alice, you’ve really changed. You’re not like you used to be…”

He reached out and, without resistance, pinched my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

“But what if you know? What does it change?”

He admitted it openly, his tone even carrying a hint of boastfulness.

“That drunk, I paid him. Those photos, I took them, and I spread them.”

“The bullying you suffered at school, I orchestrated all of it.”

“They don’t understand you. They don’t want to believe you.”

“Only I truly love you. Only I can clear all obstacles for you.”

“See, tonight is no different.”

He chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the spot where the thugs had disappeared.

“Without me, what would you do?”

He waited for my breakdown, my fear, my ultimate submission.

This was the climax of his script.

However, I merely looked at him, my eyes devoid of any of the emotions he desired.

“Are you done talking?”

Julian’s smile froze on his face.

I slowly raised my phone, which had been in my jacket pocket, and waved it in front of him.

The screen displayed the recording interface.

“Julian, save those words for the police.”