Could that person be Lake? No, it couldn’t be. Even if he realized Vespera had run away and guessed the general direction, how could he have possibly known she was hiding on an unremarkable hillside along the way? It didn’t make any sense.

Or perhaps it could be the man who had shouted outside the window earlier. Had he been lurking nearby the whole time, watching her get out of the trunk and following her up the hill? The thought alone sent a chill down her spine. She immediately crouched lower and crept deeper into the hillside. It was too dark to see the path, and she didn’t dare to turn on her phone’s flashlight. She could only fumble forward blindly, crashing through the undergrowth aimlessly.

The footsteps behind her came nearer with every step. Countless terrifying scenarios flashed through her mind—being dragged deeper into the mountains, assaulted, murdered, or worse—trafficked to some lawless hellhole where her organs would be harvested. She regretted not staying in the car. But then again, even if she had, the person could have just broken the window and attacked her as soon as Luke left.

She picked up her pace, ignoring the screaming pain throbbing in her leg. Just then, a beam of light sliced through the darkness, and she vaguely heard someone calling her name. But her ears were ringing, and her heartbeat was pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else. Sensing someone right behind her and about to grab her, she screamed and began sprinting. “Help me!”

She scrambled uphill, but before she could get far, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. “Someone! Save me! Help! Murderer!” she continued to scream in terror. Her legs flailed in the air, kicking wildly at the person behind her.

“No one’s killing you,” a familiar, soothing voice suddenly echoed in her ears. A person’s voice, much like their appearance and demeanor, was rarely forgettable. The voice behind her was just like that—rich, yet not so thick as to obscure its smooth, whet-like quality, which sounded lovely in any tone.

Vespera froze upon hearing that familiar voice. She tilted her head to confirm her suspicion. Through the hazy, scattered light, a pale, handsome face soon came into view. Twin even more bewildered. Out of all the people who could have appeared here, a mythical creature or a ghost would have made more sense than him—Dominic Held.

“Y—You,” she stammered, seeming even more flustered. Dominic responded, “Stunned? Do you not recognize me anymore?”

I wasn’t until he spoke again that Vespera felt a sense of reality sink in. A relief washed over her, so intense it nearly brought tears to her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting some fresh air.” Naturally, she knew he was joking. But on second thought, she realized she was asking the obvious. Why else would he be here if not to save her?

Dominic adjusted his stance, planting one leg firmly on the slope, and gently set her down onto his thigh. His hand, which had been wrapped around her waist, shifted to cradle her arm loosely. “I called your name. Why did you still run?” he asked.

“I have tinnitus,” she admitted, all of a sudden feeling as defenseless as a little girl on his lap. “Aren’t you afraid your wound will reopen with a speed like that?”

She had almost forgotten about that. Now that he mentioned it, a burning pain once again shot through her leg. How lovely. Dominic could tell just from the way her face scrunched up. “You didn’t do this on purpose just to get a few extra days off, did you?”

Vespera retorted, “How could—”

“Then why didn’t you stay home and avoid this mess?” His tone remained cool and detached. He paused for a moment and continued, “You shouldn’t be my secretary anymore… You should be my boss instead. You clearly have a talent for making others’ lives difficult.”

“I’m sorry,” Vespera mumbled as her head hung low under his scolding.

Dome sighed. “I’ll grant you a trip on this one because you injured yourself for the company. But don’t expect me to come to your rescue if it happens again.”

She nodded eagerly. “I understand, I really do! Sir, you’re so kind-hearted, truly an angel! I’ll definitely pray for you, I mean, I’ll definitely work hard not to disappoint you.” Dominic stared at her. His expression was unreadably blank on the outside. Though on the inside, he had seriously considered dropping her off his lap right there and then. In the end, not only did he not throw her down, but he even carried her down the slope.

Vespera lay on his back, unsure of where to place her hands. Wrapping them around his neck felt too intimate, so after a moment of hesitation, she finally rested them gently on his shoulder. It was only now that she realized just how much he weighed.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, his car was parked by the roadside. He carefully set her down in the passenger seat before making his way around to the driver’s side, got in, and started the engine.

Did he drive himself here? From what she could remember, he hardly ever drove himself. It was always either Raymond or Gerard behind the wheel.