Chapter 130

It was someone Thea knew—the thin and fat men who had previously sought trouble with her when she first met Corey. Only the thin man remained; the fat man was gone. The thin man, whose name Thea later learned was Chad Daren, looked crafty and dangerous, his eyes filled with malice. His gaze made Thea uneasy, like a poisonous snake's stare.

When he looked up and smiled at her, Thea felt a chill. She knew Chad worked for Corey and held a significant position within the organization. The fat man had been dismissed for a crime, but expulsion wasn't simple; it was kept secret, and leaving the organization—which was equivalent to leaving Reasnatan—was risky. The organization had ways to silence dissenters permanently.

Thea disliked both men. Chad's presence intensified her unease; he seemed to be at the competition as well, but she decided against mentioning him to Corey, as he'd only glanced at her. This was a decision she soon regretted.

That night, after showering, a hurried knock on her door startled her. Her intuition warned her of danger, so she ignored it. The knocking ceased. Peeking through the peephole revealed nothing unusual. Despite locking her doors and windows, Thea felt a chilling presence during the night. Awakening, she dismissed it as a dream, but a second, stronger chill ran down her spine as she fetched water. She stared ahead in horror; the window, previously locked, was wide open, the curtains billowing in the night wind. There was no forced entry; someone had snuck in.

Countless possibilities flashed through her mind. The intruder hadn't attacked yet, perhaps waiting for an opportunity or simply toying with her. Maintaining her composure, she pretended nothing was amiss, placing her water glass on the table before entering the bathroom.

Returning to bed, a tall, thin figure appeared in the darkness. He approached, playing with a fan knife, its cold surface reflecting a menacing gleam. He seemed to be deciding where to strike. Just as he leaned closer, Thea, clutching a toothbrush, lunged, stabbing at his eyes.

The man screamed, and Thea fled, escaping into the corridor, where she encountered April, who was smoking. April, startled, was concerned. Thea, still shaken, recounted the attack.

April, enraged, wanted to rally Corey's men, but Thea insisted on calling the police, unwilling to disturb Corey at such a late hour. April argued that this was not something the police could handle. Thea eventually agreed to April's plan.

The hotel lobby was bustling. Corey, his face cold and expression hard, had already been informed. Chad was still missing. April was anxious. Corey confidently asserted that no one escaped his territory.

Then, Chad was brought in by several large men; he appeared dazed and disoriented. The familiar unease washed over Thea. But upon closer inspection, Thea was shocked. Chad had no injuries whatsoever. There were no wounds on his face or eyes.

Corey, confronting Chad, accused him of disrespecting Thea and warned him of the consequences. Chad protested his innocence, claiming to have been asleep and unaware of the events. He asked Thea if this was true.

Thea was thrown by this. She had been so certain it was him, based on his build and familiar gaze in the dark room, but now she doubted herself. However, seeing the provocation in his eyes and a slight smile, she realized he was lying. She couldn’t understand how he had managed to escape injury.