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Chapter 500
The nearest shooting range was less than a mile away. During rush hour, the streets bustled with traffic and crowds of people coming and going
The streets echoed with honking cars, the whirring of electric scooters weaving through traffic, and random chimes of warning bells.
Aria glanced at the rearview mirror before checking her phone for Owen’s message at the red light.
Behind her car, a driver and his partner sat tense, eyes locked on Aria’s car ahead.
One of them muttered nervously, “Did she just make a U–turn? Did she spot us?”
The other whispered, “The boss said just keep her from going home. It doesn’t matter where she goes as long as she doesn’t return.”
“Be careful not to get caught. This woman plays rough,” one of the men warned his companion.
Moments later, the two men followed Aria into a parking lot.
One of them asked unsteadily, “Should we follow her?”
“Yes,” the other replied. “What if Aria takes a cab home? If she makes it back, we’re dead meat.”
They had to stop Aria from going home, no matter what.
The two men pulled on their masks and stealthily exited the car, their eyes fixed on Aria. Using parked vehicles as cover, they mirrored her every move, quick when she was quick, slow when she was slow.
Suddenly, a man in silver–framed glasses approached Aria and draped his arm over her shoulder.
Their hearts lurched, and they instinctively backed away a little.
“Miss, you’re being followed,” the man in silver–framed glasses warned her.
Aria instinctively frowned at the stranger’s touch and was just about to shrug him off when he immediately withdrew his arm.
Walking beside her, he lowered his voice and asked, “Should we call the police now?”
“No need,” Aria said coolly, stopping abruptly and turning to look behind her.
The two men exchanged miserable looks. “She must have seen us,” one of them said.
The other muttered, “So what if she found us? It’s not like she can kill us here in Huthailia. She didn’t finish us off last time, either.”
Seeing that she showed no fear, the man with silver–framed glasses smiled apologetically. “Oh, so you knew,” he said. “My apologies for earlier.”
His low, mellow voice was laced with concern
Knowing he meant well, Aria said softly, “It’s all right I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome.” The man had strikingly handsome features that softened when he smiled. “They probably haven’t gone far yet. Where are you headed? Let me walk with you.”
“No need,” Aria said coolly, already turning to leave.
That man chuckled softly, took out a certificate, and showed it to her. “My name is Elmore Balton. I’m a chemistry professor at Mandino University. Here are my academic credentials. See? I’m a good guy. Looking out for students is a teacher’s duty. Let me walk you there.”
Hearing he was a professor at Mandino University, Aria instinctively took the certificate and looked through it with mild curiosity. Looking up, she asked,
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10:18 Fri, 27 Jun BQ
Chapter 500
“Mr. Balton, were you recently appointed?”
Elmore nodded slightly. “Yes, I studied in Dluoland and recently obtained my PhD. I’m originally from Mandino City, so I accepted when Handinas University offered me a professorship.”
Aria handed the certificate back. “Those two aren’t a threat. Mr. Balton, you can go ahead with your own business. I’m already at the shooting range
Elmore tucked away the certificate with a light chuckle. “I’m also heading to the shooting range. Let’s go together.”
“Alright,” Aria replied.
They ignored the men stalking them.
Feeling awkward, Elmore broke the silence first and asked, “Are you a student at Mandino University?”
Aria replied, “No, I didn’t go to college.”
She spoke calmly, her gaze steady and free of any hint of self–consciousness, as if she were merely stating something that didn’t matter.
Elmore was surprised for a moment. Realizing he’d asked an insensitive question, he said, his voice tinged with guilt, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Why apologize?” Aria asked indifferently.
Seeing that she truly didn’t care, Elmore smiled lightly. “Nothing.”
They made casual small talk along the way. Finally, they arrived at the shooting range.
AD
