9
It was late by the time Cole dropped me off at my dorm.
A gentle breeze was blowing.
Daniel was standing under a tree in front of the dorm.
He had probably been waiting for a while. A few small, unknown flower petals had fallen on his shoulders.
I instinctively glanced in the direction Cole had gone.
A strange feeling of guilt washed over me.
Maybe it was my imagination.
But Daniel’s eyes seemed to hold a hint of resentment.
“We’re going to Mount Serenity tomorrow.”
When Daniel spoke, half his face was hidden in the shadow of his brow.
I looked up, trying to read his expression.
Faced with this new, cold Daniel, I didn’t know how to act.
They say it’s hard to mend a broken mirror.
No matter how good our relationship was before, there was now a chasm between us that could never be healed.
If it were me, if Daniel had imprisoned and tortured me, I definitely wouldn’t have forgiven him.
But my heart still ached with a sense of loss.
After all, we had a dozen years of history.
I spoke hesitantly,
“Danjel, I know you’re still mad at me.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t bother you anymore…”
Before I could finish, he cut me off.
“Didn’t we already make up?”
Under the cool moonlight, the young man’s handsome brows furrowed slightly.
He asked, confused.
09:23
Chapter 2
Make up?
Did we?
I was stunned.
Before I could react, he continued.
“We’re going to the temple on the mountain tomorrow to fulfill a vow. We’re planning to camp there.”
“You should come too… and pray.”
He seemed to think of something.
He frowned deeply.
“I’ve arranged for a master to see you.”
A master?
Daniel didn’t actually think I was possessed, did he?
An extreme materialist like him, believing in gods and demons and exorcisms?
was speechless.
Unfortunately, I was bound by the script. I couldn’t tell him the truth.
In the story, for the trip to Mount Serenity, I had cried and begged Daniel to take me with him.
Then, I came up with a wicked plan. I made the female lead get lost.
Then I had Cole push her down a slope.
A cold sweat broke out on my back.
I couldn’t stop trembling.
I silently chanted to myself.
Murder is a crime. Murder is a crime.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
I snapped back to reality, shaking my head like
a rattle.
I’m not going. I’m really not going. I have plans.”
“What plans?”
His voice was short, even.
I was so anxious my forehead broke out in a sweat.
“I have plans with a friend.”
Daniel’s calm eyes stared at me.
“With Cole?”
I was trapped.
Besides Daniel, I had almost no friends.
I couldn’t think of anyone else. I had to nod.
The night wind blew.
The dappled shadows of the trees flickered across Daniel’s face, a play of light and dark.
His voice was low, as if he was suppressing something.
“How did you meet Cole?”
“Miss Astor-”
Daniel’s voice was like ice, suddenly chilling me to the bone.
“How much did you pay him to help you like this?”
70
It was the peak of a scorching summer.
