Yasmine narrowed her eyes, fixing him with a frosty stare before finally letting out a derisive chuckle. "Took you long enough to figure it out. Not easy, was it?"
Boyd watched her smirking, the kind of smirk you'd see on someone without a care in the world. It was chilling. "Didn't you ever stop to think that if something really happened to Serana, you wouldn't feel the slightest bit of unease or guilt?"
Serana felt a chill run through her body and glanced out the window. Dusk was approaching, and the temperature was dropping. No wonder she felt cold. She picked up her mug and took a couple of sips.
"Why would I feel uneasy or guilty? It's not like I killed anyone. Is it my job to feel bad every time somebody bites the dust?" she said, laughing softly. "What do you think I am, some kind of saint?"
"Because of your selfishness, you let them take her away. If something happens, isn't your inaction just as bad as pulling the trigger?"
There was a loud "thud," and the atmosphere in the director's office instantly froze. Everyone present was stunned, unsure of how to react. Yasmine's mug flew straight from her hand to smack Boyd squarely on the forehead.d2
The lukewarm water from the mug trickled down his face, mingling with a noticeable streak of red. Some papers on the desk got soaked, and the glass mug shattered on the floor.
Yasmine remained seated, her expression icy. "So what? Anything that happens to Serana is my fault? Looks like I don't even qualify as a stranger anymore, huh?"
She pushed herself out of the chair, frowning as she felt the armrest, and then hopped down.
She walked directly up to Boyd. She was still shorter than Boyd. Looking at him, she could only tilt her chin up, but her eyes were colder than ever.
He never saw her as the naive, cheerful kid she was supposed to be, but now, this was a side of her he couldn't have even imagined.
"So I just can't get away from you people, can I? No matter what I do, it's wrong, right?"
Yasmine's gaze was unwavering. "Would you be completely satisfied if it was me who was taken away today instead of her?"
Boyd furrowed his brows, "You're being ridiculous."
"So what's the point of all this ranting? Just spouting nonsense at me?"
Boyd's face twisted in anger, clearly more affected by her words than the gash on his forehead from the mug.
"Why don't you tell me right now how to truly, completely shake you two off my back?" Her eyes tracked the blood dripping down Boyd's face, void of any warmth.
Boyd was silent for a moment, and the director finally snapped out of his daze. "Yasmine, this is not the time for arguing. Boyd needs to attend to that cut on his forehead."
"He won't die." Yasmine cut in sharply, maintaining her gaze on Boyd. "Not talking, huh? Fine, I'll speak. If Serana really died today, you'd probably chase me for life for retribution, right? Seems like even if Serana's out of the picture, I still can't shake you off, can I?"
She chuckled bitterly, "What kind of karma is this? Even if Serana dies, I can't live in peace because of her. It looks like I'll only have some peace if she stays alive."
The office remained silent, all eyes fixed on Yasmine's slender figure.
"Alright, Boyd, let's make a deal. If Serana comes out of this unscathed, you – and she – better stay out of my life forever. We'll be strangers from now on. Whatever happens to you doesn't concern me one bit."
Boyd's lips were pressed into a thin line.
"No response? I'll take that as an agreement." Yasmine couldn't bear to look at him any longer and moved to sit on the couch by the window.
"Does this count as Boyd skipping class?"
Boyd shot Yasmine a glance and left the director's office with an icy expression.
Yasmine's palms were cold, and her nerves were still on edge.
Kidnapping. She cursed under her breath, her first ever encounter with such a crisis.
"Yasmine." Bryson glanced outside at the quickly darkening sky.
"Let's wait it out. I came here to resolve this once and for all. I don't plan on coming back."
Bryson nodded.
Just moments ago, the sunset was still visible, but now the weather had turned and rain began to pour.
Bryson peered outside with a hint of concern, "Looks like the rain's going to get heavier."
Yasmine frowned and stood up from the couch, "I need to go up the hill."
Bryson immediately objected, "No way. The police are up there, you won't be of any help."
"Who said I was going to help?" Yasmine turned to the director to borrow an umbrella. "I need to get something from Ava. The rain's getting worse, and I refuse to spend the night here."
"I'll fetch it."
If she let Bryson know she'd handed those bracelets over to someone else, he'd have a fit. She was annoyed enough as it was and didn't need Bryson's incessant nagging in the future.
"Only I can get it." She didn't elaborate, instead focusing on a nearby officer who looked ready to stop her. "I told that guy to give that kid a good scare, and he seemed to agree. He's taken a kid up the mountain, so it'll buy some time. The girl might get roughed up a bit, but there shouldn't be any life-threatening danger. Of course, if she has a bit of sense, or if you guys are quick enough, she should be alright by now."
At worst, she might be scared out of her wits.
"You have confidence in your team, so you probably won't stop me."
The officer was speechless. Staring at the girl who barely reached his waist, he couldn't quite grasp the situation.
She was nothing like a ten-year-old. From start to finish, her words, actions, even her thought processes – none of it resembled what one would expect from a ten-year-old. And now, even when she was backing down, she did it with such flair.
Did he trust his team? Absolutely.
This girl was a little too sharp for her own good.
"I haven't received the go-ahead, so you can't go up the mountain just yet."
"Aren't you going to check out the situation yourself? You could drop me off on the way. Or are you worried you can't keep me safe?"
The officer chuckled, "Young lady, reverse psychology won't work on me."
"Suit yourself."
Yasmine brushed past him and stood at the doorway, popping open her umbrella.
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