The human wall dispersed, and Charlotte Green breathed in fresh air, but she was still rudely pushed onto the ground as a succession of footsteps hurried past her. She saw the bodyguards coming from behind to protect their charge.
Their hands and feet moved in unison to form two rows of solid shields, separating the riotous crowd with a passage wide enough for a vehicle to pass through.
The car slowly drove past her; she looked up, not expecting to see inside, but the window rolled down slowly, revealing that unforgettable handsome face and those chilling black eyes. He looked at her coldly, taking in her disheveled state completely.
Once the car had passed, the human wall immediately turned into a line, blocking the entrance and keeping her out.
Charlotte Green merely hooked the corners of her mouth slightly, stood up resolutely, dusted off her dirty dress, then picked up her bag and walked to a cleaner spot to sit down, quietly waiting for the road to be passable again.
It was so quiet as if nothing had happened, just as though she had merely taken an accidental fall.
Even at the entrance of the private roadway, there were surveillance cameras—since she wasn't from Star Garden, she wasn't entitled to protection.
"Let her through!"
Suddenly, a deep and powerful voice commanded the human wall to disperse, and a tall, distinguished figure got out of the car.
The crowd seeking an explanation became even more agitated, but with the world's most elite bodyguards present, no one could get close to him.
The glossy leather shoes stood in front of Charlotte Green, and Kevin Cliff looked down at her from his superior height, at her composure that seemed infuriatingly peaceful—so peaceful it made him want to shatter it violently.
"Why didn't you beg just now?"
Earlier, the driver had deliberately slowed the car down, and when she met his gaze, there was no joy, no plea for help, her expression was undisturbed as he left, like any number of cars that passed on the roadway.
Just like now, no trace of grievance could be seen on her.
Charlotte Green suddenly understood why he had returned.
"...I forgot."
Since the day she begged desperately not to be locked up in the Psychiatric Institution and later cried and pleaded to be let go, she had forgotten how to beg for anything.
Who says forgetting isn't a good medicine for despair?
The deep eyes flashed imperceptibly—a pair of words that should have sounded harsh seemed so light coming from her mouth, as if merely saying, 'The weather's nice today.'
This was far from the reaction he wanted!
"Now the opportunity is back in front of you, what should you do?" he asked, eager to know.
Charlotte Green looked at him timidly, then glanced at the increasingly violent crowd behind him, and finally chose to bury her head in her knees, "They will leave eventually."
"It will be dark soon." Her answer wasn't what he wanted to hear.
Charlotte Green looked up at the increasingly dark sky, glanced at him once more, this time with some hesitation, but—
"...It's okay." Having said that, she immediately bit her lip, revealing the fear deep in her heart.
The forest around her was lush, atop an open hill, facing a group of agitated men—claiming not to be afraid would fool no one.
But it's okay, she had tasted the deepest of fears before, nothing was too troubling now.
"Being stubborn isn't good for you," he snorted coldly.
"I...I'm not being stubborn, just more aware of reality than most," she shook her head, idly drawing circles in the dirt with a stick.
In fact, talking to him wasn't difficult, as long as she didn't look into those cold eyes.
"I'm curious to know what your definition of reality is," he said.