Chapter 860 A Text Message
Ronin opened the door to the confinement room with the key he had obtained from Finn. It was his reward after agreeing to do a favor for the man in the black robe.
Once the door opened, Ronin descended slowly. He approached Flash and squatted down in front of him. He lowered his head to scrutinize Flash.
Flash was still lying on the ground, his injuries not yet healed. Although spared from death by the man in the black robe, Flash hadn’t received any kind treatment.
No one knew why Flash was spared, but one thing was certain. Flash wouldn’t have a favorable outcome. Those who betrayed the organization never had a good fate.
“Ronin, I used to envy you. Never thought you’d end up worse off than me,” Flash said.
Ronin chuckled coldly and stared down at Flash. “Worse off than you? Flash, I’m the one who’s free now. What gives a prisoner like you the right to say such things?”
Flash scoffed in response, showing no fear despite Ronin standing over him. ” Ronin, do you know why I used to envy you?”
Ronin remained silent, waiting for Flash to continue.
“Ronin, your freedom came at a cost. You sacrificed yourself to the organization. He set some conditions for you to betray your own people, didn’t he?” Although Flash’s words were speculative, Ronin did not refute them. He wanted to hear what Flash would say next.
“Ronin, what’s the difference between you now and the way I used to be? We’re both tools of the organization, slaves driven by others. Our lives are in someone else’s hands. Do you really think you’re better off than me?”
As Flash finished speaking, Ronin suddenly acted. He grabbed Flash’s throat. The current Flash was no match for Ronin. Despite Flash’s desperate struggles, it was futile.
Ronin observed the changing expressions on Flash’s face as it turned from red to pale. Flash’s breath became increasingly difficult. Just as Flash was on the verge of suffocation, Ronin released him like he was discarding trash.
Gasping for air, Flash lay on the ground. He resembled a fish tossed ashore, desperately trying to breathe.
Ronin stood up and coldly pressed his foot against Flash’s face, delivering the ultimate insult. “Flash, I didn’t want it to come to this. You forced my hand. Everything today is because of you. If you had just taken the research data and let me go from the start, without involving Professor Warner, it wouldn’t have come to this end. Remember that you owe me!”
Ronin ruthlessly kicked Flash away, letting him cough up blood on the floor. Then he left the room with a cold demeanor.
Flash, lying on the ground, watched Ronin’s retreating figure and sighed silently. Ronin’s words made him no longer harbor hatred. He knew he had no right.
Late at night, a cool breeze rustled through the leaves, creating a gentle sound. Catherine, coming out of Audrey’s apartment, headed straight back to her own.
She hadn’t informed Branden, unsure if he had already gone to bed. Standing below the apartment, gazing at the warm light filtering through the window, Catherine silently chuckled.
Catherine ascended slowly and unlocked the door with her fingerprint. The sudden movement disturbed Branden, who stood by the windowsill lost in thought.
Branden turned around with pleasant surprise, his cold eyes instantly filled with a smile. Other than Catherine, no one else would open the door at this hour. “Why didn’t you let me pick you up?” he asked.
Catherine smiled. “Not far. Just came back on my own. Haven’t you slept yet?
Branden approached. He embraced her waist and rested his head on her neck. ” Couldn’t sleep without you.”
His deep, hoarse voice was incredibly charming, sending shivers down Catherine’s spine. She thought he was becoming increasingly flirtatious and revealed his true nature without reservation.
Branden rubbed his face against her tender neck, making Catherine ticklish. Unable to bear it, she pushed him away. “Be good. I want to rest.”
Branden caught a whiff of alcohol on her, frowned, and asked, “Drinking?”
“Yeah. I had a bit with Audrey.” Catherine didn’t deny it. Perhaps due to the effects of alcohol, she felt tired now.
Seeing her exhausted, Branden looked concerned and simply lifted her off her feet.
Catherine playfully hit his shoulder. “I told you…”
Before she could finish, Branden interrupted, “I’m not that beastly. I’ll carry you to freshen up and then tuck you into bed.”
Catherine was getting used to resting by Branden’s side. To help her sleep better, he always gave her a massage before bedtime, relaxing her body. With this routine, Catherine could fall asleep within half an hour.
In about ten minutes, Catherine was already asleep. Branden, watching her peaceful face, gently kissed her forehead with tenderness and care.
The phone on the side rang again. Branden quickly silenced it to avoid disturbing Catherine. He picked up the phone and frowned at the disturbance at this hour.
After checking, he noticed a text message from an unknown number, with a peculiar content, which read, [ Do you know what kind of devil is lying beside you?]
The person lying beside Branden was none other than Catherine. With this thought, Branden asked, [Who are you? ]
A quick response came, including a photo that needed to be enlarged for clear visibility. When the image appeared, Branden’s eyes widened in utter shock.
At a glance, Branden recognized the blood-covered little girl in the photo holding a weapon as Catherine. Surrounding her were people drenched in blood, and in front lay a boy of similar age, who was also covered in blood, helplessly lying on the ground.
In the photo, Catherine’s eyes resembled those of a predatory beast, which were cold and intimidating. She appeared to be around ten years old. It was hard to believe that such a murderous gaze could exist in a girl of such a young age.
The gruesome scene shocked Branden, and he felt a deep concern for Catherine. He couldn’t fathom what experiences she had gone through to possess such eyes. If only he had encountered her earlier, maybe she could have been spared from enduring these horrors at such a tender age.
