Chapter 754

“Wayne, I know what you want, but don’t waste your breath. My answer’s still no,” I said, cutting straight to the point.

“You can’t take on the Drago family,” he replied, half-warning, half-trying to intimidate me.

I smiled faintly. After everything I’d been through, his words barely scratched the surface. Maybe. But I’ll still try. Who knows? I might pull it off.

“Like a mouse going up against a lion,” he scoffed, his tone laced with mockery. “You know how pointless that is, don’t you?”

I pressed my lips together for a second, then said, “Do you know what sets humans apart from animals? Courage. The courage to resist, to fight, and to push boundaries.”

Wayne didn’t answer right away. My resolve caught him off guard. Finally, he sighed. “If you want Hayden safe, hand over what you’re hiding. Then you two can take the money and live however you want. Wouldn’t that be better?”

It wasn’t like him to say something so… reasonable. Maybe he was finally letting go of his obsession with me.

But his plan wouldn’t work. If I followed it, Hayden and I would end up in an even worse situation.

“You want me to scrape by?” I asked, shaking my head lightly. “My parents taught me to live with dignity. To walk this earth with a clear conscience, so I can sleep at night and eat in peace.”

My gaze drifted toward the sky. “If I took the easy way out, I wouldn’t even have the face to meet my parents after I’m gone.”

Wayne gave a small nod. “If that’s how you feel, do as you like. But let me remind you—your safety right now? That’s because the Drago family is giving me face.”

“Your face must be worth a fortune,” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

His face froze for a second before hardening. “Since this is the path you’ve chosen, there’s nothing left to say.”

He turned to leave, but as he took a step, I spoke up, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. “If anything happens to Hayden, I’ll make sure everyone involved goes down with me.”

He paused for a heartbeat, but didn’t look back before walking out the door.

I let out a long breath, the weight of worry and longing for Hayden settling heavily on my chest.

Chapter 754

The only way to keep him safe was to protect the item he’d trusted me with. But the fact they were already making moves meant hiding it wasn’t enough. I was the only one who knew where it was, and if they couldn’t find it, they’d come after me.

And if something happened to me, they wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of Hayden too. That way, they’d still win.

I needed someone I could trust—someone who could keep the secret safe if I couldn’t. Waiting around wasn’t an option; I had to act.

The help I’d asked from Yara hadn’t turned up anything solid, and at the end of the day, she was still tied to the Drago family. I couldn’t count on her completely.

For now, I was stuck. Frustrated, I headed to clear my head the only way I knew how—at the pool hall that used to be Steve’s.

The place had been sold, and the new owner had taken over. Judging by the vibe, the people running it now were likely part of the same crowd.

To my surprise, the owner recognized me and said, “Steve left instructions—if you ever come by, you’re welcome to play anytime.”

Even after stepping away, Steve’s thoughtfulness amazed me. He’d made sure I’d have a safe space here.

I spent the afternoon playing snooker, sinking into the rhythm of the game until my arms were so tired I could barely lift them.

The owner brought me some tea, and I sipped it while taking in the changes to the hall. On the surface, it looked the same, but the small details told a different story.

For one, there was now a tea table for relaxing, and the air was filled with the scent of incense—not the cheap, overpowering stuff, but the kind you’d find in a monastery. It was calming, almost meditative.

That’s when it hit me—I hadn’t been to Cloudscape Monastery in ages. Nothing grounded me quite like the chanting and the calm it brought.

Leaving the pool hall, I decided to visit that very night.

On the way, an idea struck me—a way to protect myself.

By the time I arrived, I was in a surprisingly good mood.

Abbot Levinsky was in the middle of a sermon when I walked in. Finding a spot, I sat down, closed my eyes, and let his steady voice pull me into peace.