Chapter 166
I took off running, but behind me, I heard Michael shout.
“Run all you want! You’re not getting away. My buddies are waiting just across the street. Even if you make it that far, they’ll stop you!”
My heart dropped. Frantically, I reached for my phone to call the police, but Michael was already sprinting after me.
He snatched it right out of my hands and slammed it to the ground. It shattered into pieces.
That’s when I knew that I was in serious trouble.
Acting on instinct, I hurled my bag at his face while he was still distracted by the phone.
It bought me just enough time, and I bolted for the end of the alley.
When I burst out onto the street, I froze. It was nearly deserted – only two luxury cars were parked along the curb.
My heart sank. I immediately assumed the cars belonged to Michael’s friends. No way I was running toward them, so I veered off in the opposite direction.
That’s when I saw him, Jonathan.
If the me back then had been able to see the future, maybe I would’ve realized I was already falling in love – right at that moment, love at first sight.
He was a campus legend, the guy every girl secretly had a crush on.
Up until then, I’d only seen him from afar. I knew he was good-looking, sure, but seeing him up close hit differently.
It wasn’t just his face; it was the way he carried himself. Every move he made had this quiet authority that was impossible to ignore.
I ran straight toward him, heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe.
He had just stepped out of his car and was leaning casually against the door, as if waiting for someone.
When he saw me charging toward him, his eyes flicked over, cool and unreadable.
“What’s going on?” he asked, raising a brow.
I don’t know why. We didn’t know each other, and I’d only ever heard his name, but somehow, in that moment, I just knew he wasn’t part of the trap.
Someone like him would never do something that low.
Without thinking, I ran straight up to him, eyes full of panic. “Someone’s chasing me. Can I hide here for a second?”
He frowned, clearly not the type who liked getting involved in other people’s drama. But then his gaze landed on my tear-streaked face, my red, swollen eyes. He hesitated, then gave a small nod.
“Get in.”
The second he said it, I dove into the car.
He shut the door behind me, then leaned casually against the side of the vehicle and lit a cigarette.
Through the drifting smoke, I caught a glimpse of his side profile, sharp and impossibly perfect, like it had been carved from stone.
But I couldn’t relax. I twisted in my seat to look toward the alley.
Michael burst out just seconds later. He spotted me in the car and started coming toward us, until he saw Jonathan. His face drained of color. Then, without a word, he turned and bolted.
So, they were afraid of him.
My heart thudded in my chest. I stayed in the car, eyes on the street, until I was sure Michael was gone. Then I knocked softly on the window.
Jonathan opened the door without a word. He didn’t even glance my way. “You can go,” he said flatly.
I stepped out and curtsied. “Thank you,” I said quietly.
For a long second, there was only silence. Then, unexpectedly, I heard something I never thought I’d hear from him: a quiet laugh.
“Do you even know what that gesture means?” he asked, his voice faintly amused.
I blinked, caught off guard. “It means… sincere thanks?”
He didn’t answer, just lifted his gaze slightly and repeated, “Go on.”
It was the second time he told me to leave. The rumors were probably true – Jonathan really was cold and distant, no matter how good-looking he was.
I turned to walk away, but I couldn’t help but glance back.
He was still leaning on the car, phone now pressed to his ear. He looked like someone much older, not just a few years ahead of us. He was calm, composed, and unshakable. He wasn’t like any other guy at school.
Maybe he sensed me watching. He suddenly looked up, and our eyes met.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.