Chapter 258

Chapter 258:

“No, no!” Bobby waved his hands, his panic palpable. “It’s just… after you two left, I couldn’t shake this bad feeling. I worried something might happen, but I got stuck with paperwork and couldn’t follow. I had no choice but to watch you leave.”

Without a word, Wendy sidestepped him, her disinterest as sharp as a blade.

“Wendy, wait…”

“Get lost!” She pointed a finger directly at his nose, her voice icy and unyielding. “If you keep pestering me, I’ll call campus security. This is a dorm building, not your hangout. Harass me here, and you’ll be escorted out. Don’t embarrass yourself.”

“I just wanted to—”

But Wendy shoved past him, bolting toward the dorm entrance. Inside the lobby, a staff member stood at their post, ensuring Bobby couldn’t follow her inside.

He exhaled a long, defeated sigh, frustration etched into his features. How could he make things right with Wendy? Were some mistakes truly unforgivable?

Disheartened, he lingered outside, though a small part of him felt relief knowing Wendy and Fernanda had returned unharmed. Perhaps his anxiety had been pointless.

By four o’clock, Fernanda reached Birch Road.

The route was worse than she remembered. Potholes pitted the surface like craters, jarring her with every bump and rattle of the bike. At one point, a toppled dumpster blocked half the road, forcing her to veer onto a detour that led deeper into desolate areas.

The scenery grew grim. Abandoned buildings lined the streets, flanked by piles of trash that seemed to attract every fly in the city. Even through her helmet, the stench was suffocating.

Her only consolation was knowing a few more turns would lead her to the alleyway behind her office.

But as she rounded a bend, a stray dog darted into her path, forcing her to slam on the brakes. The bike skidded slightly before coming to a halt. The dog froze, staring at her with wary eyes. She honked, but it didn’t budge, its gaze fixed on her.

Fernanda sighed. “I don’t have food right now. Come back later, and I’ll bring you some sausages.”

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Her words trailed off as figures emerged from a nearby alley. They wore caps and masks, their hands clutching wooden clubs as they strode toward her.

Fernanda frowned, uncertain at first. Surely, they weren’t here for her—she couldn’t recall crossing anyone who’d send thugs her way. But when they surrounded her, any doubt vanished.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice sharp.

The leader stepped forward, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her off the bike. The motorcycle crashed to the ground with a metallic thud, the sound sending the stray dog scampering away.

“So, someone hired you to take me out?” Fernanda said coolly, her mind piecing things together in an instant.

The leader gave no reply but instead punched her in the face. He was solidly built, his fist swinging with the weight of a hammer, capable of breaking her nose with ease.

Fernanda reacted instinctively. She clenched her fist and struck him squarely below the belt.

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