Facade of Love

Chapter 51 The man from five years ago reappeared

With that, the man landed a kick squarely on her chest. The woman, who was already frail, was sent sprawling backward in a heap of limbs.

Despite the blow, she made no protest. Instead, she picked herself up and continued her plea, “Alex, please, have some mercy. Just a little bit, I promise I’ll leave right away, I won’t be a bother.”

With that, she crawled towards him again.

Disgusted, the man drew a knife from his pocket, pointing it menacingly at her. “You don’t plan on leaving, do you?”

At the sight of the knife, the woman recoiled, scrambling to her feet and stumbling away.

Surveying the scene, I had no intention of lingering. I was ready to find an exit and leave. As I was about to look away, my eyes caught the snake pattern on the knife in the man’s hand.

My mind buzzed, and a flood of familiar memories surged forward.

I knew that knife. Five years ago, in a Mandala hotel, that man had pressed it against my throat, threatening to slit my veins and make me bleed out if I dared to scream.

The snake pattern on the knife handle was etched into my memory. It was something I would never forget, not even in death. Pushing down the wave of emotions, I watched as the shoe–shiner put away the knife, glanced around, picked up his tools, and headed towards an alley on his right.

That dark, indistinct face.

Alex Martinez.

who had pushed me into hell, nearly killed me at the border, and made it impossible for me to return to my

him for five years, dreaming of the day I would find him. I wanted him to explain, word by word, to everyone what

to tell my father

would not let him escape, even if it cost me my life. With that thought, I started to follow him, but after only a few steps,

and almost screamed, but looking up, I

I pushed him away and tried to continue

his voice low. “Yvette, are you trying to get yourself

looking at him. “How

the direction where the man had vanished before he let go of me. “He’s armed with a knife, and that shoebox is filled with opium.

was in the shoebox, but Idris’s reminder brought it back to me. Alex had been involved in illegal activities inland, including abducting young

was knee–deep in

woman who had been begging him on her knees must have

her

matter? I had spent five years searching for him, and now

from five years

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