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.

face, I saw it clearly. That dark, indistinct face. It was

Alex Martinez.

never forget. It was this man who had pushed me into hell, nearly killed me at the border, and made it impossible for me to return

day I would find him. I wanted him to explain, word by word, to everyone

my father

it cost me my life. With

almost screamed,

him, I did not bother with pleasantries. I pushed him away

are you trying to get yourself killed chasing a

him. “How do you know

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

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

was knee–deep in

had been begging him on her knees must

her skeletal

five years searching for him, and now that I had finally found him,

51. The man from five years ago

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