My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

"Yes, he showed me the truth that I wanted," I said as I stared at the back of her head. "I saw the equipment, the volunteers that were used as trial subjects and everything made sense. However, there is one thing I forgot to ask about and that's the corridor of the hospital basement. It was empty, so even if I fell, it wouldn't have knocked me out for so long and caused the injury in my neck to throb until now." I did not know why Hendrix was lying, but the moment I saw him safe and sound in front of me, warning me against all thoughts of dying, I couldn't care less about anything else.

Hendrix had hoped that I would accept what he showed me as the truth, and I willingly did. Doing so, I had eased his mind slightly.

Mullen did not reply, but her silence was an answer on its own.

"What did Hendrix bribe you with?" I asked as I looked at her angrily, "I remember Tobias said that you valued loyalty the most. I'm the one who hired you. If you team up with others to deceive me, do you think we still have trust and the need to cooperate?"

The atmosphere in the car suddenly tensed up. After a silent drive, Mullen turned the steering wheel and parked the car on the side of the road.

She rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and looked at me, "Hendrix's men knocked you out last night. I signed the contract with you, so my task is to ensure your safety and investigate the truth of the matter. As for whether I have received bribes or not, you can ask Hendrix for evidence. If you don't wish to see me, I can get out of your sight and protect you in secret, but I won't leave before the contract is up."

Mullen was very calm. Perhaps, before she accepted Hendrix's arrangement, she knew that I would find out about it eventually. Perhaps these were all in Hendrix's plans too.

However, I would not want Hendrix to notice me after I'd seen through his plans.

Mullen another chance. "I believe that what you're doing is not for money's sake. But whatever it is, I don't want to see things like this happening again. This shall be the first and last time. If you're willing to be absolutely loyal to me, then you may stay on. If you want to continue being Hendrix's spy, then we have nothing more to say to each other. I'll pay for your penalty fees, but you

thought for a second. "This will be the last

an apology, but also

chose to forgive her, I would give her

us. Since you're not skilled in investigating this matter, find someone else that can get it done. I

I ordered.

"Yes," Mullen responded.

on Gøøglᴇ to

the window,

the city lights

past

as the car

and felt a heavinessj