Chapter 85: Chapter85-Caught

"Young Master Michael" he began, pausing for a moment. I waited, curious about what he was about to say. Then he delivered a question that hit me hard. "Do you and Kiara have something going on together?" My mind raced, trying to make sense of his unexpected question. No way, did he find something or get suspicious? But I made sure my hiding spot was well concealed. He didn't see me, did he? Was I wrong? "N-No, what are you talking about?" I stammered, nerves getting the best of me. Damn, I stuttered. What if that makes him even more suspicious? He frowned, watching me closely. "Kiara has been acting a little strange around me," he said slowly. "Whenever she's around you, she seems... different. Happier, almost too happy. It's noticeable, Young master." Acting strange? Different? What on earth happened to her? Did she fall in love with me? But all I did was fuck her... How could she even fall for me? I asked, "What do you mean by her acting strange around you?" I need to understand what he really meant for more clarity. He looked at me and said, "Since the day we both met you, she's been acting differently. She avoids making eye contact with me, almost as if she's hiding something. She pulls away whenever I try to touch her, whether it's holding her hand or giving her a hug. It's like she's distancing herself from me, and I can't understand why." Hmm, so this is the reason... Then, out of nowhere, a thought popped into my head. Wait a minute! Is she making herself feel guilty? I mean, it really seemed that way. It looked like she might be feeling guilty for breaking Alex's trust, especially after she cheated on him. I can see why she feels that way, but I had no other option. The system's power-ups were essential, and I needed them to proceed. Right now, though, instead of justifying my actions to make myself feel better, I need to concentrate on handling the current situation. I quickly gathered my thoughts, realizing I needed to deflect his suspicions intelligently. "Look, I think you're reading too much into it," I said calmly. "Kiara is a good friend, and we get along well. But that's it. Besides, I'm already engaged to someone else. Why would I jeopardize that by getting involved with Kiara?" His expression shifted slightly, processing my words. "You're engaged?" "Yes," I replied, injecting as much sincerity into my voice as I could muster. "Her name is Emily. We've been together for years, and I'm committed to her. There's no reason for me to take Kiara from you. You're her lovable fiance. I wouldn't do anything to ruin that." He seemed to relax a bit, my explanation apparently easing his concerns. "I didn't know you were engaged. I guess I just... overreacted." "I understand your concern," I said, maintaining eye contact. "You care about Kiara, and you want to make sure she's okay. But I assure you, there's nothing inappropriate between us. We're just friends." He nodded slowly, finally appearing convinced. "Alright, Young master. I believe you. Sorry for jumping to conclusions." "No problem," I replied with a relieved smile. "I'm glad we cleared this up." He gave me a final nod and walked away, leaving me standing there. I closed my room's door with a thud and leaned against it, letting out a sigh of relief. Phew, thank God he believed me... I didn't want him to suspect anything. To convince him, I lied about being engaged to someone else. I was pretty sure, about 90 percent, that the lie would work, but that 10 percent of doubt still nagged at me. It was something I couldn't control, given the possibility that he might still have suspicions despite my best efforts... In the end, it worked, but I still have to talk to Kiara to make sure we were on the same page. This close call was too risky, and I couldn't afford any more mistakes... After relaxing for a few minutes, I glanced at my watch to check the time. Name: Michael Frostburne Total Rules Broken: 1 Current Rules Broken: 0 Time: 2:25 p.m. ... Hmmm, 28 hours more to go... I placed my right hand on my forehead and went deep in my thoughts... I don't have much time to get ready. In just a few hours, something big is definitely going to happen. The most important thing right now is to check the geographical area around this hospital. To do that, I need to get to the rooftop... I didn't have to worry about weapons since I had secretly taken different kinds from those deceased rebels at the stadium. I stood up and immediately went to open the door. After stepping out, I began walking to my left down the second-floor hallway, heading toward the elevator. I didn't want to use the staircase since the elevator was already available. I approached the elevator, opened it, stepped inside, and then selected the 10th floor, which was the second highest floor in the building. As the elevator ascended, I drifted back into my thoughts. I decided to postpone my conversation with Kiara and focus on this Before I could finish my thoughts, a jarring sound came from the elevator, and it suddenly stopped. Nothing unusual happened just that we had arrived at the selected floor, and the doors began to open slowly. Afterward, I made my way to the stairwell, noting the quiet hum of the building. Ascending a few flights, I finally reached the door leading to the rooftop. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The rooftop came into view, revealing a vast, open space with a panoramic view of the city. I walked across the rooftop, heading towards the edge. The city sprawled out beneath me, a mix of urban chaos and structured design. **Sigh** What a mess this city is now! Most of the buildings were destroyed and lay in ruins... I shifted my focus to the surroundings and, as I looked around, I found many important and interesting things... Interestingly, the hospital was in a central location, making it a key part of the city's layout. Because of its position, the zone will likely take some time to reach here and, cover this place so, for now, I could put the worry fo the zone in the back of my mind. And, importantly, from where I stood, I could see two key spots in the heart of the city. The first was Central Plaza, a busy area with tall buildings and a large public space, probably a hub for social and political activities. The second was a major university, with its extensive campus and green spaces. These were the places where the zone might stop, since the area would be too small. This means everyone and every monster currently in the city would gather there, leading to a brutal fight for survival... I need to use as many people as possible as shields to protect myself. I surveyed the city again, focusing on distances and potential routes that could be significant. Routes were my top priority, as I could use them in the future to escape any potential danger. I focused on determining where the fight might take place and ensuring I was ready for anything that could impact the hospital or the central areas of the city... Suddenly, the sound of the rooftop entrance opening caught my attention. I spun around, my heart racing, to see who was came through the door. A person stood in the doorway... Why is he here again? I was little shocked to see that the figure was none other than Alex, who stood silently in the doorway, his head downcast. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to mask my surprise and confusion. He didn't respond, remaining eerily silent. His head was still down... I couldn't figure out anything... I tried again, "What happened? I asked you something! Why aren't you speaking?" But Alex remained silent, his head still bowed down... I continued to press him, asking repeatedly for a minute or two, my patience wearing thin. My frustration grew as his silence persisted. Finally, unable to contain my agitation, I shouted, "Alex, you-" But, before I could speak more, a tear slipped from his lowered face and fell to the ground. Is he crying? Suddenly, Alex lifted his head, and I was taken aback. His face was streaked with tears, as though he had been crying for hours. "What the hell is going on?" I demanded, my voice edged with frustration. "What are you even crying about?" We stared at each other for a full minute before he finally spoke in a pained voice. "Why?" I asked, "What are you talking about?" He repeated, "Why did you do this?" Normally, anyone, including me, would have understood where this conversation was headed. But today wasn't normal. I was so absorbed in scouting and understanding the situation that I had let my guard down, especially since I was alone a few minutes ago... I asked again, still puzzled, "What did I do? I've been on the rooftop the whole time." He sobbed, "Don'tuhuh, try to play dumb anymore. Kiara already told me everything about you both." As soon as he said those words, it all clicked. Urgh, damn it! That woman spilled everything! I cursed under my breath, realizing I should have spoken to her before coming up here. I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the situation. "So, you've finally figured everything out," I said, letting go of any pretense. I had decided to stop pretending, though I had no idea... That this small mistake of mine would set off a series of major events in the future.