ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FOUR

ALICE'S POV

The park bench was cold beneath me, a stark contrast to the warmth of the afternoon sun. I sat there, my fingers lightly drumming on the stack of legal documents in my lap, the other hand gripping my bag that held the real weapon—photos and evidence linking Konrad to the kidnapping of Sylvia’s children, Zenith and Zendaya. I couldn’t help but let my thoughts wander for a moment, wondering how it had all come to this. The man I had once been drawn to, the man who still, despite everything, held a certain allure for me, was now just a piece on my chessboard.

The crunch of gravel under tires drew my attention back to the present. I tilted my head slightly, watching as Konrad’s car pulled up. He stepped out, exuding the same confident aura that had once intrigued me. Silver hair, sharp suit—he was still every bit the silver fox he had always been. But now, I could see past the charm to the dangerous man beneath. My heart didn’t flutter anymore; it remained steady, cold, and ca