bChapter /bb248 /b

    Maxine’s lips parted slightly before she reluctantly muttered, “Yeah… just going on a trip.”

    bThe /bnext second, the driver whipped his head around, ring at her venomously. “So you get to flee the country safely, what about me? You got me killed! My wife and daughter, who’s going to take care of them now? You selfish bitch!”

    The taxi was still speeding forward, but the world outside had vanished into pitch–ck darkness. Maxine found herself swallowed by the void, the driver’s venomous curses echoing in her ears. “Why don’t you just die? You ruined me! You’ve doomed us all!

    “You dragged Cleo into danger! Your mentor took a bullet for you! Even your own flesh and blood was kidnapped because of you! How dare you still bwalk /b

    this earth?”

    The driver’s voice reverberated around her like a haunting echo. Maxine finally couldn’t take it anymore, she mped her hands over her ears and

    squeezed her eyes shut.

    The surrounding mor slowly faded, reced by a weary sigh. “It’s no use…”

    Maxine slowly opened her eyes, the bloody, mangled face of the taxi driver from the crash appeared right before her. Atst, she couldn’t hold it in and let out a strangled scream.

    Maxine jolted awake, her eyes snapping open to the sight of her bedroom ceiling. The room was eerily quiet, broken only by a sliver of moonlight slipping through the curtains and casting a pale glow on the wall at the foot of her bed.

    Maxine froze stiff, not daring to move a muscle. The driver’s face haunted her, as if it might materialize before her eyes at any moment. She knew Sebastian was keeping vigil by her bedside, yet she couldn’t even bring herself to make a sound.

    She was terrified the driver’s ghost might hear her and w his way out of hell to drag her down.

    Her breaths came quick and shallow, fists clenched white–knuckled. Eyes squeezed shutb, /bshe willed the terror to fade.

    Suddenly, she heard the soft rustle of nkets beside her as a hand gently pulled back her covers. Sebastian stood nearby, frowning anxiously as he asked, “Are you okay?”

    Maxine subconsciously shook her head. Then, remembering the lights were still off and Sebastian couldn’t see herb, /bshe swallowed hard and managed to say in a hoarse voice, “I’m fine.”

    Sensing her distress, Sebastian walked to the door and flicked on the bedroom light. His eyes widened at the sight of her ashenplexion. “You look

    terrible,” he said with concern.

    After a brief hesitation, he gently asked, “Bad dream?”

    Maxine sat up in bed, propping her forehead with one hand as strands of hair slipped down her cheek. She murmured, “No… it’s nothing. bJust/b… remembering some things.”

    Her other hand, resting on the quilt, remained clenched in a tight fist.

    Sebastian leaned in and gently took her hand. “I don’t know what’s troubling you, but the past is past. Don’t let yourself get stuck there.”

    Maxine couldn’t hold back anymore. She covered her face with her hands, finally letting her guard down and revealing a hint of vulnerability.

    Sebastian’s fingers twitched as he hesitated, but ultimately, he withdrew the hand that had been about to rest on Maxine’s shoulder.

    He got up and went to the living room, poured a ss of warm water for her, and gently ced it in her hands. “Here, drink some water bto /bcalm byour /bnerves,” bhe /bsaid softly, “I’m right here with you.”

    With that, he turned off the main light in the bedroom and switched on the bedsidemp. Then he bent down band /bbpulled /bbhis /bbmakeshift /bbbedding /bbcloser /bbto /b

    Maxine’s bed.

    b1/2 /b

    Maxiney back down on the bed, watching him settle onto his bedding on the floorb. /bShe bit her lip, hesitated, then breached /bbout /bband /bbpatted /bthe bspace /bnext bto /bher. b“/bDon’t sleep on the floor, you’ll catch a cold. Come up here and rest with meb./b”

    Sebastian was stunned for a moment, but he didn’t even try to y it cool. This was a rare chance. Without a second bthought/b, he scooped up the nk sa and btossed /bit onto the bed. “Alright, I’ll stay here and keep youpany,” he said.

    bAD /b