Melody's POV
The name circled in red ink echoed in my brain the whole time Marvis spoke.
Darius Kwon.
He was a ghost on paper. Nothing directly tied to the S.H Group, but his name appeared too often once in the hospital's buried contracts, another time linked to a fake real estate fund. But it was the third time that sent chills down my spine:
A transaction signed off just one week before my parents died.
That couldn't be a coincidence.
I scanned the file again. "Where does he live?"
Marvis hesitated. "He moves. Private residences. Rents under fake names. But I've got someone trailing his driver. If he's in US, we'll know."
I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Good."
"You okay?" he asked suddenly.
My heart skipped.
I kept my gaze fixed on the file. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You didn't get out when I walked up. And you're wearing the same shoes from yesterday. Also…" his eyes flicked around the car "this place smells like someone slept in it."
I stiffened. "I didn't"
"You don't have to lie."
He said it quietly, not accusing. Just… certain.
I looked away, my voice barely above a whisper. "I just needed a night to myself."
"That's not a night. That's survival."
A beat of silence passed. I didn't know what I expected. Pity? Judgment?
But instead, he asked, "How long?"
"Just a few days," I said quickly. "Rent's late, that's all. I'll fix it."
He didn't speak right away. Just studied me with that unreadable expression of his.
"You should've told me."
"It's not your problem."
"I disagree."
I opened my mouth to argue, but then he reached across the seat, grabbed a smaller folder from under the main one, and handed it to me.
"What's this?"
"Darius's driver was spotted near Kenwood two nights ago. They stopped for forty minutes. I pulled satellite footage. No clear face, but someone stepped out. Looked injured. Limped. That means he's vulnerable."
My heart picked up. "So I can follow him?"
He nodded. "Not alone."
"I've done worse alone," I muttered.
"That's not the point."
I didn't respond. My eyes were glued to the map. If I could just get close just see him maybe I'd finally find a break that led to the truth. To justice.
"Melody," Marvis said quietly, "come stay at the safehouse. Just until you're back on your feet. No strings. No pressure."
"I'm fine."
"You're sleeping in your car."
I gritted my teeth. "Because I choose to."
He didn't push again. He just leaned back, folding his arms.
"I'm not offering out of pity," he said. "I'm offering because I've seen what you're capable of. And you can't do it broken."
I didn't answer. But I didn't say no either.
Because even though I hated needing help, even though it burned, deep down I knew… I couldn't keep pretending.
Not if I wanted to finish what I started.