Chapter 565: Chapter 565

I cleared my throat lightly and moved to the right side of the store, pretending to browse. Rows of fluffy pink handcuffs caught my attention, hanging neatly on hooks. I picked one up, turning it in my hand while keeping an ear on their conversation.

“My god,” the woman said with a grin, nudging her partner slightly. “Does your husband not get angry that you work here, girl?”

Layla let out a small, awkward chuckle. “Oh… I, uh… h-he doesn’t.”

I frowned slightly to myself.

Who even asked something like that? In a place like this, of all places. Some people really had zero sense of boundaries. Standing there, shopping for toys, and suddenly deciding to dig into someone’s personal life like it was small talk.

Layla recovered quickly enough, though. She continued explaining the features of the toys, pointing things out, keeping her voice steady. As she turned slightly, she caught sight of me near the handcuffs. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, recognition flashing across her face, but she masked it almost immediately and kept going like nothing happened.

The couple drifted closer to where I stood. The woman grabbed one of the fluffy cuffs and inspected it.

“Do you have a normal one?” she asked. “Without all this… extra stuff.”

“We don’t, unfortunately,” Layla replied. “But you could always cut the fabric off with scissors if you prefer the metal.”

The woman hummed thoughtfully, then turned to her partner. “What do you think, hon? Think it’d look good on you?”

“I like pink,” the guy said with a small, almost shy smile. “Let’s get it.”

“Perfect,” Layla nodded, already moving toward the counter. “I’ll ring that up for you.”

They followed her, and I casually put the cuffs back, lingering a moment before drifting toward the counter as well, keeping a bit of distance.

Layla moved through the process quickly. She scanned the item, named the price, and bagged it without any unnecessary chatter. The woman paid without hesitation, clearly satisfied with her purchase. A receipt printed out with a soft whirr, and Layla handed it over along with the bag.

“Have a nice day,” she said.

“You too,” the woman replied, already turning toward the door.

The bell chimed again as they left, their voices fading as they stepped outside.

Silence settled over the shop.

I waited a second, just to make sure they were gone, then walked up to the counter. Layla had already lowered herself onto the stool behind it, one hand resting on her belly as she exhaled slowly.

“You’re here again,” she said, looking up at me. “Hope it’s for a good reason.”

“You look bad,” I replied bluntly. “Didn’t sleep?”

“I… did,” she answered, though the hesitation gave her away.

“Yeah, sure.”

I glanced around the shop as I started pacing slowly, hands in my pockets. The shelves were neatly arranged, everything in its place, but the atmosphere felt… off. Quiet in a way that wasn’t comforting.

“Any cameras here?” I asked, stopping and pointing toward one mounted in the corner. “Like that one. Can I check the footage?”

“It deletes everything after two days,” she said. “Even if there was something, it’s probably gone.”

“Really…” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “That was the whole reason I came here.”

“Yeah… I’m sorry about it.”

That lead, gone just like that. Great.

I let out a quiet curse under my breath and turned back toward her. “If you hear anything about Jack, anything at all, let me—”

Her eyes suddenly fluttered. Then rolled. Before I could even finish my sentence, her body tilted forward.

“Hey—”

She slipped off the stool, her head heading straight for the edge of the counter.

Instinct kicked in. Without thinking, I pulled up the system and spent the credits.

Time stopped.

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Evan Marlowe [Level 21]

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EXP: 3175 / 31500

[██░░░░░░░]

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Current Credits: 5262

Current SC: 0

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Everything froze mid-motion. Layla hung there in the air, inches away from smashing her face against the counter.

I stepped forward quickly and caught her, easing her back upright. Her body was limp in my hands as I carefully adjusted her, making sure she sat properly on the stool again. As I did, something smeared under my fingers.

I frowned and pulled my hand back slightly, looking at it.

Makeup. I glanced at her face again, focusing on where I’d touched her.

The layer had shifted just enough.

And underneath it…. There was a bruise. A dark, ugly black eye, half-hidden beneath poorly applied makeup.

“What the hell…”

My gaze sharpened. I hesitated for a second, then moved around slightly, lifting the back of her shirt just enough to check.

Another mark. Damn.

A fresh cut, shallow but recent, running along her back. I lowered the fabric slowly, my jaw tightening. So it wasn’t just exhaustion. Someone had done this. Her husband? Someone else?

I stepped back, running a hand over my face. For a brief moment, the thought crossed my mind to do something about it right now. To ask, to push, to get involved. But then everything else hit me at once. Brok. Jack. Nala.

Everything was already piling up.

I couldn’t afford another problem.

Not right now.

With a quiet exhale, I moved back to where I had been standing before and let time resume.

The world snapped back into motion.

“Woah there,” I said quickly.”You nearly fell. You okay?”

“I… y-yeah,” she muttered, blinking rapidly as she steadied herself. “I don’t… have the camera stuff. Could you… please leave? I need to rest.”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.”

I took a step back, giving her space. “Take care of yourself, Layla.”

She only gave a small nod, already looking drained.

I turned and walked toward the door, pushing it open and stepping out into the street again. The bell chimed behind me, fading quickly as the door shut.

I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Fuck…”

Another day.

Another problem waiting to explode.

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