Now, only the tall guard and I remained in the room.
“Well, well, it looks like it’s just the two of us now~”
He continued unfastening his belt while I shut my eyes, pretending to submit.
But the moment he leaned over, I drove my knee hard into his groin.
"ARGH—!"
With his agonized scream echoing in the room, I used all my strength to dash out of the unlocked cell.
Mikhail hadn’t gone far—I could still see his silhouette at the corner.
I spat out the sock and opened my mouth to call his name.
But before I could make a sound, a hand, swift and ghostly, clamped over my mouth.
I bit down on his fingers and managed to shout in Russian, "Mikhail!"
A jolt of electricity coursed through my body, draining all my strength.
Still, before I lost consciousness, I heard Mikhail’s distant voice.
"Who’s calling me?"
"Nothing, Mikhail, just a disobedient piglet," the tall guard explained as he quickly covered up.
"Let her go!"
Mikhail’s footsteps approached. He lifted my chin, his eyes widened in shock.
"It’s you... How could it be you?"
The guard, oblivious to what was happening, still tried to drag me away.
"Mikhail, this is a new actress we caught. She’s pretty—are you interested?"
As soon as she finished, a crisp slap rang through the air as Mikhail struck him across the face.
"Did I give you permission to speak?"
The guard clutched his cheek, trembling, and dropped to his knees.
"Mikhail, I was wrong! I won’t do it again, I swear!"
Mikhail scooped me up in his arms, his voice as cold as ice.
"Take him to the water prison. Let his ‘second brother’ rot away—he’ll learn not to touch women then."
After that, I could barely make out any sound. It seemed the guard was being dragged off somewhere far away.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a well-lit room.
A figure stood at the doorway, puffing on a cigarette, looking sullen.
This place... was it Mikhail’s room?
Seeing me awake, Mikhail spoke coldly.
"You’re up? Pack your things—I’m sending you back tomorrow."
Something about his expression felt off.
"I want to see my father," I said.
Mikhail’s brows furrowed. "You can’t see him."
"Why not? You know I was nearly assaulted just now, right?" I frowned. "Why should I just leave like this? I need to find out who set me up!"
My emotions finally boiled over. I had been tricked and trafficked here, and now even my childhood friend had turned cold.
What the hell was going on?
"Just stay here. I’ll have someone send you back tomorrow," Mikhail said flatly.
He gave me no room to argue. He turned and walked out, locking the door behind him.
How foolish—locking the door when my hands were still free.
I easily unlatched the useless lock, changed into a work uniform from Mikhail’s room, and hid behind the door, listening.
"Did you hear? The Chairman is coming for an inspection at seven. He’ll be at the plaza."
I memorized their conversation, silently mapping out my next move.
Once they left, I slipped out.
Seven o’clock—it was already time.
The building was nearly empty. It seemed everyone had gone to welcome my father.
I carefully made my way toward the plaza, where a group of suited men stood chatting.
After a brief exchange, they began boarding their cars one by one.
Holding my breath, I braced myself—success or death.
I rushed forward.
But instead of reacting, the person I ran into simply gave me a suspicious glance.
