Once Liora was out of sight, Donovan dialled Mr Sohn's number.
"Mr Sohn," Donovan greeted as the call connected.
"Hello, Mr Magnum. Did you call to ask for more information about Ms. Liora Valentine?" Mr. Sohn replied in a tone that hinted at his preparedness.
"More information?" Donovan echoed. He was surprised. Suddenly, everything about Kai's and Logan's behaviour since the fight day started to make sense. They asked Mr Sohn for information on Liora. "You're right," he admitted.
"It's not surprising anymore! That's why I have collected all the information about Ms Valentine at the cost of my life and the vacation I was promised by Mr Rothschild," Mr Sohn complained, mixing humour with seriousness.
"You need not worry about your life or your vacation, Mr Sohn. I have got that covered," Donovan said impatiently, eager to hear more about Liora and not this side chatter.
"Ms Valentine lost her father when she was just ten years old," Mr. Sohn continued, his voice shifting into a more sombre tone. "Her father, Mark Valentine, was brutally murdered by the Gambino family. Before that, he was betrayed by his ownbrother, Sven Valentine, who stole all of Mark's money and disappeared—taking Tony Gambino's money with him."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of that sentence settle.
"However, there are certain moves in that story that remain... mysterious to me. If Tony Gambino truly wanted to, he could have tracked Sven down. He had the resources. But he didn't. Instead, he went after Mark Valentine. And soon Mr George Glacier took Ms Liora Valentine and her mother under his wing."
Donovan listened intently, absorbing each word. "Glaciers," he whispered the name under his breath, processing the revelation.
Mr Sohn continued, "Ms Valentine and her friends have been showing a keen interest in Mr Decosta, the owner of the cafe on campus."
Donovan's brow furrowed deeply. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure, Mr Magnum," Mr. Sohn replied, sounding as puzzled as Donovan felt. "What I do know is that Ms Valentine, along with her friends Rachel and Daran, have been making visits to the cafe and his office, following him. The reason is unknown for now. However, I am trying to gather more information on it."
As Donovan started to think deeply, questions swirled relentlessly in his mind. Why was Liora so intent on letting that cafe owner go today? It was clear that her decision wasn't simply about mercy or misunderstanding. Donovan recalled the drastic change in Liora's appearance. She has complete different look and the color of hair is blond instead of light brown hair. Her new look was more than just a fashion statement; now, it felt like a strategic move. 'Is she trying to disguise herself?' Initially, he thought she probably wanted to try a new look, and she introduced herself as Li, not Liora.
"What do you know about the cafe owner?" Donovan asked, his voice edged with urgency.
Mr Sohn's tone turned grave. "Patrice DeCosta is involved in more than just his surface-level business dealings. He provides loans to those in need. He is known for extorting excessive amounts of money from those to whom he lends the money and is involved in organ trafficking and providing women to wealthy clients. Not only that, he also runs an orphanage for blind children alongside his girlfriend, which is called Beautiful Vision."
A chill ran down Donovan's spine. Whatever he heard until now did not sit well with him. His concern for Liora only grew more. The cafe owner's connections to such dark dealings were disturbing enough, but what came next was even more unsettling.
Mr Sohn continued, "Ms Valentine's father's death was linked to a brutal organ harvesting operation. His organs were removed, leaving him dead. In my opinion, there might be some connections between the Cafe owner and Mark Valentine's death."
Donovan's composed demeanour changed suddenly, akin to a lion awakened from its sleep, with eyes ignited by the fervour of a famished hunter poised for its prey. 'Was he connected to the death of Liora's father? Is that the reason behind Liora's actions? Engaging in such a perilous game?' Donovan's fury intensified as he recalled how the cafe owner harshly seized her arm, causing pain to ripple through her delicate frame.
"Mr Sohn, find out more about the cafe owner's past. I am more interested in it. With that said, I have another task for you," Donovan said after a moment. "I need information about four guys who studied at the same high school in Avalon: Hanuel, Ronnie, Andreas, and Kevin. They were my juniors. I need to know where they are now. They were always together hanging out."
"I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
Ending the call, Donovan swiftly dialled another number, and the call connected with a voice that belonged to a woman known for her discretion and efficiency. Her voice was calm and professional. 'Lady in black dress.'
"I need you to arrange a female bodyguard," Donovan instructed on a serious note. "she needs to be as skilled and effective as black ops commandos or the highest-paid assassin."
She smirked, hearing this peculiar request from her boss. The response came back swiftly with a hint of respect in the voice. "Sure, Capo dei Capi. Consider it done. I hope she is worth all the trouble sheis creating in your heart, Capo dei Capi."
"She is!" And the call got disconnected.
-At the parking lot -
"Stop right there!" A voice echoed through the parking lot, causing Sia to duck behind Kai, who sat astride his bike. Her heart sank as she recognized the voice, her elder sister Rhythm.
"You better get down, Sia, right now!" Rhythm warned her sister. While Kai and Logan shared a perplexed look before turning their attention to the woman who stood defiantly in their way.
"Why are you blocking our way, Rhythm?" Logan asked.
Rhythm glanced at Logan with a flicker of surprise. "You know my name?"
Logan looked away momentarily before returning his gaze back to Rhythm. "Did you think you are invisible?" he tried to sound casual though his hands trembled lightly.
Instead ofengaging in a conversationwith Logan, Rhythm's eyes snapped back to Kai, then to Sia, who remained hidden behind him. "Sia, get out of here before I dial the number." Rhythm knew how to make her sister listen to her. Sia did not want any complaints to go to her parents, who might ask her to return home if she did not listen to her elder sister.
Sia sighed, silently cursing her older sister. With a reluctant pout, she swung her leg over the bike and dismounted. "I'm sorry, Kai. I must leave."
As Sia prepared to depart, Kai softly held onto her wrist, stopping her. "She is an adult and has the freedom to go wherever she desires and with anyone she chooses," Kai stated,directing a fierce lookat Rhythm as though she were his arch-nemesis.
"I know where you are all coming from," Rhythm replied confidently. "However, we have certainrules to follow, regardless where we are." Her tone remained steady yet firm. "As her older sister, it's my duty to look out for her and ensure she isn't harmed." She raised an eyebrow slightly to emphasize her statement.
Kai's jaw clenched, the challenge evident in his gaze. "Why do I get the feeling you are one of those who judge based on appearances?"
"Regardless of appearances, I have every right to guide my sister down the right path. We are here to learn, which is something Sia needs to remember." Rhythm briefly glanced at Sia. "Come on, Sia. Let's go."
Kai and Logan couldn't believe their ears; Rhythm reminded them of their mothers and the rules they hadn't thought about for far too long.
It didn't take long for Logan to get off his bike and step forward, standing in front of Rhythm like a towering mountain. At 6.5 feet tall, despite Rhythm's height of 5.9 feet, Logan still appeared bigger and more imposing.
"Why don't you take the time to get to know us and then decide if your sister is spending time with the right people? What's the harm in that?" Logan was determined to persuade Sia's sister to reconsider her perspective. He noticed how much Sia admired Kai, and for the first time, they met people who weren't pretentious about their status or out to take advantage of them. He genuinely believed that Liora and Sia were different and could benefit from good company. "We are also serious about our studies and future careers, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy life, Rhythm. Come on us a chance. If you still feel uncomfortable, I won't say another word and will respect your wishes. Who knows, you might think differently afterwards."
Sia and Rhythm came from a Lingayat family where tradition held a very dear place. They hailed from Mangalore, a coastal city in South India. Due to their adherence to old traditions in this century, her family was well-respected and also known for their wealth.
Their families were associated with the South Indian film industry, investing only in movies they believed would be hits—and they had never been wrong. They also own a very successful law firmthat iscurrently expanding to other cities. Most Fortune companies were their clients.
When Rhythm was sent abroad to pursue her Business Administration degree, her parents sat her down andgave her a lecture about how a woman should conduct herself abroad.
It wasn't just advice. She was given a clear warning that she wouldn't be allowed to marry anyone outside of their family background.
She needed to become a role model for her sister, who would join her once she finishedher12th grade. So, she decided not to engage with guys. She didn't want to fall in love, nor did she want to have her heart broken. She wanted the same for her sister, aiming to protect her from getting hurt.
Sia had received the same lecture before departing for Valtham, yet she opted to let it drift in through one ear and out through the other.
"If you think we are a bad influence, we will never talk to Sia or you. We will distance ourselves. " Logan said softly, casting shadows of doubt in Rhythm's mind questning bout the life she lived until now.
Rhythm was caught between her protective instincts and Logan's sincerity. She studied his face, searching for any hint of deceit or insincerity. Finally, she nodded, though her expression remained cautious. "I'll consider it," she said, her voice softening slightly.
Kai and Logan exchanged a quick, relieved glance. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
"Let's go then. You can sit behind me." Logan offered.
"Who me?" Rhythm's eyes widened at Logan's suggestion as if she had heard something she shouldn't have heard. "Am I joining too?"
"How else will you know if we are good guys or not? Spending time with us will help you to decide." Logan said confidently, not with unwavering eyes. Logan's words wrapped Rhythm around like a spider spinning a silken web, drawing her unwittingly.
Back at residence, as soon as Liora reached her residence building, she dialled Sven's number. "Patrice, how are you feeling now?" she asked, feigning concern.
"I believe you now. I know now you do not mean any harm to me. I'm sorry for being rude to you before," Sven tried to amend his mistakes. "The way you tried to protect me from those guys made me feel like you're someone who does not want to harm me." And Liora's plan worked.
Liora had been waiting for this moment for him to trust her.
A momentary pause later, she heard his voice again. "I have been experiencing things, and it's getting worse," Sven's voice was trembling with fear.
"Mr DeCosta, it seems you have upset many souls, and they are uniting to get to you," Liora stated, feeding Sven false terror. "I think your last victim was the last straw."
Sven listened to Liora with mounting dread. "Why...why did you say victim?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Mr DeCosta, I know a lot of things about people. Ghosts whisper to me. They sometimes come and threaten me not to help, and sometimes they share their stories. In your case, your last victim whispered in my ears," Liora replied, her tone calm yet ominous.
"No one is going to believe you if you go to the police and complain about me," Sven retorted, trying to conceal the growing fear inside him. How did he end up feeling so cornered by a student?
"I wasn't planning on doing that," Liora said smoothly. "Mr DeCosta, if you pay me enough money, I will keep my mouth shut and help you eliminate those ghosts." Her words were calculated to make him believe she was motivated solely by money.
Sven was uncomfortable about the whole situation. He couldn't believe he was engaging in a conversation about ghosts, something he never believed in, with a student who had just entered the university and was much younger than him.
But he needed an answer, and right now, Li was the only way.
"How much? How much do you want?"
"How about 3 million dollars?" Liora proposed. It was a lot of money, but she could not get any less. She must show him she is all about money.
Her demand shook Sven to the core. Not 1, but 3 million dollars? A student asking for so much money? It seemed absurd, yet he felt trapped. After a moment oftense silence, he spoke, "If you are free today, maybe we can meet somewhere off-campus." Maybe once he gets rid of the ghosts, he will get rid of her, too. Sven thought, and a smirk appeared on his face.
'Today. Meeting. Off-campus?' Liora wasn't sure if meeting him outside would be a good idea, but if she refused, she might lose her chance to convince him otherwise. Who knows, he might go and find some psychic or card reader and will find the truth.
Without giving much thought, Liora agreed, "Sure, we can meet today. I'll send you the address and time," Liora replied, then quickly disconnected the call.
Immediately, she called Daran.Though he was not reachable, she still tried, andthis time, the call got connected.
"Daran! Sven is asking to meet today, and..and I'm unsure where to ask him to meet. Daran, help me. Liora lost in worries, forgot about Rachel attending a funeral, and Daran might be with her, too.
Instead of a calm voice, an angry voice cracked through the phone. "Who asked you to set up a meeting without consulting me first?" Daran snapped. His response was abrupt, which was not typical of him. "Liora, do you think I have all my spare time just for you?" Daran's words stunned Liora.
They came like a slap in her face, waking her from a delusion. Why was he talking to her like that? Did she make a mistake agreeing with Sven? He could have said in a softer tone, too...She pondered, feeling a little frightened by Daran's tone. He had never spoken to her like this before. Feeling hurt and frustrated, Liora disconnected the call without saying another word.
She thought for a moment. Daran's words had hurt her, and she couldn't shake the sting of his harsh tone. Why should he spend his free time on her? Tears threatened to spill, but she fought them back, determined not to overwhelm herself. This was her revenge, not his. There was a famous food street just outside the campus where she could meet Sven, but he had specifically asked not to meet nearby.
She only knew a few places in Valtham, which were way too far, and she did not want to spend the money on a cab again, which put her in a bind.
She had disconnected the call with Daran out of ego, but now she realized she needed his help more than ever.
Suddenly, an idea sparked. She messaged Sia, asking her where she was. She heard Sia and Kai going to some cafe. Sia replied, informing her she was at Cafe Monat. Liora quickly Googled the place. It was only a couple of kilometres from the campus—close enough for her to reach soon, even on foot.
And even if something goes wrong, Sia would be there too. It was safe for her. Cafe Monat would have to do, she decided. She sent a message to Sven with the address and time. She knew it wasn't ideal, but it was the best option she had given the circumstances.
'Yeah, it will be fine,' she gave herself an assuring statement.
Liora decided to walk to the cafe, covering a distance, with the help of I-Map. Along the way, she held onto her purse tightly when men passed by, feeling uneasy until they were out of sight. Despite the tension, she eventually arrives at the cafe and finds Sven outside smoking a cigarette.
As she looked around,Liora recognized Sia, Rhythm, Kai, and Logan. Seeing familiar faces put her at ease and more comfortable. She took a deep breath and confidently walked towards Sven, prepared for whatever lay ahead.
Things were not as simple as they seemed. Liora had underestimated Sven. He did not come alone. His men sat around him at different tables, waiting for one signal from Sven.