Lena's breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced with questions, anger bubbling under the surface. What were they doing together? Why was Riana so relaxed with him, so familiar? The same woman who had been interrogating her moments ago, pushing her into a corner, now stood casually chatting with the very man who had disrupted her life.
Alexander's cold eyes met hers across the room, and for a split second, his expression softened, but only slightly. It was enough for Lena to realize one thing: this wasn't just some random encounter. There was more to this than she understood.
Riana turned her head, her smile fading as she noticed Lena's gaze. But instead of surprise or guilt, there was an almost smug look on her face, as though this moment—this display—was somehow meant for Lena.
Lena swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to take a step forward. But inside, her thoughts were racing, hurt mixing with the rising anger. Why wasn't Riana surprised to see her here? Why wasn't Alexander?
Before she could analyze further, an officer behind her urged her forward again, and she had no choice but to walk past them, feeling the weight of their gaze on her back.
The confusion remained, but Lena knew one thing for sure—whatever this was, it was far from over. And she would find out what Alexander and Riana were really up to, even if it meant confronting them head-on.
Lena's mind was a storm of frustration and fury as she walked through the dimly lit corridors of the police station. The sight of Riana and Alexander together, so casually talking, had sent a spark of anger through her that she couldn't extinguish. The cuffs on her wrists felt heavier now, a constant reminder that she was trapped in a web she didn't fully understand.
She was transferred from one room to another, the cold concrete walls closing in on her as they moved her like a criminal. But her thoughts weren't on her current situation. They were on Riana and Alexander—why were they together? What were they hiding?
Her breathing was shallow as she tried to make sense of everything, but just as the door to the next room swung open, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching. Ryan. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to show up so soon.
But as the officer led her toward the holding area, they were stopped in their tracks by a voice—Riana's voice—sharp and commanding.
"Ryan," Riana called out, her tone smooth as she approached them. "I need you in my office right now."
Ryan glanced at Lena, his expression unreadable, then at Riana, his jaw tightening. Lena could feel the tension in the air, like a silent battle being waged between them, and for a brief moment, she wondered what history they shared. But there was no time to dwell on that. She was beyond frustrated and beyond caring about whatever drama was unfolding before her.
Lena was pushed into another room by the officer, the door shutting with a heavy thud, but she could hear Ryan's voice growl in response to Riana's demand.
"Not now, Riana," Ryan said coldly. "You're crossing a line. This is not about you."
Riana didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped closer to him, lowering her voice to a near whisper but still carrying an edge of authority. "I think it's time we had a conversation, Ryan. And you're going to want to be in the loop when it comes to Lena."
Ryan's eyes darkened, his fists clenched at his sides. "You're not involving me in your petty personal vendettas, Riana. Keep your issues to yourself. We're here to deal with something far more serious."
Lena's blood boiled as she strained to hear their conversation. This wasn't just a coincidence—Riana and Ryan knew each other, and their interactions weren't those of strangers. The way they spoke, the way Riana controlled the conversation—it all pointed to something deeper.
The officer led her back into the room, but she could still hear their heated exchange just outside the door.
As Ryan tried to distance himself, Lena took a deep breath, doing her best to control the anger that surged through her. She couldn't allow herself to get distracted. Not now. Not when things were getting so complicated.
She would find a way out of this. And she would make sure that whatever game Riana and Alexander were playing, they would pay for it.
Ryan's voice echoed through the hall, sharp and angry, his words cutting through the tension like a knife. "Lena has nothing to do with Alexander! Whatever mess you've made, it's on you, Riana. Don't drag her into it. She's not part of your games!"
Lena, sitting in the cold, sterile room, could feel the heat rising in the hallway as the argument escalated. She wanted to hear more, to understand why Riana was so deeply involved with Alexander, but the officer who had been assigned to watch over her kept her from moving closer to the door.
On the other side, Riana's voice responded—cold, controlled, but there was an edge of fury beneath her calm facade. "You think you know me, Ryan? You think you have any idea what I'm capable of?"
There was a long pause. Lena could hear Riana's heels clicking sharply against the floor as she stepped closer to Ryan. The sound of her movement brought a fresh wave of annoyance, but there was no denying her presence. Riana was undeniably beautiful—her long, dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders, her eyes glinting with a cold determination that matched her sharp features. Even in her anger, there was a grace to her—something dangerous and alluring, a power that seemed to radiate from her.
Riana was a force, and she knew it. As she stepped closer to Ryan, her words were icy and cutting. "You're wasting your time with Lena. Alexander isn't some prize for you to fight over. You and your pathetic attempts at controlling this situation will never work. She's not part of this," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain.
Ryan stepped back, frustration evident in his expression. "You're the one making this personal, Riana. You're the one who's obsessed with him, and now you're trying to drag her into it. What's your real agenda? You think you can just use Lena to get to Alexander?"
Riana's lips curled into a tight smile, her eyes narrowed, and the moment seemed to freeze in the air. She tilted her head slightly and, with a mocking elegance, took another step forward, closing the gap between them.
"You're not as clever as you think, Ryan," Riana said softly, her voice thick with venom. "I don't need to 'win' Alexander. I never did. But she... She'll be the one to lose everything."
Her words hung in the air, the silent threat lingering between them. Ryan stared at her, his fists clenching, but he didn't say another word. Riana turned on her heel and walked away, her footsteps now a rhythmic tap, echoing down the hallway.
Lena, in the dim room, could feel the tension still hanging thick in the air. She didn't know the full history between Riana and Ryan, but it was clear now that there was something much darker beneath the surface of this conflict.
She had to figure out what it was. She had to make sure that whatever game Riana and Alexander were playing, she wasn't left behind.
Ryan's face was hard as he re-entered the room, and though his eyes were still angry, there was something else there—fear, perhaps, or the weight of something he couldn't escape.
Lena met his gaze, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside her. "So, what now? You and Riana going to keep playing this game? Because I'm done sitting here waiting for answers."
Ryan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a long breath, clearly torn between anger and something more. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet but full of intensity. "You don't know what you're getting into, Lena. This... all of this... it's bigger than anything you've imagined."
Lena stood up, her fists clenched at her sides. "Then let me in. I don't care how dangerous it is. I'm done being kept in the dark."
Ryan looked at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there was only silence between them. Then, without a word, he turned and walked toward the door, leaving Lena alone with her thoughts—thoughts that had never been more confused and more determined than they were now.
Lena, lost in her own thoughts, barely noticed the police officer approaching her. His presence was sudden, his footsteps heavy and purposeful. She looked up, startled, as he stood right next to her, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he gestured for her to follow him.
"Come with me," he said, his voice low and commanding.
Lena's heart skipped a beat. She had been sitting there, trapped in her own mind, trying to piece together what had happened with Riana, Alexander, and Ryan. But now, as the officer's gaze met hers, all her thoughts came crashing down.
"Where... where are you taking me?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly, betraying the fear she felt building up inside her.
The officer didn't answer. Instead, he turned and began walking toward the narrow hallway, the cold, sterile atmosphere of the police station enveloping her as she stood up hesitantly and followed him.
Every step she took felt heavier than the last, and her anxiety intensified with each passing second. The walls of the station seemed to close in on her, the dim lights casting long shadows as they moved further down the corridor.
Her heart raced. She wanted to say something, to resist, but something about the officer's cold demeanor left her feeling helpless. She couldn't even bring herself to ask if she could talk to Ryan. The way the officer's grip tightened slightly on the door handle made it clear that resistance wouldn't be tolerated.
As they entered another dark room, Lena's senses heightened, and a chill ran down her spine. It was colder here, the air thick with the scent of stale paperwork and fluorescent light. She was alone again, but this time, the feeling of isolation was even more oppressive.
She glanced around nervously, trying to figure out what was happening, but the officer simply gestured for her to sit in the chair. Her thoughts raced. What was going on? Was this just another step in the interrogation? Or was something far worse coming?
Lena hesitated, but her fear overpowered any defiance she might have felt. Slowly, she sat down, her eyes fixed on the officer, waiting for him to speak, her heart pounding in her chest.
The silence stretched between them, and in that moment, Lena felt more trapped than ever.
Lena sat there in the darkness, her mind swirling with confusion and fear. The oppressive silence of the room was all-consuming, making her feel even more isolated. She tried to steady her breathing, but the weight of everything—the police, the interrogation, the constant fear—was suffocating.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps approaching. The door creaked, and her head snapped up. Her breath caught in her throat as the door swung open, revealing a tall figure standing in the threshold.
Lena's heart skipped a beat.
There, standing in the doorway, was Alexander.
Her pulse raced as she stared at him, stunned. She had expected anything—another officer, a further round of questioning, maybe even Riana—but not him. Not Alexander.