<h4>Chapter 357: Surrounded</h4>


    Mnie stepped out of the airport terminal, dragging her small suitcase behind her. The air outside was thick and humid, buzzing with honks, murmurs, and the restless shuffle of people trying to get to their destinations. But she barely noticed any of it. Her hoodie was pulled low, her sunsses covered half her face, and her steps were quick and deliberate. She kept her head down, blending in with the crowd as she moved toward the pickup zone.


    She knew the guards sent by that Cad were following her. They had been since she left the ind. But she couldn’t care less about them. Let them follow. Let them report. She had escaped that dreaded ind-her ce of captivity-and right now, that was all that mattered.


    Even though she knew she would eventually have to confront the Cadence Sint situation, but for now, she forced herself not to think about it. Not now. Not when she was so close. For now, her thoughts were consumed by one person only- Adam.


    Finally, she was going to be with him again. Her fingers clenched tighter around the handle of the suitcase. She had survived this far. Even though her mind was swarming with uncertainty, even as questions and fears wed at her-questions about Melody, about what had happened in her absence, but she refused to let herself spiral into that..


    She wouldn’t let herself imagine the worst. She was going to fight for her ce back. However, no matter how soft her heart felt when she thought of Adam, her jaw instinctively clenched the moment her thoughts turned to Melody Thomas.


    That woman... that imposter... had some serious audacity. To take over her life, walk in her shoes, sleep in her bed. It was sick. And unforgivable.


    Melody would be taught a lesson. Dr. Jung had suggested she quietly swap ces again before Cadence returned to her side, pretending like nothing ever happened so that Cadence could take Melody back. But Mnie had other ns.


    Cadence Sint may have been violent, possessive, andpletely unstable-but at least his madness was out in the open. Melody was a different story altogether. That woman was calcted. Evil masked as concern. She manipted, lied, controlled people without them even realizing it.


    Mnie clenched her hands into fists, nails biting into her palm. No. She would not let Melody get away with this. Sister or no sister. She would make sure Melody ended up where she belonged-behind bars. Not in her home. Not in Adam’s life. Not even on Cadence Sint’s side to wreck more havoc.


    She was still repeating this to herself, reinforcing the promise silently in her head, when suddenly... something shifted.


    A tingling sensation prickled the back of her neck. A strange, crawling feeling of being watched.


    Her grip tightened on the suitcase. She nced sideways, but the movement around her was ordinary. Taxis, buses, travelers... but still, something felt off.


    Then it happened.


    A sharp pain shot through her left side, so sudden she gasped. Someone yanked her arm violently, pulling her backward, and she stumbled, barely managing to stay on her feet as a dark van screeched up to the curb in front of her. The side door mmed open with a loud thud.


    Hands grabbed at her.


    Instinct kicked in. Mnie reacted without thinking. She kicked backward, her foot mming into someone’s shin, heard the grunt of pain. She twisted, elbowing another figure in the ribs, but it wasn’t enough. Fingers tangled in her hair. A cloth was shoved against her mouth, the scent sharp and bitter. Panic surged through her.


    No. Not again.


    She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled. Her thoughts spiraled. Was she being kidnapped again? Had Cadence changed his mind? Or was this something else?


    Before the darkness couldpletely swallow her, she heard her name.


    "Mnie!"


    Dr. Jung’s voice cut through the chaos. Then shouting. Running. Gunfire.


    Figures rushed in—Dr. Jung and the guards. One of them tackled an assant. Another raised a weapon, scanning the crowd. A third was already helping her up.


    The attackers retreated quickly, disappearing into the crowd as the van sped off.


    Dr. Jung dropped beside her, eyes scanning her face, his hands steady but urgent. He checked her pulse, tilted her chin up, watched her breathing.


    "Mnie. Are you with me?"


    She coughed, pushing the cloth away from her face, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I’m fine," she said hoarsely. "They tried to-"


    "I saw," Jung cut her off grimly. "We’re not staying here. You’re going to the safe house. Now. We’ll talk there. Guards, move."


    One of the guards hesitated. "Sir, shouldn’t we inform Cad—"


    "No," Jung snapped. Just one look silenced the man. "Not yet. Do not inform Cadence of the attack."


    Mnie didn’t argue. She stumbled into the waiting car beside him, still shaking at the sudden attack.


    The inside of the car was cool, quiet, and in sharp contrast to the chaos outside. But her chest still rose and fell rapidly as she turned her head to look at him, "They knew I wasing. And were waiting for me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "Yes," he said curtly, not looking at her. "Someone leaked it."


    "But... you said you only told Marianne. You warned her not to mention anything to anyone. Then why would she..." Mnie’s voice cracked. "Why would she do something like this?"


    Dr. Jung didn’t answer immediately. His jaw was set. His hands clenched around his phone.


    "Mnie," he said after a pause, "this is bad. An attack on your life right now... if Cadence finds out, he’ll lose all sense of control. He won’t listen to reason or ns. He’ll retaliate. And if that happens, it’ll be war."


    Mnie swallowed hard and another thought came to her mind, "You think it was Melody?"


    He turned to look at her.


    "Do you think she could be the one behind this?" she asked again, slower this time. A chill ran down her spine. "Impersonating someone and trying to get them killed... That’s not just deception. That’s-"


    "Criminal," he finished for her. "Yes. I do think it’s possible. Very possible. But the real question is, "How did she find out?"


    Mnie stared straight ahead. "You think Marianne told her? But why?"


    "Now that is a question that we do not have an answer to."