L and I wandered around, eating and shopping. My gloomy mood lifted considerably. Oliver kept his distance, following behind without interfering.


    "Serena, I can''t walk anymore." L slumped onto a bench in the mall. "Let''s go home."


    After an entire afternoon of shopping, I was also exhausted and parched. I nodded. "Agreed."


    We picked up our bags and were about to leave when a group of men in matching white T-shirts appeared and blocked our way.


    "Ladies, we''ve just opened a new beauty salon. We''d love for you to try it out."


    "Yeah,e on. Help us out."


    The men surrounded us, closing in from all sides. All I could hear was a cacophony of voices. My instincts screamed that something was wrong, but the noise drowned out my protests.


    "Get lost!" I swung my handbag like a weapon, striking one of them. "I don''t want to try your stupid treatments. Move!"


    That was when I realized that they were after me.


    Through the crowd, I saw that L had already been pushed to the outside. She was frantically trying to break through the group, desperate to help me. Meanwhile, my handbag had been snatched away.


    "What the hell do you think you''re doing?" A loud,manding voice cut through the chaos. It was Oliver.


    He rushed into the crowd and yanked me out. "What are you trying to pull in broad daylight? Who sent you?"


    The man leading the group hesitated briefly when he saw Oliver. "What could we possibly be doing? We just want thisdy to try our new treatment."


    "Oh?" Oliver''s eyes were sharp with suspicion. "Here''s some advice-leave right now. Or I''m calling the police."


    The men exchanged nces before muttering under their breath, "Fine.


    Whatever. Call the cops? Do you think we''re scared?"


    Despite their tough talk, they were already retreating and soon disappeared.


    "Who were they?" I picked up my bag, still shaken.


    "No idea." Oliver gathered my scattered belongings and put them back in the bag. "Maybe they''re just


    frome beauty salon trying to


    scam customers."  fo


    "Serena." L''s eyes were red as she hugged me tightly. "That was terrifying."


    "It''s okay. It''s over now." I reyed Oliver''s words while gently patting her back with my hand.


    After that, I didn''t feelfortable letting L go home alone. Oliver and I drove her back together. On


    the way, my thoughts gr


    fell


    into ce. I nced at Oliver through the rear-view mirror only to find that he was deliberately avoiding my gaze.


    "Serena, I''m home. Text me when you get back to the hotel."


    I nodded and smiled as I said goodbye to her. As the car started moving again, I


    fixed my eyes on Oliver.


    "Oliver, why did you follow me around today?" I pressed.


    His gaze stayed firmly on the road,pletely unwavering. "Mr.


    Hastings said he was worried... nět


    might overthink things. He didn''t want you to feel down."


    "He was worried about my mood?" I let out a softugh. "And sending someone to


    tail me was supposed to make me feel better?"