The cramped elevator held only Hannah.


    A sinister smile spread across Jason''s face as he stepped forward, nting his foot in the doorway to block it from closing.


    Hannah stared nkly for a few seconds before her hand shot out, her fingers frantically stabbing at the ''door close'' button.


    "It''s still early. We haven''t seen each other in ages. Why don''t we find a ce to sit and catch up?" Jason chuckled, watching her frantic movements. His voice dropped to a low, menacing tone. "Come out."


    Themand, sharp and undeniable, sliced through the years and struck her


    heart like a spear.


    "Hannah, don''t make your director repeat himself. You want to be a good, obedient girl, don''t you?"


    Raw terror flooded her eyes. She stumbled backward, but there was nowhere to go. Her right hand scrambled behind her, desperately searching for something, anything, to hold onto, but found only the cold, smooth wall.


    "Be a good girl." Jason stepped into the elevator, his presence sucking the air from the small space. He reached out and pressed the button to close the doors, trapping them inside together. A strangled scream nearly ripped from Hannah''s throat.


    The descent took only a few seconds, but for Hannah, it felt like an eternity. She could barely stand, gasping for air as if her lungs were being crushed.


    When they reached the parking garage, Jason stepped out, but kept his foot wedged in the door. He scanned the area. "My, my. Hannah''s all grown up. You even have a car. Which one is yours?"


    Hannah squeezed her eyes shut, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Her lips were sealed tight, too terrified to speak.


    "Have you forgotten what your director taught you? Good children answer when an adult asks a question." Jason turned back to face her, a smirk ying on his lips. "Now, step out. Don''t hog the elevator. That''s what bad children do."


    At his words, Hannah moved like a puppet, stepping out onto the concrete floor. Jason nodded in satisfaction. "That''s what a good girl does. Your director hasn''t eaten yet. You know this area well, so find us a nice ce. We have a lot of catching up to do."


    He pped a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched.


    When they reached her car, Jason''s expression darkened for a moment, but he said nothing as he got in.


    Hannah drove them to the busiest restaurant in a nearby shopping mall.


    The moment they were seated, Jason understood her strategy, but he simply smiled and picked up the menu.


    "You''ve done well for yourself these past few years, Hannah. A job at Keystone Group, a luxury car."


    He watched her from across the table. She was just like she''d been as a child- shoulders hunched, eyes fixed on the table, too afraid to look at him. The sight of her fear filled him with a deep, satisfying sense of power.


    "But no matter if you be a high-poweredwyer or make a fortune, you''ll always be one of Sunflower Haven''s good children, won''t you?"


    He adjusted the thin, silver-rimmed sses on his nose. "The director know you''ve been busy, Hannah but you can''t be so busy you forget toe home, can you? This Saturday is our anniversary


    celebration. You''ll be there, right?"


    Hannah''s hands were clenched tightly in herp, her knuckles white against her


    skirt. She didn''t say a word.


    "A good child should alwayse home," Jason continued,


    unperturbed by her silence. "It''s been a white since you''ve seen Rex hasn''t His le house is surrounded by daisies now. I''m sure he misses you terribly." .


    He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Or are you a bad child now, Hannah? Have you forgotten all about Rex? He was so good to you. He brought you so many things to eat, he even saved you. You haven''t forgotten that, have you?"


    Hannah''s breathing grew ragged. She swallowed hard.


    "I... I''ll be there."


    "That''s my girl. Oh, and remember to ept my request on WhatsApp." Jason''s


    tone was a clearmand. "Take out your phone. Do it now."