The moment Katelyn closed the door, Vincent handed her a small box. Her fingertips gently grazed its surface, and a smile spread across her face.
“Thank you, Mr. Adams.”
Just holding the Spring Snow Herb in her hands finally brought Katelyn a sense of relief.
“Don’t mention it. Let me take you to see a drama,” Vincent replied, his voice gentle. With that, the engine roared to life.
Katelyn looked at him, confused.
“Another drama? We just watched one. And now there’s another?”
Vincent’s lips twisted into a small, knowing smile, but he remained silent.
Katelyn chose not to ask more.
The car slowly pulled out of the garage. Roughly thirty minutes later, they reached a quiet, remote area.
Leaving the Spring Snow Herb behind in the car, Katelyn stepped out and followed Vincent. It was only then that she started to notice her surroundings.
The road was narrow and made of concrete, crowded with parked vehicles—mostly cargo vans and pickup trucks. On the hillside, small factories clustered together. Despite it being almost 1 a.m., the lights were still on in the factories, their machines buzzing gently in the night.
Vincent locked the car, leaned in close to Katelyn, and whispered, “Stay close to me.”
Katelyn nodded in response.
They left the main road and turned onto a narrow dirt path. It was so tight that only one person could pass through at a time. Vegetables grew thick and untamed along both sides of the path. The ground beneath them was rough and uneven. Without her training, Katelyn would have struggled to keep her balance.
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They walked for about three minutes before Vincent came to a stop.
In front of them stood a small factory. The lights were on, but there was no hum of machines. A dog was tied to a post at the entrance.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!” The dog barked loudly, sensing their presence.
People inside the factory quickly rushed out to see what was happening.
Vincent acted quickly, grabbing Katelyn by the wrist and pulling her behind a nearby wall. His broad body pressed against hers, hiding her from view.
Katelyn understood the urgency and didn’t resist. Still, the closeness felt too intimate, and Vincent’s scent overwhelmed her.
In the distance, the sound of footsteps grew louder.
“Who’s there?!” someone shouted.
Katelyn remained motionless, while Vincent’s body pressed tighter to hers.
At that moment, a group from the factory paused at the corner near where Vincent and Katelyn were concealed, thoroughly searching the vicinity. They were only a corner away. Thanks to the darkness of the night, Vincent and Katelyn remained unnoticed by them.
Out of nowhere, the tethered dog began to bark uncontrollably once more. The factory workers shifted their focus back to the dog. Approaching it, they kicked the animal and said in frustration, “Why are you barking? Didn’t we feed you?!”
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