Thomas !
The moment Stella turned around and recognized him standing behind her, a cold feeling settled heavily in her chest. The narrow alley suddenly felt far smaller than before.
Thomas stood several steps away, calm as always, though the usual gentleness in his expression was gone. His gaze remained fixed on her without wavering.
" So he was following us." Her thoughts immediately moved toward Jack, "he sent him. Of course he did… That man has been suspicious of me from the beginning."
For the first time since arriving in Lily Pier, Stella truly felt danger pressing directly against her throat. Not suspicion hidden beneath calm expressions. Not cautious observation. Actual danger.
"I need to handle this carefully… otherwise I'm finished."
The panic lasted only a second before being forced back down. Stella quickly steadied herself and spoke with a confused expression.
"What are you talking about, Thomas?" she asked, sounding genuinely startled. "Who got tired of you? I was trying to return to the inn because I got separated from Evelyn."
One hand moved lightly toward her hair, "and look… my hair tie tore earlier, so I was trying to leave these alleys quickly. Don't you remember what you told me before? You said this area could be dangerous."
Thomas remained silent for a brief moment. Normally, his attitude carried a relaxed warmth that made him seem approachable despite his experience. But now, standing in the dim alley beneath the fading afternoon light, that softness had completely disappeared. His expression looked colder than usual, and even his posture had become more rigid.
"Tell that to Jack, not me," he replied flatly.
"Now move. We're returning to the inn."
The sharpness in his tone made Stella's stomach sink slightly.
" Damn it ! This was my mistake."
Her thoughts turned restless while following behind him through the narrow streets, "I focused too much on Evelyn and ignored the others. Idiot… every single one of them is dangerous."
The city no longer felt freeing. Every step back toward the inn felt heavier than the last.
"What if he already decided to get rid of me? He was suspicious from the start, and now I practically handed him a reason."
The possibilities running through Stella's mind became increasingly worse the more she thought about them. None of the outcomes ended well for her.
The walk back felt far too short.
Eventually, the familiar building of the inn appeared ahead. Stella unconsciously slowed her pace while approaching the entrance. Thomas noticed immediately, and without warning, his hand grabbed her arm firmly and pulled her forward.
"Walk faster."
The moment they entered, the atmosphere inside felt noticeably different from before.
The lower floor had fallen unusually quiet.
Jack stood near one of the tables, several folded papers scattered across the wooden surface in front of him. The man's tall frame and naturally sharp features already made him intimidating under normal circumstances, but now his expression looked even darker than usual. A heavy tension surrounded him the instant he lifted his eyes toward them.
Thomas stepped forward immediately.
"I need to tell you something urgent," he said quickly, "she's exactly what we expected..."
Before he could finish, Jack interrupted him with visible irritation.
"There's a bigger problem right now." His voice was colder than usual.
Jack grabbed a sheet of paper from the table and handed it toward Thomas.
"Read this."
Thomas took the paper. Stella watched carefully from several steps away while his eyes moved across the page. Gradually, his expression darkened as well.
"…Impossible..."
He stopped himself midway.
Stella's attention sharpened instantly.
What happened?
For a brief moment, both men seemed to forget her presence entirely. The atmosphere between them changed subtly after reading the contents of the report, as though something far more serious had suddenly appeared.
Then Jack's gaze shifted back toward Stella.
Cold.
Evaluating.
Dangerous.
"So," Jack said while looking toward Thomas again, "what exactly did the young miss do this time? Is she truly a western spy?"
Thomas nodded slightly, "I believe so. She separated herself from Evelyn, then headed somewhere in a hurry before I stopped her. She was probably trying to deliver information or contact someone."
"No, that's not what happened."
Stella forced herself to answer immediately despite the pressure building inside her chest.
"It's a misunderstanding, sir. I'm not a spy. Like I explained earlier, I simply got lost while trying to return quickly because of my hair."
"And why should we believe that?" Jack asked coldly.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier with every word.
"Listen carefully," he continued, voice low and threatening. "It would be better for you to confess now. Otherwise, things are going to become very unpleasant for you."
Despite the fear creeping through her body, Stella forced herself to remain calm.
"I already told you the truth. I didn't do anything."
Jack suddenly moved closer.
Before Stella could react properly, one large hand grabbed the front of her collar violently.
"Then you're not going to talk easily, huh?"
The pressure tightened instantly.
"Tell me already," Jack shouted directly into her face, "who are you working for?!"
Stella tried answering, but the words caught in her throat. Her feet had already left the ground.
He was lifting her with one hand alone.
Her fingers instinctively grabbed his wrist while air became harder to pull into her lungs. Up close, Jack's presence felt overwhelming. His broad shoulders, hardened expression, and sharp eyes made the anger in front of her feel frighteningly real.
"Damn it… I can't breathe..."
Then suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the entrance.
"She's telling the truth, Sir Jack!"
Everyone turned.
Evelyn stood near the doorway, slightly out of breath from rushing back. Unlike Thomas and Jack, her expression carried genuine alarm the moment she saw Stella struggling in the air.
"She didn't do anything," Evelyn continued quickly while stepping closer. "Please put her down. This is my fault. I left her alone even though she's unfamiliar with the city, so of course she got lost."
For a brief second, silence filled the room.
Then Jack's grip loosened.
Stella immediately fell back onto the wooden floor, coughing harshly while struggling to breathe properly again.
"Kh...!"
Air finally returned to her lungs as she leaned forward weakly, "I almost suffocated… oh my…"