Chapter 4
Barry stood at the door wearing jeans, a loose plaid shirt, and a black autumn jacket. He looked energetic and bright, with a sunny smile on his face. His golden hair shone under the morning sunlight, radiating a pure and kind-hearted charm.
His sincere personality and natural goodness made anyone who met him instinctively want to trust him.
"Aunt Mary, are you here to pick up Alex for the police station?" Barry asked with a warm smile. He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Barry and Alex had been friends since childhood. Although they had a falling out in junior high, Aunt Mary still firmly believed Barry was Alex's good friend.
Today was a big day — Alex had just graduated from Central City University and was about to start his first job at the Central City Police Department. Barry's visit made Aunt Mary very happy. From now on, the two boys would be colleagues and could help each other.
Barry had joined the CCPD a year earlier as a forensic science intern. After gaining experience, he had officially become a forensic technician, providing crucial evidence support for the department.
Aunt Mary believed that with Barry and Alex working together, the two young men would surely rebuild their old friendship and become good friends again.
"Yes, Aunt Mary. I'm here to go to the station with Alex," Barry replied cheerfully. "I've been at the CCPD for a year now, so I know the place pretty well. I thought I could show him around."
As he spoke, Barry's eyes unconsciously glanced past Aunt Mary toward the inside of the house, his heart beating with slight excitement.
He didn't have many friends. In fact, he had almost none.
But the one person he truly considered a friend — his childhood buddy and brother — was Alex. Ever since elementary school, when Barry's father went to prison and his mother passed away, Alex had been by his side, helping him through the darkest time of his life.
No matter what, Barry still saw Alex as his best friend and brother.
Even though they had cut ties after an unpleasant incident in junior high, today Barry hoped to use this opportunity to mend their relationship and work together at the CCPD.
Hearing his wife talking with Barry at the door, Bert glanced at Alex with a strange look in his eyes.
Have they reconciled?
Morning sunlight slanted through the windows, casting half of Alex's body in shadow. With the black rectangular glasses on, he looked like a cold, emotionless schemer. The lenses reflected light, hiding his eyes, but making his sharp jawline appear even more ruthless and icy.
Without a word, Alex stood up. The chair scraped against the floor with a soft sound.
The house fell silent except for the conversation between Barry and Aunt Mary at the entrance. Bert's deep blue eyes followed Alex as he left the dining table, picked up his black coat from the sofa, put it on, and walked toward the door with a cold expression.
Each of Alex's footsteps was steady and powerful. The sound of his shoes on the wooden floor made Barry's heart pound in rhythm.
When Alex appeared wearing the black rectangular glasses — which hid his signature seductive teardrop mole — Barry still recognized him instantly. This was his old friend, his childhood buddy, his brother.
Alex still looked as outstanding and eye-catching as ever.
"Alex…"
Seeing Alex walk out, Barry's face lit up with a genuine, bright smile. He stepped past Aunt Mary and hurried toward him.
Aunt Mary watched the scene with a pleased smile on her lips — two old friends, just like when they were kids.
However…
The moment Barry reached Alex,
Alex slowly raised his lowered head. Through the lenses of his glasses, he gave Barry a cold, indifferent glance.
Bang!
In an instant, Alex took a large step forward. His foot slammed heavily onto the wooden floor, causing the entire house to shake. Dust particles danced wildly in the sunlight.
His upper body sank slightly. Power rose from his feet to his waist, then transformed into soft, controlled force under his precise muscle control. It looked almost as if Barry had rushed forward and Alex had fallen into his arms.
Suddenly —
Thud!
In Barry's horrified, shrinking pupils, Alex delivered a powerful "Mountain Lean" shoulder strike straight into his chest.
Barry felt a surging soft force slam into his chest like a high-pressure water cannon. His ribcage compressed, and he lost control of his body.
He was sent flying backward. His feet left the ground as he stared at Alex in shock, growing farther and farther away.
Boom!
His back slammed painfully against the wall. His spine felt like every vertebra was cracking and shifting. He stuck to the wall in a spread-eagle position for a moment.
"Ugh…"
Barry groaned, eyes wide, plastered against the wall.
His entire spine ached with a strange mix of comfort and intense pain.
He had been completely knocked into the upper part of the doorway by Alex's shoulder strike, shaking the wooden and concrete wall.
Dust that had been visible in the sunlight now swirled chaotically in the disturbed air.
Alex calmly retracted his right foot and stood tall. He raised his right hand and used his middle and thumb fingers to adjust the black glasses on his nose, pressing them firmly back against his skin. Through the lenses, he coldly watched Barry remain stuck to the wall for two or three full seconds before slowly sliding down and collapsing at the entrance.
Hitting someone so they hang on the wall like a painting — that was exactly what had just happened.
Alex had perfect control over his strength. Barry's injuries were limited. The soft force of the shoulder strike was designed to pin him to the wall for those few seconds. The real damage came from the fall when he slid down.
Still, it wasn't serious — just a drop from about two meters. At most, he would feel numb legs and some bruises and soreness.
Aunt Mary was frozen in shock. Only when Barry hit the floor with a loud thud, kicking up more dust, did she snap out of it.
"Ah!"
"Oh my God!"
"Alex! What are you doing!!!"
She rushed over in panic, wanting to help Barry up but afraid she might worsen any broken bones. She hovered anxiously around him, repeatedly asking if he was okay.
"Cough… cough cough…"
Barry lay on the ground, eyes blurry, chest tight, coughing and rolling his eyes. His body felt numb and uncomfortable, but he wasn't seriously hurt. He weakly waved his hand to tell Aunt Mary he was fine.
Even Bert jumped up from the dining table and hurried over.
Alex looked down at Barry with a cold, domineering expression. In the slanted sunlight at the doorway, his glasses reflected an icy glare. He stepped directly over Barry's body and walked out the front door, leaving only his cold back and a voice laced with freezing anger:
"Get lost. I have never forgiven you for what you did to me."