Chapter 10: From Now On, We're Friends!

Words : 1541 Updated : Aug 14th, 2025

The sunset spilled its last light across the bridge, and the river below shimmered with a delicate sheen of gold. While everyone still reeled from the tension, Marlee Casson suddenly stepped forward, seized Elijah Quinny's hand without warning, and dove straight into his arms. It felt as if every heart on the bridge skipped a beat. Mario Casson's face finally changed, a storm of shock, anger, and disbelief colliding across his features. Before he could even get a word out, Marlee had already leaped from the bridge, dragging Elijah with her. It happened too fast. Elijah clutched her by reflex; true energy surged through him, forming a tight, invisible shield around them both. He looked down and met Marlee's clear, wide eyes-no fear, no panic, only curiosity and a keen, searching look. Time seemed to stand still in that instant. Their bodies drifted down in the sunset like silhouettes frozen on a canvas. The next second, Splash! The icy river engulfed them. The crowd on the bank erupted into chaos. Lifeguards, bodyguards, and attendants all jumped into the water at once; chaos reigned. By the time they were hauled out, they were soaked and bedraggled. Marlee still managed a bright, impish smile at Elijah. "You had other options, didn't you? You didn't have to jump with me, did you?" Elijah shook water from his sleeves and said casually, "Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't." Marlee smiled, as if very pleased with that answer. Tilting her head, she said with real sincerity, "We just went through a life‑or‑death moment together. Friends should at least introduce themselves, right? What's your name?" "Elijah Quinny," he answered without a pause. Marlee repeated the name in her mind, nodded, and her expression turned serious. They had barely been helped onto the bank when Mario Casson strode up, his face dark, his voice so cold it brooked no argument. "Young man, you incited my niece to pull a stunt like that. You owe me an explanation." "Uncle Mario, this was entirely my idea. It has nothing to do with him!" Marlee stepped in front of Elijah to block him. "Marlee, do you think I don't know your temperament? Without someone egging you on, would you dare?" Mario pressed in step by step, his eyes sharp as knives. A squad leader from the Peacekeeping Bureau came over, brows furrowed. "Mr. Casson, don't worry. We'll get to the bottom of it. Men, take this kid in." Marlee stepped in front of Elijah again, her voice trembling but firm. "Uncle Mario, if he hadn't saved me, I'd be dead. You can't pin this on him." "Ridiculous." Mario snorted and reached to pull Marlee away. "You're siding with an outsider against your own uncle?" Marlee fought him with everything she had. "Let go of me!" Elijah stepped forward, seized Mario's wrist, and said calmly, without backing down, "Mr. Casson, is it really appropriate to force your niece to do what she doesn't want?" Mario's eyes narrowed; when he spoke, his voice dropped until it seemed to thicken the air. "Young man, think about the consequences before you act. Some things aren't your place to meddle in." For a moment, tension crackled in the air. Marlee's resistance faltered; she pleaded softly, "Uncle Mario, please let Elijah go. I'll go back with you and do as I'm told from now on." Mario paused, then released his grip with a cold huff. "Fine." "Then… can I say a few more words to him?" Marlee lifted her face, pleading in her eyes. Mario checked his watch and said, "One minute," before moving off with his people. Silence finally reclaimed the riverbank. Marlee looked at Elijah with a flicker of apology and helplessness. Her voice dropped. "Thank you. In that instant we jumped, it was the first time I ever felt I was steering my own life. It's a shame…" She stopped, softer now. "Uncle Mario is right. I can't be too willful. I have a lot of family to think about. After this… will we ever meet again?" Elijah studied her, at a loss for words. This stubborn, fearless girl had carved out a place in his mind. Suddenly, Marlee fished a pen from her bag, took his hand, and carefully wrote a string of numbers in his palm. "No matter what comes next, we're friends now. You must come find me, okay?" She gave him a reluctant smile, turned, and followed Mario. As she walked away, she looked painfully alone. Elijah watched her go. The ink on his palm grew warm against the cold. A feeling rose in him he could not quite name; a hollow ache, yet warm. Behind him, the Peacekeeping Bureau's squad leader sauntered over and sneered. "Kid, don't think latching onto the Casson heiress will change your fate. You're just an ordinary man. Stop chasing pipe dreams." Elijah could not be bothered. He only shook his head, smiled, and walked away. After a few steps, he glanced back at the motorcade dwindling into the distance. Remembering Marlee's words, he could not help the faint smile that touched his lips. Friend. The word rolled around in his mind. He had bled at the border for years, shoulder to shoulder with brothers-in-arms, yet he had never known what a friend truly was. Brothers were comrades to live and die with; enemies were those who wanted him dead. A friend, to him, felt strangely new. What happened today gave him a first taste of friendship; it felt like coming back to life. But worry quickly took over. Jolie's disappearance sat on his chest like a stone. No news only meant the other side was moving very carefully; this was no simple kidnapping. Given Zero's capabilities, if it were human traffickers, the trail would have been clear already. Whoever took Jolie had come prepared, perhaps with him as their target from the start. They might be planning to use her to force his hand. As King of Northville, Elijah Quinny stood out too much; the trouble wasn't going to end anytime soon. As that thought crossed his mind, his phone buzzed. Zero's voice came through, low and to the point. "Northville Marshal, we've got a lead."

Chapter 10: From Now On, We're Friends!

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