Hazel stepped out of the house and slid into the driver's seat. The morning sun reflected off the windshield as she checked the time on her phone.
11:00 A.M.
She let out a slow breath.
"Two hours left until the hearing..."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel.
"And one hour to reach the courthouse. How am I supposed to spend the other two?"
For a moment she stared ahead, lost in thought.
Then she shrugged.
"Hmm... I'll figure it out later."
The engine roared to life, and the car pulled away from the house.
---
At the same time...
Darven's mansion remained wrapped in silence.
Police officers moved through the halls while investigators searched every corner of the crime scene.
The investigator stood beside Jack's body.
A police officer waited nearby while several frightened maids stood in a line against the wall.
The investigator glanced at the corpse before looking at them.
"When did he arrive?"
"About nine o'clock this morning," one maid answered nervously.
The investigator nodded.
"And then you found him dead?"
"Yes."
He looked around the room.
"A man gets stabbed like this and nobody hears a scream? Nobody sees someone entering the house?"
The maids exchanged nervous glances.
Silence.
Then one of them slowly raised her hand.
"There is something..."
The investigator narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me."
"The gardener saw the person's face before he was attacked."
The investigator straightened.
"Bring him here."
The maid hurried away.
A few minutes later, the gardener arrived.
A bandage covered part of his forehead.
The investigator showed him a photograph.
"Did the attacker look like this girl?"
The gardener studied the picture carefully.
His eyes widened.
"Yes! That's her. I'm sure."
The investigator looked at the photo.
Hazel.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're involved in something much bigger than I thought..."
The gardener shivered as the investigator slipped the photo back into his pocket.
The investigator turned toward the police officer.
"Send the body for a complete examination. I want every detail."
The officer nodded.
---
Meanwhile...
Eyrx sat alone in the TV lounge.
A cup of coffee rested in his hands.
His gaze never left the pendant hanging around his hand.
The same pendant connected to Grace.
The same pendant that now carried only memories.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Every time he closed his eyes, Grace appeared.
Her smile.
Her voice.
Her promises.
Now all that remained were memories.
A sharp knock echoed through the house.
The maid opened the door.
Several police officers stood outside.
The lead officer held up a photograph.
"Where is this man?"
The maid immediately recognized Eyrx.
Fear flashed across her face.
"He's... in the TV lounge."
The officers walked past her.
The maid froze.
Then suddenly ran upstairs.
"Grandma! Grandma!"
The old woman looked up from her chair.
"What happened?"
"The police are here. They're asking for Eyrx."
Her face instantly changed.
"That's not good."
The maid helped her stand.
Together they hurried toward the lounge.
By the time they arrived, the officers had already surrounded Eyrx.
Cold metal handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
Grandma's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!"
The officer faced her.
"He stole a motorcycle. The owner filed a report."
"He would never do that!"
Eyrx slowly lowered his head.
Then spoke quietly.
"I stole it."
The room fell silent.
Grandma stared at him.
"What are you saying?"
But the officers were already leading him away.
Eyrx didn't resist.
He didn't fight.
He simply walked forward.
The front door closed behind him.
Grandma stood frozen.
Watching.
Unable to stop it.
---
A few minutes later she rushed into her room and grabbed her phone.
She called Hazel.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Again.
Still nothing.
Hazel's phone was switched off during the hearing.
Grandma clenched the phone tightly.
"I'll go myself."
She hurried toward the stairs.
Her steps were rushed.
Unsteady.
Desperate.
Then—
Her foot slipped.
Time seemed to slow.
The phone flew from her hand.
Her body crashed forward.
Bang.
Her head struck the edge of a drawer.
Everything went silent.
The maids screamed.
They rushed toward her.
Blood slowly spread across the floor.
---
At the courthouse...
The hearing finally began.
Hazel sat among the audience.
Police officers escorted Darven into the courtroom.
Chains rattled softly as he stepped forward.
The judge opened the file.
"The court will now begin."
Another lawyer stood.
"Your Honor, Darven knowingly sent a detective to Siphra despite government restrictions. This was a direct violation of the law."
The judge nodded.
Then turned toward Darven.
"Did you commit this offense?"
The courtroom became silent.
Darven lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
Shock spread through the room.
No excuses.
No lies.
No defense.
He simply admitted everything.
The judge closed the file.
"The punishment for this crime is three years imprisonment. However, because you accepted responsibility, your sentence is reduced."
He paused.
"You are sentenced to one and a half years in prison."
Hazel clenched her jaw.
Her expression darkened.
Then the second lawyer stood.
"Your Honor, Darven is also responsible for Grace's death."
The judge looked up again.
"Is this true?"
"No."
Darven's voice remained calm.
"We signed a contract. I was not responsible if something happened during the mission."
"Then present the contract."
Darven's eyes moved across the courtroom
Searching.
Looking for Jack.
But Jack never arrived.
The investigator's report hadn't reached the court yet.
Because Jack was already dead.
Darven slowly looked back at the judge.
"My lawyer was supposed to bring it."
The judge sighed.
"You currently have no evidence."
He struck the table lightly.
"The court grants you one week to provide proof. Until then, the murder accusation remains unresolved."
The room erupted into whispers.
"The hearing is adjourned."
---
Outside the courthouse...
Police officers escorted Darven away.
Before entering the vehicle, he stopped beside Hazel.
"Where's Jack?"
Hazel met his eyes.
Her voice was cold.
"I don't know."
Darven stared at her for a second.
Then the police pushed him forward.
Hazel turned away.
Without another word.
Without another glance.
She entered her car and drove off.
Her face was calm.
But inside, anger burned.
---
Not far away, a young man lowered his phone.
"Sir. The hearing is over."
On the other end of the line, the investigator listened quietly.
The boy continued.
"Hazel left angry. Darven got one and a half years. He has one week to prove he's innocent in Grace's case."
The investigator looked through the hospital window.
"Understood."
The call ended.
He stared into the distance.
"First Grace..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Then Jack..."
Before he could finish, another phone rang.
He answered immediately.
"Sir, police arrested Eyrx."
The investigator straightened.
"When?"
"About thirty minutes ago."
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting."
The caller waited.
The investigator's red eyes reflected faintly in the glass.
"Can you do one more thing for me?"
"Of course, sir."
The investigator gave his instructions.
Then ended the call.
For a few seconds he stood there in silence.
Watching the city below.
Watching unseen pieces move across the board.
Then he smiled.
"It feels like the game is finally getting interesting."