Chapter 46

She didn’t understand where this sudden surge of emotions was coming from. It felt as though she had just lost something important.

The only explanation was the bracelet.

She wanted it. She wanted it badly.

They hadn’t walked far before Alice abruptly stopped, grabbed Kelly’s arm, and turned back. No matter how Kelly tried to persuade her this time, Alice didn’t slow down. Kelly had no choice but to follow.

They quickly returned to the African vendor’s stall.

"Hey, ma’am—you’re back," the vendor greeted her casually.

"That item—did you sell it?" Alice asked urgently.

He blinked, then nodded. "Yes."

Alice stiffened. Her voice turned sharp. "Why didn’t you wait for me?!"

Now it was the vendor’s turn to look confused. "Ma’am... I sell goods to those who can pay for them. You couldn’t."

And wasn’t she the one who said she didn’t want it? What was this about now? Was she unwell?

"Where did they go?" Alice demanded.

The vendor pointed in front of him. Without another word, Alice grabbed Kelly and hurried off.

Kelly was completely baffled. "Alice, what’s gotten into you? Is that thing really worth all this trouble?"

"You don’t understand," Alice said breathlessly. "I just... feel like it’s important to me."

She scanned the crowd anxiously, searching for Suzy and Thomas.

Sometimes you only realize how much you want something after you’ve stepped away from it. And now she had.

Too bad the bracelet was already gone.

Kelly sighed, but helped her look anyway. They circled half of Chinatown, weaving through stalls and tourists.

Nothing.

"Forget it," Kelly finally said. "Maybe they’ve already left."

Alice nodded reluctantly. But that gnawing sense of loss didn’t fade. It made her chest feel hollow.

"Let’s go," she muttered.

They turned to leave Chinatown. And by coincidence, they spotted Suzy and Thomas ahead.

Alice’s eyes lit up. She hurried forward and blocked Suzy’s path.

"Hey!" The sudden appearance startled Suzy. She instinctively stepped back, forgetting Thomas stood right behind her.

She collided straight into his chest.

The back of her head bumped into something firm yet slightly elastic—she couldn’t quite tell what.

In the next instant, two broad hands settled on her narrow shoulders, steadying her.

"Careful." His low voice brushed past her ear. A faint shiver ran across her scalp.

Startled, she quickly stepped out of his arms.

"Thank you," she muttered.

Once she regained her footing, she looked up at Alice and recognized her immediately.

"Yes?" Suzy’s tone was calm but distant.

"The bracelet—you bought it, right? Name your price. Sell it to me."

Alice still carried that same air of condescension. Suzy rolled her eyes.

"I’m not selling it."

Alice’s composure cracked instantly. Without thinking, she reached out as if to grab Suzy.

"I told you! Just name your price!"

Suzy arched a brow. "Fine then. One million."

Alice’s face turned red. "Are you out of your mind?!"

Suzy smirked. "Didn’t you say I could name any price?"

Alice grunted. "You can’t ask for that much! Fine—I’ll give you five hundred dollars. Deal?"

Suzy’s expression didn’t change. "No deal."

"You—how can you be like this?!"

"I said, I’m not selling it." Suzy had no idea why this woman had suddenly become so obsessed with the bracelet.

But such a valuable item? There was no way she would hand it over, especially not to someone with that attitude.

She turned and began walking away.

Alice refused to give up and reached out again, trying to grab her arm when suddenly, a tall figure stepped between them.

"Let go." The man’s voice was low and cold, edged with quiet authority.

Alice’s heart jolted. Almost instinctively, she released Suzy’s arm.

"S-Sorry..."

Faced with Thomas’s imposing frame, she faltered. He looked like he could crush her skull with one punch.

Thomas cast her a calm, warning glance, then positioned himself slightly in front of Suzy as he guided her away.

Alice didn’t dare follow.

Fear, regret, frustration—all tangled inside her chest. The sense of loss only deepened. It felt as if she had just thrown away something priceless. As if she had truly lost a million dollars.

Kelly approached cautiously. "Alice... are you okay?"

Alice suddenly whipped her head around and glared at her. "This is all your fault!"

Kelly froze. "What are you talking about?"

Alice shoved her hard. "If you hadn’t kept saying nonsense, I would’ve bought the bracelet!"

Kelly stared at her, stunned. For the first time, she felt her friend had become crazy.

She said nothing more and turned away.

***

After leaving Chinatown, Thomas drove toward the city center at Suzy’s request.

She was flying back the next day and wanted to pick up a few souvenirs before leaving.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she gazed out the window as the city rolled by in streaks of glass and sunlight.

Then something occurred to her.

She turned her head and looked at Thomas. He was focused on driving, posture straight, movements steady.

From this angle, he seemed even more striking.

His jawline was sharp and clean. His Adam’s apple rose distinctly along his throat—an unexpectedly sensual curve.

The muscles in his forearms flexed against the steering wheel, stretching the fabric of his short sleeves. Strength radiated from him effortlessly.

Suzy had never encountered this type of man before.

She found herself mesmerized. No wonder he was rated SSS-level. He was absolutely lethal.

"...What is it?" Thomas sensed her unwavering gaze and spoke without looking at her.

Suzy snapped back to her senses, slightly embarrassed, offering an awkward smile.

"I’m flying back tomorrow," she said.

"Mm. I’ll take you to the airport on time."

Her lips twitched. That wasn’t what she meant.

"I mean... let’s have dinner together tonight," she said directly.

Thomas’s fingers tightened subtly on the steering wheel. His sharply defined lips pressed together. He didn’t answer immediately.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Suzy’s pale lips parted as she prepared to smooth things over, but suddenly, she felt it.

A strange, familiar surge within her.

She stilled. Her pupils flared with light.

The space—it felt like it was upgrading.

No.

Not "felt like."

It was actually upgrading.

The sensation was identical to the previous evolutions—an invisible force expanding, rearranging, strengthening.

Was it because she had absorbed the sandalwood bracelet?

Two hundred dollars. It was worth every cent.

Suzy nearly wanted to cry from happiness.

Just as she was immersed in the joy of her space leveling up, Thomas finally responded to her invitation.

"Alright."

She turned toward him instinctively, unable to suppress the radiant smile spreading across her face.

Thomas glanced at her briefly.

Her expression—bright, unguarded, almost dazzling—was reflected in his dark eyes.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened again.

He looked forward, deliberately refocusing on the road.

But her smile lingered in his thoughts. Her eyes were luminous.

Her lips were pale, yet when she smiled, the small dimple at the corner of her mouth appeared—sweet enough to disarm even someone like him.

...Was she really this happy just because she could have dinner with him?