Capítulo 25: Chapter 25 Life is Like a Play, It All Depends on Acting_1

"A pocket watch?"

Bruce was momentarily stunned before the image of the golden pocket watch with the engraving of a siren that he had clutched in his hand that day came to mind.

"You, you couldn't be..." he swallowed, his throat dry from nervousness, "hired by Mr. Jaron?"

"Right now, I'm the one asking the questions. One more word out of place, and you'll need to be cautious about your eyes," Avansa continued to threaten.

"But I've already sold that watch!" Bruce's voice became shrill with fear, "Didn't I tell him already? Why is he still after me for it!?"

His mind was in chaos; in his view, Jaron was the only person who would come to him demanding that watch—in fact, after Veronica was arrested, Jaron did indeed find him and offered to buy back that watch.

But in truth, he had sold the watch the day after it came into his possession. In doing so, he hadn't given much thought; he did not have the audacity to blackmail Jaron with the golden watch and was also worried about Jaron having second thoughts, so he promptly exchanged the watch for cash in hand.

When Jaron found out about this, he was quite furious, but he didn't do anything to Bruce. So why had suddenly a hitman been hired to come after him?

He quickly remembered the warden who had visited him that day, and afterward, Jaron had made a point of meeting with him to warn him that someone might be conducting an investigation to overturn the case, telling him to keep his mouth shut.

Could it be... because of this?

Because an investigation had started, Jaron was worried that he would spill the beans, so he decided to settle it once and for all...

"Since you can't produce what I want..." the hitman said coldly, "I'll have to settle for your life as compensation."

"Wait just a moment! Let me see your employer! Let me talk to him! I swear I won't breathe a word of his business! Please don't kill me!" Bruce begged incoherently.

"The job I got is only to seal lips; the mouths of the dead are always the most secure," the hitman's voice grew darker.

Gripped by despair, Bruce foresaw the blood that would soon spurt from his own throat: "Stop, stop—"

"Hold it!" A deep male voice from behind interrupted the hitman's movement, "If you harm him, I will shoot immediately."

In that moment, the main actor arrived.

"Help, save me!" Bruce instinctively cried for help to the mysterious person.

Avansa put away the sharp blade and, with her free hand, grabbed Bruce and turned to face the mysterious person.

Forced to turn around, Bruce blinked away the tears of fear from his eyes and finally saw his rescuer: "You are... Mr. Aiden?"

"The thing I was most worried about still happened," Aiden said solemnly with a sigh, aiming his gun at the hitman behind him, "Let go of the hostage. You'll be surrounded soon enough. Surrender now!"

The hitman didn't speak, but with his free hand he grabbed Bruce by the collar with a strength beyond Bruce's imagination and lifted him up single-handedly as a shield.

With his collar choking his neck, Bruce momentarily struggled to breathe and could only kick desperately in a struggle.

"Don't do anything rash!" Aiden barked, "I told you to release the hostage. If you kill him, you'll be shot dead immediately!"

The hitman paused for a moment, moving the blade away from Bruce's neck and raising it high.

"That's more like it," Aiden feigned a sigh of relief.

The assassin seized his moment of vulnerability, suddenly exerting force and hurling Bruce straight at Aiden.

Caught off guard, Aiden stood frozen on the spot and got hit by a full charge from Bruce.

Both of them fell to the ground, and by the time Aiden pushed Bruce off and stood up with his gun, the assassin had already run out of sight.

"Damn it, he got away!" Aiden said, feigning a tooth-grinding anger.

Bruce sat on the ground, his legs weak, his face a picture of horror.

"Are you all right? It's really too bad we didn't catch that guy." Aiden put away his gun and reached out to help him up.

Bruce finally came to his senses, and as he looked to where the assassin had vanished, a shiver went through him—his life was targeted, and the assassin was still lurking in the shadows.

"Why didn't you catch him!" He got up from the ground and glared at Aiden, his voice trembling with emotion, "If you let him escape, I'll be killed!"

Aiden was taken aback for a moment, and then he laughed at the young man's demeanor, "That's your attitude toward your savior? Well, I suppose it's understandable, given that you even betrayed Officer Veronica Wolfie who has always taken care of you."

"What are you talking about!?" Bruce was thunderstruck.

"It's time to lay it out straight, kid. Aren't you curious why I was here?" Aiden revealed a meaningful smile.

"Why?" Bruce impulsively followed Aiden's lead and asked.

"Because I've been watching you." Aiden planted his cane firmly on the ground and spoke in an official tone, "Officer Bruce Cain, we suspect that you have accepted a bribe in the murder case of Officer Veronica Wolfe, made false testimony, and concealed evidence, and you are now a suspect."

"I... I didn't!" Bruce's front crumbled as he desperately shook his head.

From almost being assassinated to facing Aiden's direct accusation, he had no time to think calmly.

Aiden, however, didn't intend to give him a chance to catch his breath and played his ace: "Don't rush to deny it, let's first talk about that gold pocket watch Officer Jaron Lorton gave you, shall we?"

Bruce turned to stone right then and there.

"Now you should realize the extent of what we've uncovered." Aiden said, staring at Bruce, "I'll be straight with you, I am currently assisting in Officer Veronica Wolfie's appeal investigation, and her appeal has been approved by the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office has uncovered many key clues, and the investigation has led to you, which is why I've been following you."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Bruce attempted to argue, but he was sweating profusely.

"Could it be that someone told you if you kept silent, there would absolutely be no problems? Do you still trust that person?" Aiden pressed on calmly, "You can't possibly be clueless about where the assassin just now came from, can you?"

These words sent a chill down Bruce's spine.

After Aiden had questioned him, Jaron had specifically asked him to meet for a talk. Besides, Jaron had also intercepted a meeting requested by Aiden and kept him away from Aiden, who had come to investigate.

Then, he had encountered the assassin... and it was Aiden who saved him.

Had all this been orchestrated by Jaron? Because the prosecutor's office was closing in on them, did that guy rush to shut him up!?

The more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed.

"Mr. Bruce, I am telling you this because I think you were coerced," Aiden solemnly patted Bruce's shoulder and said persuasively, "Work with us and apply for witness protection; that's your only way out. If you remain obstinate, you'll eventually be silenced by someone."

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