Chloe Sinclair gave an honest nod.

She asked tentatively, "This counts as self-defense, right?"

The corner of the officer’s mouth twitched. He replied in a very official tone, "That will depend on our follow-up investigation and the statements from the other parties."

Chloe Sinclair nodded in understanding, then asked as if it were an afterthought, "But what if they were the ones who threatened my life first?"

The officer was momentarily at a loss for words, suddenly realizing the implications.

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Chloe Sinclair’s smile vanished. Her expression turned serious. "They came for revenge."

「Half an hour later, at the City Police Headquarters.」

Chloe Sinclair sat in a chair and recounted the entire incident in detail.

"The first thing I noticed was that the vase by the lab entrance had been moved. When I went inside, I stumbled upon the assailant who’d been hiding."

"I have many enemies, but as for those who want me dead, there haven’t been any until now. So I had a pretty good idea of who these people were."

"Yes, I’m the one who put Donovan Holt away a month ago. He has accomplices."

At this, the officer looked up. "We’ve checked their identification. It’s all clean, with no signs of forgery."

Chloe Sinclair wasn’t surprised by this in the slightest.

"That’s precisely why I made a recording. On it, the men personally admit to using fake identities. They also confessed to their involvement in those seventy-plus cases and the deaths of twenty-four people."

With that, Chloe Sinclair took a USB drive from her pocket and placed it on the table.

The officers exchanged a look. One of them immediately produced an evidence bag and placed the USB drive inside.

After more than an hour of questioning, Chloe Sinclair was finally able to leave the police station.

As she came down the steps, she saw Jasper Shaw climbing out of a Bentley, looking as though he had rushed over.

Chloe Sinclair stopped in her tracks, looking at Jasper Shaw in surprise.

Jasper Shaw wore an anxious expression and had already taken several steps before he spotted Chloe.

"Are you hurt?"

The first words out of his mouth as he hurried over were about her well-being.

He looked her up and down. When he saw that she was completely unscathed, the heavy weight in his chest lifted instantly.

He looked at the young woman before him, silent for a moment before asking, "Are you hungry?"

Chloe Sinclair nodded instinctively.

It was almost dawn, but the downtown skyscrapers were still ablaze with lights, and the roads teemed with an endless stream of traffic.

Jasper Shaw had Ian Winters book a table at a restaurant, so the food was ready for them by the time they arrived.

Chloe had expended a great deal of energy that day. She was still eating long after Jasper Shaw had put down his utensils.

But even though Jasper had stopped eating, he continued to place more food on Chloe’s plate.

When Chloe had eaten her fill, Jasper Shaw personally drove her back to her apartment.

When they reached her door, they happened upon Shawn Styles pacing back and forth in the hallway.

Shawn Styles looked up at the sound, just in time to see Chloe and Jasper Shaw standing together.

"You’re back."

"Yeah." Chloe nodded and made the introduction. "This is Jasper Shaw."

Shawn Styles froze, his gaze fixed intently on Jasper Shaw before he nodded.

"I know who he is."

He extended a hand, and the two men shook.

After a subtle contest of strength, Jasper Shaw abruptly released his hand.

A flicker of confusion crossed Shawn Styles’s eyes. Hiding his trembling hand behind his back, he asked, "You must be Chloe’s boss, Mr. Shaw?"

Jasper Shaw’s eyes darkened, and his gaze flickered before he replied in a low voice, "I’m not."

Then Jasper Shaw asked, his voice low, "And you, Mr. Styles? What brings you here?"