69. 'AI Lab.'

Aiden sighed defeatedly before resigning to his fate. Going back inside the guest room where he had spent the night, he briefly cleaned up the place wrote a note to Sophia in case she ever came to check and left the suite with his stuff. He didn't even bother taking a shower.

So with his wrinkled dress shirt and slacks he left the hotel under the watchful eyes of a few morning workers. Though they all recognized him and were shocked by his messy appearance, they all knew to keep theirs eyes and mouth shut about the matter.

Literally.

If they spread a word about what they saw that morning, their entire career would be over! Now they wouldn't want to do that to themselves would they? Unless of course they ate bird brain for all their meals their entire life.

Even the few early rising guests had to follow the same silence protocol. There was no leeway for this. Aiden was a cold-hearted CEO and he meant what he said. For now they didn't need to be told to not spread anything as it's a law of the jungle and they need to survive. The people that came to this was all rich people so they all heard his name from one place or another. They would really need to think a million times before deciding to leak any gossip behind his back.

No matter what, Aiden was unbothered by their curious gazes and he went straight for his car at the parking lot. Going inside he picked up the speed and made his way towards his office at barely six in the morning.

Of course, this didn't exclude his secretary who would have to also show up ASAP and take care of his unnaturally moody boss who decided to show up at work so god d*mn early in the morning.

On the other side, Sophia was currently inside a taxi forcing herself to stay quiet and still as possible as the drive drove her towards Sugar Honies at the highest speed possible. If it were up to her she would've just made her way there with her motorbike but that was very dangerous. Extremely dangerous.

For both her and any innocent person who might end up injured or worse if she were to accidentally lose control. Sophia really couldn't bear to have a burden on her shoulders.

With the unknown affecting her she really didn't have the guts to take a motorbike around the city. Not when innocent lives were at stake. There was also Luna.

If in any case, Sophia passed away from an unfortunate accident, 'Luna' would also lose her life. There would be no other soul coming over to continue this life on behalf of Luna.

Luna was supposed to die that night but she was given a second chance. Well, her body at least. If Sophia died away without ever officially claiming the body as hers than that was the same as cutting off any future for 'Luna'.

That was a really heavy burden.

A burden she wasn't ready to bear. Perhaps she would never be ready to bear it.

Hng...

"Miss, are you alright?" The old man in his late forties was driving. Hearing her light groan he looked back through the mirror only to see eyes bloodshot and her face dripping sweat like water...

It was really worrying.

Sophia merely cast a glance at the driver and replied back languidly. "I'm fine. Step on it."

The driver cast her a few more curious glances before heading to her words and increasing the speed. Thus the entire trip to Sugar Honies was shortened by another five minutes.

When the car pulled up at the back door of Sugar Honies that looked more like the entrance to the parking lot of a big residential building Sophia got off. She merely closed the door and leaned towards the door.

The driver looked back and was worried for her and also for his pay so he lowered the glass of the passenger side window and yelled out, "Miss, you didn't pay yet!"

Sophia didn't look at the driver as her gaze was directed at the parking lot where the elevator was. When she saw a man rushing out right after the doors slid open, she casually responded back to the driver. "I know. He's going to pay for me." Her chin pointed towards KL who was now only a few feet away from her.

The driver cast a curious glance at KL then back to Sophia who looked young. His couldn't believe that young girls nowadays would do anything for money...

Going to another's house first thing in the morning to do the dirty and get a few bucks...

tsk tsk tsk.

KL saw through the man's thoughts but he had no intention to stop him. Pulling out a $100 bill from his wallet and gave it to the driver. "Keep the change."

Turning his body to Sophia his gaze was one of deep worry and pain. Not daring to prolong her pain, he quickly adjusted her shoulders so that she was leaning on him with a hand around his neck.

He started walking a few steps only to see Sophia almost collapsing to the ground with every step she took. He held back his words but every few seconds he would look over at Sophia's face as though seeking some sort of signal.

He was about to resign to fate when he heard her words ring right beside his ears.

"Just do it, KL. Hurry up."

Gaining her permission, KL didn't bother with any form of hesitation because he knew her words were always on point. He never saw her back away from her words so without wasting a second he bent down and placed a hand right above Sophia's knees and gently lifted her up on his arms. Making sure that she was steady and comfortable he briskly walked over to the elevator with her in his arms. The gentleness towards her was not to be doubted despite the sheer urgency in his actions.

Going to the elevator, KL thought to ask her, "Where to?"

There was two places she could be in, with her current situation. The medical lab or ... the torture lab.

Sophia didn't need to think about it. Afterall, with what Sachi and the System was telling her, there was only one place she could go to and that was...

"AI lab."