Ch. 2361..2370

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2361-"Sorry, I have trouble moving about. Could you help me call an ambulance?"

asked Melody.

The woman was stunned, only coming to her senses after Melody urged.

"Oh, okay, tsk… What bad luck. I just wanted to come out for a nice meal, but no… I have to deal with this."

After calling the ambulance, she quickly left the scene of trouble.

The restaurant manager heard the commotion and hurried in after confirming that no other customers were inside.

"What's going on? They've been gone for so long. Why haven't they returned?"

Sherman was getting worried.

Melody and Thalia were not on the best of terms, and Sherman could naturally feel the hostility between them. He was actually surprised when Thalia asked Melody to accompany her to the restroom.

"It seems like something happened in the bathroom. I'll go check it out,"

Sherman said.

Seeing several people running in that direction, Lucas could no longer stay seated. He followed after Sherman. "I'll come too."

"Miss Thalia, can you hear us? If you can hear us, please blink." The restaurant manager half-knelt beside Thalia's head, continuously calling her name. They were not sure where Thalia had hit her head and did not dare to move her.

Melody was also panicking. She had just wanted to shake off Thalia's hand; the way she pulled away should not have caused Thalia to fall to the ground like that.

'Would Thalia really stoop so low as to make herself fall just to frame me?' wondered Melody.

Melody had no idea of the audacity of some people.

Lucas pushed through the crowd and rushed in. He had initially thought Melody might have fallen again, but he was surprised to see Thalia lying there, seemingly unconscious. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Lucas, listen to me. I had a disagreement with Thalia just now, and somehow, she fell to the ground. I really didn't mean to…"

Lucas did not pay attention to what Melody was saying at all. He looked at Thalia, who was not responding, and suddenly thought of Thalia's sister, Claudia Garcia.

Back when Lucas had just started high school, there had been an incident where a group of outlaws kidnapped him and Claudia. Lucas never imagined that a slight delay from the driver that day would lead to such a catastrophe, leaving Claudia and him imprisoned together in that dim room.

At first, Lucas remained remarkably calm. He had been trained in taekwondo and martial arts, so he was confident in his ability to defend himself.

It was just that Claudia was there with him as well, so he had to proceed with caution. However, the brutality of the kidnappers far exceeded his imagination.

Initially, both he and Claudia were bound, blindfolded, and even had their mouths taped shut. Lucas was somewhat scared but managed to stay calm, unlike Claudia, who kept trembling beside him.

There was little Lucas could do; he could not even comfort her. He gently nudged her with his arm to let her know he was there for her.

They sat in the back of a truck, feeling the bumpiness of the road beneath them.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2362-It was unclear how much time had passed before they arrived at their destination. Both Lucas and Claudia were thrown into a room together. After the kidnappers brought them to their destination, it seemed as if they had been forgotten, just locked away.

Lucas was never one to sit idly by. Once he sensed that there was no immediate danger, he began to move cautiously, but the ropes binding his hands and feet were tight. The more he struggled, the more he felt the roughness of the ropes, yet he could not loosen them.

Meanwhile, Claudia was overwhelmed by fear and began to sob softly.

"Don't be afraid…" Lucas struggled to utter, unsure if Claudia could hear him clearly.

However, upon hearing Lucas's voice, her crying softened a bit.

Squeak!

Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, Lucas immediately stopped moving and turned his head toward the source of light.

"Boss, let them make a phone call. They come from wealthy families. Tell them to prepare 15 million dollars. Then we can live without working for the rest of our lives!" one of the kidnappers said. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The other two chuckled, imagining a future where they would not have to worry about anything after completing this job.

"Don't worry. Now that we have them, they'll give us whatever we ask for. And if they dare to call the police, we'll just kill them. Worst-case scenario, we'll just rot in prison for the rest of our lives. Let's just see who has more to lose!"

Lucas's heart skipped a beat. These people were outlaws, willing to risk everything for money. Claudia trembled uncontrollably, and even Lucas could hear the sound of her teeth chattering. The kidnappers noticed her condition too.

"I thought we were just going to kidnap the boy. What's the deal with the girl?"

one of them asked.

The leader lit a cigarette. "Who knows? Anyway, I decided to bring them both in since the girl was with him. If they can pay up, we'll release her too. If not, we'll deal with her right here."

Their disregard for human life in their words and actions alarmed Lucas even more. He worried about what they might do to Claudia if they realized she had no significant connection to their families. Before long, they came over and tore the tape from Lucas and Claudia's mouths with such force that it tore Claudia's mouth open at the corners. They did not care about their well-being at all. Then they removed their blindfolds, and Lucas opened his eyes.

Contrary to his expectations, the kidnappers were not burly or towering. Instead, some of them appeared quite thin and frail, but they all wore vicious expressions on their faces.

"Boy, now that you're in our hands, you better behave. As long as you do as we say, we promise not to harm you. But if you don't comply… well, who knows?"

The leader picked up his phone and sarcastically tapped Lucas's cheek.

Lucas remained silent, calmly entering a familiar phone number.

"Hello"

"Hello? Who is this? Why aren't you speaking? Did you kidnap my grandson?"

came the voice of an elderly woman from the other end.

Lucas did not utter a word, and the leader immediately shot him an approving look for being so cooperative.

He waited until the old lady's voice grew hoarse from shouting before finally speaking in a measured tone, "That's right, Missus Rivera."

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2363-"I have indeed kidnapped your grandson. How about it? You should know why I am calling you, right?"

Beatrice had cried herself hoarse, so Cedric took over the phone.

"Name the price! We'll pay you whatever you want! Just return the grandson safely!" said Cedric.

"Huh! Spoken like a true wealthy man! Rest assured, we don't like killing either.

As long as you meet our demands, we'll gladly return your grandson. But there's one thing: we don't like dealing with the authorities. So don't blame us for doing something extreme if you call the cops!" threatened the leader viciously.

"Alright, I'll do whatever you say. Just tell me your demands," replied Cedric.

The leader grinned menacingly, blowing smoke from his cigarette into Lucas' face, causing him to cough. Cedric heard it and panicked.

"Lucas! Lucas, are you okay?"

Lucas tried to steady his voice as he said, "Grandpa, I'm fine. Don't worry. Both you and grandma shouldn't worry."

"Haha, what a good grandson you are, still comforting your grandpa in such a situation. No wonder your grandparents dote on you. Since they care about you so much, they probably wouldn't mind paying 15 million dollars to buy your life, right?"

"You want 15 million dollars?" asked Cedric.

Of course, their family net worth exceeded that amount, but how would these kidnappers take away such a sum?

"Prepare 250,000 dollars in cash for me, and the rest can be wired to an account. I have my ways. You don't need to worry about it," the leader replied before preparing to hang up. However, Cedric stopped him.

"I do have that much money, but you need to give me some time to get it. Most of my assets are not liquid."

The leader did not quite understand, only insisting that the money be ready by the following morning.

"Feel free to delay if you don't mind about your grandson losing a hand or two.

After all, we're desperate criminals. If you have the money, we'll spare your grandson's life. If not, you can prepare for the worst," he said. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

After hanging up without any mercy, the leader met Lucas' gaze with a hint of amusement. He found it intriguing. Despite being bound, Lucas had not shown any signs of fear. He truly lived up to the next head of the Rivera family.

"Aren't you afraid, kid?" he asked.

Lucas replied confidently, "You said you wouldn't take my life as long as my grandfather prepares the money. As long as he does, I'll be fine. Why should I be afraid? Are you going to break your promise?" The leader burst into laughter.

"This kid actually trusts us. Oh well, I shouldn't be surprised at how naive he is!

He does come from a wealthy family after all."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "If I were you, I'd choose money over killing. Fifteen million dollars would set you up for life, but if you kill us, things might not go as smoothly for you. While I'm young and my grandpa hasn't handed over the reins of the family to me, I do have a card….."

The kidnappers hesitated.

"Boss, could this kid be bluffing?" one of them questioned.

Lucas remained calm despite the doubt. "If you don't believe me, feel free to check the balance in the account. I may be in a vulnerable position now, but I have no reason to deceive you."

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2364-Lucas's calm demeanor truly bewildered several of the kidnappers. After all, Lucas and Claudia's lives were in their hands, so they had no reason to fear him.

The leader, the one they all referred to as Boss, had a particularly terrifying scar running across his face, almost splitting it in half. He held a sharp knife in his hand and tapped it against Lucas's face provocatively.

"I doubt you'd dare to play any tricks on us. Where's the card? Which pocket?

Maybe we'll consider loosening your restraints once we get the money."

Claudia trembled on the side, feeling the kidnappers getting closer and closer.

She wanted to move closer to Lucas for safety, but her efforts were in vain.

While Lucas had his blindfold removed, Claudia was still considered insignificant by the kidnappers. They paid her no attention, let alone loosen her restraints or remove her blindfold.

Claudia's fidgeting irritated the leader. He slapped her hard, sending her crashing to the ground.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, you little wench? I'll teach you to move around! You better watch yourself, or I'll drag you out and shoot you! I'm sick of these damn crybabies. Have we done anything to you yet? Do you think we're playing house here?" he raged.

At that moment, a skinny and eager-looking man sidled over. "Boss, if you don't want to see this chick, can we take her out?"

Lucas could not believe they entertained such despicable thoughts. He started panicking. "I can give you the money. My grandpa can prepare a lot of money, but all of this has to be under the condition that our safety is guaranteed. You can't touch the girl either!"

Claudia, knocked down by the man, dared not make a sound. She only whimpered softly, afraid that if she made a sound, the kidnappers might get angry and really take her away.

The other kidnappers became somewhat displeased at Lucas. "Hey, who do you think you are? You're not the high and mighty young master of the Rivera family right now. You're our hostage. It's easier for us to squash you like an ant than to squash an ant itself! How dare you order us around? You should know your place!"

However, despite their words, they did not dare lay a hand on Claudia. They kept up their facade, deferring to the leader's authority. It was evident to Lucas that this leader held the most sway among them. The leader did not seem angry; instead, he chuckled softly. "Young people are dating younger and younger these days. You rich kids are no different from us. Tell me, have you two ever done it?" The leader approached Lucas, even draping his arm over his shoulder, filling Lucas with a sense of malice. He felt like he might vomit from the man's foul odor, but he remained outwardly calm. "We don't have any relationships between us," Lucas said evenly.

The leader seemed intrigued, even ignoring his lackeys' urging to inquire about how to deal with the girl.

"Don't let this kid fool you, boss. This girl is useless. We might as well have some fun with her," the lackey persisted.

Lucas's heart raced; he could not rescue Claudia with his hands and feet bound.

He could not bear to see her defiled by these criminals. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The repeated urging from the other kidnapper finally wore on the leader's patience. He turned to the man and shot him a sharp look.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2365-"Can't you control yourself? We already gave you money before. Can't you go find some other woman to satisfy your urges? We're in the middle of serious business here, and all you can talk about is women. Are you not right in the head? If you really can't control yourself, I'll help you out. How about that?"

The skinny man forced a grin and remained silent, even taking a few steps back. The leader's mention of helping out was accompanied by a pointed stare at the man's lower body. He even held that sharp little knife a little tighter. He might not have much of a future to look forward to if he were to mention having some fun with Claudia again.

"I was just kidding with you. You go on with your business. The other guys and I'll go guard the door," the skinny man interjected before making a hasty exit.

Only when the sound of hurried footsteps faded away did Claudia feel some relief. She could not speak anymore. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. It was as if a floodgate had opened inside her, causing her to tremble and cry uncontrollably.

"Tell me, how did you develop feelings for this girl? Or wait, are you just pulling my leg? Come on, spill it. How did you two hit it off?" The leader seemed oddly enamored with the idea of love.

"I don't know what her feelings are for me, but both of us must come out of this unharmed. I'll do whatever it takes to fulfill your demands," Lucas said calmly, locking eyes with the leader. Suddenly, the leader felt a chill running down his spine.

'How can a boy as young as him have a resolve that even some grown men don't have?' he thought.

Even though the leader was a ruthless criminal, he could not help but feel a hint of fear when faced with Lucas.

"You rich folks always know how to sweet talk. How do I know I can trust you?

First, tell me where the card is. Once we get the money, we'll know how to proceed," the leader responded skeptically.

"When you guys brought me here, I had a backpack on me with at least three cards inside. Each card has a balance ranging from 40 to 70 thousand dollars,"

Lucas replied calmly.

The leader took a sharp breath, utterly surprised. He had not expected that while they were busy trying to extract money from the Rivera family patriarch, they had a walking ATM right in front of them. Did rich kids like him really carry around so much cash? S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"You're not lying to me, are you?" the leader asked incredulously, pointing his knife at Lucas, hoping to see a hint of guilt on his face.

However, Lucas just smiled faintly.

"These are all earnings from my investments. If you don't believe me, you can check it out. Besides, I can't escape, and you can't just leave me. What are you afraid of?" Lucas responded calmly.

"Who said I'm afraid? Don't get too cocky, kid. I have my limits too! Push me too far, and you'll see!" the leader growled, his anger flaring up.

He slapped Lucas across the face with his knife and then backhanded him, repeatedly striking until Lucas grunted and fell to the ground. Only then did the leader feel some relief from his pent-up frustration. "Don't try anything funny, kid!

Your life is in our hands now. I'm warning you, don't speak out of turn again. I'm not afraid of you!" the leader warned, his voice filled with menace.

Lucas remained silent, not uttering a word.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2366-Lucas was keenly aware that the louder someone spoke, the more likely they were hiding something. These kidnappers were all desperados, and while Lucas was at a disadvantage, there were certain weaknesses to exploit.

In particular, the leader seemed to have a nostalgic attachment to his past as a youth, which might provide a window of opportunity for Lucas. Moreover, the fact that the others seemed to fear this leader suggested he was likely the mastermind behind their operations, perhaps even having blood on his hands.

However, these were just Lucas's speculations. He did not want to engage them directly if he could avoid it. There was no guarantee they would honor their agreement once they got the money.

Lucas furrowed his brow slightly, the slap on his face seemingly inconsequential compared to the gravity of the situation at hand. His concern was what would happen next, especially with Claudia by his side. From the moment they were kidnapped, he never entertained the thought of escaping alone. He could only hope that his grandfather would not truly listen to these kidnappers because relying on the police force was absolutely necessary.

When the leader went out to search through his backpack, Lucas sat back up straight.

"Claudia, are you okay?"

Upon hearing Lucas' voice, Claudia could not hold back her sobs any longer.

While the leader of the kidnappers was present, she had been suppressing her cries, afraid that any loud noise would lead to her being dragged out.

"I'm sorry for involving you in this. I didn't expect they'd kidnap you too." Lucas genuinely felt sorry. "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I'll protect you."

Claudia sniffled. "I'm okay for now. It's just that I'm starting to get numb all over from lying on the ground. We don't have any grudges with the kidnappers, so why did they kidnap us? Is it really just for money?" Lucas could tell she was very afraid when she replied to him in a relatively calm voice and did not blame him for involving her. This made him even angrier at the kidnappers. At the same time, he was grateful that Claudia's inherent kindness prevented her from blaming him. After all, nobody would be happy to be dragged into such a situation. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"They're just after money. I hope they'll let us go after they get it," Lucas replied, his tone devoid of much hope.

Hearing Lucas's pessimistic tone, Claudia felt even more despair.

"You're right. These ruthless people would not let us go after taking the money.

But there's no way to escape with our hands and feet all tied up. I want to go home too! I wish I hadn't argued with my sister last night…"

Claudia broke down in tears again, her words filling Lucas with a sense of helplessness. He wanted to reassure her, to tell her not to be afraid and not to worry, but he knew it was difficult to remain calm in this situation. Speaking more would be futile; after all, his own hands and feet were bound, rendering him powerless.

'Maybe it would be better for her to let out her emotions now, especially since those kidnappers aren't around. Let her cry if she needs to,' thought Lucas.

Outside, the kidnappers were roughly tearing apart Lucas' backpack. His student ID and several other cards fell out.

"Boss, look at this kid, he's pretty handsome. Even his ID photo looks like a movie star."

The skinny guy who had offended the boss earlier grinned as he held up the cards for the leader to see.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2367- will we update soon...

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2368-Not to mention trying to figure out where exactly the car had taken them.

"My dad must be so worried right now. Normally, the driver would have taken me home by now, but it's been so long, and I'm still not back… I wonder if my little sister is worried too…"

The thought that she might never see them again overwhelmed Claudia, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Don't cry. Have you noticed how much this place looks like the mountain we used to climb when we were kids? Let's stay calm and think of it as an outing.

Trust me, we'll make it back home!" comforted Lucas Being thrown into this

dusty old house was quite the departure from their usual activities. After all, as wealthy individuals, they usually avoided getting their feet dirty.

Lucas's voice was incredibly calm, which helped Claudia regain some composure as well.

"Will we really be okay?"

"Yup! You just gotta trust me!"

Claudia believed in Lucas without a doubt. He would do whatever he said he would do. In fact, she had developed feelings for him long ago. His strength and calmness always made her feel safe whenever he was around. Not to mention, he was so good-looking.

"Let me think about how we can escape."

Claudia's heart immediately jumped to her throat. "Didn't they say that as long as your grandpa and my dad pay us, everything will be fine? Why do we need to escape? Please don't do this. What if we provoke them and end up losing our lives here?"

Lucas could understand Claudia's fears. He had also considered waiting here for their family to rescue them. However, after their conversation, he realized that the kidnappers lacked ethics, and the location they had been taken to was extremely remote.

"If we just wait here, there's a good chance that once they get the money, they'll…"

"They'll kill us? No way…"

Claudia's voice rose sharply, filled with terror.

"Is that so? My, my, aren't you two thirsty after talking for so long?"

Claudia never expected the kidnappers to suddenly kick the door open. The voice was unmistakably that of the leader, and she immediately fell silent.

Lucas did not rush to reply. He was pondering what the leader had overheard. If it was from the part about escaping, the leader would not have casually kicked the door open like he did.

"Why so quiet? Weren't we having a lively chat earlier? Oh well, maybe I'm just too out of touch with you youngsters. Is that why you two don't seem too eager to talk to me?"

The leader chuckled as he approached, casually asking his lackey beside him, "Tell me the truth, do I really look that old?" sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

His lackey naturally denied it, saying, "Boss, you're not old at all. What you have is a dominating aura! Your mature and steady demeanor is what makes people trust you!"

The leader was not really seeking validation from his underling. He grinned while tapping a baseball bat against his palm as he approached Lucas and Claudia.

"Weren't you two just chatting excitedly? Why the silence when I'm here? Are you scared of me?"

He pushed Lucas' face to the side with the baseball bat. Claudia held her breath, unable to see what was happening around her but hearing the unmistakable sound of the baseball bat striking flesh.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2369-"Our lives are in your hands, so why wouldn't we be afraid of you?" Lucas remained calm, without a hint of agitation, which sounded like a challenge to the kidnappers.

"Ha, I underestimated you. Even in this situation, do you still think about trying to escape with your girlfriend? Do you really think we're just ordinary kidnappers?

Let me tell you, each of my men here has blood on their hands… "

Before the leader could finish his sentence, Claudia whimpered, startling Lucas, who glared at her in alarm.

"Tsk tsk tsk, looks like you're not fearless either, huh? You really care about your girlfriend, don't you? But I get it; if I had such a beautiful girlfriend, I wouldn't

want her to fall into the hands of rough guys like us too."

Mentioning Claudia caused Lucas' expression to finally change. "You promised me earlier that you wouldn't harm us. Only when we are both safe can you get the rest of the money."

However, Lucas seemed to suddenly anger the leader, who swung his baseball bat fiercely at Lucas's back.

"Ah!"

Lucas was suddenly knocked down, and before he could react, the blows continued to rain down on his back.

Meanwhile, the other kidnappers took the opportunity to remove Claudia's blindfold, making her see what Lucas was going through, ensuring she would not dare to escape.

"Stop, stop it! You haven't received the ransom yet. What if he dies?"

Blood trickled from the corners of Lucas' mouth as he struggled to look in Claudia's direction from his position on the ground.

Claudia's eyes were swollen from crying; she was overwhelmed by the terror of it all. She should be at home with her family, so how did things turn out like this?

"No, please, no…"

Claudia sobbed uncontrollably, her breath ragged. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The leader, having had his fill of violence, tossed the bloodied baseball bat aside and squatted in front of Lucas, mercilessly grabbing his hair.

"Huh! You've got some gut to keep provoking me like this! This is just a little lesson for you. If you dare to try running or have any crooked ideas next time, you won't be the one getting beaten. I bet your girlfriend isn't as strong as you. I wonder if she can withstand these beatings. Or how about I hand her over to my men? That way, she won't have to endure any physical pain."

Lucas tried to struggle, but his other hand was pinned down by the leader.

"No… Absolutely not…"

Claudia trembled, too afraid to utter a word, fearing she might actually be dragged out by these kidnappers.

"How can you not keep your word when you've been roaming the street for so long? In fact, you look like a man of principles to me!"

Lucas's remark finally elicited a smirk from the leader.

"You're not as stupid as I thought you were, kid. Here's the deal: until I nod my head, your girlfriend will be safe. But you two better not try to cause trouble for me again, got it? You might withstand the first round of beatings but not the second. Behave yourselves if you don't want to end up crippled!"

After issuing his warning, he threw Lucas to the ground like trash, then left without a backward glance, followed by his lackeys. However, one of them stayed behind to clean up the mess, taking the bloodied baseball bat with him.

Once the door slammed shut, Claudia, with tears streaming down her face, began inching toward Lucas.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 2370-"Lucas, are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?" Claudia had silently resolved in her heart that once they were both safely out of this ordeal, she would be with the boy who had protected her, no matter what. She was determined to stand by him, whatever happened.

"Cough, cough." Lucas spat out a mouthful of blood, still lying face down on the ground. He felt unable to move, with a dull ache in his chest, likely from a broken rib.

"How are you feeling now? Can you move? Do you need any help?" Claudia, seeing Lucas in such a weakened state, felt she had to take charge.

With a pale smile, Lucas replied, "Your hands and feet are tied too. What can you do to help me? Just let me rest quietly for a while."

Even though he did not say it, Claudia could feel that Lucas was not doing well.

His complexion grew paler by the minute, his lips devoid of any color. The beating he had received had been brutal. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I told you we should just wait here for our family to come and rescue us, but you insisted on trying to escape! Now look at what's happened. If we hadn't tried to run, maybe that man wouldn't have gotten so angry…"

Claudia felt a mixture of heartache and regret. She knew Lucas had a strong sense of pride; he did not like being threatened.

'If it weren't for me, perhaps he'd still have a fighting chance. I'm nothing but a burden to him with my hands and feet being tied up…' thought Claudia.

"Just you wait," Lucas said weakly before closing his eyes. His breathing was labored, a sound that filled Claudia with even more fear.

"Lucas? Lucas?!"

Claudia occasionally called out to him, afraid that if Lucas fell asleep, he might not wake up again.

Lucas could not quite recall what happened afterward; he only remembered waking up in the hospital. Beside him lay Claudia, and he did not know how they had been rescued.

Lucas approached Claudia's bed. Her breathing seemed so weak, as if she were on the verge of taking her last at any moment.

Suddenly, the memories of that day overlapped with the image of Thalia collapsing on the ground. Thalia and Claudia were sisters, and they looked so much alike.

Lucas squatted down, his mind blank as he tried to figure out how to help Thalia up. Melody, leaning on her crutches, found it difficult to bend down.

"She just fell down accidentally…" Melody said, feeling guilty inside.

In truth, she was not sure why Thalia, who had been standing behind her just moments before, suddenly collapsed like that. She did try to push Thalia away, but it was not like she used any strength.

Melody was taken aback by the icy glare from Lucas as if she had committed some unforgivable sin. She instinctively took a few steps back, even avoiding eye contact with him. She could not bear to meet his gaze.

"Thalia came to the restroom with you, so how can you not know how she fell?

How could she have fallen like that if not for someone pushing her?" asked Lucas.

Melody frowned, trying hard to suppress the sudden urge to cry and the overwhelming sense of injustice.