CHAPTER 033 OLIVIA'S POV " Hey , hey ," I said , tapping the reporter's cheeks . Her breathing was becoming more shallow by the second , and panic clawed at my chest . Damn it , where was the ambulance when you actually needed one ? If help didn ' t'come soon , she was going to die right here , right in my arms . My hands trembled as I pressed lightly against her shoulder , unsure of what to do . Then , out of nowhere , I felt a firm hand on my shoulder . " Get up . " A man's voice commanded . I turned sharply to see Adrian standing over me , his expression unreadable . " Wow , that's the CEO of Westwood Industries . " Someone whispered in the crowd . A suited man standing beside Adrian - one of his security , no doubt - raised his voice . " Party's over . You can all leave . The situation will be taken care of . " At his words , the murmuring crowd hesitated for a moment before gradually dispersing . Camera flashes dimmed , and one by one , people walked away , either out of intimidation or curiosity satisfied . But not before I noticed some of them still recording , their phones subtly held at their sides . Adrian stood there , watching me , his gaze heavy with something unreadable . I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears as I looked up at him from where I was kneeling next to the unconscious reporter . " I didn't mean to ," I blurted out , my voice shaky . " She held on to me , and this happened ." A slow smirk curled on Adrian's lips . " If that's what you're planning to tell the cops ," he said , his voice low and almost amused , " then you're definitely going to jail ." My breath caught in my throat . Jail . My body went rigid at the word , and my hands instinctively clenched . No , no , no - l couldn't go to jail . That wasn't an option . " That was a bit much , don't you think ? " he added , watching my reaction carefully . " How was I supposed to know she would fall into the street ? " I shot back , the panic still bubbling under my voice . Adrian didn't answer right away . Instead , he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief , tossing it lightly onto my lap as if this was nothing more than a minor Successfully unlocked ! inconvenience . " Let's go , " he ordered , his voice leaving no room for argument . " Go where ? " I asked , my throat dry . CHAPTER 033 " If you don't want to end up behind bars , you'll come with me ," he said simply . I hesitated , my mind racing . I glanced over at Julian's driver , who had been waiting beside the car this whole time . He met my gaze and gave me a slight nod before pulling out his phone , most likely calling Julian . My hands trembled as I looked back down at the reporter . Her clothes were soaked in blood , her body eerily still . " You don't expect me to just leave her here in this condition ," I said , turning my attention back to Adrian . But he didn't even glance back . He simply turned on his heel and walked toward the convoy of black Cadillac escalade SUVs parked on the side of the road . His security team moved in sync with him , their presence alone making it clear that I had no real choice here . I swallowed hard and looked back down at the woman one last time . She needed help . But so did I. This world wasn't kind to people like me - people caught in situations they didn't ask for . I had already seen firsthand how easy it was for the truth to be twisted , and for villains to be made out of victims . If I stayed , I would only make things worse for myself . Slowly , hesitantly , I placed the reporter's head gently on the ground and pushed myself to my feet . With every step away from her , a weight settled deeper in my chest . I crossed the street , my legs feeling heavy , and stopped in front of one of the SUVs . A man in a black suit opened the door , and without another word , I slid into the leather seat beside Adrian . The convoy started moving smoothly , blending seamlessly into the night traffic . For a few moments , there was only silence inside the car . Then , unable to take it any longer , I turned toward Adrian . " Where are we going ? " " We're leaving this area ," he replied coolly . தா I frowned . " Why did you want me to follow you ? " Instead of answering , he pulled out a tablet and tapped the screen . A video started playing . My stomach dropped as I saw myself on the screen - me , shoving the reporter . The moment played out in crystal clarity , captured from an angle that made it look far worse than it actually was . The way her body stumbled into the street . The way the car came out of nowhere . CHAPTER 033 Someone had recorded everything . Adrian watched me carefully as he held the tablet up . " You see , Olivia ," he said smoothly , " the lady you pushed has done her part . Now it's time for you to do yours . " My head snapped toward him . " Done her part ? " My voice was barely above a whisper . " What the hell are you talking about ? " His smirk deepened . " You think you're ahead of me ," he murmured , tilting his head slightly . " But I want your to know - I'm always two steps ahead . " A sick feeling churned in my stomach . " What are you saying ? " I demanded . Adrian leaned back against the seat , completely at ease . " The reporter ? She'll be fine . " His words sent a jolt through me . " What do you mean she'll be fine ? " I asked , dread curling in my gut . " She was bleeding everywhere . She could barely move ... " Adrian chuckled lightly . " That's why she was paid . " I froze . My brain struggled to process what he had just said . " She was ... paid ? " My voice came out hoarse . Adrian turned his head slightly , his sharp eyes gleaming under the dim interior lights . " Let me be quick with this ," he said , voice calm and composed . " It was all staged . So don't worry ... you didn't kill anyone . " I blinked , my mind blank . Staged ? I turned my head slowly , looking out the window at the accident scene in the distance . The crowd was dispersing now , the flashing lights of emergency vehicles just starting to arrive . I turned back to Adrian , my / mouth slightly open in disbelief . " The driver that hit her , " he continued smoothly , " the reporter , and everyone who recorded you ... they were all paid by me . " I stared at him , realization crashing down on me like a tidal wave . I didn't push her hard enough . The car had pulled out of nowhere , at the perfect moment . The video footage was conveniently captured at an angle that made it look intentional . was all planned It was all Adrian's doing