Page 82 of Lust & Lies

“Did you check her boots for knives?” Mr. Park asked, still eyeing me.

“Yes, sir,” Viper answered. “I did it myself, sir.”

Mr. Park nodded, pleased with her answer. He tilted his head and smirked in that smug way of his that always irritated me.

“Is it true what they tell me? Did you really lose your memory?” he asked.

I looked him in the eyes and asked, “Who told you that?”

“Your team,” he replied.

“What team?” I shot back.

“The group you’re with,” he said, spreading his hands, gesturing toward those in the room.

“If they’re my team, why did they bring me to you?”

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “Because, unlike you, they follow orders.”

“Hmmm. Why am I here?” I asked.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You know what? I don’t think you’ve lost your memory at all.”

“And I don’t think my medical history is any of your business,” I countered.

That smug smile faded. He straightened in his seat, leaning back, eyes narrowing.

“This will be the last time you talk to me like that, Mist.”

“Mist? Who’s that?” I asked.

He watched me for a second, gaze searching mine, looking for hints that I was faking it. I held his gaze, refusing to look away. I would never cower before this man again. I would never cower before anyone again.

The version of me that craved his approval and feared what he could do to me and Aiden was long gone. She hadn’t returned when my memory came back. She died in that car crash months ago.

A chuckle escaped him before he said, “So you want to know who Mist is, huh?”

I nodded.

“She’s no one important,” he told me.

I bit my tongue to keep from replying.

“Memory or no memory, your contract isn’t up yet. You’re still mine. And you’ve gone and killed two of your comrades. You know the punishment for killing one of your own is death, right, Mist?”

I maneuvered the pin in my palm as I stared at him, using it to slowly unlock the cuffs. I had to keep Mr. Park talking until backup arrived.

“Oh, are you talking to me?” I asked. “I thought you were talking to Mist.” My gaze moved to Viper.

Viper’s lips curled into a sneer. “I am not Mist,” she hissed. “I’m no traitor to the Watchdogs.”

“Ohhhh, Mist is a traitor?” I asked, sounding surprised.

“Stop pretending,” Mr. Park yelled, slamming his hand on his desk. “I can see it in your eyes. Your memory is there. You know who I am, and you know who you are.”

Not being remembered by me was really bothering him.

“What do you see in my eyes?” I snapped, speaking loudly to muffle the sound of the lock clicking open on the cuffs.

“I see a frightened little girl who doesn’t know who she really is,” Mr. Park answered.

“Is that so?” I asked, holding the unlocked cuffs in my palm. “But you just said I knew who you were and who I was. Now you’re saying I’m a little girl who doesn’t know who I am. Which is it?”

“When I say you don’t know who you are, I mean you have no true identity. Are you Mist? Are you Noa? Or are you Noah? You don’t even know if you’re male or female. You’ve lived as both. Do you even know who you are?”

I bit my tongue and ignored the pain that sliced through me. My blurred identity was my weak spot, and he knew it. Next to him, Viper smirked at me as Mr. Park continued degrading me.

“When I look into your eyes, I see someone who’s at her best when she’s following my orders. When left to her own devices, she only causes chaos.”

I’ll show you chaos. Just wait.

“I see someone I regret raising around my grandsons,” he continued, his words stabbing through my chest like a dagger.

“I only took you and your sister in to repay the blood debt I owed your father. He lost his wife because of me. The Hatfields lost their daughter. I owed them. Plus, I know it was your father who was keeping the Hatfield’s from turning against me. ”

When his smile widened, I saw red.

“When he died, I knew I needed to pacify them to keep them from rebelling. So, I took you and your sister in. If it weren’t for that blood debt and the need to keep the Hatfields in line, I wouldn’t have shown you twins that kind of kindness.

I would’ve sent you to the orphanage where I usually send the kids of Watchdogs who die in the field. ”

I didn’t miss the look of pain that flashed over Seo-Jin’s face. Damn it, I wanted to kill this evil man so fucking badly!

“My dear friend, Mrs. Fairweather, would’ve made your lives a living hell at the orphanage.

Therefore, you should be thankful that I took you under my wing,” Mr. Park told me.

“But you don’t appreciate my kindness. Even that sister of yours is trying to escape me.

You little bitches should be kissing my feet.

Instead, you’re biting the hand that’s fed you all these years. ”

I was so glad I was wearing the necklace Gertrude gave me. Because of it, they were all listening in on this conversation. They were hearing the cruel shit Mr. Park was spewing. I wanted Aiden and his brothers to hear what their grandfather was saying.

I wanted them to know why I hated this man so much. I still wouldn’t kill him. I just wanted them to understand my pain. This necklace was set to vibrate once the matching necklace was nearby.

Gertrude was wearing the other half of the charm. And mine had just started to tremble slightly against my chest. My family was on the way.

“You could’ve lived a good life if you’d just stayed obedient and followed my plan for you.”

A good life? I chuckled. How could I have lived a good life when I was living for him and not myself?

“Are you angry with me now that you know I never truly cared for you?” Mr. Park asked. “Does the truth hurt your feelings?”

I shrugged. “If I remembered you, maybe it would. Since I don’t, I feel nothing but bored standing here listening to an old man talk nonsense.”

Mr. Park slammed his hand on his desk again.

“You wretched girl! All those years I invested in you have been wasted. But don’t worry, I won’t let you continue to be a thorn in my side.

And I won’t give you a chance to ruin Aiden’s life.

I will get rid of you today. Your sister, too, once I find her.

Today, I will watch you die and have you buried here on this estate.

You’ll never escape my clutches, Little Noah. ”

He smiled cruelly before issuing his order.

“I’m done talking to this trash,” he said flatly. “Kill her and be done with it.”

For a moment, no one moved. It was like time stood still. I exhaled slowly, relaxing my body, waiting, preparing. Then Viper rushed forward, more than happy to comply with Mr. Park’s order.

She came at me fast. I released the handcuffs, letting them and the pin drop to the floor. Before she could strike me, I punched her in the throat, shocking her and making her stumble back, gasping for air.

Stupid bitches didn’t deserve to breathe.