Chapter 17: Hanging by a Thread
Nguyễn Thế Anh quickly got into the driver's seat, slammed the gas pedal, and the car shot forward at an insane speed. Was he trying to escape or commit suicide? He tossed her a gun and ordered,
"Shoot them!"
She was a security officer, not a mafia member. Her principle was never to kill. Holding the gun, she aimed directly at the tires and fired. Not to brag, but her aim was always flawless.
The BMWs all got their tires blown out, skidding out of control before coming to a stop. The assassins jumped out and continued the chase on foot. One of them halted, aiming at her car's tires. She fired first, hitting his hand. A round of gunshots erupted, and at the same time, her car's tire exploded. The man dropped his gun, his hand drenched in blood.
Losing control, their car plunged straight into the river. Nguyễn Thế Anh leaped out, shouting,
"Jump!"
The reflexes of this boy's body weren't bad at all. The moment the car hit the water, she instinctively jumped out as well and splashed into the river.
But she also heard a loud gunshot.
She stayed underwater for a moment before resurfacing. Luckily, she knew how to swim. However, when she looked around, Nguyễn Thế Anh was nowhere to be seen—only blood spreading across the water's surface.
Had he been shot and killed?
She looked toward the riverbank and saw Vũ Phi Toàn walking away. So, the ones chasing them earlier had been his men.
With no other choice, she dove back underwater to avoid bullets and search for the lawyer. Why was she even trying to save the man who had killed her? She let out a bitter laugh but continued searching.
After a long time searching with no luck, she resurfaced to catch her breath. She anxiously scanned the river until she saw faint air bubbles rising in the distance. Without hesitation, she swam toward that spot and dove down.
Luck was on his side—she found him and hurriedly pulled him up. But the moment she touched him, a flash of memories surged through her mind. It was a childhood memory—Nguyễn Thế Anh's past. It wasn't hers, nor was it the boy's.
A searing pain struck her head.
Did escaping death and time-traveling awaken some kind of ability? Could she now see the memories of people on the brink of death?
If so… was he really about to die?
Watching his childhood unfold in those brief glimpses, she suddenly felt warmth around her eyes. The water wasn't freezing anymore—it was hot and salty. It felt like she had touched a piece of her own past.
Using all her strength, she tried to pull him up, but he dragged her down instead.
Was he trying to kill her, or was it just the instinct of a drowning man?
She struggled as he pulled her deeper. Gasping for air, she kicked him away with all her might. After a fierce struggle, she finally broke free, but by then, she had no energy left to swim back up.
Deprived of oxygen, she sank into the depths, her consciousness slipping away.
This time, she was really going to die…