“Shall we depart? Where do you reside? I can give you a lift," Blayze kindly offered.

Sabrina relayed the name of her residential community.

Upon reaching the community's entrance, Sabrina alighted from the car, extending a wave to Blayze. She expressed her gratitude, stating, "Thank you, Blayze. It's getting late. Have a safe drive home. Bye."

“See you next time," Blayze responded.

It was only as Sabrina entered the community that Blayze drove away. Sabrina reactivated her phone and entered the building.

A plethora of missed calls adorned her call log.

ALL of them were from Tyrone.

Facing the elevator, Sabrina contemplated her options. She glanced at the ascending button, then at her phone's screen. After a moment's hesitation, she initiated a call to Tyrone.

After a brief interlude, the unmistakable ringtone chimed softly from beside her.

Sabrina swiftly responded, eyes glued to her phone screen. When she finally looked up and found herself ensnared in Tyrone's piercing gaze, she was taken aback.

“Tyrone! How... Why didn't you make any noise just now?" Her voice quivered with surprise.

She had scrutinized her phone so intently moments ago, convinced that the person waiting for the elevator next to her was someone else entirely.

Tyrone, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, regarded Sabrina with intense, searching eyes. His gaze lingered on her face. Her face revealed subtle scars with varying shades beneath the overhead light.

He couldn't help but recall her meticulously applied makeup from this morning at the police station.

Her once-tied ponytail now draped on her shoulder freely, and her attire had undergone a transformation.

Beneath Tyrone's eyes, a fleeting glimmer of pain surfaced, only to be swiftly overshadowed by an aura of hostility, Like a trapped beast in the throes of a relentless struggle.

His brow furrowed and he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles emitted an audible creak. He stood there, silently regarding Sabrina.

After a few heartbeats, Tyrone ambled toward the space between the two elevator doors, extinguishing his cigarette against the rim of a nearby trash can with vigorous force. The sparks vanished as the cigarette was crushed and broken.

Following his line of sight, Sabrina noticed an accumulation of cigarette butts atop the trash can, while the floor was veiled in a layer of ash. Sabrina shivered, feeling as though it weren't the cigarette but rather herself that had been crushed by Tyrone.

Involuntarily, she took a step back, swallowing hard.