She took a bite of her hot dog. The rich, smoky flavor instantly brightened her mood.

As they neared the parking lot, Vincent glanced at her and said, “You’ve been busy lately. Take some time to rest.”

Katelyn often mentioned needing a break, but the endless stream of work never seemed to let her breathe.

Katelyn shook her head.

“I can’t. I want to finish the new sketches first. And Neil isn’t the type to back off easily.”

Neil had poured a lot into his plans for the oil field. Now that he’d failed, he wasn’t going to let it go so easily.

Vincent nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth in her words. He didn’t press further. They were just steps away from the car when a sudden, sharp bang shattered the quiet.

A sudden bullet shot toward Katelyn from the side. In an instant, Vincent grabbed her arm and pulled her tightly into his embrace. It all happened so quickly that, in a moment, Katelyn found herself wrapped in Vincent’s arms.

The spot where she had been standing just moments ago now had a deep bullet mark on the car’s body. Thankfully, Vincent’s car was bulletproof. Otherwise, the bullet might have pierced straight through. The bustling crowd erupted into chaos as the gunshot rang out, screams filling the air. People scattered, running in every direction in a frenzy of panic.

Katelyn and Vincent immediately turned their attention toward the source of the gunfire. Not far away, near the landscaped garden in the park, a shadowy figure darted out of sight.

Without hesitation, Vincent pulled out a gun from his waist and instructed firmly, “Stay here and wait for me.” He sprinted toward the direction of the shooter, weapon in hand.

Katelyn instinctively wanted to follow, but she hadn’t brought her gun today. Chasing after them unarmed would be reckless, especially since she hadn’t even seen the shooter clearly. She wondered who it could be.

Her gaze swept over the terrified vendors and civilians. Staying in the open didn’t feel safe, particularly since the bullet had clearly been aimed at her.

Without wasting time, Katelyn quickly got into the car, started the engine, and drove off in the direction Vincent had disappeared.

The park’s outer areas weren’t as crowded, but as she ventured deeper, the dense woods made it impossible to drive further. She parked by the roadside and continued on foot, heading through another path.

It took nearly ten minutes of trudging through uneven terrain and narrow, overgrown trails before Katelyn finally caught the faint sound of a sharp crack. The noise was unmistakable—the sound of a foot snapping a dry branch.

Her instincts kicked in, and she quickly pressed herself against the trunk of a pine tree. Luckily, her slender frame allowed her to stay completely hidden.

Moments later, Vincent emerged from the forest, alone. Only then did Katelyn step out from her hiding spot.

Sensing movement, Vincent instinctively raised his gun and aimed toward her direction.

But the moment he recognized Katelyn, he sighed and lowered the weapon.

“Why did you follow along?” he asked, irritation laced with concern.

Scanning the forest for signs of danger, Katelyn approached cautiously.

“I was worried about you. Are you okay?”

Vincent holstered his gun and nodded.

“I’m fine. Let’s get out of here first.”

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