Aya sat quietly across from her lawyer.
She waited for his opinion, her thoughts circling back again and again to the report. What troubled her most was how quickly the police had issued a warrant for her father's arrest.
Was Dad really the one who killed my sister? she wondered silently.
She heard the man across from her sigh.
"Something about this feels strange," he muttered. "Miss Aya, do you have the CCTV footage?"
"Y–Yes… I do," she replied hesitantly. "But they said it was confidential."
"I'm your attorney," he said calmly. "We can use it."
Aya handed him the flash drive she had brought with her.
"It contains the CCTV recording… and the moment my sister took her last breath," she said softly.
Her lawyer nodded.
"Don't rush anything," he told her. "Let me review everything first before I give my opinion, alright?"
"Y–Yes."
He gently patted her shoulder.
Aya let out a quiet sigh.
After the meeting, she returned straight to her veterinary clinic. Cloud was waiting for her there. The place had grown quiet now since most of the owners had already picked up their animals.
She was lost in thought when she noticed someone entering.
She was about to greet the visitor when their eyes met.
"What are you doing here?" Aya asked.
The woman sneered.
"You're really asking me that, Aya?" she shot back. "What proof do you even have to have your father arrested? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"He can defend himself in court," Aya replied shortly.
She had no intention of arguing with her mother. Her instincts warned her that if she let her emotions take control, the situation would only worsen.
"Withdraw the case," her mother demanded, glaring at her. "That evidence isn't enough."
"I can't withdraw it," Aya said calmly. "Where was your husband at that time?"
"You—! I will never forgive you for this!"
Her mother stormed out of the clinic.
Aya exhaled slowly.
The air inside suddenly felt heavy, so she decided to step outside for a while. Maybe the cold breeze would help clear her mind.
She brought Cloud with her.
Before leaving, she carefully locked the clinic door. She didn't want what had happened before—someone entering while she was away—to happen again.
Some customers had already given her another chance. They refused to believe the rumors that had spread about her clinic.
As she walked along the street, she encountered the boy she had helped before.
The dog recognized her immediately and barked happily.
Ben waved enthusiastically.
Beside him stood another boy she didn't recognize.
"Doc!" Ben called.
Aya chuckled softly at the way he addressed her.
"Thank you for saving Black-Black," he said.
Aya smiled.
"It's nothing. I could see that you took good care of him."
Ben stared at her carefully.
"W–Why do you look sad?" he asked.
Aya blinked, surprised.
"Do I look sad?" she asked.
"That's not sadness, Ben," the other boy suddenly said. "She's just confused."
"Oh! Doc, this is my cousin—Bryan."
Aya looked at the boy with curiosity.
"Be careful of the people around you," Bryan said seriously. "Someone you trust will end your life."
A chill ran down Aya's spine.
"I'm not lying," Bryan continued calmly. "Stay strong."
"Sorry about that, Doc," Ben said apologetically.
Aya simply nodded.
But the boy's words only tangled her thoughts even more.
XXXXXX
Malchor was busy working when his phone suddenly vibrated.
He checked the caller ID and frowned when he saw the name.
What does he want from me? he wondered.
He answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Is Reymark there?" the voice asked.
Malchor looked around the workplace.
"He's not here."
"Malchor, keep an eye on your companion," the man warned.
Malchor's brows furrowed.
"W–Why?"
"The police rushed the case," the man said. "It's already been brought to court, and a warrant of arrest has been issued."
Malchor stiffened.
"W–What? Who's the suspect?"
The man sighed.
"Her father."
What?
Malchor's mind reeled.
"Why was the case pushed so quickly?" he asked. "I thought it was still under observation since several people were involved."
"That's what I thought too," the man replied. "But the CCTV footage from that night shows Aliya's father at the scene when the crime happened."
Malchor rubbed the back of his head.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
"Watch your companion," the man continued. "And watch Aya as well."
Malchor nodded silently, even though the man couldn't see him.
His thoughts were in chaos.
He still hadn't found anything he could use against the Buenaventura family.
Damn.
He ended the call.
Just then, Reymark arrived.
"Malchor," Reymark called.
Malchor turned toward him.
"I'm taking a day off tomorrow. You'll handle things here for now."
"Yeah. Be careful," Malchor replied.
Reymark patted his arm and chuckled lightly.
"Don't worry. I'll be back."
Malchor watched him walk away.
He probably already knows what's happening around us, he thought.
He needed to stay calm.
There were still too many unanswered questions.
He sighed again.
What a mess.
"Malchor."
He turned toward the voice.
Brandon stood there.
"Do you need something?" Malchor asked cautiously.
He had to be careful around everyone.
"Nothing much," Brandon replied casually. "Another animal died in the basement."
Malchor nodded.
"I'll take care of it right away."
"And clean the place," Brandon added. "I have a new toy arriving soon."
Malchor simply nodded.
Calm down, he told himself, suppressing the anger boiling inside him.
He followed Brandon's orders.
When he reached the basement, he saw several animals lying lifeless on the floor.
His brows tightened.
Then he gasped.
Don't tell me he's going to do something here again…
A faint cry reached his ears.
One animal was still barely alive.
Its intestines were exposed, its small body trembling as it lost too much blood. It looked at him as if begging for help.
Malchor's chest tightened painfully.
But he knew that even if he took it to a veterinarian now, it wouldn't survive.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. "You won't have to suffer anymore."
The light slowly faded from the animal's eyes.
Its weak cries grew softer and softer—
until its small life disappeared completely.
Malchor clenched his fists.
He took a deep breath before carefully lifting the lifeless body.
He would bury them.
It was the only thing he could do for the animals trapped in that place—
to give them a proper resting place.