Chapter 1

"Friends walking through life together, those days no longer exist. One sentence, a lifetime. One bond, a toast..."

Julian Johnson groggily woke up to the piercing wails of karaoke.

He was lying on a couch, and the room was dimly lit.

A short-haired young man with a buzz cut was clutching a microphone, howling along to a music video playing on the screen.

Was that Nicholas Zane?

Upon seeing the young man, Julian felt momentarily disoriented. Nicholas looked so young—he seemed to be only 18 or 19 years old.

Julian felt waves of pain throbbing through his head. Propping himself up, he slowly sat upright.

"Julian, you're awake?"

"Julian, you barely drank a few bottles and passed out!"

Nicholas and a few other young men gathered around as Julian sat up.

Julian recognized everyone as he looked at them.

But it wasn't just Nicholas who looked younger—they all did. It was as if time had rewound, returning them to their teenage years.

"Julian, that bottle move of yours was insane!" Nicholas gave him a dramatic thumbs-up gesture.

"My bottle move?" Julian was utterly confused.

Nicholas laughed. "You must have had too much to drink, Julian! You smashed Mule Two over the head with that bottle—it took him down in one hit!"

Mule Two… That was a name that sounded both familiar and distant.

Julian feigned calmness and asked, "What's the date today?"

"The 13th."

"The 13th of which year?"

"Julian."

"Which year?"

"1998..."

1998? 25 years ago?

Julian slapped his forehead hard. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming after getting drunk or if he had actually returned to 25 years ago.

"Julian, are you okay?" Nicholas looked at him with concern.

Julian shook his head and discreetly pinched his thigh—hard.

Ouch! It hurt! This wasn't a dream. He had truly been reborn.

It was June 13, 1998, the fourth day after the college entrance exams—a day that had drastically altered the course of his life.

On this day, he had helped Shane Black in a fight, striking their mutual foe, Mule Two, on the head with a bottle. The wound wasn't severe—just about three inches long—requiring a dozen stitches at the hospital.

But the very next day, the provincial government abruptly announced a crackdown on crime.

Unluckily, Julian's fight was categorized as part of this crackdown.

Mule Two's injury, being about three inches, straddled the line between minor and moderate.

The difference was monumental. A minor injury would only result in administrative punishment, leaving no criminal record. But a moderate injury meant imprisonment.

During the crackdown, everything was handled with severity. Mule Two's injury was classified as moderate, and Julian's actions were deemed malicious, resulting in a ten-year sentence.

At the time, Julian had scored 1500 on the SATs—more than enough to get into a top-tier university.

But the ten-year sentence ruined everything.

When he was released, his girlfriend had unsurprisingly married someone else. Ironically, her husband was Shane Black—the wealthy, close brother-in-arms Julian had fought for.

During Julian's trial, he learned the real reason for the province-wide crackdown.

On the night of June 13, the daughter of the state governor, Sophia Henry, had been attacked in her home. She resisted fiercely, which enraged the intruder, leading them to stab her over 20 times, killing her.

Devastated, the governor ordered a province-wide crackdown on crime.

Now that fate had granted him a second chance, everything could be changed. Everything could be salvaged.

The most urgent task at hand was to save Sophia, the governor's daughter.

Julian vividly remembered where she lived—Harborwood Heights near Coastline City's Institute of Technology.

She was a freshman at the Institute's School of Business and Economics.

Julian stood up abruptly, and everyone looked at him in confusion.

Julian asked, "Where are Shane and Lily?"

Lily Wayne was his current girlfriend and the most beautiful girl in class.

Nicholas replied, "They went to the restroom."

"I'll go too."

"Julian, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Julian gave a perfunctory reply and pushed the door open, leaving the karaoke room.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Nokia 5110.

While the Nokia brand had long faded into obscurity 20 years later, it was the biggest mobile phone brand in the world at this time.

This Nokia 5110 was a gift from Shane, a reward for helping him teach Mule Two a lesson.

Julian glanced at the phone's display—it was eight at night.

If he remembered correctly, the incident occurred at 11:00 pm. There were still three hours to go.

Julian didn't leave the karaoke bar immediately. Instead, he quickly headed toward the restroom.

As he approached the corner near the restroom, he heard soft voices coming from its entrance.

"Don't touch me!"

"It's just holding hands! Relax, that fool Julian is completely wasted. Come on, give me a kiss."

"Oh, stop…"

While listening to their whispers, Julian, standing around the corner, felt like an idiot.

So Shane and Lily had already been fooling around behind his back.

And here he was, utterly oblivious, wearing a crown of betrayal.

He had even gone to beat someone up for Shane, ultimately spending ten years in prison on his behalf.

Julian stepped out from the corner. He caught sight of Shane pinning Lily against the wall, kissing her face ravenously.

Julian wasted no words. In two quick strides, he reached them and delivered a hard kick to Shane's ribs.

The sudden blow caught Shane off guard, sending him rolling sideways with a yelp.

"Ah!" Lily screamed in terror.

When she saw that it was Julian, she froze, her mouth falling open in shock.

After a moment, she came to her senses and rushed over to grab Julian's arm. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "J-Julian, you've got it all wrong... Let me explain..."

Julian yanked his arm away forcefully.

A crisp slap landed squarely on Lily's face, and a bright red handprint quickly surfaced on her pale cheek.

Julian pointed at her, his voice cold as he said, "Lily Wayne, we're done."

"J-Julian..." Lily clutched her cheek, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

She truly liked Julian. He was tall, handsome, sunny, and charismatic. Being with him wasn't just impressive—it made her feel secure.

If there was one flaw about Julian, it was his ordinary family background. He came from a rural area and had no status, connections, or money.

Julian didn't spare her another glance. He stepped toward Shane, who was still on the ground.

In his previous life, after serving his sentence, Julian had held no grudge against Shane and Lily. He even sincerely wished them happiness.

Upon looking back now, that happiness was fucking undeserved.

Shane, seeing Julian's darkened expression and realizing he was coming straight for him, scrambled to sit up. He waved his hands in panic. "Julian, you... you've got it wrong! Nothing is going on between me and Lily..."

"Nothing, my ass!"

Julian kicked Shane square in the face.

Shane fell back, hands covering his face as crimson blood seeped through his fingers.

Chapter 2

Shane howled in pain, wiping the blood from his nose haphazardly. He glared at Julian and roared, "Damn you, Julian! Even if I haven't slept with Lily yet, what if I did? What the hell can you do about it?"

Julian's lips curled into a smirk as he flexed his fingers, the joints cracking audibly.

Shane shivered and tried to muster some courage. "Julian, if you dare hit me again, I'll—"

Before he could finish, Julian's fist smashed into his face.

Julian didn't hold back. He swung his fists relentlessly, aiming for Shane's head with everything he had.

Shane curled up, clutching his head and wailing in pain.

At that moment, Nicholas and the others came rushing over. They grabbed Julian and tried to pull him away, shouting, "Julian! Julian! What's going on? Why are you fighting Shane?"

"Let go of me!"

"Julian..."

"I said, let go of me!" Julian's gaze swept over the crowd.

His sharp, knife-like stare made everyone around him feel as if their faces were stinging.

Julian was known for his fearlessness. Though he excelled academically and seemed like a model student, he was anything but timid.

Back in middle school, when some local thugs tried to extort money from him, he grabbed a kettle of boiling water and chased them down two streets. After that, those thugs avoided him like the plague.

Having been reborn after enduring ten years in prison, Julian was no stranger to dealing with all kinds of ruthless characters. After his release, he had climbed his way up to become a leader in the local area.

When Julian got serious, the sheer ferocity in his bloodthirsty eyes was enough to overwhelm Nicholas and the others.

Their faces turned pale, and they unconsciously loosened their grip on his clothes.

Julian stepped closer to Shane, grabbed him by the hair, and yanked him off the ground.

Shane cried out, clutching his head in agony.

Julian spoke coldly. "Shane Black, listen to me carefully. If you ever see me again, get as far away as possible. You're rich, right? Go ahead and hire someone to take me down. But if you fail to kill me, I'll kill you. One life for another—I don't care. Do you?"

Shane met Julian's gaze and couldn't suppress a shiver from running down his spine.

Those weren't human eyes—they belonged to a beast that thirsted for blood.

Under that gaze, Shane felt as if he could be skinned alive and devoured at any moment.

"Do you hear me?"

Shane didn't dare say another word. He nodded furiously.

Julian let go of him, and Shane collapsed onto the floor, curling into a ball. Pathetically, a large wet patch had spread beneath him.

Julian didn't spare him another glance and turned to leave.

As he walked away, Lily's trembling voice called out, "Julian, where are you going?"

"It's none of your business."

"You... You're leaving me?" Lily looked at him, her eyes brimming with hope.

Julian met her gaze, which was full of expectation.

Lily, thinking she might still have a chance, took two hesitant steps forward.

Julian's voice was icy as he remarked, "Do you deserve it?"

That single sentence seemingly plunged Lily into a freezing abyss.

Julian didn't bother with her anymore. As he walked away, he turned to Nicholas and the others. "Decide now—are you my friend or Shane's? If you choose Shane, don't bother with me anymore."

Nicholas and the others were utterly confused about what had just happened. They exchanged helpless glances while watching Julian's retreating figure, unsure whether to follow or stay.

Julian left the karaoke bar and looked around.

Harborwood Heights wasn't far. It was only about a 20-minute walk.

He picked up his pace and soon reached the area near Harborwood Heights.

When he checked his phone, he saw it was past 9:00 pm. There were less than two hours until the incident.

The problem was that Julian didn't know Sophia's exact address.

Harborwood Heights had around 20 or so buildings—he couldn't possibly go knocking on doors one by one.

While Julian was pondering this, he noticed a girl walking down the street on the opposite side. She was wearing a white T-shirt and beige capri pants and appeared to be around the same age as him.

Her long, straight black hair was casually tied into a ponytail that swayed with her steps. Her skin was fair, and her delicate features resembled those of a finely crafted porcelain doll.

Julian didn't recognize this stunningly beautiful girl, but his keen eyes quickly noticed something unusual—a man in a baseball cap was following her about 22 yards away.

The man's outfit was ordinary—a slightly worn jacket, dress pants, and sneakers.

Even though the man had pulled his baseball cap low over his face, Julian recognized him instantly.

It was Bruce Howard, the man who had killed Sophia. At this moment, Bruce was still a wanted fugitive.

Julian knew him for a simple reason. They had been inmates in the same prison, though not in the same cell.

Their time as fellow prisoners was brief—just over a month—before Bruce was executed.

Narrowing his eyes, Julian quietly ducked behind a large tree and observed the situation from the shadows.

It was clear that Bruce was following the girl ahead.

If nothing unexpected were to happen, then this girl was likely Sophia.

The girl entered the residential complex. After waiting a while, Bruce walked up to the gate but didn't enter because of the security guards.

Instead, he walked along the perimeter of the complex, heading toward a section of the wall.

After glancing around to ensure no one was watching, he climbed up the wall and jumped into the complex.

Bruce thought his actions were discreet and unnoticed, but little did he know that Julian had been watching his every move.

Julian squinted and pulled out his phone while moving toward the wall Bruce had climbed.

"Hello, this is the police hotline. How can I help you?"

"Hi, I think I just saw a wanted fugitive," Julian reported.

While standing beneath the wall, Julian looked up to gauge its height. After stepping back a few paces to give himself a running start, he bit down on his phone to keep it secure, sprinted forward, and leaped. He hoisted himself up with ease after grabbing the top of the wall.

He lay flat on the wall, scanning the area below.

In the distance, Bruce had already moved about 60 feet away and was now just a shadowy figure.

"A wanted fugitive? Do you know his name?" the operator asked.

"I think his name is Bruce Howard. I saw his wanted poster in the newspaper two days ago. He's a robbery-murder suspect."

Julian climbed down from the wall and began quietly pursuing the shadowy figure.

"When did you see him, and where exactly?"

The operator on the other end of the line sounded visibly tense, and their questions became more urgent.

Chapter 3

"I'm following him right now! He's inside Harborwood Heights!" Julian said urgently.

The voice on the other end of the line then changed from a woman's to a gruff man's. "What's your name?"

"Julian Johnson!"

"Alright, Julian. Whatever you do, do not approach the suspect. He is extremely dangerous. Did you hear me clearly?"

By this time, Julian was already tailing Bruce. He watched as Bruce entered an apartment building.

Julian quickly followed but stopped just as he was about to enter. Something crossed his mind, and he leaned against the wall, standing perfectly still.

"Hello? Julian? Did you hear what I said? Do not act rashly. I've already informed my colleagues, and they'll be at Harborwood Heights shortly! Hello? Julian?"

Julian had spent a few days in the same prison as Bruce and knew a little about him.

Bruce was a calculating and ruthless individual. Ordinarily, new prisoners had to lie low and endure hazing from the cell's enforcers.

But on Bruce's second day in prison, the cell's top dog treated him with utmost respect, as though serving an elder.

Julian remained motionless against the wall. Unbeknownst to him, Bruce, who had entered the building, was also standing still inside the entrance.

Bruce was keenly listening while standing like a statue.

He listened for any noise from outside and tried to determine which floor and door the girl he had been following had entered.

A door slammed somewhere in the stairwell—third floor, left-hand side, apartment 301.

Bruce instantly pinpointed the girl's exact location.

From an omniscient perspective, the scene looked eerie—outside the building, Julian stood silently, while Bruce stood just as silently inside the building.

Neither moved, spoke, or even breathed audibly.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Bruce finally moved. He began ascending the stairs, one step at a time.

Upon hearing the faint footsteps from inside, Julian, still outside, slowly stretched his fingers.

Bruce wasn't just cautious—he had an exceptional ability to counter-detect pursuers. If it were anyone else, they might have fallen for his tricks.

Julian picked up his phone and whispered, "Bruce Howard just entered Building 11, Stairwell 3. I can't confirm the exact apartment yet."

The operator on the other end grew anxious. "Julian, do not keep following the suspect. It's too dangerous. I repeat, do not—"

Before the operator could finish, Julian decisively hung up and silently slipped into the building.

His footsteps were even lighter than Bruce's.

After stopping on the first floor, Julian heard knocking from the third floor above.

"Who is it?" a woman asked.

"I'm your downstairs neighbor. The ceiling in my kitchen started leaking this afternoon. I've been trying to contact you, but no one was home, and I don't have your number. Please open the door and take a look to find out where the leak is!"

Sophia, who had just entered her home, was taken aback.

There was a leak flooding the downstairs apartment? But she hadn't noticed any signs of water damage.

"My place isn't leaking," she said.

"It might be a pipe inside the wall. We need to find the leak quickly. I've already called a repairman, and he'll be here soon. Please open the door!" Bruce said.

The urgency in his voice caught Sophia off guard, and she instinctively reached for the door.

The moment she opened it, Bruce darted inside.

"You—"

Sophia barely got out a word before Bruce clamped a hand over her mouth and kicked the door shut behind him.

Realizing the danger she was in, Sophia struggled desperately, but her strength was no match for Bruce's burly frame.

With a slight effort, Bruce pinned her to the ground. He quickly pulled a strip of cloth from his pocket, gagging her tightly, then bound her hands and feet.

Having subdued Sophia, Bruce let out a sigh of relief.

He scanned the room briefly, then headed straight for the kitchen.

When he opened the fridge, he found chocolate cake, milk, and other food items. Grabbing them, he began devouring the cake with his hands, stuffing it into his mouth in large chunks.

When the cake made him choke, he gulped down milk straight from the carton.

One would have thought he hadn't eaten in days when watching him wolf down the food.

In truth, Bruce hadn't had a proper meal in two days. Since the police issued his wanted notice, he had been on the run.

Bruce felt rejuvenated after finishing the entire chocolate cake and a large carton of milk.

He turned his gaze to Sophia, bound and gagged on the floor.

Walking over, he brushed aside her disheveled hair, which revealed her delicate features.

Sophia's stunning beauty made Bruce's eyes light up.

As the saying went, "When full, one's thoughts turned to lust".

Now that he was fed and refreshed, dark desires began to surface.

From behind his back, Bruce pulled out a folding knife and waved it in front of Sophia's face. Then, with a quick motion, he cut the cloth binding her legs.

While grabbing her by the arm, he yanked her to her feet and said menacingly, "Don't move. And don't even think about running. If you try, I'll kill you!"

With that, he dragged her toward the kitchen table.

Meanwhile, Julian stepped out of the building, glancing around.

Not far away, he spotted a tangle of wires and immediately walked over, snapping off two pieces.

Then, he found a brick nearby and used it to flatten the ends of the wires.

After examining his handiwork, he nodded in satisfaction before returning to the building and quickly ascending to the third floor.

Outside Apartment 301, he gently tested the doorknob. As expected, it was locked.

Julian retrieved the two pieces of wire with practiced ease. He inserted the flattened end into the keyhole and carefully manipulated it, listening intently for clicks.

Ten years in prison had taught him many skills—lockpicking was one of them.

Inside the apartment, Bruce had pinned Sophia facedown on the dining table.

His lust-filled gaze lingered on her curves as his breathing grew heavier. Pressing against her back, he growled in her ear, "Don't move. It'll be over soon. If you don't want to die, stay still!"

Even though Sophia had never experienced something like this, she understood all too well what was about to happen.

There was no way she would submit to him.

She tried to scream, but her mouth was tightly gagged, leaving her no way to call for help. All she could do was struggle with all her might, but her hands were bound behind her back.

Her resistance made it difficult for Bruce to undo her belt despite his repeated attempts.

Frustrated, he cursed angrily. He grabbed her hair and slammed her head against the table twice.

Sophia's struggles weakened immediately.

While holding her pale neck down with one hand, Bruce used the other to unfasten her belt. Just as he was about to pull down her pants, the seemingly subdued Sophia suddenly lashed out with her foot, stomping down hard.

Her heel landed squarely on Bruce's foot. The pain nearly made him scream. Enraged, his fury boiled over.

Gripping the knife tightly, he raised it high and aimed for Sophia's back.

At that critical moment, the apartment door unexpectedly swung open.

A young man, looking no older than 17 or 18, stepped in.

"Well, well, Bruce Howard," he said casually. "Busy, aren't we?"

Chapter 4

Julian's casual greeting was so natural that it made Bruce feel like the person who had entered was an old friend.

Instinctively, he asked, "Who are you?"

"The one who's sending you to hell!" Julian replied.

"Damn it!"

Bruce exploded in anger. He released Sophia and charged straight at Julian.

Despite seeing Bruce storm toward him with the folding knife, Julian remained completely calm.

Julian had seen far worse than Bruce, having endured a decade in prison and fought countless brutal battles in 15 years on the streets.

Before Bruce could get close, Julian swung his arm. His jacket flew off and landed perfectly over Bruce's head, blinding him.

In that instant, Julian closed the distance, grabbing Bruce's knife-wielding wrist and twisting it outward with a joint lock.

Bruce let out a cry of pain, his hand reflexively opening and causing the blade to drop to the floor.

Julian didn't stop there. He aimed a series of heavy punches at Bruce's head, which was still covered by his jacket.

The sound of impacts echoed through the room.

Sophia, lying on the dining table, saw everything clearly. The young man seemed to shine like a beacon of hope at that moment.

After sliding off the table and onto the floor, she wriggled toward the dropped blade. With her back to it, she managed to grab the knife and began sawing at the bindings on her wrists.

Meanwhile, Julian pummeled Bruce's head with over 20 punches.

But he underestimated Bruce's resilience and overestimated his own current strength—after all, he was still just a teenager.

With a furious roar, Bruce thrust his hands forward, grabbed Julian's waist, and rammed his head into Julian's face.

Julian's nose immediately gushed blood, forcing him to stagger backward.

Before he could regain his footing, Bruce charged again, ramming his head into Julian's chest.

Julian let out a muffled groan as the impact sent him tumbling into the living room.

Bruce ripped off the jacket that covered his head and let out a beastly roar. He charged into the living room and delivered several vicious kicks to Julian, who curled into a ball to shield his head and torso.

As Bruce began to tire, Julian seized the moment. Grabbing Bruce's leg, he yanked hard, causing Bruce to lose balance and fall flat on his back. Julian pounced, pinning Bruce down and landing a flurry of punches on his face.

Within seconds, Bruce's nose and mouth were gushing blood.

But Bruce wasn't one to go down quietly. Ignoring the pain, he lifted his knees sharply, striking Julian and knocking him off.

After scrambling to his feet, Bruce grabbed Julian by the shirt and hurled him across the room.

Julian's body crashed into the glass door separating the living room from the balcony.

The glass shattered as Julian fell onto the balcony, his head slamming against the wall with a dull thud.

A warm sensation trickled down the back of his head. Without touching it, Julian knew he was bleeding.

Bruce stormed onto the balcony and delivered several brutal kicks to Julian, who lay prone on the floor.

At that moment, Sophia, having freed herself, charged at Bruce and drove the blade deep into his lower back.

Bruce let out a muffled scream, staggering as he grabbed his bleeding back.

Enraged, he spun around, grabbing Sophia by the neck and hurling her toward the balcony window.

The glass shattered as Sophia toppled through, headfirst.

She began to fall from the third floor while upside down. Even at that height, a direct landing on the concrete below would be fatal.

Julian mustered all his strength at the critical moment, lunged forward, and grabbed Sophia by the ankle.

She dangled precariously outside the balcony, her head pointed toward the ground.

Upon seeing this, Bruce roared in fury. Without hesitation, he raised his fist and began raining punches on Julian's head.

Julian, while clutching Sophia's ankle with one hand, couldn't defend himself. The blows split his brow and lips, blood streaming down his face.

"You're both going to die!" Bruce snarled, his voice full of rage.

He crouched and grabbed Julian's legs, preparing to heave him over the balcony.

But just as Bruce began to lift him, Julian's free hand lashed out.

Bruce didn't even see what happened. All he felt was a sudden coldness on his throat, followed by a choking sensation and the metallic taste of blood.

Instinctively, Bruce clutched at his neck. Blood gushed through his fingers, streaming uncontrollably.

In Julian's hand was a jagged shard of glass, now stained with Bruce's blood.

Julian's strength was completely drained after delivering the final blow to Bruce. With the force of Sophia's weight pulling downward, his upper body leaned precariously out of the window.

One hand clung tightly to Sophia's ankle, while the other gripped the window frame with all his might to keep himself from falling.

Though Sophia was hanging upside down, she could feel the guy trembling all over—he couldn't hold on much longer.

After forcing herself to stay calm, she shouted, "Let me go! Otherwise, we'll both fall!"

Julian's vision was already blurry, and his surroundings were doubling. While gritting his teeth, he forced out a response through clenched teeth, "No!"

This time, he was determined to change his destiny. And Sophia was the key. She had to survive.

Just as Julian's strength was about to give out and his hand began to slip from the window frame, a sudden, powerful force grabbed him from behind and pulled him back.

Julian turned his head weakly and vaguely saw a group of police uniforms.

The police were here!

Moments later, Julian could no longer hold on. Completely exhausted, his vision went dark, and he lost consciousness.

When Julian woke up, it was the next morning.

Everything around him was white, and he was lying in a hospital bed.

"You're awake!"

A nurse administering his IV smiled at him.

Julian blinked a few times as his consciousness gradually returned.

He had been reborn 25 years into the past, and it seemed he had successfully saved Sophia from Bruce.

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"Eight hours!" the nurse replied.

"Oh, how is she?"

"Who?"

"The girl I saved?"

"She's fine. She's in the room next to yours."

Thank goodness he had truly managed to save Sophia. This time, his life's trajectory had already changed!

"You've suffered some serious injuries. Get some rest!"

The nurse secured his IV and left the room.

The door opened shortly after she left, and a middle-aged couple walked in.

Chapter 5

The middle-aged man appeared to be in his early 50s. With a square face, thick eyebrows, and deep-set eyes, he exuded a commanding presence. His broad shoulders and sturdy build made him seem both dignified and intimidating.

Beside him stood a middle-aged woman who looked around 40. She was stunningly beautiful, dressed with elegance and poise. Words like "graceful" and "regal" would not be exaggerations to describe her.

"Young man, you're awake!" the man said.

The moment Julian saw the middle-aged man, he recognized him immediately. It was James Henry, the state governor of Jacksonburg.

Although Julian was inwardly startled, his expression betrayed nothing. He feigned confusion and asked, "Who are you?"

James smiled and asked, "Young man, you don't recognize me?"

Julian shook his head in feigned puzzlement.

The elegant woman beside James chuckled softly and gave him a playful look. "You're not some celebrity. Why would everyone recognize you?"

She turned to Julian with a warm smile. "Julian, may I call you that?"

Julian looked surprised and nodded blankly.

"I'm Mabel Baldwin, Sophia Henry's mother."

"And Sophia Henry is?"

"She's the girl you saved last night!"

Julian made a face of realization.

"Mrs. Henry!" he blurted, instinctively trying to sit up.

But Mabel gently pressed him back down and said softly, "You're still injured. Lie down and rest. I have to thank you. You didn't just save Sophia; you saved our entire family!"

Julian quickly replied, "You're being too kind, Mrs. Henry. In that situation, anyone would have done the same."

Mabel shook her head.

The assailant was a nationally wanted fugitive, a dangerous criminal with multiple murder charges. For Julian to act so decisively, knowing the risk fully, was extraordinary.

"You're a very brave young man. I must thank you once again," Mabel said.

"I… I just—"

Mabel opened her handbag, pulled out a bank card, and placed it on the pillow beside Julian. "This is a token of appreciation from our family."

Upon seeing this, Julian quickly picked up the card and tried to hand it back. "Mrs. Henry, I can't accept this!" he said firmly.

"You must take it!"

"I didn't save her for money," Julian said, his gaze clear and unwavering.

He was telling the truth—saving Sophia had been entirely about changing his own destiny.

Mabel was amused by his stubbornness. She pointed to James and asked, "Julian, do you know who he is?"

Julian shook his head.

"He's the state governor of Jacksonburg!"

Julian deliberately put on a look of exaggerated shock.

Mabel firmly placed the card in Julian's hand. "I know you're a smart kid, so you must accept this token of gratitude. If you don't, my husband won't be able to rest easily."

Saving Sophia was an immense favor to the Henry family.

If Julian didn't accept their token of thanks now, it would leave a lingering debt of gratitude. In the future, if Julian were to ask James for something unethical or illegal, James would face a dilemma—should he help or refuse him?

James couldn't afford to owe anyone such a significant favor as a high-ranking official governing an entire province. Protecting his political future was his top priority.

Though Julian was only 18, his mind wasn't that of an ordinary teenager. He had endured a decade in prison and another decade of rough battles in the underworld. He understood human nature and social dynamics better than most.

At this moment, he was genuinely impressed by Mabel's tactful approach.

She was sharp and thorough, leaving no room for error.

Julian swallowed hard and placed the bank card beside his pillow. He said seriously, "Mrs. Henry, I'll accept this card."

Mabel's smile deepened. She gently patted Julian on the shoulder and said, "Even though you've accepted our family's gratitude, remember this—the Henry family will always owe you a debt of thanks, one that cannot be erased."

Julian nodded firmly and said, "Okay, Mrs. Henry."

Mabel smiled and asked, "Is there anything else you need help with? Anything at all?"

Julian shook his head. "No."

"Really? Nothing my husband could help you with?" she pressed on while pointing deliberately at James, who stood quietly to the side.

James chuckled softly, his demeanor seeming both kind and approachable.

Julian continued to shake his head. "No."

After a brief pause, he added, "Even if there were, I don't think Mr. Henry could help with it."

His words caught James by surprise. In Jacksonburg, was there really something beyond his ability to handle?

Before James could respond, there was a knock at the door. Moments later, the door opened, and three police officers entered.

Upon seeing James, the officers immediately saluted. "Mr. Henry!"

James acknowledged them with a slight nod.

One of the officers stepped forward, his expression serious. "Mr. Henry, we heard that Julian Johnson is awake. There are some details about the case we need to clarify with him."

James nodded in understanding with a smile on his face. "Alright, I won't interfere with your work."

Then, turning to Julian, he said, "Julian, we'll be heading back now. I'll have Mrs. Henry bring you lunch around."

Julian quickly protested, "Mr. Henry, that's too much trouble."

James smiled but said nothing further, leaving with Mabel.

The three police officers exchanged glances, their eyes betraying a hint of envy.

To have the state governor personally deliver lunch—what an honor!

But their envy was futile. After all, it wasn't every day someone got the chance to save the governor's daughter.

The lead officer gave Julian a friendly smile and said, "Julian, no need to be nervous. We're just here to gather details about the incident. By the way, I'm Zack Fisher, captain of the city's criminal investigation unit."

"Captain Zack," Julian responded smoothly with a nod.

"Quite familiar with the title, huh?" Zack joked lightly. He continued, "Did you make the 911 call before the incident?"

Julian nodded. "Yes."

"You knew he was a wanted fugitive, a murderer, and yet you still dared to intervene?"

"I wasn't thinking about that at the time. I saw Bruce committing the crime, and I just acted in the heat of the moment!"

"How did you get into Sophia's apartment?" Zack asked.

"At that time, Bruce had only shut the door; he didn't lock it. I just opened it and went inside."

Julian carefully avoided mentioning that he had picked the lock. It wouldn't make sense for a recent high school graduate to know how to do that.

Besides, Bruce was dead, and dead men told no tales.

Sophia, at the time of the assault, had been in such a state of shock that she couldn't possibly have noticed such details either.