CHAPTER 51
The silence in the car was thick, broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional hiss of tires against the wet asphalt. Chen’s grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles pale against the leather. His eyes flicked between the road and me, his jaw clenched with a mix of frustration and worry.
I sat beside him, shivering despite the warm air swirling from the dashboard vents. My heart hadn’t settled, still thudding like a drum in my chest. My hands trembled, not from the cold—but from everything that had just happened.
“You’re shaking,” he said finally, his voice low. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. “No. Just… rattled.”
His hand released the gearshift and reached over to squeeze mine. It was gentle but firm, grounding. “You scared the hell out of me, Uche. Wh
