That night, the streets were alive with dazzling lights and the energy of nightlife. Small groups of drunk people stumbled along, supporting each other as they laughed and swayed.
In Northvale, it was rare to see anyone out at night, which worked perfectly for me. It made it easier to avoid Vincent.
I arrived in front of Mary's house and, after confirming there was no one around, knocked on her door.
Mary opened it. When she saw me, her expression froze in shock. A voice called out from inside, "Who is it?"
"Oh, just a college friend," Mary replied, her tone casual, but she made no move to invite me in.
I had planned to talk to her properly, but since it clearly wasn't convenient, I decided to keep it brief.
Taking out 2,000 dollars in cash, I handed it to her and said, "Thank you fo
