Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Not too far off, this dude in a dark blue tracksuit was strutting our way. Yep, it was Faris.

Michael's anger was gone. Now he was grinning at Faris like they were best buds.

Faris rolled up, threw an arm around Michael's shoulder, and Michael gave him a playful punch. Looked like these two were tight.

The second I spotted Faris, my gut twisted, and I had this crazy urge to bolt.

I'd never forget how he once held a knife to me, forcing Ethan to sign some shady deal.

"I treat all my students the same. You're an elusive man, I almost thought you quit driving."

So, Faris was here to learn driving too? Weird.

A guy like him, knee-deep in the underworld, not knowing how to drive? Nah, that didn't add up. How else would he flex?

Faris shot a wicked grin. "Go ahead, roast me all you want. I'm a man, I can handle it. But take it easy on the ladies, they're shy." Wait, was Faris sticking up for me?

"Alright, let's roll. Get in the car."

Michael popped open the door of a nearby training car and slid into the passenger seat while Faris hopped into the driver's seat.

I figured he wasn't talking to me, so I just stood there.

"Hey, you getting in or just gonna stand there like a statue?" Michael barked from the passenger seat.

I bit my lip, not thrilled. But Michael's intense stare made me cave. I opened the back door and climbed in.

There should be at least four students in the car, right? But nope, just us three.

I tried to chill, thinking it was cool. At least Michael was there. Faris wouldn't dare pull anything with him around.

Michael told Faris to drive out of the school and hit the road.

I sat in the back, nerves jangling. I caught Faris checking me out in the rearview mirror, a creepy smile playing on his lips.

To me, he was a straight-up criminal, so I was on high alert.

Halfway through, Michael told Faris to pull over and got out. "I gotta check on my kid. You guys keep driving. Faris, let Emily take the wheel later. She needs practice, so help her out."

No way did I want to be alone in a car with Faris.

As soon as Michael left, I tried to bail too. But the door was locked, and Faris floored it.

"Let me out!" I yelled, yanking at the door.

Faris chuckled and lit up a cigarette. "What? Scared of me?"

How could I not be scared of a guy who once kidnapped me and held a knife to my throat?

I kept my mouth shut.

He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, grinning. "Emily, we're both learning to drive from the same instructor. It's like fate or something. Michael said I should guide you. Don't worry, I'll do my best." Faris sped out of the city and up a twisty mountain road. Judging by his driving, he was no rookie.

A million terrifying thoughts raced through my mind, and the more I thought, the more freaked out I got.

Halfway up the mountain, he suddenly stopped the car and turned to me. "Come on, sit in the front. I'll show you some tricks."

I shot him a wary look and refused.

He wasn't in a rush; he just smoked and waited.

I held out for a while but finally snorted. "You're a newbie yourself. What can you teach me?"

Faris was taken aback for a second, then burst out laughing. "Emily, you're something else. Still scared because of last time? Let me tell you, my driving skills are as good as Michael's. I had a license." "I don't believe you," I said, rolling my eyes.

I didn't move to the front. After finishing his cigarette, he tossed the butt and restarted the car.

"I did have a license. But it got revoked two years ago for a minor incident. Can't retake the test for two years. Compared to me, you guys are total newbies."

I almost rolled my eyes out of my head and didn't bother responding.

Faris drove to the top of the mountain and finally stopped.

I'd been to this viewpoint before; Ethan had taken me here on a bike ride. It was also where Ethan and I first made love.

"Is your butt sore? Get out and stretch." With that, he opened the door and got out.

I stayed in the car for a bit, cautiously watching his every move.

Faris strolled to the edge of the viewpoint and leaned on the railing, looking down.

His warm smiles now were a stark contrast to the cold aura he carried that night. I figured as long as the thing with Yanis was unresolved, he probably wouldn't do anything to me. He still needed Ethan to get Yanis out. With that in mind, I got out of the car.

But I kept my distance from Faris, still on guard. What if he had some nasty plan to push me off the cliff?

His smile was like a mask; who knew what kind of face was hiding underneath?

I mean, a guy who's kidnapped me can't be a good dude, right?

He turned his head, smirking, and reached into his pocket. The small object he pulled out clicked, revealing a shiny blade.

My heart nearly stopped, and I stumbled back, my legs turning to jelly. "What are you doing?"

Faris seemed to enjoy scaring the crap out of me, his grin widening.

Then he walked to the back of the car, popped the trunk, grabbed two apples, and sat on the stone steps nearby, peeling them.

So he was just peeling apples?

Thinking back on my reaction, I felt both annoyed and frustrated.

Hadn't I already figured out he wouldn't dare harm me now?

"Want one?" he asked, holding up a peeled apple.

I turned my face away, refusing to be bribed.

He laughed and walked over to me.

This time, I forced myself not to back down.

But Faris just walked past me, leaned on the railing, and said with a smile, "Don't worry. This isn't the poisoned apple from Snow White."

I sneered. "A cold-blooded guy like you would read fairy tales? Don't you feel ashamed?"

He took a bite of the apple, his gaze lingering on me, the smile slowly fading from his face.

Then he smirked again, a smile with an unclear meaning.

"No one is born cold-blooded. Everyone starts warm. It's the world, and human nature is too cold. That's why the warm blood slowly cools. So-called cold-bloodedness is something that's forced upon us." Faris's words had a deep meaning.

It seemed he also had a painful past that had forced him to become who he was now.

I didn't say anything. He leaned on the railing, eating the apple. But after a few bites, he seemed to lose his appetite and casually tossed the half-eaten apple down the mountain.

The air grew still with silence.

Actually, putting aside my preconceived notions about him, he seemed like someone with a story when he was quiet.

While I was lost in thought, Faris suddenly looked at me, smiling.

"Are you dissatisfied with me?" he asked.

I snorted. "You kidnapped me, and you expect me to be satisfied with you? Should I thank you?"

He smiled without saying anything.

I continued, unable to hold back. "You really are shameless, asking for $150,000 because we couldn't save your brother. Why? We don't owe you anything."

His gaze lingered, and then he lightly smiled.

"Is that what he told you?"

I raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that said I had seen through his greed long ago.

He suddenly moved in closer, inching towards me. I backed up until my back hit the railing, nowhere left to go.

Faris placed his hands on either side of me, boxing me in.

I tried to keep my cool and said, "Get away from me."

He stared me down. "You got one thing wrong. Let me tell you, the Windsor family owes me, and it's not something $150,000 can fix."

I was stunned into silence.

He laughed. "Scared? This is just the beginning."

At that moment, I vaguely understood he was here to collect a debt. Later, I realized some debts could never be repaid.

After a while, he said it was time to head back. I felt relieved. But then he said I should drive back.

"Michael said you need practice too. I'll guide you. You can't just come along for nothing, right?"

Without waiting for my response, he got into the passenger seat.

I stood there, struggling for a long time before finally opening the door and getting into the driver's seat.

I had been learning for a while. I could handle the basics, and I had driven on the road with Michael before. Even if I had to drive at a snail's pace, I would get down the mountain. And from then on, I would avoid this terrifying man as much as possible.

No, it would be best if I never saw him again.

He turned on the car's music, leaned back in his seat, and crossed his arms, looking completely relaxed.

I couldn't stand his attitude, so I deliberately asked, "Aren't you afraid my poor driving skills will send us flying off the cliff?"

He laughed nonchalantly. "With a beautiful woman for company, it wouldn't be lonely. Besides, compared to you, my life is worth nothing."

I was annoyed and stopped talking, starting the car and driving down the mountain.

Faris might be indifferent to life and death, but I was nervous. I admitted I was afraid of dying and wouldn't joke around with my life.

After driving for a while, the car was moving steadily down the mountain at a speed slightly faster than a snail's pace, and the tension eased a bit. Suddenly, my phone rang.

"Keep your eyes on the road, don't swerve." Faris's voice suddenly pierced my ears.

I took out my phone and saw that Ethan was calling. I didn't dare answer while driving and was hesitating when Faris snatched the phone from me. He looked at the screen and immediately smiled maliciously.

I was terrified he would answer, so I reached out to grab it back, completely unaware that the car was veering towards the cliff.