GOLDEN HEADLINES

40: Red Handed

"NO WAY"

Jungkook sat in the passenger seat, eyes focused ahead as Zaiden drove, clearly distracted.

Jungkook was the first to break it. His voice was sharp and cutting, each word laced with frustration.

"You're hiding something, Zaiden. Don't think I can't see right through you."

Zaiden didn't even flinch. His gaze remained locked on the passing streetlights.

"I told you already. Leave Mabel out of this. She has nothing to do with it."

"Oh, really?" Jungkook's voice dropped, cold and dangerous.

"Because the more I dig into this case, the more her name keeps coming up. Why is that, Zaiden? Why is Mabel tied to Kairan's mess?"

Zaiden snapped his head toward Jungkook, his anger barely contained.

"Watch your mouth," he warned, his tone low and threatening. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know enough, I know you're keeping secrets. I know you're protecting her, even if it means risking everything." Jungkook said.

Zaiden scoffed. "You don't understand. Mabel's not involved in the way you think. She's—"

"Zaiden! I just need you to watch over Mabel. Listen there's a chance she could be linked to it, I'm damn sure!"

Zaiden glanced at him, his grip tightening on the wheel. "You said this Million times!"

"I know..We found Alessia's uniform in her closet. Mabel could be more involved than we thought." Jungkook's tone was stern.

"I'm not asking you to just protect her, Zaiden. I'm asking you to keep her safe from herself. She might be in over her head."

Zaiden's jaw clenched, his voice low and defensive. "I love her. I can't just... I can't see her like that."

Jungkook sighed, knowing Zaiden wasn't seeing the full picture. "Love won't protect her if she's on the wrong side of this. Just keep an eye on her, for both your sakes."

Zaiden didn't respond, his love for Mabel blinding him to the danger ahead.

Jungkook could only hope he'd come to see the truth before it was too late, he turned his face.

Jungkook's eyes narrowed as he saw a familiar figure in the distance, moving swiftly toward a building.

His heart skipped a beat.

Without warning, he slammed his hand against Zaiden's arm, causing the car to jerk to a stop.

"Stop the car!" Jungkook commanded, voice tight with urgency.

Zaiden braked hard, glancing at him in confusion. "What's going on?"

Jungkook's gaze was locked on the figure heading toward the building in the dim moonlight.

"Look," he pointed, his finger trembling with disbelief.

Zaiden's eyes followed the direction of his finger, and he froze. There, walking briskly toward the entrance of Alessia's news network building, was

Grace.

But what caught their attention wasn't just her presence—it was the uniform she was wearing.

Alessia's uniform.

Jungkook's pulse quickened. "What the fuck is she doing there, wearing that?"

Zaiden's grip on the wheel tightened. "You don't think—"