I didn’t leave the file where it was. I took it with me.

Not openly. Not obviously. But Just… folded it closed, set it aside, and carried it with me like it belonged in my hands.

Because right now—

Information was survival. It was key.

My room felt smaller than before.

Or maybe I was just noticing it more.

The desk. The chair. The blank notebook sitting off to the side like it had been waiting for me.

I sat. And Didn’t hesitate. Didn’t second-guess it.

And for a second—

I just stared at the page.

“…think,” I muttered under my breath.

Not everything. Not all at once. Start small. Start with what matters. My grip tightened slightly around the pen.

Then—

I wrote.

Adrian Vale.

The name looked heavier on paper.

More real.

More dangerous.

What do I remember?

I tapped the pen once against the page.

Then Twice.

Then started again.

Early timeline:

- Already active

- Not yet connected to FL (female lead)

- Operating independently

My handwriting slowed. Careful and Deliberate.

Because this part mattered.

A lot.

Key traits:

- Distrustful

- Calculated

- Does not act without reason

I paused.

My jaw tightened slightly.

Except—

That wasn’t entirely true anymore.

Not after that day.

“…you assume it was a mistake.” He had said.

No.

Something was already different.

I underlined the line once.

Harder than necessary.

Deviation:

- Injury may NOT have been accidental

A beat.

Then I exhaled quietly, In the novel this injury wasn't mentioned. Am I too early in the novel timeline?

“Great,” I muttered. “So it’s already off-script.” And the female lead still has time to appear. Ugghh, just great.

That wasn’t good.

That wasn’t—

No! Focus. Keep going.

Future events (original):

- Meets FL (planned encounter)

- Gains trust

- Betrayal later → death

My pen stilled.

Just for a second.

Then moved again.

Faster this time.

New Goal:

~Prevent meeting with FL  

~Gain trust first  

~ Redirect decisions

~ Become his friend or brother( Getting closer : means more opportunities to save him.)

There.

That was the core of it.

Simple and Clear.

It was Impossible to mess it up.

I leaned back slightly, staring at the page.

“But…how?”

Because knowing wasn’t enough. I needed a method. A way in.

A way to make him—

Well.... not make him but at least be more open to me.

My fingers tapped once against the desk.

Then again.

Then— his words came to mind.

“…someone who would be afraid to touch me.”

My breath caught slightly.

Touch.

That again.

That reaction.

That—

My pen moved before I fully thought it through.

Observation:

- Reacts to physical proximity

- Not used to contact

- Does not reject it

- Might be touch-starved?

I stared at the words.

Then added—

- Possible entry point

A slow breath left me.

“…so that’s it,” I murmured.

Not charm. Not manipulation. Not whatever the female lead had done—

But Something simpler.

Something he wasn’t used to.

Something—

Real.

But—

My pen hovered again.

Because that alone wasn’t enough.

Not for someone like him.

I needed more.

Backup plan:

- Study FL behavior

- Replicate if necessary

- Adjust based on response

There. Safe. Calculated and Controlled.

My shoulders eased just slightly.

Not because it was a good plan.

But because it was a plan.

And right now—

That was enough.

A knock broke the silence.

Not sharp.

Not urgent.

Just—

Timed.

I didn’t answer right away.

Didn’t move.

Because something in my chest had already started tightening.

That feeling again.

That sense of—

This is it.

The door opened anyway.

Of course it did.

She stepped in, closing it behind her more carefully than usual.

Her expression—

Different.

Not just concerned. But also Focused. Serious.

“…your timing is terrible,” I muttered, not looking up. “I just figured something out.”

“…then you’re going to want to hear this,” she replied.

That made me look.

Because her tone—

It wasn’t casual.

It wasn’t routine.

It was— emotionless.

It must be Important.

“What?” I asked.

A beat.

Then—

“…word reached him.”

My grip tightened around the pen. Him?! Who is him?! 

Slowly—

I set it down.

“…him?,” I repeated.

Even though I already had an inkling to who it could be.

“Adrian Vale,” she said quietly.

Of course it was him. Of course it did.

Of course it—

“He asked about you.” About me?!

The room went still.

Completely.

Utterly.

My pulse kicked once. Hard. Did I have tachycardia? With The way it's happened twice now, is concerning.

“…what?” I asked again in a daze.

Her gaze didn’t waver.

“Not directly,” she added. “But enough for it to come back around.”

That wasn’t better. That was worse. Much worse.

Because that meant—

He noticed.

That day must've mattered, just when I finally have a plan?!

“…what did you do?” she asked suddenly.

The question hit harder than it should have. Because I didn’t have a clean answer. I didn't know either.

“I did my job,” I said flatly.

She didn’t react, Didn’t accept it. But also Didn’t push it either.

Just—

Watched.

“…that’s not all,” she said after a moment.

My stomach dropped slightly. Of course it wasn’t. What else could it possibly be?

“There’s movement,” she continued. “Something bigger. My source picked up chatter this morning.” She has a source?!

My grip tightened slightly on the edge of the desk.

“…what kind of movement?”

A pause.

Then—

“An attempt.” At what?

My mind went blank.

Just for a second.

Then everything snapped back into place.

Sharp. Clear. Loud.

I looked down to what I had written.

Future events (original start to the novel plot):

- Targeted ambush  

- Escalation point  

- Leads to FL involvement meeting

My chair scraped slightly against the floor as I stood.

Too fast. Too sudden.

“Where?” I asked.

Her brows pulled together slightly.

“…you know something.”

Not a question. A statement. But I ignored it.

“Where?” I repeated.

Because if I was right—

If this was that—

Then—

“…tonight,” she said slowly. “Near the east district.”

My chest tightened.

This was it.

This was the first major shift.

The first real—

“…it’s starting,” I muttered.

Not to her.

Not really.

But she heard it anyway.

Of course she did.

“…what is?” she asked.

I didn’t answer. Because I already knew. And now—

I didn’t just have a plan. I had a timeline. And that meant—

I had a chance.

“…I need to go out tonight,” I said instead.

Her expression changed immediately. Sharp and Alarmed.

“No.”

Too fast. Too certain. I looked at her. Calm and Steady.

I already had Decided.

“I don’t have a choice.” I whispered softly.

Because if I did nothing—

Then everything would play out exactly the same.

And this time—

I wouldn’t be too late.

Not again.