Chapter 158

It was nearly three in the afternoon when Joseph finally stepped out of the traffic division building. The sunlight outside was harsh, almost mocking. He looked drained, jaw tight, shoulders stiff, brows pulled together so deeply they carved a hard line down the center of his forehead. The kind of expression that came from realizing, too late, that someone stronger had decided to intervene. Alyssa followed a step behind him, eyes red and swollen from crying. “I don’t understand,” she said, voice shaking. “If he wanted to let it go, fine, but you’re his cousin. Why would he push things this far?” She wrapped her arms around herself, still shaken. Earlier, she had believed this would be simple. A little money. A quick settlement. Done. Instead, traffic officers had appeared outside the hospital like they’d been waiting. Calm. Unmoved. Immune to threats, names, or status. Joseph had tried everything. His identity. His connections. Even pressure. None of it worked. They were taken straight