The air in the office was suffocating.
The man's mocking smile faded into something sharper, colder.
"Palin, you always see too much," he said in a low, echoing voice.
"That's why you need to be removed from the board."
Palin's heart lurched.
She saw his hand move beneath the desk—toward something metallic.
A knife.
Her pupils contracted. She reacted before even Manida did.
"Mani!" she shouted.
Before the word finished, a flash of steel sliced through the air.
The man lunged from behind the desk, knife glinting with murderous intent.
Manida froze for a split second—then instinctively moved to shield Palin.
But Palin shoved her back hard.
"Lin!"
"Don't move!" Palin's voice cut through the chaos, cold and commanding.
The blade missed by inches, tearing her sleeve. The tension in the room exploded.
Despite her frail body, Palin stood firm, blocking Manida with everything she had.
Her voice trembled but held steady.
"If you want her, you'll have to go through me first."
The man sneered. "Still pretending to be a hero? You should've stayed down."
He swung the knife again.
Palin had no time to retreat. Weak but resolute, she caught his wrist mid-swing, forcing the blade inches from Manida's chest.
"Lin, trust me," she whispered hoarsely, gripping his arm with all her fading strength.
It wasn't bravado—it was love in its rawest, most desperate form.
The standoff seemed endless.
Then the man hissed through his teeth:
"You protect her? Once you're gone, she'll have nothing!"
Just as he wrenched his arm free, footsteps thundered outside.
"Stop!"
Security guards and professors burst in, shattering the deadlock.
The man jerked away, trying to escape, but Palin clutched his coat, dragging him down with her last ounce of strength.
"Don't let him get away!" she screamed.
Chaos erupted.
Moments later, he was pinned to the ground and disarmed.
Manida dropped to her knees beside Palin, trembling.
"Lin, are you insane? You're still recovering!"
Palin leaned weakly against her shoulder, pale as paper, yet smiling faintly.
"As long as you're safe… it's worth it."
Manida's heart shattered completely.
Palin hadn't been reckless—
She had been ready to die for her.