"Jefferson's off the hook for now,

" Conrad's words threw me for a loop., He went on to clarify,

"On the surface, Club Q is all about billiards, but in reality, it's a hotbed for betting scams. They targeted Jefferson initially to secure a win streak in their rigged games and rake in the profits.

", I'd heard of betting scandals, but I was shocked to find them infiltrating the world of billiards.,

"They can't touch Jefferson now. They've cooked up a new scheme: betting on Jefferson to win, making him the unwitting pawn in their game. They lose on the surface but win big behind the scenes,

" Conrad explained, sending shivers down my spine. It was jarring to think that a simple game of billiards could be twisted into a tool for such dark dealings., Jefferson always said he played billiards for the love of the game and dreamed of showcasing our talent globally. If he knew he was being used like this, I couldn't imagine how devastated he'd be., I felt a knot in my chest.

"Does Jefferson know about this?

",

"He's in the dark. If he knew, he'd never play again,

" Conrad paused, adding gravely,

"And if he quit, he'd be in mortal danger.

", I was stunned. Conrad's tone grew heavier,

"Felicia, don't think that just because Ernest saved him, he's out of the woods. This is all part of their twisted game.

", The chill in the air deepened. Ernest had never mentioned this. Was he unaware?,

"Felicia, with the game just two days away, they can't afford any slip-ups. But Brown's an unpredictable factor. His fans are beyond Club Q's control. To ensure the game goes smoothly, they might target you, using you as leverage without necessarily harming you.

" My heart tightened,

"Are they trying to prevent Ernest from stepping in again?

", Conrad shook his head gently,

"You're not just a pawn to control Ernest. You're also a means to force Jefferson to play.

",

"But I...

" I struggled for words,

"Ernest and I are no longer together, and Jefferson and I are just friends.

", Conrad's gaze deepened, followed by a puzzling smile., I was confused,

"Why are you smiling?

",

"Felicia, you still see the world in such pure terms,

" Conrad's comment felt more like a jab than praise., I frowned,

"What's that supposed to mean? Spit it out.

", He smirked,

"Nothing much. Just that even if you're 'just friends' with Jefferson, he wouldn't ignore your safety. Besides... you always call him Jefferson.

" , His explanation stopped me from overthinking, but I understood his underlying message: I was in danger, whether from Brown's fans or Club Q. Falling into their hands would spell disaster for both Ernest and Jefferson. , Weighing my options, I knew this wasn't the time for stubbornness. I sighed,

"Is it safer to stay at Dustin's place, or should I leave the country?

",

"Staying with Dustin is your best bet. It's risky to move around now, with Brown's fans potentially anywhere,

" Conrad advised, pulling out his phone to show me a screenshot. ,

"You've been targeted in Brown's fan group, with a bounty of three million dollars on your head.

", I let out a bitter laugh, saying,

"I didn't realize I was worth that much.

",

"Nobody saw this storm you've stirred up coming,

" Conrad's gaze was intense., I scoffed,

"Aren't you being a bit dramatic?

",

"You might not believe it now, but you'll see,

" Conrad finished, then asked again,

"Felicia, are you ready to come with me?

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