“Well then, I should be going. I’ll come to see you again next time.”

“Alright.”

When Hadley emerged from the visitation room, she discovered the same prison guard standing there waiting for her.

“Officer.” Hadley felt a flicker of surprise.

“Is everything alright?”

“All finished?” The guard offered her a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious… I’m here to personally escort you out.”

Hadley appeared genuinely puzzled.

“That’s not necessary—I remember the way out perfectly well.”

“It’s perfectly fine.” The guard insisted with quiet determination.

“Let’s proceed.”

“Thank you.” Finding herself unable to politely decline, she fell into step beside him.

As they walked side by side through the corridor, the guard cast occasional sideways glances in her direction.

Hadley’s curiosity intensified with each passing moment.

“Officer, is there something specific you’d like to discuss with me?”

The guard cleared his throat with obvious nervousness.

“I was just surprised that you knew Mr. Gomez. If I may ask, what exactly is your relationship with him?”

Mr. Gomez? Who could that possibly be?

Hadley blinked with genuine bewilderment.

“Officer, who exactly are you referring to?”

The guard appeared genuinely taken aback.

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“You honestly don’t know who I’m referring to? It’s… the distinguished gentleman from earlier who specifically requested that I make an exception and permit your visit.”

Hadley’s mind immediately flashed back to that brief encounter.

“You mean the gentleman in the white shirt I passed earlier in the security room?”

“Exactly.” The guard chuckled while shaking his head in amazement.

“Judging by your reaction, it’s clear you genuinely have no idea who Mr. Gomez is.”

He clicked his tongue with obvious perplexity.

“How peculiar!”

He examined Hadley with renewed curiosity.

“Then why on earth would Mr. Gomez go out of his way to help you?”

Hadley found herself completely speechless. If the guard himself couldn’t explain it, she certainly had no answers.

The guard then offered a small chuckle.

“Perhaps Mr. Gomez was simply feeling charitable today. You were incredibly fortunate to cross paths with him.”

Hadley’s brow creased deeply as she searched her memory for any connection to the name Gomez, but came up empty.

Hadley then inquired with mounting curiosity, “Who exactly is this Mr. Gomez you keep mentioning? Can you tell me more?”

“Well…” The guard’s smile turned mysteriously evasive.

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