Chapter 322 Turns Out You're the Police

Chapter 322 Turns Out You're the Police

The man beside Orval looked to be in his early twenties, around twenty-three or twenty-four.

He had close-cropped black hair, neat and no-nonsense, and wore simple athletic wear that was expensive in its quiet understatement. His posture was military-straight, and his legs, outlined by fitted joggers, were long and powerfully built with the kind of lean muscle that came from years of disciplined training rather than casual gym visits.

His nose was straight and strong, his features carved with clean, decisive lines. There was something in the set of his jaw and the steadiness of his gaze that radiated integrity—the kind of presence you would trust to have your back in a crisis.

When Orval spoke, Seth seemed to snap out of his thoughts. His voice was measured and calm. "While you were in line, I saw a girl. She was... unusual."

“Unusual?” Orval raised his eyebrows. “Someone actually caught your attention? Who is she?”

"High school uniform. Probably still in school." Seth's gaze drifted back toward one of the stalls with air rifles and balloons.

He added, "I watched her at one of those shooting games—ten balloons stacked vertically, each smaller than the last. The smallest one was no bigger than a grape.

"She stood about ten feet back and fired ten shots. Hit every single one. That kind of accuracy... even I might not pull it off."

"Are you serious? That's insane." Orval looked genuinely stunned. "Man, I should've skipped the skewers and stayed to watch with you."

"And she's kind."

Seth's eyes lingered on the stall where Amelia had been, his expression softening slightly.

"She won a humidifier, a portable charger, a lipstick set, a tablet, and a cat. She kept the cat for a friend, but gave everything else to a woman selling handmade crafts. The woman's a double amputee."

Orval glanced at the stall. The woman’s daughter held the tablet box as if it were pure gold, her eyes wide and her smile radiant with unfiltered joy.

"So she's talented and has a heart. You've got me curious now."

Orval rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Did she leave already? If she's still around, I want to see her."

"She's with her boyfriend," Seth pointed out.

"Seriously, what kind of guy do you think I am? I'm not going to hit on a high school girl." Orval looked genuinely offended. "I just want to see what all the fuss is about. I'm not going to bother her."

Seth nodded toward a distant stall. “She’s over there.” Orval followed his gaze and froze.

That uniform. That height. That silhouette. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

And then Seth's description clicked into place. Talented and kind.

Orval's eyes went wide. "Wait. Is that Amelia?"

Seth blinked, caught off guard. “Amelia?”

Before Seth could react, Orval grabbed his arm, voice firm. “Come on, Seth. Let me introduce you to your ‘unusual girl.’”
Seth barely had time to react before Orval dragged him forward, calling out, “Amelia!”

Amelia turned at the sound of her name, surprised to see Orval approaching with a stranger in tow.
"Orval?" She hadn't expected to run into anyone she knew here.

Their first meeting had been nothing short of chaotic. She had used her spirit power to stop a runaway truck and save Rex, then collapsed in Chris's arms moments later. Chris had been with Orval at the time, and Orval had taken her back to his apartment. Later that night, he'd gotten a frantic call about Rex's near-death experience and spent hours searching for the mystery savior, only to discover the next day, through Rachel, that the girl who'd saved his brother was the same one who'd been passed out on his couch.

"Amelia! I knew it was you. What are the odds?" Orval grinned.

"Yeah, seriously. Are you here for the food market too?"

"Not really. Just passing through with my friend here, got hungry, figured we'd check it out."

Orval had already met Michael and even shared a meal with him, so Amelia introduced the others. “This is Dorian and Asher, my classmates.”
"Nice to meet you." Orval gestured to the man beside him. "This is Seth, a detective with the Border Ridge Police Department. He’s currently working a case here in River City.”

"Oh, a cop! That explains the whole‘I can protect you from anything’ vibe.” Dorian’s eyes lit up as she looked at Seth, practically sparkling.

Asher's jaw tightened beside her.

Amelia glanced up at Seth and found him already looking at her.

Their eyes met briefly.

Dorian was right. There was something solid and trustworthy about him, something in the directness of his gaze that felt refreshingly honest.

But beyond that first impression, there was something else. Something about his features felt strangely familiar, though she couldn't quite place why.

She frowned slightly, trying to pin down the feeling.

"Hi." Seth extended his hand. "I saw you at the shooting game earlier. Your aim was impressive. Have you had training?"

Amelia shook his hand. "Not really. I just used to play games like that a lot. Practice makes perfect, I guess."

Seth studied her calm expression, his curiosity deepening.

He knew better than most that this kind of precision didn't come from casual practice. You were either naturally gifted or professionally trained, and either explanation was remarkable for a high school student.

"Orval, actually, your timing's perfect," Amelia said. "We're heading to a hot spring inn just outside the city and staying overnight. Do you and your friend want to come?”

"Hot springs? Absolutely, I'm free tonight." Orval's face brightened as he turned to Seth. “What about you? Are you in?”
Seth didn’t want to impose, so he declined politely. “I’ve got an early shift tomorrow. You guys go ahead and have fun without me.”

Since he'd made up his mind, Amelia and the others didn't push.

When they'd arrived at the food market, Amelia and Michael had been driven by their chauffeur, while Dorian and Asher took separate rideshares. The driver was still waiting outside.

But Michael's Rolls-Royce Phantom was a four-seater. With Orval joining them, there would be five people too many for the car, even without the driver.
"You three take the car. Dorian and I will grab a ride," Asher said quickly, seizing the opportunity.

It was a surprisingly bold move from him.

Before Dorian could protest, Amelia nodded. "Sounds good. See you at the inn."

Dorian followed Asher to hail a cab, while Amelia, Michael, and Orval got into the Rolls-Royce.

Amelia had Michael take the front passenger seat , then slid into the back beside Orval.

As the engine purred to life, fragmented images raced through Amelia’s mind.

And suddenly, she knew exactly why Seth had felt so familiar.