The harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway blurred into an indistinct haze as the double doors of the operating room finally swung open.Spencer's still, unconscious form was wheeled out, a sterile sheet draped over him.Heath rushed forward, his voice tight with barely contained anxiety."Doctor Scott, how is he?"Doctor Scott's face was grim but professional."The damage to his left kidney was severe. We've done everything we can. The next few hours will be critical for his recovery."Time stretched, a thick, slow current.When Prisley finally drifted back to consciousness, the first thing she noticed was the soft give of the hospital bed beneath her.The room was bathed in a muted, comforting dimness – no wonder she'd slept so long.She turned her head, finding Heath by her side, his gaze fixed on her.Alarm flared, sharp and immediate."Why am I here? How’s Spencer?" Her voice was a strained whisper, and she instinctively tried to push herself up.Heath gently, but firml
A gentle breeze skimmed the sea's surface, sending ripples across the water.A sleek, luxurious yacht bobbed gently, its deck pulsing with fast-paced music and raucous laughter.At the stern, two men lounged shirtless in vibrant board shorts, surrounded by a gaggle of bikini-clad women basking in the sun.Ford handed David a chilled glass of whiskey, grinning ear to ear."I was starting to think your brother had you locked in a lab somewhere and lobotomized you. Look at you—working 9 to 5 like a domesticated dog."He laughed so hard and nearly spilled his drink.David snorted, "Thanks to Heath. He took away most of my decision-making power. In a company that size, I'm barely hanging onto relevance."He took a long gulp from his glass. "If I don't fight harder, he'll ship me off to live off the family trust and rot in retirement."Ford chuckled, slinging an arm around a woman at his side, his hand wandering freely down to her ass."So what? Retire early, live off the family trust, and
The paramedics moved swiftly, conducting a quick assessment before carefully lifting Spencer onto the gurney.Prisley watched the ambulance recede into the distance, then spun around, clutching Heath's arm with desperate urgency."Quickly, help me follow the ambulance. He… he got hurt because of me! I have to be with him! ““Please, Heath, I'm begging you."Heath saw the panic and pallor on her face. His heart twisted with worry—she looked like she might collapse any moment.He placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, attempting to calm her."Don't rush, Prisley. I'll take you to the hospital. I'll make sure Spencer gets the best care. Just try to relax…"But before he could finish, Prisley broke free and dashed toward the car the criminals had abandoned.The engine was still running. She threw herself into the driver’s seat, slammed her foot on the gas, and sped off.Heath barely made it halfway to the car before it vanished down the road.“Prisley—you’ve lost your mind!” Heath growl
Hearing Heath's voice again, a profound sense of relief washed over Prisley. She exchanged a glance with Spencer, their eyes now significantly steadier than before.Spencer's emotions, however, were a tangled knot.Heath's arrival meant the success rate of the rescue had drastically improved.After all, those useless police officers had wasted so much time, achieving absolutely nothing. Any further delay, and who knew what the outcome would be.Yet, deep down, a selfish part of him resented the idea of Prisley being rescued by Heath.A moment later, Spencer cursed himself silently. “Spencer, you petty fool. What kind of time is this? Getting Prisley out safely is all that matters. What does it matter if it's Heath or anyone else?”Heath had no intention of entering the shop. He placed the duffel bag filled with cash at the doorway, unzipped it, and pulled out a thick wad of bills, displaying them towards the interior of the coffee shop. Then, one bundle at a time, he meticulously toss
In the coffee shop, Prisley gradually calmed down from her panic. She knew very well that panicking was useless—it would only cause more trouble for herself.She had to stay calm, clear-headed. Her gaze, when it met Spencer's across the tense quiet of the coffee shop, was no longer wild with fear.Spencer, from afar, offered a nearly imperceptible, reassuring smile.For the sake of convenience, Bob still went to talk to the police. But it was obvious that they weren't too pleased about someone interfering in their work."Absolutely not, sir. We are the police. Please trust in our abilities," the officer stated, a hint of arrogance in his tone, dismissing Bob's suggestions.Yet, despite their confidence, they showed no further progress, nor did they attempt to engage with the captor."Peter, get their superior on the line. We can't let these idiots waste any more time."Heath's patience had worn thin, his confidence in their approach non-existent.The silence inside the café was suffoc
Peter glanced at the screen and immediately understood his boss's intent. Not daring to delay, he quickly arranged a car and sped toward the scene, almost flooring the gas pedal the entire way.Heath appeared calm, but inside, It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart, leaving him both anxious and flustered. He deeply regretted not assigning security personnel to Prisley. He couldn’t bear to imagine what he would do if Prisley’s life slipped away right before his eyes.Heath’s limbs felt weak, his fingertips icy. Over the years, he had dealt with countless crises, always composed and decisive. Yet, the few moments of panic he’d experienced all seemed to revolve around Prisley.“Peter, get all the securities over here.”“Yes, sir.”“And prepare a large amount of cash.”“Yes, sir.”Heath’s mind raced, considering all possible contingency plans.When he arrived at the scene, the place was bustling with activity. The police had already cordoned off the area outside the café, k