Chapter 100 – Stillness Before the Storm The sky over the city bled into soft hues of peach and rose, dawn’s first light painting delicate streaks across the horizon. From the twelfth floor of St. Augustine’s Medical Center, the view was distant, slightly obscured by the condensation on the glass. But to Clara Vale, it was the most beautiful sunrise she had ever seen. Alex was awake. She hadn’t moved from his side since his eyelids first fluttered open hours earlier. Her body ached—her back stiff from the armchair, her neck sore from the awkward angles she had slept in—but she didn’t care. Every throb, every twinge, was proof that she had endured. That they had made it. Alex lay propped slightly by pillows, his face thinner than she remembered, features paler, more drawn. There was still a bandage near his temple, and bruising along his ribs, but his eyes—his eyes were clear now. Not completely, not yet. But the fog had lifted. And he had spoken. She replayed his voice in
Chapter 101 – Mother’s ReturnThe hum of fluorescent lights above Alex’s hospital bed was barely noticeable compared to the low beeping of the heart monitor beside him. Clara sat curled in a corner chair, her legs tucked beneath her, watching the steady rise and fall of Alex’s chest. His wounds were healing—slowly—but the color had returned to his face, and he no longer flinched in pain with every movement. Still, she couldn’t stop hovering.Alex stirred, blinking awake. Clara stood immediately, smoothing her blouse as she stepped closer.“You’re awake,” she said softly, a tired smile on her lips.“Hard to sleep with you staring like that,” he rasped, voice rough but laced with dry humor.Clara laughed, the sound catching in her throat. “I’ll take that as a thank-you.”Before he could respond, there was a soft knock at the door.Clara turned, expecting a nurse. But when the door opened, her breath caught.A tall, impeccably dressed woman entered, clutching a small leather handbag in o
Chapter 102 – No More LeadsThe morning was thick with a gloomy haze as Clara stepped into the hospital lobby. The sun filtered in through the wide windows but did little to warm the chill that clung to her skin. She clutched two coffee cups—one for herself, and one for Alex—and headed toward the elevator. Her body moved on autopilot, but her mind was elsewhere.Maddox.His name echoed in her thoughts like a drumbeat. It had been days since the failed attack. Days since he vanished into the shadows, like a ghost that refused to be caught. There had been hope—a spark that the police and private investigators would bring news. That he’d slip up. That someone would spot him. But every day ended the same. With silence.When Clara stepped into Alex’s room, she found him half-sitting up, a book in his lap—one of the crime thrillers she’d picked up from the hospital gift shop. His eyes lit up when he saw her.“Coffee,” she said, holding out the cup.“Are you trying to seduce me?” Alex asked,
Chapter 103 – Coming HomeThe sky was pale with spring sunlight, soft and golden as Clara stood in front of St. Augustine Medical Center, parked at the curb. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, excitement and anxiety warring in her chest. It felt like she’d been waiting forever for this moment—taking Alex home.The automatic doors slid open, and there he was.Alex walked slowly, his steps steady but measured, a slight hitch still in his stride. He wore dark joggers, a hoodie layered over his bandaged chest, and dark sunglasses—less for the sun and more to shield himself from the occasional stares of nurses and patients who recognized him.Clara immediately stepped out of the car.“Hey,” she greeted, her voice catching as she met him at the passenger side.“Hey,” he replied, giving her a tired but warm smile.She took his overnight bag from the orderly and opened the door for him. “Ready to go?”He smirked. “I’ve never been more ready to escape that place.”Clara helped hi
Chapter 104 – Family BusinessAlex’s morning began with the shrill buzz of his phone vibrating against the glass coffee table. It was barely 9 a.m. and the penthouse was bathed in gentle morning light. Clara was still asleep in the bedroom, curled beneath the white linen duvet, her hair spilling across the pillow like ink in water.Alex reached for the phone with a wince—his ribs still tender—and squinted at the caller ID.Richard Banks.He hesitated before answering. His father rarely called unless there was a crisis… or an ultimatum.“Dad,” Alex said flatly, rising slowly from the couch where he’d dozed off halfway through reading.“Alex. I need you at the office. Now,” Richard said, voice sharp and clipped as ever. “We have a situation. Bring your damn spine with you.”Click.The call ended just like that.Alex let the phone fall to his lap and exhaled a breath laced with irritation. He hadn’t been back at Banks International since the attack. Since the hospital. Since his world ha
Chapter 105 – The MessageThe morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the penthouse, painting everything in warm hues of gold and rose. Clara Vale stirred awake slowly, Alex’s arm draped protectively over her waist. His soft breathing at her back was a comfort she hadn’t known she needed. But her thoughts weren’t peaceful. Even before she opened her eyes, her mind was already spinning with questions—the kind that left knots in her stomach and shadows under her eyes.When her phone buzzed on the nightstand, she reached for it instinctively, blinking against the screen's glow. A single message lit up the display:“I know who your real parents are. Meet me.”There was no name. No number. No details. Just that.Clara sat up slowly, her breath caught in her throat. She read the message again and again, heart pounding harder with each pass. Her hand trembled slightly as she set the phone down. Alex stirred behind her.“You okay?” His voice was rough with sleep, warm against her sho
Chapter 106 – Truth’s HuntClara sat in the sunlit corner of the penthouse living room, her fingers tapping restlessly against the side of her coffee mug. The screen of her laptop glowed softly in front of her, a half-filled inquiry form to a private investigation firm frozen in time. She hadn’t hit “submit” yet. The cursor blinked back at her like a dare.It was nearly noon, but her thoughts had been a tangled web since the message.The past wasn’t supposed to come for her—not after she’d built something so steady, so real with Alex. She had buried her origins years ago, locked away the ache of never knowing her mother’s face or her father’s name. But now… it was as if some unseen hand had yanked the lid off everything.She exhaled sharply and hit “send.”The form disappeared. A confirmation message replaced it: Your request has been received. We will reach out within 24 hours.Clara stared at the screen for a long beat before shutting the laptop. Her chest felt tight, like she’d ope
Chapter 107 – Ghosts of the Past.The morning began with gray clouds hanging low in the sky, as if the world itself sensed a disturbance was coming.Clara sat stiffly on the velvet armchair near the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, her eyes locked on her phone. Her heart thudded in a slow, ominous rhythm. The message she’d been waiting for came in a quiet ding that felt thunderous in the still room.Private Investigator Raymond Cole:“I’ve completed the background search. We need to talk. In person.”Clara’s fingers trembled slightly as she typed back:“Today?”“Yes. I’m on my way to you now. I’ll be there in 40 minutes.”She stared at her reflection in the glass for a long moment. Her own eyes seemed unfamiliar, older somehow. Like the past had reached up and placed a hand on her shoulder.---Raymond arrived precisely when he said he would. He was a clean-cut man in his late forties with salt-and-pepper hair and a voice that carried the weight of too many secrets. Clara we
Chapter 107 – Ghosts of the Past.The morning began with gray clouds hanging low in the sky, as if the world itself sensed a disturbance was coming.Clara sat stiffly on the velvet armchair near the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, her eyes locked on her phone. Her heart thudded in a slow, ominous rhythm. The message she’d been waiting for came in a quiet ding that felt thunderous in the still room.Private Investigator Raymond Cole:“I’ve completed the background search. We need to talk. In person.”Clara’s fingers trembled slightly as she typed back:“Today?”“Yes. I’m on my way to you now. I’ll be there in 40 minutes.”She stared at her reflection in the glass for a long moment. Her own eyes seemed unfamiliar, older somehow. Like the past had reached up and placed a hand on her shoulder.---Raymond arrived precisely when he said he would. He was a clean-cut man in his late forties with salt-and-pepper hair and a voice that carried the weight of too many secrets. Clara we
Chapter 106 – Truth’s HuntClara sat in the sunlit corner of the penthouse living room, her fingers tapping restlessly against the side of her coffee mug. The screen of her laptop glowed softly in front of her, a half-filled inquiry form to a private investigation firm frozen in time. She hadn’t hit “submit” yet. The cursor blinked back at her like a dare.It was nearly noon, but her thoughts had been a tangled web since the message.The past wasn’t supposed to come for her—not after she’d built something so steady, so real with Alex. She had buried her origins years ago, locked away the ache of never knowing her mother’s face or her father’s name. But now… it was as if some unseen hand had yanked the lid off everything.She exhaled sharply and hit “send.”The form disappeared. A confirmation message replaced it: Your request has been received. We will reach out within 24 hours.Clara stared at the screen for a long beat before shutting the laptop. Her chest felt tight, like she’d ope
Chapter 105 – The MessageThe morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the penthouse, painting everything in warm hues of gold and rose. Clara Vale stirred awake slowly, Alex’s arm draped protectively over her waist. His soft breathing at her back was a comfort she hadn’t known she needed. But her thoughts weren’t peaceful. Even before she opened her eyes, her mind was already spinning with questions—the kind that left knots in her stomach and shadows under her eyes.When her phone buzzed on the nightstand, she reached for it instinctively, blinking against the screen's glow. A single message lit up the display:“I know who your real parents are. Meet me.”There was no name. No number. No details. Just that.Clara sat up slowly, her breath caught in her throat. She read the message again and again, heart pounding harder with each pass. Her hand trembled slightly as she set the phone down. Alex stirred behind her.“You okay?” His voice was rough with sleep, warm against her sho
Chapter 104 – Family BusinessAlex’s morning began with the shrill buzz of his phone vibrating against the glass coffee table. It was barely 9 a.m. and the penthouse was bathed in gentle morning light. Clara was still asleep in the bedroom, curled beneath the white linen duvet, her hair spilling across the pillow like ink in water.Alex reached for the phone with a wince—his ribs still tender—and squinted at the caller ID.Richard Banks.He hesitated before answering. His father rarely called unless there was a crisis… or an ultimatum.“Dad,” Alex said flatly, rising slowly from the couch where he’d dozed off halfway through reading.“Alex. I need you at the office. Now,” Richard said, voice sharp and clipped as ever. “We have a situation. Bring your damn spine with you.”Click.The call ended just like that.Alex let the phone fall to his lap and exhaled a breath laced with irritation. He hadn’t been back at Banks International since the attack. Since the hospital. Since his world ha
Chapter 103 – Coming HomeThe sky was pale with spring sunlight, soft and golden as Clara stood in front of St. Augustine Medical Center, parked at the curb. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, excitement and anxiety warring in her chest. It felt like she’d been waiting forever for this moment—taking Alex home.The automatic doors slid open, and there he was.Alex walked slowly, his steps steady but measured, a slight hitch still in his stride. He wore dark joggers, a hoodie layered over his bandaged chest, and dark sunglasses—less for the sun and more to shield himself from the occasional stares of nurses and patients who recognized him.Clara immediately stepped out of the car.“Hey,” she greeted, her voice catching as she met him at the passenger side.“Hey,” he replied, giving her a tired but warm smile.She took his overnight bag from the orderly and opened the door for him. “Ready to go?”He smirked. “I’ve never been more ready to escape that place.”Clara helped hi
Chapter 102 – No More LeadsThe morning was thick with a gloomy haze as Clara stepped into the hospital lobby. The sun filtered in through the wide windows but did little to warm the chill that clung to her skin. She clutched two coffee cups—one for herself, and one for Alex—and headed toward the elevator. Her body moved on autopilot, but her mind was elsewhere.Maddox.His name echoed in her thoughts like a drumbeat. It had been days since the failed attack. Days since he vanished into the shadows, like a ghost that refused to be caught. There had been hope—a spark that the police and private investigators would bring news. That he’d slip up. That someone would spot him. But every day ended the same. With silence.When Clara stepped into Alex’s room, she found him half-sitting up, a book in his lap—one of the crime thrillers she’d picked up from the hospital gift shop. His eyes lit up when he saw her.“Coffee,” she said, holding out the cup.“Are you trying to seduce me?” Alex asked,
Chapter 101 – Mother’s ReturnThe hum of fluorescent lights above Alex’s hospital bed was barely noticeable compared to the low beeping of the heart monitor beside him. Clara sat curled in a corner chair, her legs tucked beneath her, watching the steady rise and fall of Alex’s chest. His wounds were healing—slowly—but the color had returned to his face, and he no longer flinched in pain with every movement. Still, she couldn’t stop hovering.Alex stirred, blinking awake. Clara stood immediately, smoothing her blouse as she stepped closer.“You’re awake,” she said softly, a tired smile on her lips.“Hard to sleep with you staring like that,” he rasped, voice rough but laced with dry humor.Clara laughed, the sound catching in her throat. “I’ll take that as a thank-you.”Before he could respond, there was a soft knock at the door.Clara turned, expecting a nurse. But when the door opened, her breath caught.A tall, impeccably dressed woman entered, clutching a small leather handbag in o
Chapter 100 – Stillness Before the Storm The sky over the city bled into soft hues of peach and rose, dawn’s first light painting delicate streaks across the horizon. From the twelfth floor of St. Augustine’s Medical Center, the view was distant, slightly obscured by the condensation on the glass. But to Clara Vale, it was the most beautiful sunrise she had ever seen. Alex was awake. She hadn’t moved from his side since his eyelids first fluttered open hours earlier. Her body ached—her back stiff from the armchair, her neck sore from the awkward angles she had slept in—but she didn’t care. Every throb, every twinge, was proof that she had endured. That they had made it. Alex lay propped slightly by pillows, his face thinner than she remembered, features paler, more drawn. There was still a bandage near his temple, and bruising along his ribs, but his eyes—his eyes were clear now. Not completely, not yet. But the fog had lifted. And he had spoken. She replayed his voice in
Chapter 99 – A Flicker of LightThe morning light streamed into the sterile hospital room, casting pale gold over the whitewashed walls and gleaming faintly against the chrome fixtures. The scent of antiseptic was sharp, ever-present, but Clara no longer noticed it. It had become the background scent of her vigil. Machines beeped in a steady rhythm beside Alex’s bed—a mechanical lullaby that had become almost comforting, if only because it meant he was still with her.She sat curled in the armchair beside him, knees drawn up, a blanket tangled around her legs. Her spine ached from sleeping upright for too many nights. Her hair was unwashed, pinned back hastily, and her eyes were red-rimmed with exhaustion. But she refused to leave. Not until he woke up. Not until she saw the warmth return to his eyes.She had been reading to him again. Not the same desperate pleas from earlier days, but steadier now—his favorite political thrillers, letters from her journal, snippets of their old text