HospitalMargaret and Dave sat stiffly in the waiting area, the sharp scent of antiseptic in the air.Nurses passed by in a hurry, their white uniforms flashing briefly in the dim light, their footsteps a distant echo. No one paid any attention to the two silent figures.Margaret's voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. "When will he wake up?"Dave glanced at her coldly, a bitter smirk playing on his lips."Didn't you tell me to announce he was awake? Why the sudden concern now?"Margaret slammed her hands down, her eyes flashing with a glint of venom. She stared at Dave, her voice low and threatening."Dave, don't forget we're in this together. You and I — we're allies!"Dave closed his eyes, veins pulsing at his temples.He took a deep breath, trying to swallow whatever emotions were threatening to escape. When he opened his eyes again, they were icy."Half an hour.""Can we delay it a little longer?" Margaret furrowed her brows, her fingers anxiously drumming on the armrest. "I didn't
Cecilia stood frozen in the entryway for what felt like an eternity, her mind slowly processing everything that had just happened.She suddenly grabbed Liam's arm, her eyes wide with shock."WAIT—are you telling me that Robin and Nick... They are A COUPLE?!""Why does that surprise you so much?" Liam sighed, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, a hint of satisfaction at having caught her off guard."Cecilia, your reaction might offend them. You were the one who said it—this is a free world, we should be open-minded and respect all kinds of love."Cecilia's brow twitched slightly.She suddenly felt like she didn't know this man anymore.When did he become such a staunch supporter of LGBT rights? How had she never noticed before?Liam crouched down and gently placed her slippers in front of her.Just then, his fingertips brushed against a faint, dark red stain on her dress hem. His brows immediately furrowed. "Is this blood? What happened?"Following his gaze, Cecilia quic
The hallway on the top floor was eerily quiet.Cecilia stared at the unexpected visitor in front of her, her heartbeat skipping a few beats involuntarily.Of course, she recognized him—Robin Sinclair, the business tycoon who frequently "competed" with her for the latest headlines in gossip magazines.But what was he doing here?What unsettled her even more was the way his intense gaze was fixed on her, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips.The look in his eyes immediately reminded her of a predator stalking its prey in a wildlife documentary—graceful, yet dangerously lethal.Cecilia instinctively smoothed the hem of her dress.While she was confident in her appearance, being scrutinized so openly still made her feel uneasy.Had Liam's comments in front of the reporters earlier somehow reached him? Even if so, was it necessary for him to come in person?Her eyes quickly scanned his hands—no briefcase, no legal documents—just a brief sigh of relief."Ahem." She cleared her thro
The elevator doors slid shut.Liam pressed the button before turning to her quietly. "Why the rush?"Cecilia repeatedly pressed the close button, checking to make sure no reporters had followed them, then finally let out a relieved sigh, lightly patting her chest."Did you expect me to just stand there and wait for your lie to fall apart?" She turned to him, a hint of helpless amusement in her eyes. "Do you realize what you just said? The Robehod Medical Group! That's Robin Sinclair's medical empire. Their experts—are you really able to just call them in?"She deliberately drew out her words, mimicking his earlier steady tone. "Senior —surgeons""You think I was joking?" Liam couldn't help a soft laugh, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair.Cecilia instinctively tilted her head away, but the ice in her eyes had melted. "Weren't you?""Of course I was," Liam admitted frankly, though a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "But I had to. It was a test. Luckily, even an empty boast was enou
In the hospital's garden behind the building, people hurriedly passed by—family members visiting patients, medical staff heading home after their shifts, and patients slowly walking with the assistance of wheelchairs.Cecilia wasn't sure how long she had been sitting on this bench—whether it was from the morning until noon, or maybe longer.Countless unfamiliar faces had passed her by, yet she hadn't moved, nor had she gone inside.Her phone vibrated in her pocket again and again, the name "Margaret" flashing on the screen until the battery finally died, and the screen went black.From the emergency room, cries echoed sharply, each one piercing her heart.With every scream, her fingers unconsciously tightened, her nails digging deep into her palm.At last, she took a deep breath, her movements stiff, and stood up slowly, making her way to the emergency room.The air was thick with the mingling scents of blood and antiseptic, lingering and refusing to dissipate.She pushed through the
Sinclair ManorA black helicopter cut a sharp arc across the blue sky, circling over the mountaintop villa before its heavy rotor blades shattered the peaceful silence. It descended slowly onto a private helipad.The cabin door opened. Murphy stepped out.His posture was straight, his movements efficient and panther-like as he crossed the meticulously manicured gardens toward the manor's heavy, carved doors."Master Murphy, Master Liam is waiting for you in the third-floor study," the steward greeted him respectfully, taking his coat with familiar deference.Murphy gave an almost imperceptible nod and silently ascended the thickly carpeted stairs.In the third-floor study, a tall figure stood quietly before the floor-to-ceiling window.The afternoon sun cast a long shadow behind him.One hand rested lightly on the window frame, his deep eyes gazing outward.In under a minute, the closed door opened from the outside.