MasukHours later, Henry’s eyelids fluttered open slowly, as though even that simple action required effort. The bright white ceiling above him blurred in and out of focus as his eyes struggled to adjust to the light. A dull, throbbing pain pulsed at the side of his head, spreading slowly like waves. He blinked again, this time more deliberately, and turned his gaze slightly to the side, trying to recognize where he was.The faint smell of antiseptic filled his nose.The sterile neatness of the room, the white sheets tucked tightly around him, the IV line connected to his arm. Everything pointed to one place.It was a hospital.He swallowed dryly, his throat rough, his lips slightly cracked. “So this is what it feels like to wake up in a hospital room all alone?” he muttered weakly, his voice hoarse, barely audible even to himself. His eyes moved slowly around the room, searching, expecting, hoping.But there was no one.No familiar face. No voice calling his name. No warm presence sitti
“Mr. Johnson,” Diana called out, her voice trembling as it struggled to rise above the crackling fire that now roared like a living beast between them and Joseph. The flames licked wildly at the broken walls, feeding hungrily on wood and debris, sending thick smoke curling into the air. Merlin held her tightly by the arm, pulling her slightly back as sparks flew dangerously close. His grip was firm, protective, his eyes scanning for any possible escape.At the side, Henry’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching as rage burned through him just as fiercely as the fire before them. “Old coot, you betrayed me?” he spat, his voice low but filled with venom, his eyes locked on Joseph’s shadowy figure beyond the flames.The heat intensified, pressing against their skin, making it difficult to breathe. The fire had spread faster than any of them anticipated, swallowing corners of the building, climbing up the cracked walls like it had a mind of its own. The air grew thicker, harsher.“The f
Merlin’s chest rose and fell heavily as he struggled against the ropes binding his hands behind the chair. The veins in his neck stood out from the effort, sweat running down his face despite the cold air in the abandoned building. His fingers worked desperately, twisting, pulling, forcing against the tight knot that had dug painfully into his skin for too long.Then suddenly, there was a slight shift.The rope loosened.His eyes widened.Hope flashed through them like lightning.With one final pull, he slipped his hands free.“Diana,” Merlin called out immediately, his voice hoarse from the strain, breathing hard as he pushed himself up from the chair.Diana was still frozen where she stood, the detonator clutched tightly in her trembling hands. Her eyes remained fixed ahead, unfocused, her entire body locked in the terrifying weight of the decision she believed she had to make.“Diana!” Merlin called again, louder this time.Her fingers twitched slightly.She turned slowly toward
Diana’s breath came fast and uneven as she took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Merlin tied helplessly to the chair in the middle of the abandoned building. The dim light flickered above them, casting unstable shadows that made the scene look even more terrifying than it already was.Her heart pounded violently against her chest.There was a bomb strapped tightly around Merlin’s torso.Wires ran across it in tangled loops, blinking lights flashing red at intervals that felt like a countdown to something irreversible. Even without hearing it clearly, she could sense the ticking, steady, cold, merciless.“Merlin…” she called again, her voice softer now, breaking under the weight of fear and desperation.She began to move toward him.Each step felt heavier than the last, like the ground itself was trying to hold her back. Her body trembled, but she didn’t stop. Her mind had already made one decision, she wasn’t leaving him there.But Merlin shook his head immediately.His eyes widen
Diana approached the door of the small apartment slowly, her steps growing heavier with every inch she covered. The building looked old, almost forgotten, with faded paint peeling off the walls and a narrow corridor that smelled faintly of dust and damp wood. The silence around the place felt unsettling, not peaceful, just empty in a way that made her instincts restless.Before she could knock, the door opened.Edith stepped out hurriedly, her hands trembling the moment she saw Diana standing there. Her eyes looked swollen, like she had been crying for a long time, and her lips shook slightly as she reached out and grabbed Diana’s hand.“Diana,” she said, her voice breaking as she held her tightly, almost desperately. “You’re here. Hurry. I need you, please. He slipped and broke his right leg and arm. He won’t go to the hospital. He keeps saying he’d rather die than go there.”The words came out heavy, almost choking her. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes again as she tried
Moments later, that same night, the quiet calm they had stolen did not last.Merlin’s car tore through the empty road at a dangerous speed, the engine roaring like a beast unleashed. The tires screeched sharply against the asphalt as he made a sharp turn, the sound cutting through the silence of the night like a warning. Streetlights flashed past them in blurs of yellow and white, their glow stretching and disappearing almost instantly as the vehicle sped forward.Behind them, two black SUVs followed relentlessly.Their headlights burned brightly in the darkness, closing the distance with frightening determination.Diana turned slightly in her seat, her fingers gripping the edge of the door as she glanced into the side mirror. Her heart tightened instantly at what she saw.“They’re still there,” she said, her voice quick and tense, her eyes fixed on the reflection. “Merlin, they’re on our heels.”Merlin didn’t turn to look. His gaze remained locked on the road ahead, sharp and calc
Diana's eyes stayed locked on Merlin's face.She was staring at him, her mouth slightly open, but no words were coming out. It felt like her voice had been stolen from somewhere deep in her chest, leaving only the rapid, heavy thudding of her heart. She was certain he could hear it. Certain the wh
The lights in the private lounge were dimmer than the ballroom downstairs.Muted gold lamps cast soft shadows against leather couches and polished glass tables. The music from the gala filtered faintly through the walls, distant and almost unreal compared to the heavy silence inside the room.Henr
"This can't be real."Henry's voice was low and strained, like someone trying to pull themselves back from the edge of something they couldn't yet name. His shocked eyes were still fixed on Martins, as if searching his face for any sign, any small crack that could suggest this was wrong. But Mart
"Lauren Johnson, it was you who drugged me nine years ago."Henry's voice came out through clenched teeth, heavy with a rage that had been building for nearly a decade without ever finding the right target. He stood tall in front of her — broad shoulders squared, chest rising and falling hard. He







