CHAPTER 28

The doctor nodded.

And the hallway remained silent.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the emergency lights, The faint red glow cast long shadows across the walls, and in that quiet, Kael’s presence seemed heavier than usual. He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. He simply observed Lina, unconscious and still, as if time had slowed for everyone except him.

The doctor’s hands worked methodically, checking Lina’s pulse, examining the wound, ensuring no detail went unnoticed.

It was a clean shot, he murmured, almost to himself, You knew exactly where to aim.”

Kael didn’t answer. He simply tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing for a brief moment, as though he were calculating possibilities only he could see.

The doctor looked at him again, You wanted it to look real, he said. That had to be part of the plan.

Kael’s silence was confirmation enough.

A small stain of blood glimmered on the doctor’s gloves as he carefully opened the medical kit further, selecting antiseptic and bandages with precision. Every movement was purposeful, calm, and deliberate. Kael stood over Lina’s body, his expression unreadable, the only sound his quiet breathing.

Her pulse is weak, the doctor said softly. If we don’t move her soon, she could—

She stays, Kael said sharply, but not harshly.

His voice carried authority, and in that single word, the doctor knew the discussion was over.

The doctor raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue, He had learned early that Kael rarely gave unnecessary explanations, and when he did, they were calculated.

Kael bent slightly to look at Lina. Unconscious, her face pale under the dim lights, she looked as though she had already passed through the worst of it. The gunshot had been precise, expertly aimed, and perfectly timed. The expression frozen on her face was not fear. Not panic. But something else entirely—a relief, subtle, almost imperceptible, like she had known a door had closed on what was coming.

“They needed to believe it,” Kael said quietly.

The attackers, The spies, Anyone still watching. If Lina lived, she was valuable. If Lina was dead… they would change their plans.”

The doctor nodded slowly, understanding without being told. I’ll stabilize her here for now.

Kael gave a small nod. The estate was quiet now, eerily so. Inside, trust had already fractured. Decisions had been made in moments of chaos, and the consequences of those choices were still rippling outward.

The doctor paused, You’re taking a risk.

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver. “I know.”

If Vera finds out—

She won’t, Kael interrupted, His tone carried finality. “Not yet.”

The doctor carefully cleaned the wound again, sealing it with precise movements, She’ll wake up eventually.

Kael leaned slightly against the table,

When she does, she talks to No one but me.

The doctor paused. “And Vera?”

Kael’s eyes darkened, She believes what she saw.

“That won’t last,” the doctor said quietly.

“No,” Kael admitted. He looked toward the door, eyes narrowing, And when She realizes the truth… that will be another problem entirely. But for now, this is necessary.

Kael picked up the tiny transmitter that had betrayed Lina’s loyalties. He turned it once in his hand, then crushed it between his fingers. “No more signals,” he said simply, dropping the remnants to the floor.

The doctor rose to his feet. “I’ll move her now,” he said, voice low.

Kael’s eyes followed every movement. “Not through the main corridors,” he instructed. “The old storage passage behind the east wing, Quick, No interruptions.”

The doctor nodded, careful with his load. He lifted Lina with meticulous care, supporting her weight without disturbing the impression of death Kael had so deliberately created. Kael followed closely, silent, his mind already calculating every next step.

Kael’s gaze returned to Lina for a moment. Her chest rose and fell steadily under the doctor’s care. Every instinct in him was focused, precise, controlled. He had orchestrated this moment carefully. And now, the next step was set in motion.

When they reached a safer, hidden location, Kael finally allowed himself to shift his attention elsewhere. He turned to Aaron and Marco, who had been waiting just outside, tense but ready.

We leave, he said.

Aaron’s brow furrowed immediately, Leave? Now? Are you serious? After everything that’s happened?.....Why?

Kael didn’t blink. Pack, Bring everything necessary No delays.

Aaron’s frustration was palpable. But—my school, my schedule… Kael, this isn’t a vacation. We can’t just drop everything!

Kael’s gaze was steady, unwavering. “I know exactly what this is about,” he said evenly. “We need to move,

"Now.”

Marco stepped forward, already moving toward the communications panel. “Understood,” he said quietly, fingers flying over the controls, coordinating logistics.

Aaron ran a hand through his hair, muttering. “I’ve been juggling classes, assignments… Kael, you’re not even thinking about what leaving now does to me.”

I am, Kael said. But what you’re thinking about doesn’t matter right now, You’ll catch up, Online or... whatever, We don’t have the luxury to pause.

Aaron clenched his jaw, frustration rolling off him in waves, but he nodded reluctantly. He could see Kael was immovable. This was not a request. Not an option.

Kael’s expression softened—just slightly—as he glanced at the closed door leading to Vera’s room. Prepare the jet, he said quietly. Am going to get her.

Aaron exchanged a glance with Marco, both understanding the weight behind that command. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the estate’s systems. No one spoke. Every unspoken thought hung in the air, heavy, waiting.

Aaron, despite his protests, moved toward the packing station, starting to gather essentials. Hisen was already checking the jet’s readiness, communicating quietly over secure channels. Kael remained still, observing, calculating, ensuring that no variable was overlooked.

Time is critical, Kael said finally, breaking the silence. We can’t afford hesitation, Not here, Not now.

Aaron muttered under his breath but continued working. “Not like school is going to wait for me,” he said bitterly, but there was a resolve to his actions, a grudging acceptance of the orders.

Kael’s eyes softened just slightly, but only enough for the faintest shadow of acknowledgment. His priority was clear, Vera, Lina, And ensuring that no one outside their walls could anticipate their next moves.

The jet would be ready in minutes. Preparations were underway. And Kael, silent and calculating, watched the entire process unfold, ensuring every detail aligned with the plan.

For now, everything was in place. Every movement, every decision, meticulously orchestrated. And when the time came, they would leave, All of them.