MasukEvelyn slowly opened her eyes to the soft hum of machines and the faint scent of antiseptic filling the hospital room.For a moment, her mind was blank.Then reality rushed back all at once.Ethan.Her body jolted instinctively, but a dull ache spread through her limbs the moment she tried to sit up. She realized then that she had fallen asleep on the couch beside Ethan’s hospital bed.The ward was quieter now.Warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the partially drawn curtains, casting golden streaks across the polished floor and bathing the room in a calm glow. Compared to the chaos and terror that had filled the hospital over the past two months, the room finally felt… peaceful.And crowded.Her eyes slowly scanned the room.Her parents were there.Mrs. Chase Sr. sat quietly near the window with her cane resting against her chair, pretending not to wipe the corners of her eyes every few seconds. Isa and Alex stood nearby talking softly to Eli, while Adrian leaned against the tabl
Gradually, life began returning to normal.Well… almost.The world outside continued moving as though nothing had happened. Cars still filled the roads of Ellington City every morning, business deals were still signed inside towering corporations, and people still laughed freely in cafés and restaurants.But for the Chase family, time had remained frozen two months ago—the night Ethan was carried into the hospital soaked in blood.Two whole months had passed.Yet Ethan still hadn’t opened his eyes.His condition had stabilized weeks ago. The gunshot wounds were healing slowly, the bruises fading little by little, and the doctors repeatedly reassured the family that his vitals were strong.But he still wouldn’t wake up.It was as though his body had returned… but his soul was still trapped somewhere far away.And every passing day slowly drained the life out of Evelyn.She barely left the hospital anymore. The once radiant designer who dazzled runways with elegance and confidence now s
Adrian sat near the floor-to-ceiling window, his laptop glowing softly in the dim light of the private hospital suite. Outside, Ellington City shimmered beneath the night sky, distant lights flickering like a world that still believed everything was normal.Inside this room… nothing felt normal.Ethan was asleep on the hospital bed.Eli rested on a smaller bed nearby, her tiny body finally calm after everything she had endured.And Evelyn…Evelyn had finally agreed to eat and take a shower after hours of persuasion. Now she lay asleep beside Ethan’s bed, her hand still loosely resting near his arm, as if afraid he would disappear again the moment she let go.Adrian watched them silently.For a brief moment, he allowed himself to breathe.Then—Buzz.His phone rang sharply.Adrian’s eyes darkened instantly.He stood up without hesitation and walked into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind him.The moment the call connected, Bruce’s voice came through—tense, controlled, and un
The gunshots echoed again.BANG. BANG. BANG.Closer this time.The guard standing near the door stiffened, his fingers tightening around his weapon as the sound tore through the walls like thunder trapped indoors. Sweat gathered at his temples despite the cold air-conditioned room.“S-sir…” His voice wavered despite his effort to steady it. “They’ve breached the outer perimeter—”“I can hear that.”Charles didn’t turn.Didn’t flinch.Didn’t even blink.His voice was calm.Too calm.The kind of calm that didn’t belong in a situation like this.The smile on his lips didn’t fade. Instead, it slowly stretched wider, curling into something darker—something that made the guard’s stomach twist uneasily.It was the smile of a man who wasn’t afraid of death.Or worse—A man who welcomed it.“Interesting,” Charles murmured, lifting the glass of whiskey from his desk. The amber liquid caught the dim light as he swirled it lazily, completely detached from the chaos unfolding outside.Then, in one
By the time Adrian returned to the hospital, evening had already settled in.The once-bright corridors were now dim, washed in soft amber light. The air felt quieter… heavier — like the building itself was holding its breath after the chaos of the past day.Adrian pushed the door open.Inside, he was met with a room full of people.The Montgomerys.And Mrs. Chase Sr.All eyes turned to him at once.For a brief second, silence stretched.Adrian gave a slight nod in acknowledgment to the Montgomerys before his gaze shifted to the elderly woman.“Grandma.”His tone was flat. Controlled.But respectful.Her sharp eyes narrowed immediately.“Where have you been?” she demanded. “Your assistant said you disappeared without telling anyone where you were going.”Adrian didn’t hesitate.“I had something personal to take care of.”“Something pers—”“Is that blood?”Evelyn’s voice cut through the room sharply.Everyone froze.Her eyes were locked on him — wide, alert, searching.She stepped close
The hideout was buried deep within the industrial outskirts of Ellington City — a forgotten structure swallowed by rust, shadows, and silence.Adrian arrived without hesitation.Bruce, Snake, and Tiger were already there, along with a select group of Adrian’s elite guards — men trained not just to fight, but to kill efficiently.No unnecessary words were exchanged.There was no need.This wasn’t a mission.This was execution.Within minutes, they moved.A convoy of black vehicles cut through the empty roads, engines low, headlights off. The city slowly faded behind them, replaced by abandoned warehouses, broken streetlights, and long stretches of silence that felt almost unnatural.Then—They arrived.The building stood like a corpse.Old. Crumbling. Forgotten.Its walls were cracked, windows shattered, and the air around it carried a heavy stillness — the kind that warned of violence hidden within.Anyone with instinct would know:Nothing good lived inside.Adrian stepped out first.
Clara leaned forward in the backseat, her eyes fixed on Evelyn’s car as she tailed it from a distance.“Make sure you don’t lose track of that car,” she snapped at the driver.She had spent days trying to uncover where Evelyn lived, and only last night had she finally followed her home. If she want
“The kids are safe. They’re with me.”Adrian’s voice was low and steady, but beneath it… something softer.“The girl is sleeping, and the boy is a little shaken, but they’re fine. You can pick them up at the mansion.”Evelyn had been pacing the living room, hands trembling, unable to breathe proper
Eli slipped quietly into Ethan’s room that night, just as he was about to drift off to sleep. He didn’t bother turning; he could already sense her presence.“Need something?” he asked casually, still lying on his side.“Not really… just wondering,” Eli replied, settling on the edge of his bed.Etha
“Isn’t that…” The assistant’s voice trailed off as he stared at the boy walking beside Evelyn. He turned slowly toward Adrian, confusion twisting his features. “Sir… are you seeing what I’m seeing?”Adrian didn’t answer. His eyes were locked—unblinking, frozen—on Ethan.“This has got to be a mistak







