A group of men in black suits barged in, their presence like a cold wind. The leader, a middle-aged man, barked in a low voice, "Everyone, stop!"His authority settled over the room like a weight.Grayson and his cronies instinctively loosened their grip on me and took a few steps back, faces pale. Maris went white, too, watching the uninvited guests with equal parts fear and uncertainty."Who are you? Who gave you permission to break in?" Grayson shouted, clutching his bleeding nose, his bravado thin and trembling.The leader didn't even glance at him. He came straight to my side and signaled for the others to help me up. He crouched, inspected my wounds, and frowned."Professor Ward's emergency call came from here. Where is he?" His eyes swept the motionless figure of my father on the hospital bed.Every chest in the room tightened.'An emergency call? That old man hasn't even been able to move, has he?'Grayson tried to keep his composure, desperate to cover up the truth."
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