As they finally exited the imposing walls of Lang Hospital, a palpable tension lingered in the air. Calvin led the group, his eyes scanning the surroundings, ever vigilant for any sign of Han Xin’s men. Every step felt heavier, but at least they were leaving behind Kevin Lang’s territory, a place where any number of unexpected dangers could lurk.The car ride to the next hospital was filled with an uncomfortable silence, each passenger lost in their own thoughts. Calvin sat beside Lizzie, glancing over at her every so often. The worry on her face was unmistakable—her usually bright eyes now clouded with fear. The rhythmic hum of the car’s engine did little to calm her nerves. Although surrounded by officials who should provide a sense of security, Lizzie couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped, like prey in the hunter's sights.Calvin reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "We’ll be okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the soft hum of the car. His tone was steady
The tension in the room grew thicker as the advanced medical machines hummed softly, meticulously scanning every inch of James's body. The doctors worked with practiced precision, their faces serious and focused. They knew the gravity of the situation—not just for James, but for the reputations and lives involved in this high-stakes drama.Roland Price, standing at the edge of the examination room, couldn’t contain his nerves. His voice cut through the quiet hum of the machines as he addressed the medical team. "Make sure you’re using the most advanced equipment," he insisted, his tone sharp with barely veiled desperation. "Double-check everything. There’s no room for error."One of the senior doctors, a tall man with graying hair and an air of authority, looked up from his work, his expression calm but firm. "Mr. Price, rest assured, we’re conducting the most thorough examination possible. This facility is equipped with the latest technology. You’ll get your answers."Calvin observed
As the minutes ticked by, the room grew increasingly tense. The medical team huddled around the monitors, studying the results with intense focus. Finally, the lead doctor turned to face James, his expression softening into a relieved smile. "Mr. Perry," he began, his voice calm but full of assurance, "the scans confirm it—there are no traces of cancer left in your body. You’re completely free of the disease."James blinked, almost in disbelief. The weight of those words slowly sank in, and a broad smile spread across his face. He had been through so much—fighting the illness, enduring the treatments, and now, finally, he was free. "I… I’m really cured?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of joy and disbelief.The doctor nodded. "Yes, you’re cured. Congratulations, Mr. Perry."James let out a triumphant laugh, the sound echoing through the sterile hospital room. "I’m cured!" he repeated, turning to Calvin with gratitude shining in his eyes. "You did it, Calvin. You really di
“Maybe there is something you can do,” Calvin said.Calvin watched as Roland, looking utterly defeated, halted in his tracks. The man who once exuded confidence now appeared fragile, his hollow eyes reflecting total surrender. Slowly, Roland turned to face Calvin, his expression weary, as if he had lost everything. "What do you want, Hudson?" he asked, his voice full of exhaustion and despair.Calvin stepped closer, his expression inscrutable. In a situation like this, there was no room for doubt or weakness. "There’s one more thing you can do for me," Calvin said, his voice calm yet firm.Roland frowned, suspicion creeping into his eyes. Even in a weakened position, his survival instincts were still intact. "What kind of help are you talking about? What do you really want?" he asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.Calvin paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words. This wasn’t about exploiting someone’s vulnerability—it was about survival amidst the threats that continued to l
Calvin was still processing his tense conversation with Roland when he noticed James approaching him. The air between them was thick with unresolved tension, but Calvin could sense that James wasn’t here to antagonize him—at least not overtly."Calvin," James began, his tone measured and controlled, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. The usual edge in his voice was gone, replaced with something closer to acknowledgment, if not respect. "You’ve proven yourself. You cured me, something no one else could do. Because of that, I won’t interfere with your clinic. It’s safe from me... for now." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "But let’s be clear—if any other issues arise, I won’t be held responsible. This is purely business, nothing more."Calvin met James’s gaze with a knowing smirk. He wasn’t fooled by the veneer of civility. He knew James too well—this wasn’t an olive branch, just a reluctant concession. “Fair enough, James. I appreciate you not making things harder than they
Lizzie stood a short distance away from Calvin and Alana, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on her. The hospital’s cold, sterile atmosphere only added to her exhaustion, and every fiber of her being longed for the warmth and safety of home. The tension between Calvin and Alana, though lessened, still lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of unresolved issues. Lizzie could feel it, but she was too drained to care. All she wanted was to escape the harsh fluorescent lights and the constant hum of medical equipment.She shifted her weight, her body sagging with fatigue, and in a voice that was almost a whisper, she said, "Cal... I'm really tired... Can we go home now?"Her words hung in the air for a moment, as if time had slowed down. Alana, standing close to Calvin, turned sharply toward Lizzie. A thin, almost forced smile curved on her lips, but her eyes revealed her impatience. "Lizzie," she said, her voice edged with a hint of irritation, "if you want to go home,
Calvin and Lizzie finally arrived home, their bodies heavy with exhaustion. The journey back had been quiet, the weight of the day pressing down on them both. Even the usually lively hum of the city streets seemed distant, muffled by the fog of their fatigue. As they stepped into the familiar warmth of their home, the tension that had coiled tightly within them began to ease, replaced by a fragile sense of safety. For now, at least, they were home, away from the chaos that had consumed their day.Lizzie, though visibly drained, instinctively took charge. The house felt emptier than usual, but the presence of the bodyguards, assigned by Price, added a layer of security that she didn’t take for granted. She glanced at them, their faces blank and professional, betraying nothing of the long hours they had endured. Despite their stoic demeanor, she knew they needed rest just as much as she and Calvin did."You all can take some rooms upstairs," Lizzie said, her voice steady despite the fat
Calvin slept deeply, almost too deeply. His body, overwhelmed by exhaustion, sank into the bed like a stone dropped into deep water. The familiar world around him faded away, replaced by the thick, enveloping darkness of sleep. But as the hours passed, that comforting darkness began to shift, becoming something more unsettling.At first, the sleep was blissful—an escape from the day’s chaos. But slowly, a sense of unease crept into his dreams. It was subtle at first, like a faint whisper at the edge of his consciousness. But it grew louder, more insistent, like a drumbeat that refused to be ignored.Calvin's dreams, once peaceful, started to twist and turn, the images in his mind becoming distorted and strange. He found himself in a vast, empty landscape, the ground beneath his feet shifting and unstable. The sky above him was a swirling mass of dark clouds, and in the distance, a faint, rhythmic pulse echoed through the air. It was the same pulse he had felt earlier, the one that had