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Molly was surprised. Bruce, who prided himself on discipline and never touched alcohol, had accepted the glass, This confirmed his status was even higher than she had guessed. Fred didn’t just respect him. He practically indulged him.
Now, with Fred deliberately giving her an opening to win Bruce over, Molly wasn’t about to waste it.
Before leaving, Shermaine gave Molly’s shoulder a light squeeze, a silent nudge to seize the moment. Then, she and Joshua followed Fred out.
Roy lingered nearby, patient as always. He would wait until Molly finished business before claiming her attention.
Molly stepped forward with a polished smile. “Mr. Xavier, care for a chat?”
Bruce swirled his wine. “Five minutes.”
That was all she needed. Molly cut straight to the point. She wanted to succeed as the next head of the Carlton family, and his support would guarantee it.
Bruce already knew why both Molly and Karina sought him out. He had never planned to involve himself. His gaze flicked toward where Shermaine had left. “What’s her full name?”
Molly hesitated. “Shermaine Jean.”
Bruce thought, ‘So she’s the woman who thwarted Kylie and Klaus.‘
Bruce had tried investigating Shermaine before, but her records were frustratingly sparse. He had lost interest. After all, unless she was that person, she wasn’t worth his attention.
Thinking of the word “Jean” on the handkerchief, he said, “I’ll back you. On one condition.”
Molly nodded. “Name it.”
“I want to talk to her. Arrange a meeting for me.” If Bruce approached Shermaine, it would be too suspicious, not
to mention Joshua would never allow it.
Molly’s first instinct was refusal. She had no idea what Bruce was plotting. “Mr. Xavier, she’s married, and they’re deeply in love. If you’re thinking of making a move, forget it.”
Bruce took another sip of wine. “You misunderstood. There’s just something I need to confirm with her.”
Molly eyed him skeptically. “That’s all?”
Bruce nodded. “That’s all.”
If true, this was an easy win. Molly weighed her options. “Well. I’ll ask Shermaine first. If she agrees, I’ll set it up. But no tricks, no forcing her into anything.” Even without Bruce’s support, becoming the head of the family would
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just be slightly harder.
Across the hall, Shermaine hiccupped softly, her head lolling against Joshua’s shoulder as she suddenly murmured, “I remember where I’ve seen those eyes before.”
Joshua stopped mid–step. His grip tightened around her waist. “Sheary, you’ve been thinking about him this whole time?”
She shook her head. “Not the whole time.”
“Where did you meet?”
“Four years ago. In Eskaria.” Shermaine paused. “I’m pretty sure I saved his life.”
Joshua smiled. He thought, ‘It seems that man is very grateful for that.‘
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Chapter 352
Shermaine wasn’t sure if Brice was the man she had saved in Eskaria five years ago, but it didn’t matter. Saving lives was second nature to her.
Molly decided not to bring it up tonight. There was no rush. For now, she was relieved Bruce wouldn’t side with her siblings. With that weight off her shoulders, she could finally relax and enjoy the banquet.
“Molly.” Roy’s voice cut through her thoughts.
Molly turned, momentarily startled. She had almost forgotten about him. Finding him still waiting obediently, she asked, “Hungry? Let’s get you something to eat.”
Roy nodded. “A little.”
“Follow me.” Given Molly’s status, countless men vied for her attention. Yet none appealed to her as much as Roy. His boyish charm stood out, and frankly, she usually found men irritating, avoiding them whenever possible. If they got too annoying, she simply ignored them.
As she sipped her wine, she ruffled Roy’s pink hair, soft and fluffy under her fingers. “Slow down. You’ll need room for all the drinks you’re about to handle for me.”
Roy grinned, his little fangs peeking out. Molly’s perfume enveloped him, turning his ears crimson. He kept his head down, fearing that he might lose control and hug, or worse, kiss her.
He didn’t eat much, saving space for alcohol.
Molly didn’t actually overwork him, but by night’s end, Roy was still thoroughly drunk. Unlike Joshua, who could drink anyone under the table, Roy’s tolerance was pitiful. Now his face burned scarlet, his movements sluggish.
Still sober, Molly crouched beside him as he slumped on the floor. “You did well. Let’s get you back.”
Roy blinked blearily at her outstretched hand and then pressed his cheek into her palm.
Molly froze, then laughed, “Roy, you’re just like my husky. I’ll introduce you sometime.”
Roy licked his lips, emboldened by liquor. “I could be your pet, too. Just say the word.” Drunk as he was, he had no filter left, saying everything he normally wouldn’t dare.
Molly’s eyes narrowed. “What do you even see in me?” She had noticed his infatuation from day one.
“I don’t know,” Roy mumbled, his drunken gaze hazy. “I liked you the moment I saw you. I’ve never been like this before.”
Molly thought, ‘So I’m his first love?‘
The thought inexplicably pleased her. “Up you go, sweetheart,” she said, dropping the subject as she helped him stand.
Roy didn’t want to move.
Molly sighed patiently, “Be good. Let’s get you to the hotel. I’ve still got things to handle.”
Roy staggered to his feet. Truthfully, he wasn’t that drunk, just drunk enough to lean shamelessly against her when he realized she didn’t push him away. Her perfume wrapped around him, heady and intoxicating, making his skin burn.
One of Molly’s bodyguards stepped forward. “Ms. Hill, need help?”
“Bring the car around,” Molly ordered. Then, she murmured in Roy’s ear, “Only letting you cling because you took all those shots for me tonight.”
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Meanwhile, Shermaine had returned to the hotel with Fred’s gifted wines in hand. After dropping off food for Dustin, she and Joshua retreated to th
sulte.
Not long after, Owen’s video call lit up Joshua’s phone. Joshua was showering, so Shermaine answered, “Hi, Owen.”
“Hey, Sheary!” Owen beamed. “Where’s Joshua?”
“He’s showering.” Shermaine’s gaze shifted to the unfamiliar middle–aged man beside Owen- to Joshua’s.
She hadn’t expected to meet Stephen York, Joshua’s father, like this. Joshua once
Owen made introductions. “Sheary, this is Joshua’s father.”
-wire–framed glasses, features bearing a faint resemblance
mentioned Stephen hadn’t been home in years.
Shermaine recognized him instantly. She nodded politely. After all, as Joshua’s wife, Stephen was now her family, too.
Stephen returned the nod, his expression warm but silent.
“Stephen just got back from the research institute,” Owen continued. “When are you two returning?”
“The day after tomorrow,” Shermaine said.
Joshua emerged from the shower, towel slung low on his hips. Shermaine handed him the phone. His brows lifted slightly at the sight of Stephen, clearly surprised by Stephen’s sudden return.
Joshua asked how long Stephen would be staying, and Stephen replied that he would go back to the lab after seeing them both. After a short conversation with Owen, Joshua ended the call.
The day after their return would mark the anniversary of Joshua’s mother’s death.
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Shermaine noticed Joshua’s hair was still damp and grabbed a towel to dry it for him.
Before long, he pulled her onto his lap to take over the task himself. She cupped his face, studying him. “Why not talk to him a bit longer?”
“Who?” Joshua asked.
“Stephen,” she said.
Joshua harbored no resentment toward Stephen, who had been absent most of his but years of distance couldn’t be erased in one call.
After a few rough wipes, Joshua tossed the towel onto a chair. “We’ll talk when we’re back.” Truthfully, he was curious about what had finally dragged the stubborn workaholic out of his lab. After his mother’s death, Joshua had assumed he and Stephen would never see each other again.
Shermaine reached to towel his hair once more, but Joshua caught her wrist, pulling her into a kiss that drowned any protest in heat and possessive hunger.
Roy had reached the hotel lobby. The car ride had sobered him up, but he kept up the drunk act, leaning heavily on Molly as she helped him inside.
He played the sweet, guileless boy around her, but he wasn’t naive. Since she allowed his closeness, he took clinging like an oversized teddy bear.
Nuzzling her neck, he inhaled her scent.
inch she gave. Right now, that meant
Molly stiffened. Despite Ustrana’s romantic reputation, she avoided physical contact with men. Roy might be her “pet,” but he was still a man, one who wanted her.
“Stop squirming,” she warned.
Roy whined. “Momo, I’m hot.”
Molly thought, ‘Hot? It’s cool out here. True, the car’s heater has been blasting, and alcohol could make him flush. But what did he call me? Momo?‘
Her voice dropped. “What did you just call me?” No man had ever dared use a nickname this intimate. Anyone else would’ve gotten a fist in the face by
now.
Roy lifted his gaze, soft features blurred by drink, eyes hazy and faintly red–rimmed. “Hmm? Can’t I call you that?”
Molly hesitated. “Fine.”
He called her again. “Momo.”
She drew a hard line. “Only in private. Understood?”
“Got it.” His smile was bright.
Against all odds, Molly’s mood lifted. This obedient, uncomplicated man was nothing like the others. At least he didn’t make her skin crawl. “Come on. Let’s get you upstairs.”
Her bodyguards exchanged glances. None had ever seen a man get this close to Molly. If Beckett James found out she was indulging someone like this, especially when their arranged marriage was all but set in stone, hell would break loose.
The union had been arranged by Molly’s mother, the Carlton family’s third madame, to secure her a powerful ally. But Molly, ever defiant, had rejected Beckett outright. That didn’t stop him from parading around as her fiancé. And this sweet–faced pink–haired boy wouldn’t survive Beckett’s wrath.
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Ray remained blissfully unaware that Molly’s bodyguards saw him as a golddigger. His mind was too busy scheming ways to fore her into his room for “Just a minute.”
They reached his floor in no time. When the elevator doors opened, Roy’s teammates were greeted by the sight of him draped over a Stunning, sharp suited woman who radiated authority. Yet somehow, they looked right together.
They had met Molly at the airport before, a billionaire heiress and Shermaine’s close friend.
Back then, Roy had already been half in love.
The team exchanged glances before hastily stepping aside.
Molly had intended to hand Roy off to them, but they waved her off. “Ms. Hill, mind looking after him? We’re heading out for late–night snacks.”
“Yeah, we’ve got plans.”
“And then hitting the clubs.”
With that, they squeezed into the elevator, gave Molly cheerful farewell waves, and immediately mashed the door–close button.
With no choice, Molly hauled Roy to his door. “Roy, where’s your keycard?”
Roy nuzzled her shoulder. “Momo, get it for me.”
His puppy–dog act worked. Molly chuckled, “Which pocket?”
“I don’t know,” he mumbled.
Molly patted him down.
Roy instantly regretted his gambit. His ears burned crimson, and when her hand brushed his thigh pocket, his whole body jerked. Then, warm blood trickled from his nose. He tilted his head back, clutching his face.
Molly burst out laughing as she swiped the card and opened the door. “Virgin?”
Roy blinked up at her, mortified. “Will you make fun of me?”
“No.” Molly had never dated men. But a male virgin in Ustrana was as rare as a unicorn. Amused, she added, “Why would I care? You’re not my man.”
Roy fell silent, blood still trickling from his nose. He grabbed tissues, pressing them on his face as he mumbled in a wounded, boyish voice, “Momo, I’m only like this with you.” The mix of embarrassment and dejection was almost comical.
“–” He wanted to ask again–whether he could pursue her.
But Molly pressed a finger to his lips before the words could escape. “Pets are enough trouble. I’m not adopting another one right now.”
That was a rejection. Roy’s eyes dimmed, heart cracking audibly. He thought, ‘She turned down someone as cute as me? But she totally likes me! I also
have abs.‘
He hung his head. “I’d be good.”
Molly only smiled. Romance was the last thing on her agenda, especially with Roy, whose path would never align with hers. Her career would never move back to Wallington, and Roy was leaving soon anyway. She was building an empire. Love had no place in her plans.
Tonight’s alcohol had lent her patience, but now sobriety sharpened her tone. “I’m heading back. Rest up.”
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Roy’s chest ached, but he refused to gravel. Persistence, not desperation, was his style. “Goodnight, Momo, he said softly,
Chapter 355
The next morning, Molly went to the hotel for breakfast with Shermaine. Over coffee, she mentioned Bruce’s request.
“Will this help you?” Shermaine asked.
“Yes,” Molly said bluntly. “He’ll back my bid for power.” The demand seemed suspiciously simple, but a late–night investigation had eased her doubts
Shermaine checked her watch. “This afternoon, then. We have to fly home tomorrow.”
“Deal.” Molly clinked her coffee cup against Shermaine’s. “Thanks.”
Shermaine returned the toast with a smile.
Molly promptly called Bruce, who named a café address for 2 p.m. She immediately relayed the information to Shermaine.
Shermaine nodded in agreement.
Breakfast continued until Roy and Joshua arrived. Roy, seemingly unfazed by last night’s rejection, slid cheerfully beside Molly. “Morning, ladies.”
“Morning,” Molly murmured into her cup.
Shermaine had only eaten about a third of her pasta. She pushed her plate aside, no longer hungry.
Without a word, Joshua pulled the plate to his own place and finished it.
Soon, the waiter brought over the rest of Shermaine’s pre–ordered breakfast.
After they finished eating, Shermaine and Joshua went out shopping, planning to bring some things back home.
Time passed quickly. After having lunch, the afternoon meeting loomed.
Loang’s weather was unseasonably bright, with golden light gilding the old architecture. Pigeons wheeled over bustling plazas, and the streets bustled with people and traffic.
Joshua parked nearby. “Thirty minutes,” he said, hand lingering at Shermaine’s waist.
Shermaine traced his jaw. “I’ll be quick. Stretch your legs. The square is lovely.” With that, she got out of the car.
Joshua swallowed hard, rolling down the window to track her progress to the café where Bruce waited.
Bruce had arrived early. He stood as Shermaine entered, pulling out her chair.
Once she was seated, a waiter placed a black coffee in front of her.
Bruce studied her for a moment. After a pause, he pulled out the embroidered handkerchief from his pocket. “This belongs to you.”
Shermaine recognized it instantly. The handkerchief she had carried for years, stitched with her surname, was lost during that trip to Eskaria. Never did she expect that the man she had saved years ago would find it, and now, he returned it to her.
Bruce exhaled. Her reaction confirmed that she was the one who had saved him. Five years had passed, but finally, he had found her again.
Shermaine took the handkerchief. “Thank you.
“You’re welcome,” Bruce replied softly. “You saved my life. Without you, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Shermaine smiled, “Just a small kindness.”
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To her, it meant little. But to Bruce, it had been the only light in the darkest chapter of his life. Before that day, no one had aver fat it, Shermaine was the first person to say those words to him.
Thirty minutes came and went with no sign of Shermaine. Joshua remained outwardly calm, though he lit a cigarette to steady himself.
Finally, she emerged, Bruce trailing behind her.
“No need to walk me out,” Shermaine said. “My husband is waiting.”
Bruce nodded. “My offer stands.” He had sworn to repay her years ago, and he intended to keep that promise.
Shermaine turned without another word, heading toward Joshua.
He took her hand, helping her into the car. “What did you discuss?”
She summarized the conversation succinctly.
Joshua’s expression gave nothing away. Bruce’s gratitude was one thing, but he’d better not harbor any other intentions. So far, Bruce seemed respectful.
“You turned down his repayment?” Joshua asked.
“Essentially,” Shermaine replied.
Outside the café, Bruce exhaled smoke, his expression unreadable. Then, his phone rang. The caller’s voice was frantic. “Bruce, the lab situation is deteriorating. Containment’s failing. Many people are infected, and one escaped.
“He’s a carrier. If the strain mutates during transmission, we’re finished!”
“Any leads on his location?” Bruce asked.
“Not yet.”
“Find him. At all costs.”
Meanwhile, in the car, Joshua’s phone buzzed.
The caller’s voice carried clearly in the quiet interior, reporting that unidentified assailants had ambushed their team and rescued Kylie. “Joshua, you and your wife should be cautious. These rescuers are dangerous.” Their motives were unclear, and their identities were still untraceable.
Joshua hadn’t anticipated Kylie’s rescue. Even her family had failed to locate her. Yet these strangers had rescued her effortlessly.
“Any distinguishing features?” Shermaine asked.
The caller answered, “Black robes. Masks. Highly trained.”
“Thanks. We’ll stay alert.”
“Kylie has no threat anymore. We made sure of that. She won’t be useful for much of anything for the rest of her life.”
Elsewhere, the room around Kylie was white–walled and sterile–looking. She lay motionless on a bed, tubes snaking from her body, a ventilator hissing.
Before being taken, she had endured hell. Faintly, she heard voices nearby. “She has multiple compound fractures. Her usefulness is minimal. Are you
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sure we should save her?”
A woman replied, her voice crisp and clinical, “Full recovery is mandatory. Even damaged goods can be repurposed. With modifies adequate pawn.”
“Understood.”
“Has the Crystal Sarcophagus been opened yet?”
“Not yet.”
The woman’s tone sharpened. “Make them move faster.”
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Chapter 356
That night, Joshua packed their luggage white Shermaine sat at the desk, her gray sweatpants clad legs curled beneath fret, a messy bun stop hat in Her fingers flew across the black keyboard as she searched for any trace of the masked, black robed assailants, but she found nothing
Closing the laptop, she took a sip of water and turned to Joshua.
He was folding her crossbody bag on the bed, dressed in a knit sweater and black trousers. In his hands was the handkerchief Bruce had returned.
Joshua asked, “Sheary, you used to carry handkerchiefs?”
Shermaine nodded. “I did.” But she had stopped after losing this one.
Joshua said, “But not anymore?”
“Pretty much.” She explained it had been a gift from a respected mentor. It had sentimental value.
Joshua smiled, “To prevent another loss, I’ll keep this one for you. Or better yet, give it to me. I could use a handkerchief.”
It was impeccably preserved, almost new, proof of Bruce’s meticulous care.
Shermaine made a playful grab for it.
Joshua dodged, tucking it into his pocket.
“I’ll buy you a new one,” she offered.
“I want this one,” Joshua insisted.
Shermaine laughed in exasperation. “What if I refuse?”
Joshua wrapped his arms around her waist, looking up with a low, coaxing murmur. “Sheary, you’re too kind to say no.”
“I’m feeling mean today. Try again.” Her hand dipped into his pocket. She didn’t mind gifting it, but Joshua’s jealousy over Bruce’s return was ridiculous. And unless she was imagining it, his wariness of Bruce seemed excessive.
Joshua fell back onto the bed. Shermaine followed with one knee planted beside him, and her waist was still locked in his grip. Her hand had slipped
into his pocket, only to be trapped there.
“Sheary,” Joshua’s voice was rough with amusement. “Where exactly are you groping?”
Shermaine didn’t bat an eye. “Not like I haven’t touched you there before.” Besides, through layers of fabric, she wasn’t getting any sensation from it
anyway.
Joshua swallowed. “Keep this up, and we’ll miss our flight tomorrow.”
“Give the handkerchief back, and I’ll stop.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then you’re done for.”
Joshua’s grin was pure challenge. “Guess I’m done for, then.”
Shermaine decided she had been far too lenjent with him lately. It was time for a lesson.
Her eyes narrowed as she rolled off him, yanked open the bedside drawer’s lowest compartment, and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. In one fluid motion, she snapped one cuff around Joshua’s wrist and secured it to the headboard, then used his tie to bind the other.
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Joshua blinked at his immobilized arms. He blinked, momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected the hotel room to contain something the händer had he expected Shermaine to use them on him. Still, he kept his tone low, coaxing, “Baby, don’t be like this,”
Their earlier scuffle had already left his black shirt disheveled. Now, with his tie roughly undone, his shirt gaped open at the collar. Propped again headboard, his hair was slightly messed up. His glasses glinted under the light. The usually composed man looked surprisingly sexy
Shermaine smirked. “Mr. York, you’ve been very naughty.”
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Chapter 357
Shermaine leaned in, pinching his waist. “You started this.”
“I surrender,” Joshua murmured, voice slightly hoarse. “Unlock me, Sheary.”
“No.” Her tone was stern. “You had your chance. Now, it’s punishment time.”
The handcuffs and tie couldn’t truly restrain Joshua. He’d allowed this because resisting would upset her. But regret came swiftly.
Shermaine removed his glasses, staring into those deep–set eyes that always seemed to pull her in. She kissed the corner of his eye, then flicked open his belt buckle with a sharp click that echoed in the quiet room.
Outside, Loang’s skyline glittered, the window faintly reflecting their entangled silhouettes.
Joshua’s breathing was ragged. His black shirt hung open, revealing a heaving chest damp with sweat as he leaned against the headboard, eyes slightly
narrowed and flushed.
Shermaine licked her lips, savoring his unraveling. A nip at his Adam’s apple drew another broken gasp from him. Then, she abruptly stood. “Reflect on your behavior.”
Joshua couldn’t move. With the intoxicating sensation suddenly gone, all that remained was pure torment. She teased him but didn’t give him what he truly wanted.
“Sheary,” he said, trying to steady his breath. “I’ve reflected. Deeply. Untie me, please.”
“No.” Shermainé stuck out her tongue.
“Last chance,” Joshua warned, though his chuckle betrayed him.
“Nope.” Shermaine’s gaze flicked briefly at the bulge, then away. “You’re not penitent enough. Keep reflecting.” With that, she reclaimed the handkerchief, tucked it into her bag, and headed to the bathroom.
Joshua exhaled through clenched teeth, eyes fond yet exasperated. He thought, ‘My girl is too clever for her own good. Where did she learn such methods? Does she realize what happens when a caged beast breaks free?‘
The memory of her teasing had his muscles coiling again. He craved more.
When Shermaine returned from her shower, she found only the discarded handcuffs and crumpled tie on the bed. She thought, ‘So he could’ve escaped
anytime? Tsk, he was humoring my punishment just now!
A rustling came from the living room. Shermaine stepped out to find Joshua by the fridge, tilting his head back as he gulped water.
Droplets trailed down his jaw, over his throat, and vanished into the open collar of his shirt. Even drinking water looked sexy on him.
Joshua set the bottle down, eyes locking onto her robe–clad figure.
Shermaine leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching him with amusement.
Joshua closed the distance without a word, his lips hot and insistent against hers. Teeth grazed her neck. He murmured, “Sheary, it’s my turn now,”
Shermaine chuckled, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”
“I’d happily go blind,” he countered, fingers tugging at her robe tie. “Daily.”
His breath hitched. He thought, ‘Teasing me like that but bringing me to the edge only to walk away, it’s cruel. Do it often enough, and she’ll break me.”
He whispered in her ear, “I’m suffering, Sheary. Take responsibility.”
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By dawn, Shermaine hurled the handkerchief at him and yanked the covers up. “Take it. Now go. I need sleep
Joshua caught it, grinting as he pressed a kiss on her cheek. “Next time you want to punish me, just use a whip.” His voice softened. It’s not the handkerchief I mind, just the man who held onto it.”
Bruce had done nothing wrong, but Joshua still found the keepsake irritating. The jealousy–fueled antics had lasted half the night.
Shermaine eyed him, then burrowed into his arms. “Sleep.”
The next morning, they boarded their flight home. Shermaine didn’t open her eyes once from takeoff to landing
Her stellar performance at the math conference, coupled with her fame as Professor Jean, drew a crowd of scholars and reporters to the airport.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Jameson’s failing heart and kidneys had landed him in the hospital. These days, he had already become skinny.
Chapter 358
In just a few days, Jameson had plummeted into the darkest chapter of his life.
Natalie, the woman he had deeply loved, was a transgender individual. Jason was his biological son, but only because Natalie had stolen has spec hired a surrogate.
Though Natalie had raised Jason as her own, Jameson couldn’t shake his disgust. Now, even the sight of Jason filled him with revulsion, Jason’s existence was a constant reminder of his own stupidity–abandoning the exceptional Ruth for Natalie and persecuting Ross.
Natalie had meticulously manipulated Jameson for years. Her schemes had left his body failing. Without immediate surgery, his time was running outs
Though ousted as Jean Group’s president, Jameson still held shares. No longer the fool, he had quietly reclaimed assets gifted to Natalie. As for Jason, he let him keep the money, but every share had been clawed back.
Recently, Natalie had stormed into his hospital room to protest. Beyond her, no one came. Not Ross, who had ignored Jameson’s hospitalization.
Not even Janice, who seemed to have erased Jameson from her life. Jameson had hinted at remorse, yet no forgiveness came.
The doctor was reviewing Jameson.
Each day felt like a year. Despite medication, Jameson’s decline was palpable. He asked, “Doctor, when will Dr. Jean arrive?”
The doctor said, “She’s extraordinarily busy. The news says she’s returned today. Be patient.” The numbers were dire. Delaying surgery would only heighten the risks.
All the doctor could do was fight for an opportunity for Jameson. If Dr. Jean refused, only fate remained.
Jameson’s hands trembled. He thought, ‘She’s back. There’s still hope!
Just as he was lost in thought, Natalie’s shrill voice pierced through the hallway again. Barred from entering, she was hurling obscenities outside.
Natalie couldn’t fathom how her meticulously concealed gender reassignment surgery had been exposed. But so what? She was a woman now, and Jameson had stripped her of everything. Even Jason had vanished days ago.
The sound of her screeching made Jameson’s head throb. She dared show up here. He had already shown mercy by not having her arrested.
Fed up with her daily disruptions, Jameson yanked out his IV and stormed into the hallway, his face twisted with rage. He snarled, “You disgusting bitch! One more scene, and I swear I’ll ruin you.”
Natalie’s allergy–induced scars darkened grotesquely, forcing her to hide behind a mask. “Jamie, I didn’t know the medication would harm you! I’m sorry. Please don’t cast me out!”
The fiery arrogance was gone. Natalie lunged forward to embrace him, but Jameson shoved her away. “Don’t fucking touch me!” He jerked his chin at the guards. “Throw her out. I never want to see her again.”
As the guards dragged Natalie off, Jameson’s fury triggered a coughing fit, blood spattering his palm. Panic whitened his face as he collapsed. Nurses rushed him back to bed, and the doctor scolded him sternly.
Reconnected to IV drips and meds, Jameson stared blankly at the evening news flashing on the screen. Suddenly, he saw Shermaine.
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Shermaine’s return to the country had sparked widespread attention, even making the evening news.
As the reporter recounted her achievements, Jameson finally understood why.
Shermaine had represented Basterel University at the Academic Exchange Conference, and she had solved a world–class mathematical puzzle, a lean that cemented her status as a luminary in the field.
She was extraordinary. She was Professor Jean, the renowned figure abroad. When the news segment delved into her rise to fame, even the doctors and nurses watching alongside Jameson were awestruck.
The young woman on screen wasn’t only Dr. Jean, but she was also the literary world’s celebrated Professor Jean. The medical staff murmured in
admiration.
Jameson’s heart raced as he watched Shermaine being swarmed by admirers. This was his daughter, yet he had never truly seen her, only belittled fer at every turn.
He had no right to scorn her. Shermaine was a titan in her fields, her brilliance undeniable. Jason couldn’t hold a candle to her.
Once, Jameson had consoled himself with the thought that she was “just a woman.” Now, regret curdled in his gut.
In the news, the reporter asked, “Ms. Jean, you’re already an esteemed professor abroad. Why return to completing an undergraduate degree here?”
Shermaine smiled, “Back then, I hated hearing criticisms but couldn’t exactly flaunt my credentials, not that anyone would’ve believed me. Mostly, I skipped high school for early studies abroad. No SATs, no prom… It felt like a missing chapter.”
At the segment’s end, the reporter blurted, “Ms. Jean, may I have your autograph?”
“Of course.” Shermaine nodded.
The screen cut to a mob of reporters clamoring for signatures before shifting to the next piece of news.
A nurse gasped, cheeks flushed, “Dr. Zimmer, Shermaine is Dr. Jean, right?”
Luke Zimmer nodded. “Must be.”
“Let’s ask Dr. Shelly!”
“Good idea.”
They filed out, buzzing with excitement, leaving Jameson shell–shocked in his bed.
Dread pooled in Jameson’s chest. He thought, ‘Did they just say… Shermaine is Dr. Jean? If so, would she ever operate on me?‘ The answer was obvious.
In Danielle’s ward, a crowd of medical staff pressed for confirmation.
Even in a hospital gown, one leg encased in plaster, her beauty and elegance remained undimmed. She closed her book, smiling, “Dr. Jean and Professor Jean are one and the same.”
Danielle thought proudly, ‘Shermaine is just that brilliant!‘
Danielle spent over an hour patiently fielding the doctors‘ and nurses‘ excited questions about Shermaine, her throat growing dry from all the talking. By the time she checked her watch, it was already past nine, and she had to visit Ross.
Earlier that day, Ross‘ stitches had been removed, and his wound was already healed. Though cleared for discharge, he had stayed pirt, with company executives shuffling in and out for reporting. Danielle’s cast, meanwhile, wouldn’t come off for another week.
Ross was likely at a video conference. Shermaine’s trip had left him swamped with work.
“Any more questions?” Danielle asked. “If not, I’d like to see my boyfriend.”
The group shook their heads. They knew bits of Danielle and Ross‘ story–Ross had nearly died for her. They had mistaken him for a playboy before.
Grabbing her crutches, Danielle headed to Ross‘ ward next door. These days, not teasing him made her feel like skipping a ritual.
Just as she reached the door, a woman in oversized sunglasses and a face mask collided with her, a cloud of cloying perfume following.
“Watch where you’re going, cripple,” the woman snorted, then paused, eyeing Danielle’s striking beauty despite the cast. “You here for Mr. Jean?”
That saccharine voice was unmistakable. Danielle immediately recognized who it was. It was Jessica, the actress who used to have rumors swirling around her and Ross. She thought, ‘Jessica’s here to see Ross?‘
At the thought of that scandal, Danielle remembered the photo of Jessica practically clinging to Ross. Her temper flared instantly. “So what if I am?”
“Sorry, sweetheart, first come, first served,” Jessica sneered, tossing her hair. “Don’t waste your time fantasizing about Mr. Jean. Men like him don’t stoop to your level.”
With that, she flounced into the ward, her voice dripping honey. “Mr. Jean, I came as soon as I heard you were hospitalized.”
Ross had expected Danielle. His frown deepened at the unfamiliar woman. “Who are you?”
Jessica removed her sunglasses and mask, setting a bouquet aside. “It’s me.” She purred, eyes full of exaggerated concern. “I rushed here straight from the set. How are you feeling?”
It took Ross a few seconds to recognize the actress from that engineered “scandal.” He hadn’t gone looking for her, yet here she was, showing up uninvited.
Before he could throw her out, Danielle strode in, looking furious. As his girlfriend, she wasn’t about to retreat.
Jessica shot Danielle a glare.
Ross immediately sensed trouble.
Danielle sank into the bedside chair, all sweet venom. “Ross, isn’t this your famous fling? No wonder she snarled at me in the hallway.”
Jessica stiffened. She thought, ‘What’s this bitch’s relationship with Ross?‘ Her expression shifted slightly.
Ross glared at Jessica. “You dared snarl at her?”
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Ross had always maintained a polished, courteous public image. Even after the scandal broke, he had done nothing to retaliate against Jessica, and since she had business ties to Jean Group, she had dared visit him at the hospital.
Jessica reassured herself silently, ‘Ross is the type to spare a woman’s feelings. He won’t humiliate me?
But his icy tone shattered that illusion. Her smile froze. “Mr. Jean, I wasn’t rude to her. Just a misunderstanding”
Seeing Danielle’s stony expression, Ross tried to explain. “Danielle, she and 1”
“I don’t care.” Danielle cut him off. “I want an orange. Peel it for me.”
“Okay.” The fruit bowl held a few oranges. Ross, who had never waited on anyone, fumbled clumsily with the peel but patiently separated a segment and fed it to her.
Jessica gaped at the scene.
Yet each bite only soured Danielle’s mood further. Jessica’s presence resurrected the sting of Ross‘ past rejections. “Enough. Entertain your famous fling without me.” She grabbed her crutches and walked outside.
Ross chased after her.
tried
Danielle’s hobbled pace was no match for him. As she tried shutting her ward door, he blocked it and slipped inside.
“Why follow me?” Danielle snapped. “Your guest is waiting.”
“There’s nothing between us,” Ross explained.
Danielle pouted, “She’s your scandal partner. That photo had her glued to you, and you didn’t push her away.”
She thought, ‘Now the woman is showing up uninvited. She’s clearly still obsessed.’
Ross blinked and couldn’t help thinking, ‘Glued to me? Jessica tried seducing me and even lunged, but I dodged. The tabloid shot was just a bad angle.‘
This was the first time Danielle had ever acted jealous. Her lingering,hurt over the scandal twisted his gut. He pulled her into a hug, murmuring, “I’m
sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?” Danielle murmured, her voice softening as she lowered her gaze.
“I hurt you,” Ross said, pulling her closer. “That photo was just a bad angle. Jessica never touched me. There’s only ever been you, Danielle.” Only she had ever been allowed to throw herself at him, tease him, and kiss him.
Ross wasn’t experienced at coaxing girls, and a part of him worried Danielle might not forgive him this time.
Back then, the scandal had erupted right after their breakup. To outsiders, it looked intentional, like he was the heartless playboy Janice had accused him of being.
No wonder Danielle had iced him out, blocking him on WhatsApp, deleting his number, and refusing to see him. Though, technically, he was still
blacklisted.
Danielle tilted her head up, eyes narrowing. “Really? Only
“Yes,” Ross answered solemnly.
Her legs tired, Danielle leaned into him. “So your ex never held you? And that actress definitely didn’t?”
Ross nodded. “I promise it won’t happen again.” His voice was impossibly gentle. “No more jealousy, okay?”
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Danielle smiled, “Then swear it. No women near you except Shermaine.”
“I promise,” Ross said without hesitation.
“Only I get to hug you, kiss you, and sleep with you.” Danielle’s voice was soft but dripping with possession.
Ross chuckled, running a hand through her hair, “Deal. Want a kiss? Or… the sleeping part works too.”
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Danielle’s mind short circuited. She thought, ‘Now? Here? A kiss was one thing, but sleeping…
Her cheeks flushed as some steamy images flooded her mind.
That such words had come from Ross, the epitome of restraint, stunned her. This was the same man who had once been immune to her every advance, cold as a machine.
Suddenly parched, Danielle wet her lips, rising on tiptoe to fiddle with his hospital gown buttons. Their breaths mingled, “Now? Are you sure?”
Ross leaned in to kiss her. Weeks of her teasing, her sweet voice, and fleeting touches had worn his patience thin. He intended to show just how welcome her advances were.
Danielle turned her face away. “Ross, you’ve changed.”
Ross had realized this. The irony wasn’t lost on him. Like Shermaine and Joshua’s “famous turnaround,” though Joshua had always been quicker to
embrace desire.
“For you, I’ll change gladly,” Ross murmured. His usual scholarly reserve was still there, edged with aristocratic poise–qualities Danielle adored. Now, his words sent her pulse racing.
This change was hers alone. The thought melted her.
“Danielle,” Ross murmured, his voice tender as winter sunlight. “I love you.”
Danielle couldn’t resist. Overjoyed, she pressed a playful kiss to his lips. The sound echoed in the quiet ward, sparking an instant, electric tension between them. She whispered, “Ross, you can’t just say things like that.”
Leaning closer, Ross whispered, “So, do you want to sleep with me now?” His lips brushed her ear.
Danielle wanted him, but not here, not until they were both discharged.
Before she could respond, Ross captured her lips in a searing kiss, his warm, woodsy scent enveloping her. Gone was the cool detachment of the past. This kiss was a crashing wave, leaving her dizzy and clinging to him for balance.
With one leg still in a cast, Danielle shut her eyes, arms locked around Ross. When she finally broke for air, he simply cradled her head and drew her back in, deepening the kiss with molten intensity.
Meanwhile, Jessica, unable to sit still after Ross chased after Danielle, had followed them to the hallway. She thought, ‘No way I’m leaving empty- handed. Marrying a wealthy man is my golden ticket.’
She knocked, then tried pushing the door open. But it didn’t budge as if someone inside was holding it shut.
In the ward, Danielle, who had been leaning against the door, was startled. She wanted to push Ross away, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he braced his hands on either side of her, easing the kiss from feverish to languid, savoring her with deliberate, lingering sweetness.
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Ross‘ kiss was gentle, but his palms burned against Danielle’s waist, restless in a way they had never been before. Even their first kisa in the car had lon him unraveled.
He nipped at her ear, hot breath brushing against her shin. “Danielle, I meant what I said. Now is an option.”
Danielle’s blush deepened. “Your rumored partner is looking for you.”
Ross trailed kisses down her neck. “Ignore her.”
“My leg is still broken.” Danielle could barely stand. Without his grip, she would have collapsed.
Ross whispered, “Then come for me when it’s healed.”
Danielle melted further, though her lips curled in helpless amusement. If not for the damned cast, she would have forn his clothes off already.
Ross took in her radiant smile and stole another kiss.
Outside, Jessica said, “Mr. Jean? Are you there?” No answer, but muffled sounds came from within.
She thought, ‘What are they doing? Is that woman his girlfriend? No. Impossible. Rumor said he was single now!
She kept speaking, “Mr. Jean, can you hear me? Are you-”
Before she could finish, Ross, usually so calm and gentle, snapped in frustration, “Get lost.” His tone carried the unmistakable irritation of someone whose moment had just been ruined.
The snap was uncharacteristically harsh. Jessica froze. Then, she heard the click of the lock turning.
Inside, Ross put Danielle onto the bed, pulling her close again.
Danielle’s lips were numb from kissing, the kiss lingering until Shermaine’s call snapped them back to reality. Ross finally released Danielle, who was now boneless and breathless against the sheets.
Joshua and Shermaine were on their way to the hospital. Danielle grabbed a mirror, took one look at herself, and immediately yanked the covers over her head. “Go back to your room,” she urged Ross, flustered.
Ross calmly buttoned his shirt, the one she had tugged open during their make–out session, and chuckled, “Hiding under blankets won’t undo what just happened.”
Danielle pouted, “Look what you did! My lips are swollen. It’s so embarrassing to see Sheary like this.”
The room had been dim, lit only by moonlight. When Ross flicked the switch, the full extent of Danielle’s disheveled state became clear–her hospital gown slipping off one shoulder, her hair tousled. He gently adjusted her gown. “Yeah.”
Downstairs, Shermaine was swarmed by doctors and nurses clamoring for autographs. If it weren’t for Joshua’s strong presence, he might’ve even been pushed aside.
Luckily, an elevator arrived just then. Though the crowd was excited, they politely made space for Shermaine to get through.
When they reached the room, Shermaine noted Ross‘ good spirits. Though cleared for discharge, he had chosen to stay.
Joshua took one look at Ross, and the two exchanged a knowing glance. Sometimes, no words were needed between men.
After checking Ross, Shermaine said, “Glad to see you recovering so well.”
Ross replied, smug, “My girlfriend takes excellent care of me.”
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Shermaine raised an eyebrow. “Danielle’s leg is broken, yet she’s still looking after you. Don’t take advantage. Her tone was light, but the implication
was clear.
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“Where’s Danielle?” Shermaine asked.
Ross lied effortlessly, his expression unreadable. “She’s asleep.”
Shermaine smirked, catching the whiff of a cover–up.
Ross changed the subject. “Have you eaten?”
“I had something on the plane. We’ll grab a proper meal later.” After nearly twelve hours of sleep, Shermaine was wide awake. She didn’t plan to linger at the hospital, just a quick visit before heading back to Jean Villa.
A knock interrupted them. A doctor entered, clutching a file.
After listening to his statement, Shermaine asked, “Did you bring the patient’s records?” Though she hadn’t operated in a while, she still took on three or four surgeries monthly to keep her skills sharp.
The doctor nodded eagerly. “Here, Dr. Jean.”
Shermaine flipped open the file and soon froze. The patient was Jameson, She didn’t slam the file shut. Instead, she read every detail before closing it with finality.
“Will you take the case, Dr. Jean?” the doctor asked.
“No.” Shermaine’s tone left no room for debate. “Let him find another surgeon.”
“Well, I’ll inform him.”
“Mm.”
The doctor didn’t push. After getting an autograph from Shermaine, he left.
Ross studied Shermaine’s expression. The patient’s identity was obvious. He had known about his hospitalization but hadn’t bothered visiting. To Ross, the man had been dead the moment he abandoned his family. His suffering now was nothing but retribution.
Thinking of Janice, Ross asked, “Sheary, really no exception?”
“I won’t lift a finger for him,” Shermaine said coolly. “But for Grandma’s sake, I’ll save him after letting him stew in despair a little longer.”
With that, she and Joshua left for Jean Villa.
The doctor delivered Shermaine’s refusal to Jameson and asked him to find another surgeon.
Jameson’s face drained of color, his body going numb as if plunged into ice. He thought, ‘Just as I thought, Shermaine would rather watch me die.“‘
After the divorce, Ruth had moved out of Jean Villa. But upon hearing of Shermaine’s return, she had come back for the evening, preparing dinner for
Shermaine and Joshua.
Janice knew Jameson was critically ill. As his mother, she grieved, but she hadn’t visited him yet. When he got desperate enough, he would come to her.
When Shermaine and Joshua arrived at Jean Villa, Ruth and Janice showered them with warmth and pride. Shermaine’s triumphant return from Ustrana
was a cause for celebration.
“Sheary, have some soup first,” Ruth said gently, ladling a bowl for her. “Joshua, you too.”
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They settled around the table, the dinner full of laughter and ease.
Janice turned to Joshua. “I heard your father returned from the research institute?”
Joshua nodded. “We’re coming back tomorrow morning.”
It had been years since Janice last saw Stephen. She could barely recall his face. “Your grandfather always adored him. He would be overjoyed to know your father is finally home.”
Joshua had noticed Owen’s happiness that night.
Shermaine asked, “What field does Stephen specialize in?”
“Astronomy. He’s an astronomer,” Joshua replied.
Shermaine smiled. At least she wouldn’t run out of topics tomorrow. Astronomy had always fascinated her.
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At York residence, King Tiki had been a permanent fixture ever since Owen visited Riverswood Villa and instantly took a liking to the upgraded robot. Seeing his fondness, Shermaine had gifted it to him.
King Tiki had settled in nicely, humming to itself as it swept the floors with rhythmic precision. After cleaning, it meticulously sorted the trash and trotted outside to toss it into the bins. “I’m a hardworking little robot.”
Stephen watched the oddly humanoid machine with a mix of fascination and bewilderment. In one swift motion, he grabbed King Tiki mid–task, inspecting its mechanisms with intense curiosity. He hadn’t expected anyone to engineer a robot this advanced.
King Tiki whirred in protest, its routine rudely interrupted.
Owen said, “That’s Shermaine’s creation.”
Stephen’s expression remained blank. “Mm.” He had seen Shermaine in videos before.
Owen studied his son, uneasy. He thought, ‘Was it the decades in the research institute that stripped Stephen of human warmth? His face was unreadable, his tone perpetually icy. Well, at least he’s home. I shouldn’t expect more.’
The next morning, Shermaine and Joshua left for York residence early. On the way, Shermaine bought a bouquet of violets. Joshua had mentioned his late mother, Dionne Relish, adored them.
Owen had woken up in a foul mood. Overnight, King Tiki, perfectly functional yesterday, had mysteriously malfunctioned. He was counting on Shermaine to check the issue, though he secretly suspected Stephen had tampered with it after he had gone to bed.
Stephen sat unfazed on the sofa, flipping through a newspaper.
Just then, the butler said, “Mr. York, Joshua and Shermaine have arrived.”
Owen hurried to greet them, his face etched with worry. “Sheary, check what’s wrong with King Tiki!”
Shermaine frowned, “It’s malfunctioning?”
“Mm,” Owen sighed. “It was working perfectly last night.”
“I’ll take a look later.”
“Good. Have you two eaten breakfast?”
“Yeah.”
As they walked into the house, Joshua and Shermaine both noticed Stephen sitting on the sofa.
Lowering his newspaper, Stephen said flatly, “You’re back.”
Joshua’s gaze flickered, but he only said, “Dad.”
Shermaine followed suit with a polite greeting.
Stephen gave a curt nod before returning to his newspaper.
The interaction between father and son was so stiff it might as well have been between strangers.
Owen seethed silently but held his tongue, instructing Joshua to prepare for their visit to Dionne’s grave while Shermaine checked King Tiki.
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She dismantled the robot, examining each component. The parts were intact, but the chip had a blackened patch. She held it up, thoughtful.
“The chip’s fried?” Owen asked.
“Mm. It’ll take some time to fix,” Shermaine said. “I’ll handle it later.”
Owen nodded.
Half an hour later, they set off for the cemetery, Stephen joining them in the car. Not a word passed his lips during the ride.
Yet his gaze lingered on Joshua, studying him with an intensity that unsettled Shermaine. It wasn’t the gaze of a father observing his son. It was something else entirely.
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Chapter 366
Shermaine had little experience with parental relationships, so she couldn’t quite judge what was normal, only observe silently. She wondered, ‘Did Joshua sense something off about Stephen too?‘
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Soon, they arrived at Serenity Cemetery. The morning was quiet, the grounds nearly empty.
Late autumn’s chill greeted them as they stepped out of the car, a gust of wind tugging at Shermaine’s floral dress. Clutching the bouquet of violets, she
took Joshua’s outstretched hand.
Stephen, however, had already strode ahead, disappearing into the rows of graves with familiar ease.
By the time they caught up, he was clearing weeds around the headstone.
The grave faced south, overlooking the distant sea, a sweeping, tranquil view.
Watching him, Shermaine felt a pang of contradiction. There was something raw, almost tender, in the way he stood before his late wife’s resting place.
Once the weeds were gone, Stephen froze before the tombstone, staring at the photograph.
Shermaine studied it, too. Joshua’s mother had been striking, gentle, and elegant. She thought, ‘So that’s where Joshua got those eyes. Dionne’s eyes were like a winter galaxy deep and luminous.‘
She laid the violets down.
Joshua stood beside her, voice steady. “Mom, this is my wife. Shermaine Jean.” With that, he said nothing more.
Their visit was brief. After paying respects, Joshua had to return to work.
As they turned to leave, Stephen spoke for the first time, “Go ahead. I’ll stay a while longer.”
Joshua handed him the car keys. “Take the car keys. We’ll grab a taxi.”
Stephen accepted without another word.
Hand in hand, Joshua and Shermaine walked away. At the cemetery gates, they parted ways. He had to go to the office, and she went to university.
Upon returning to the Department of Chemistry, Shermaine was immediately approached by the dean, Hector Katz.
Hector asked, “Shermaine, how about we fast–track your graduation? Take a few exams, and you could skip straight to a master’s or even a PhD program.”
Shermaine blinked, “Is that necessary?”
“Absolutely,” Hector insisted. “Undergrad is a waste of your time. Frankly, I could petition the university to award you a master’s degree outright, then slot you into a doctoral program. What do you think?”
If approved, Shermaine would become the first student in history to earn a master’s within weeks of enrollment.
Given her groundbreaking work on the twin prime conjecture and her reputation as a mathematician, not to mention her chemistry expertise rivaling tenured professors, it was entirely reasonable.
After a moment’s thought, Shermaine agreed. Skipping straight to a PhD did sound appealing. But the proper procedures were necessary.
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In Ustrana, Kylie stirred awake in a sterile white room, her body heavy with exhaustion. Before she could fully register her surroundings, darkness swallowed her again.
As she drifted back into unconsciousness, a woman in a white protection suit entered, followed by a masked, diminutive man. He reported, “Her shattered bones have been reinforced with mechanical linkages, and her combat capabilities are significantly enhanced. We’ve also implanted a neural chip. She’s practically a cyborg now.”
The man added, “Your Highness, once she recovers fully, she’ll be ready to serve your purposes.”
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Judy gave a slight nod. Tall and statuesque, her golden hair cascaded down her back as she took off the protection suit, revealing a form–fitting white officer’s uniform.
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The moment she emerged, a drone zipped toward her, projecting a blue holographic screen that displayed live footage from the lab.
A person reported, “Her Highness, we’ve successfully opened the crystal sarcophagus.”
Judy’s eyes gleamed. “Can it be activated?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
Opening it was difficult enough. Activating it would be challenging.
Judy frowned, “Why?”
The person explained, “The crystal sarcophagus left by the royal family. It only responds to bloodline verification. Without a direct descendant, it’s inert.”
“Can’t we brute–force the system?”
“Your Highness, if it were that easy, we wouldn’t have spent centuries searching for Apocalypse.”
Judy fell silent.
“The only option is to locate a living heir to the royal family,” the person continued. “But after millennia, the odds are slim. Mainframe data narrows it down to Wallington, but it’ll take roughly three years to pinpoint the target.”
Wallington was densely populated, after all.
Judy pressed her lips. “We don’t have that kind of time.”
The person sighed, “I’ll improvise.”
“Make it quick.” Judy nodded.
In Loang, Bruce held his phone to his ear, the voice on the other end weary. “The subject is quarantined in a safe house. But we’re still tracing his movements. No guarantee he didn’t infect others during his escape.”
Bruce asked, “What’s his current condition?”
The man replied, “Physical mutations. Severe genetic regression. The virus is ravaging his organs. If he loses control, he’ll attack indiscriminately, like a
rabid beast, but worse.
“His blood carries an unknown pathogen. Bruce, this is a time bomb. And our employer won’t halt the research. Worse, we’re operating on Wallington’s
turf. This recklessness will backfire.
Bruce had no idea what Kylie had tampered with in that lab to create such a disaster. Had he known, he would never have let her near the project. Exhaling a slow drag of his cigarette, he muttered, “I’ll head over tomorrow.”
The man on the phone sighed in relief, “Good. Maybe you can talk some sense into that lunatic employer. This experiment needs to end.”
As a Wallingtonian, Bruce couldn’t stand by while reckless experiments threatened his homeland or the people who had shown him kindness.
The lab was just across the border in the neighboring city of Basterel. If things went south, the fallout would engulf neighboring cities first.
Bruce turned to his subordinate. “Find out when Roy is leaving Ustrana.”
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The man pulled out his phone, making a few calls. Within minutes, he reported, “Mr. Xavier, Roy flies back tomorrow at 8 a.m.”
“Book me a seat on that flight,” Bruce ordered.
The subordinate nodded, then hesitated. “Should I try getting that lady’s contact details for you?”
Bruce shook his head. “You won’t succeed.”
“Roy might be easier to approach in Ustrana,” the subordinate suggested tactfully. Molly was a fortress, but Roy was less guarded.
Bruce paused, then dismissed the idea with another shake of his head.
Meanwhile, oblivious to Bruce’s scheming, Roy sneezed on a bustling street, his whole body shuddering. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Molly, who answered it after an agonizing wait.
Roy sniffled pitifully into the phone. “Momo, I’m lost.”
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It wasn’t that Roy was overly cunning. He just had no other way to see Molly. She had been swamped lately, but with his return flight looming, he had to meet her before leaving.
When Molly heard Roy was lost, she asked, “No one is with you?”
Roy replied, “Nope.”
“Can’t you hail a cab?”
“I lost my wallet.” Roy pulled it out and tossed it into a nearby trash bin, keeping only the cash inside.
Molly sighed, “What’s around you?”
Roy described the area.
“Stay where you are,” Molly told him. “Don’t move.”
Learning that Molly was coming to find him, Roy couldn’t help but burst into laughter, drawing confused looks from passersby. They stared at him like he was an idiot.
In her office, Molly grabbed her bag and keys, striding past her secretary. “Cancel my evening appointments.”
The secretary asked, “Even Beckett’s?”
“Especially his.” Molly had only agreed to dinner to shut her mother up.
“But-”
“Not your concern.”
Beckett, however, seemed to anticipate Molly’s stand–up. He went to her company to pick her up.
When the elevator doors opened, Molly hadn’t expected to see him standing there.
Holding a bouquet of roses, Beckett smiled, “Momo, what luck. The first person I see is you.” He offered the bouquet.
Molly ignored it. “I’m heading out. Dinner’s off.”
Beckett blocked the elevator door, ever the gentleman. “What’s so urgent?”
“Since when do I report to you?” Molly gave him a flat look.
“I just care.” Beckett softened his tone. “We might marry someday. Can’t you spare a little time to build something between us?”
“Marry you?” Molly snorted coldly. “Move.” She yanked his tie, hauling him out, then stepped inside.
Beckett followed. “I’ll come with you.”
Molly rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything. When they reached the parking lot, Molly peeled off in a red Ferrari, leaving Beckett fuming in her wake.
Left standing alone, Beckett’s face darkened. He muttered a curse, then pulled out his car keys and got into his black sports car, speeding off behind her. He wanted to see exactly where she was going.
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It was already dark outside, and thick fog began rolling in.
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Roy had been waiting for a long time, but Molly still hadn’t arrived. Dressed lightly, he shivered in the downpour and soaked to the bone, but he refused to budge.
When Molly finally arrived, his pink hair was plastered to his face, and his clothes were drenched. She marched over with an umbrella. “Why didn’t you shelter?”
She thought with a straight face, ‘Even my husky is smarter than him,‘
Roy looked up, then lunged, clinging to her like a soaked puppy. “You told me not to move. I didn’t want you to miss me.”
His pitiful act masked his inner glee, ‘I got to hug Momo again. She smells so good. Best day ever!‘
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Molly had a soft spot for Roy’s antics. She had encountered his type before, but she had never indulged them. Yet Roy’s charm struck the perfect balance -just earnest enough to be endearing, never crossing into desperation.
When he clung to her, she nudged him off. “Alright, let’s get you back to your hotel.”
Roy didn’t press further. Instead, he caught one of her fingers, beaming, “Momo, you’re the best.”
Molly said coolly, “You’re Sheary’s friend. Of course, I’d look out for you.”
The light in Roy’s eyes dimmed in an instant. He looked down, silent. Selfishly, he hoped that her kindness was for him alone. He knew Molly was aware of his feelings, and this was her way of drawing a line without outright rejection.
Molly thought, ‘Little cutie is sulking?‘
She didn’t coddle him, simply took his hand and led him to the car, umbrella in her hand. Moments later, the red Ferrari vanished into the night.
Beckett, who had tailed them the entire way, watched with jealousy burning in his eyes. He thought, fuming, ‘Who is that guy? Molly never goes out of her way for anyone, let alone let them touch her.‘
The image of Roy embracing Molly, and her allowing it, sent rage coursing through Beckett. Years of knowing her, and they had never so much as hugged. He had assumed she despised all men, and he was the exception.
Beckett thought, flooring the accelerator to follow, ‘That scheming bastard! I’ll end him.‘
The red sports car pulled up to the hotel entrance. Molly stepped out first, tossing the keys to a valet.
Roy followed, his clothes still damp from the rain. The moment the wind hit him, he sneezed, his body trembling with chills yet radiating heat. After nearly an hour in the downpour, a fever was inevitable.
Molly reached up, pressing her hand to his forehead. “You’re burning up.”
Roy leaned into her touch, savoring the chill against his overheated skin. His voice was hoarse from the onset of illness. “Momo, your hand feels so nice.”
Seeing him nuzzle against her like a contented puppy, Molly couldn’t help but chuckle. She pinched his cheek. “I should call you Roy the Puppy.”
Roy’s eyes fluttered shut. “Call me anything you want.” Besides, Roy the Puppy sounded like an endearment. He would gladly accept.
Molly shook her head in amusement. “I’ll call a doctor.”
“Mm.” Roy had hoped to use his fever as an excuse to cling to her further, but hotel staff swooped in, fussing over him with water and concern.
Roy rolled his eyes.
As Molly dialed her family doctor, the elevator doors slid open. She grabbed Roy’s hand and stepped inside.
Beckett, who had been following them all the way/stormed forward angrily. He spat, “Momo, so this is your urgent matter? A hotel rendezvous with this bastard?”
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oy instantly pegged the flashily dressed, broad–shouldered man as a rival.
He thought, ‘Who does this guy think he is? Talking like Molly’s cheating on him? Shermaine confirmed she’s single.’
Molly, having just hung up, regarded Beckett with icy calm. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“The hell it doesn’t!” Beckett roared. “Our families have all but finalized our marriage. Or did you forget?”
Roy’s face turned even paler at the word marriage.
Molly crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “Are you dreaming? When did I ever agree to marry you?”
Beckett shot back, “You never refused, either.”
He had a point. Molly had let her family believe she would marry Beckett, especially since her father approved. Beckett’s assets merging with her career was too tempting a deal.
But Molly had no intention of going through it. Men were tools to her, and Beckett’s usefulness would expire soon enough.
Softening his voice, Beckett stepped closer and took Molly’s wrist. “I know what you want, Momo. I can give it to you. You’ve already used me. Why stop now? But I’m not doing it for free. Cut ties with this bastard and leave with me.”
The threat hung thick in the air.
Roy’s heart sank. If not for the fever dulling his reflexes, he would have lunged at Beckett right then. The man’s words struck a nerve.
Roy knew Molly wouldn’t abandon him now, but the fear lingered–Would she cut him out of her life one day?
Molly’s eyes narrowed at Beckett. “Take your hand off me.”
Beckett tightened his grip. “Mamo!”
“I won’t repeat myself.” Molly’s voice was icy.
Beckett’s face darkened, but he knew better than to push her. Reluctantly, he released her.
The walk back to the hotel room was silent, Roy’s mind churning.
Molly, ever unshaken, broke the quiet in the suite. “Change your clothes.”
Roy hesitated. “Will you leave?”
“Not until the doctor checks you.”
A subdued “Oh” was all Roy managed before retreating to his room. There, he fired up his laptop, digging into Molly’s so–called engagement.
Among Ustrana’s upper class, the arrangement was common knowledge. Everyone talked about Beckett’s true love for Molly. After all, he was willing to sacrifice his fortune for her. What devotion.
Roy’s scowl deepened with every click. Anything Beckett could do, he could do better,
A quick comparison proved it. Roy outstripped Beckett in wealth and looks. Only one flaw–Roy’s roots were in Wallington. In Ustrana, Beckett’s local influence was bigger than his. Beyond money, Roy had little to offer Molly.
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Frustration boiled over. But then again, Roy did have his special skills, and he had friends like Joshua and Shermaine, who carried serious weight.
Roy licked his parched lips, shut the laptop, and headed to the living room.
Molly lounged on the sofa, one long leg crossed over the other, a cigarette dangling between her fingers. Clearly, she was unaffected by Beckett’s outburst. That alone showed how cold–hearted she could be in relationships. And yet, somehow, Roy was hopelessly addicted.
Drunk on fever and longing, Roy stumbled forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Momo,” he mumbled into her shoulder. “I’m so jealous.”
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Molly could feel Roy’s straightforward affection for her. That was exactly why she felt she couldn’t get too close to Roy. No matter how cold her heart was, it would soften in front of him, and she couldn’t help but feel her pulse quicken.
If Molly really fell for him, she didn’t know how long she could maintain that feeling. She wa
afraid it might just be a momentary attraction.
Right now, Molly was in that stage where she was being forced to feel something against her better judgment. But she had her own standards and her own principles to stick to.
After all, she was someone who lived by rules. Breaking those rules usually led to nothing but trouble.
This time, Molly couldn’t push Roy away. He was using too much force as he pressed her down onto the sofa.
Roy looked at her with pitiful eyes. “I like you, Momo. Whatever that other guy can do for you, I can do too. Don’t use him anymore. Use me instead, okay? I’ll be good, and I won’t hold you back.”
Molly lay pinned beneath him on the sofa, and hearing those words made her head start to ache. “Get up first.”
Roy was too heated to think straight. There was no way he’d leave this sweet embrace now. He nuzzled against Molly’s neck, pressing his warm lips there while his hands traced her curves through her clothes, not exactly behaving himself as he murmured “Momo” over and over.
Desire stirred awake in her body. Molly frowned and kicked Roy hard in the stomach. He let out a muffled grunt and rolled right off the sofa onto the carpet with a thud.
Molly’s skirt had ridden up to her thighs. She sat up straight and smoothed down her clothes, her expression turning cold.
Roy hung his head. “Sorry, Momo.”
Molly just stared at him. He apologized so fast she didn’t even have time to scold him properly. “I don’t like people touching me. From now on, you can’t touch me without my permission.”
Roy looked even more dejected and could only nod in agreement.
Molly got up and went to the bathroom.
In the mirror, the usually commanding CEO had something unusually alluring in her eyes. Molly raised her hand and touched the skin where Roy’s lips had been. It still felt warm from his touch. She touched her waist too, where his hands had wandered.
‘That little troublemaker almost reached my chest just now,‘ Molly thought. She had to admit it–she’d felt something. What shocked her was that she’d actually felt something at all.
Molly had always thought she was frigid. Over the years, countless men had tried to seduce her, but she’d never felt even a spark of interest. In fact, she’d found them repulsive. Just looking at them made her feel sick.
But her body didn’t reject Roy.
‘Damn it,‘ Molly thought.
The doctor arrived quickly. He took Roy’s temperature and prescribed some medication. Then, he turned to Molly and said, “Ms. Hill, this gentleman’s fever isn’t serious. He should be fine by tomorrow after taking the medicine.”
“Okay,” Molly said. “Please make sure he takes his medication. I’m leaving now.”
“Momo, will you think about what I said earlier?” Roy asked.
Molly glanced at him. “We’ll see.”
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Roy could only watch helplessly as Molly left. Of course he wanted her to stay, but unfortunately, they didn’t have any official relationship yet, so he had to hold back his feelings.
After the doctor watched him take his medicine, he gave a professional smile. “Mr. Shay, get some rest. Call me if you need anything.” He left his contact information and departed.
Roy couldn’t possibly fall asleep. He picked up his phone and called Shermaine. “Shermaine, are you free?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” Shermaine replied.
“Shermaine, I made Molly angry. Could you find some time to contact her and put in a good word for me?” Roy said.
Shermaine chuckled and teased him, “What exactly do you want me to say about you?”
“Praise me. Make her think I’m a good guy, the kind who’s perfect for dating.” Roy was being completely strategic about this.
“Deal.”
“Shermaine, you’re the best!” Roy remembered what a complete jerk he’d been at the beginning and wanted to slap himself. “Shermaine, can you ask Joshua something for me? If someone bullies me here in Ustrana, would he come back me up?”
Shermaine had the phone on speaker, so Joshua could hear everything. He replied coolly, “No.”
“Joshua, I’m being serious!”
“So am I.”
Roy felt like he’d been getting knocked down all day long. “That’s okay, I still have Shermaine.”
Joshua let out a quiet laugh. “If you’re in such bad shape, just go to sleep. Don’t let people actually bully you when you can’t even fight back.”
‘Well, Joshua’s still Joshua,‘ Roy thought. He felt satisfied enough and hung up the phone before closing his eyes to sleep.
It was ten at night in Loang time, which meant it was around noon during the day in Basterel. Shermaine and Stephen were at the York residence.
Shermaine was working on fixing King Tiki. She’d actually gotten most of the repairs done already.
Since it had broken down anyway, Shermaine decided to upgrade its system once again while she was at it. This was King Tiki version 3.0.
After spending about an hour on it, Shermaine finished the reinstallation and booted up King Tiki.
When King Tiki restarted, he immediately chirped. “Oh, my beautiful Princess Sheary, I missed you so much!” He started snapping photos of Shermaine with rapid clicks.
Shermaine had added quite a few new features to him, “Go check if Grandpa needs any help.”
“Sure thing!” King Tiki headed outside and opened the door, running into Stephen.
Stephen stared at King Tiki and noticed that Shermaine had upgraded him again.
King Tiki bounced around Stephen and hopped down the stairs. When he reached the staircase, he switched modes and slid down smoothly. This new version made going downstairs much easier than before.
Shermaine glanced over at Stephen. “Dad, what’s up?”
“Time to come down for dinner,” Stephen said.
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“Okay.”
During dinner, Owen asked, “When are you planning to go back to the research institute?”
Stephen thought for a moment before saying, “I’m not planning to go back for a while.”
Owen looked surprised. ‘She isn’t planning to go back at all?‘ he thought.
Stephen said, “I’ve already requested leave from the research institute. I’ll be staying home for this period.”
“I guess pigs really can fly now, Owen thought, feeling quite pleased about it. That was perfect. Stephen would have plenty of time to strengthen the bond between him and Joshua. Otherwise, the two of them were like complete strangers, which was totally unacceptable.
After lunch, Owen also reminded Joshua to stay at the York residence more often during this period.
Joshua agreed. He was curious to see what Stephen was really up to.
Meanwhile, at Yaleview Hospital, Janice walked in carrying soup. She’d come to visit Jameson. He was her son, after all, and she figured he’d suffered enough and done enough soul–searching. She thought it was time to see him.
But she hadn’t expected Jameson to have transferred hospitals.
Janice asked the doctor who’d been treating him, “Which hospital did he transfer to?”
“Mr. Jean heard that Dr. Jean refused to perform his surgery, so he transferred to General Hospital in Horington this morning,” the doctor replied.
‘Horington?‘ Janice thought. ‘There are quite a few renowned doctors in Horington.‘
But just last night, when Jameson called her, she’d told him she would help him talk to Shermaine and get her to do the surgery. ‘Did this mean he didn’t even trust me anymore?‘ Janice wondered.
Janice was absolutely furious. She called Jameson and launched into a tirade the moment he picked up.
Jameson replied, “Mom, stop lying to me. I know exactly what kind of person Shermaine is. She definitely won’t help treat my illness. She’d be thrilled if I
died. I don’t believe that Horington’s doctors can’t match up to Shermaine.”
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18:18 Mon, 30 Jun.
Chapter 372
Chapter 372
Janice was ready to strangle Jameson for being so dense. “You just refuse to learn from your mistakes. Without Sheary, I don’t know how many years you’ve got left to live.”
(20)
Jameson frowned, “She doesn’t want to save me, so I chose to find specialists in Horington instead. If I wait for her to come rescue me, who knows when that’ll be.”
Janice snapped, “You’ve got some nerve saying that! After everything you’ve done to hurt Ruthie, Sheary, and Ross, have you even apologized to them
once?
“Not only haven’t you said sorry, but you’re still here complaining about what Sheary did wrong. How did I end up raising someone who can’t tell right from wrong?”
When Jameson was younger, he hadn’t been like this. But as he got older, he seemed to become more and more confused about everything. Even at this point, he still wouldn’t admit he was wrong.
“What’s the point of talking about this now? They’ll never forgive me anyway, and they’ll never accept me as their father. I don’t believe I can’t survive the rest of my life without them,” Jameson snorted.
At worst, he still had Jason. Even though he found Jason disgusting now because of the whole Natalie situation, Jason was still his blood. When he got old, he could have Jason take care of him. He couldn’t count on Shermaine and Ross anyway.
Jameson let his imagination run wild with paranoid thoughts. “Mom, even if you begged Shermaine to save me, do you really think she’d do it willingly?
“I’m afraid she resents me so much that she might deliberately make some little ‘mistake‘ during surgery. If I died, she wouldn’t even be legally responsible for it.”
Everything he said showed how much he distrusted Shermaine.
“You bastard!” Janice snapped. “Don’t you dare insult Sheary’s character! You think everyone in this world is like you and that vixen, spending all day plotting to hurt people.
“You can just stay in Horington and rot for all I care. When you die, I won’t even bother collecting your body.”
With that, she hung up on Jameson.
If Janice hadn’t been taking better care of her health lately, Jameson would’ve definitely made her sick with anger.
Since Janice was already at the hospital and Jameson wasn’t there, she pulled herself together and went to find Ross instead.
When people got older, they learned to comfort themselves. Jameson was a lost cause, but her grandchildren were doing well. Janice didn’t expect Jameson to turn his life around anymore. She just hoped she’d live long enough to hold a great–grandchild.
Janice made her way to Ross‘ room with practiced ease, but early as it was, he wasn’t there. The room was completely empty. She asked the nurse, who looked just as confused when she saw the empty room.
The thing was, Ross had recovered well after getting his stitches removed. All he needed now was to rest and avoid getting hurt again, so the staff had been pretty relaxed about monitoring him. They’d barely checked on him for the past couple of days.
“Mrs. Jean, I don’t know where Mr. Jean went either. Should I help you look for him?” the nurse asked.
This was Basterel’s territory, so nobody would dare mess with Ross. Besides, he was a grown man. He couldn’t just disappear. “No need, you can go about your business. He’s probably out for a run or something,” Janice said.
Since Ross wasn’t around, she decided to go check on Danielle first. She’d actually brought some soup for Danielle to drink today anyway.
But when she pushed open the door, she saw two people lying on the hospital bed. Right there next to Danielle was her own grandson Ross. Ross was
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tying on his side with his eyes closed, and Danielle was sleeping in his arms.
Well, well, well, Janice thought. ‘So that’s where Ross disappeared to. He snuck over here to share Danielle’s bed. What a guy. That’s my grandson for your
When the door opened, the nurse nearby saw them too and let out a gasp, covering her mouth with her hand.
Danielle drowsily opened her eyes and looked toward the sound. She saw Janice standing there with a kind smile on her face, along with the nurse.
Danielle was speechless.
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Even though Danielle was usually composed, waking up to find two extra people in her hospital room–one of them being Janice–made her ears turn red with embarrassment. She quickly tidied up her appearance. “Grandma.”
Janice responded with a warm “Mm–hmm.”
Danielle then pushed at Ross, who was still fast asleep. He was sleeping so deeply that she wondered what time he’d finally gone to bed last night.
As for why they’d ended up sleeping together, Ross simply couldn’t control how much he missed Danielle. Since he was right next door, he’d decided to climb into her bed.
Last night had been dark and quiet.
Danielle had been sleeping groggily when she felt like she couldn’t breathe properly. When she opened her eyes, she found that gentle, refined man sneaking kisses from her.
She was too tired to think straight. “Didn’t you get enough kisses during the day?”
Ross brushed her hair back. “I missed you so much I couldn’t sleep.”
“Are you just restless, or do you actually miss me?” Danielle fought off her drowsiness and scratched his chin playfully.
“Both.”
“Oh.”
Ross realized he shouldn’t have come. Even the faint smell of disinfectant in the air couldn’t mask the feminine scent that Danielle gave off. He’d originally planned to just check on her, steal one kiss, and leave. Now he couldn’t bring himself to go.
In fact, his body was definitely reacting. The more he tried to control himself, the stronger the rebound effect became.
He held Danielle close, his body getting hotter and hotter, radiating heat that seemed like it could dry a person out. “Danielle, as a doctor, shouldn’t you help your boyfriend out?”
“I’ll let you use the bathroom in my room and take care of it yourself,” Danielle murmured.
Ross just stared at her. That wasn’t the kind of help he’d been hoping for.
“Do you remember that time I kissed you in the car?” Danielle asked.
“Yeah.”
I should have just let myself give in back then,’ Ross thought. “I regret it,” he added.
Danielle let out a soft snort. “Well, regretting it won’t help you now. I’m not sleeping with you, so you’d better behave yourself.”
Ross stayed quiet for a moment, then sighed helplessly and gently ruffled her hair. Danielle was clearly holding a grudge. “Fine,” he said softly.
Danielle burst out laughing, shifted her position, and yawned. “I’m going back to sleep. You can go back to your room, or you can stay here if you want.”
In the end, Ross chose to stay. But tonight, he couldn’t sleep at all. Since he was going to be awake anyway, he figured he might as well stay and watch
Danielle sleep.
At some point, he pulled out his phone and somewhat awkwardly texted Joshua on WhatsApp with a question: [If Sheary was mad at you and wouldn’t let you hold her, how would you win her back?)
The message was deleted within a second of being sent. But Joshua had clearly seen it and replied: [I won’t make Sheary mad.]
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“Hmph, if he dares to upset Shermaine or make her unhappy, I’ll be the first one to teach him a lesson as her brother, Ross thought.
Though to be fair, since Shermaine and Joshua got married, the two of them really did seem to have a great relationship.
Ross typed: [Just asking casually.]
Joshua replied: [Sure you were.]
Ross: [What else would it be? As her brother, I obviously need to check on how things are going between you and Sheary, especially with you.]
On the other end of the phone, Joshua chuckled softly.
(+201
‘The great Mr. Jean can lie without even preparing his story,‘ Joshua thought. ‘He was still turned on and it wasn’t going away. He wants advice from me but he’s too proud to ask directly, so he’s backing down.
Joshua clicked his tongue and replied: [Speaking from experience, the most effective approach is to be shameless. When the moment’s right, push your luck a little.]
‘So that’s how Joshua managed to win over Shermaine and get married so quickly?‘ Ross thought. ‘That actually makes sense!’
He remembered last Christmas season when the two of them were heading to Xenhall. Joshua had driven all the way from Basterel to the countryside
just to pick up Shermaine and go together.
It turned out he’d been scheming even back then, shamelessly pursuing Shermaine with calculated persistence. His manipulation ran deep.
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After his chat with Joshua, Ross found himself completely thrown off his usual routine with a beautiful woman in his arms. It seemed like dawn was breaking before he finally drifted off to sleep.
Through his drowsy haze, he heard Danielle’s voice. Ross didn’t open his eyes and just pulled her closer against him. “Danielle, let me sleep a little longer.”
Danielle bit her lip and whispered in his ear, “Your grandmother’s here.”
It took Ross a moment to process this. He cracked his eyes open and sat up in bed. “Grandmother.”
Janice cleared her throat disapprovingly. “Just look at yourself. Danielle’s foot isn’t even healed yet, and here you are crowding into her bed. Do you think your six–foot–one frame doesn’t take up space?”
20)
Ross‘ hair was tousled, his hospital gown slightly disheveled. The usually gentle man now had an unexpectedly roguish charm about him. “Grandmother, this bed’s big enough.”
“That doesn’t mean you should come here bothering Danielle. You’re both unmarried, and this is a hospital no less. Aren’t you worried about what people will say?”
Her words carried more than a hint of pressure for them to get married.
Ross smiled, “Don’t worry, Grandma. My wife will only be Danielle.” He rested his hand on Danielle’s waist. “Everyone in this hospital knows Dr. Shelly belongs to me.” His gaze shifted to meet Danielle’s eyes.
Danielle didn’t argue because it was true. After the earthquake incident and her devoted care when he returned, the entire hospital had already gossiped plenty about their relationship.
“Well then, you’d better treat Danielle right. Don’t make the same mistake you made last time,” Janice warned.
“I understand, Grandma.” Ross wasn’t some heartless player. Last time, he simply hadn’t recognized his own feelings. He changed the subject. “What brings you to the hospital so early today, Grandma?”
Janice sat down and explained her reasons. The mention of Jameson immediately sparked her anger.
Shermaine had also learned about Jameson’s transfer to Horington, but she just smiled without comment. His decision was clearly based on his
certainty that she wouldn’t save him and his complete lack of trust in her abilities.
It didn’t matter to her anymore. Danielle genuinely didn’t care whether Jameson lived or died. He could do whatever he wanted.
Meanwhile, in Horington, Jameson had been admitted to Horington General Hospital. The specialists he’d been so confident about now planned to perform surgery on his kidney first to address that problem. The much more challenging heart surgery would have to wait for further evaluation.
Jameson was in terrible shape, completely weak and exhausted. What he never expected was that Natalie would also end up in Horington for treatment. Luckily, she had no idea he was there.
Natalie was dealing with complications from her allergic reaction. Dark pigmentation spots covered her entire body. The doctors back in Basterel couldn’t do anything for her condition, so she’d come to Horington hoping the dermatologists here could help.
“Doctor, you have to find a way to get rid of these dark spots on my skin,” Natalie pleaded.
The doctor reviewed her medical records and previous test results, then had her run through another round of examinations at the hospital. But the pigmentation was so deeply embedded that nothing worked–not medications, not treatments, nothing. He was completely stumped.
“Ms. Keller, there’s nothing I can do for your condition. Surgery won’t work, skin grafts aren’t an option, laser treatments are useless, and medications
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won’t help either. I’m afraid you’ll need to seek another opinion elsewhere,” the doctor said.
That was when Natalie completely lost it. She started screaming at him about how he was supposed to be Horington’s best dermatologist, but he couldn’t even cure a simple skin condition. She called him a quack and every other name in the book.
The doctor’s face went dark with anger, but he kept his composure and had the nurses escort her out.
Once they’d gotten her out of his office, Natalie just stood in the hallway yelling and cursing at everyone who walked by. She spent a full hour ranting before finally putting on her mask and heading to the bathroom.
(F20)
Natalie couldn’t bear to look at herself in the mirror anymore. She hated how hideous she looked now. She stared at the dark bumps covering her hands and scrubbed them desperately under the running water, rubbing so hard her eyes turned red from the effort.
Then, a woman spoke up behind her, “I know a place that might be able to cure your skin condition. Want to give it a try?”
Natalie spun around to see a nurse standing there. Without thinking twice, she asked, “What place?”
The woman handed her a business card. Natalie glanced at it and saw “Southern Horington Consla Laboratory” printed on it.
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After handing over the card, the nurse didn’t say another word and just walked out. She knew someone like Natalie would definitely go. There was no need to push her into it. Once Natalie showed up at the lab, she’d get a hefty payout.
Of course, everyone she’d referred before had been terminally ill patients. They were desperate to live, so they’d naturally agree to experimental treatments. But Natalie was different–she was completely healthy.
The lab had said they needed several healthy test subjects, and they’d tripled the payment for this type of referral. The money was too tempting to pass up. Natalie would be her first healthy experimental subject.
When Natalie took the business card, she felt a wave of hesitation. She worried it might be some kind of pyramid scheme, but when she looked it up online, the laboratory actually existed.
The website didn’t go into detail about what they did, but she noticed that several renowned experts and scholars had joined this research institute. Natalie’s curiosity was piqued.
If the experts at this research center could really cure her condition, then once her skin problem was fixed, she’d be able to make it big even without
Jameson. She figured it was worth checking out at least. If it turned out to be sketchy, she could just leave.
Since it was broad daylight, Natalie immediately called for a private car to take her to Consla Laboratory. The trip took two hours.
She found herself standing before towering gates that were at least six feet high. There wasn’t a security guard in sight, but she spotted a black security
camera mounted above.
On the other side of that camera, a woman in a white lab coat watched Natalie arrive. She buzzed open the gate and picked up her phone. “Our lab rat is
here. Go out and bring her in.”
When the door opened, Natalie felt uncertain but stepped inside anyway. She had no idea she was walking straight into hell.
Peter, a member of the Dark Organization who’d come from Ustrana, couldn’t do anything to stop what was happening. He’d been under surveillance for days because he’d opposed continuing the experiments.
They monitored his every move, and if Peter tried anything reckless, he’d probably end up as another lab rat himself–trapped here with a fate worse
than death.
So until Bruce arrived, Peter kept his head down and stayed out of it. But he had to admit, the old bastard had completely lost his mind. Before, they’d used sick test subjects for experiments. Now they were using perfectly healthy people.
Even though Peter was a killer, this situation made his skin crawl.
In the isolated testing area, Subject 009 was showing signs of evolutionary regression. Dense, monkey–like hair had sprouted from his hands, his fingernails had grown long, and he’d become completely unhinged. He kept slamming himself against the door until he was a bloody mess, then collapsed on the floor.
Soon after, experts in hazmat suits, masks, and protective goggles entered to examine and document his condition.
The subject wasn’t dead.
While this experiment turned people into monsters who even carried dangerous viruses, it at least kept someone alive who would have died within three months. They had given him a chance to keep living.
If they could just reverse his atavistic changes and eliminate the virus in his system, their Immortality Project would be complete. When that happened, human lifespans would extend to 300-500 years, and no terminal illness would threaten their lives anymore.
This would absolutely mark a giant leap forward in human evolution.
If Joseph, the financier backing this Immortality Project, was a selfish freak, then these experts helping with the experiments had sacrificed their moral
conscience for the sake of science.
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Chapter 376
The evening sun was setting as Shermaine left Basterel University. She was heading back to York residence.
Shermaine arrived before Joshua did. Stephen was doing what he usually did–sitting quietly on the sofa with a book in his hands. When he saw Shermaine come in, he simply nodded and went back to his reading. He always kept that formal distance from everyone.
Meanwhile, Owen was watching a drama called “Flower of Evil“. He had tissues in hand and was crying his eyes out. That was just Owen–he wore his heart on his sleeve.
When Shermaine walked in, he wasn’t embarrassed at all. “Sheary, this soap opera is absolutely amazing. You should come watch it with me.”
Shermaine rarely watched shows anymore, but she sat down next to Owen anyway and joined him. She pulled out her phone to scroll through it while watching.
Shermaine hadn’t forgotten Roy’s request, so she opened Twitter and messaged Molly: [Busy?]
Molly replied two minutes later: [Not really.]
Shermaine: [Roy didn’t cause you any trouble, did he?]
Molly said no. She called it a small matter–hardly worth calling trouble. Her response was so quick and casual that it seemed like Roy really hadn’t been a problem at all.
‘Roy seems pretty special to her,‘ Shermaine thought. ‘Anyone else wouldn’t get this kind of treatment.‘
Shermaine: [He’s really sweet, obedient and thoughtful. He’d make the perfect cuddle buddy for you.]
Molly: [?]
Shermaine: [You wanted bigger boobs, right? That method I told you about last time definitely works.]
Molly was completely speechless.
Shermaine: [You could ask Roy to help you. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to lend a hand.]
Molly was so fed up with Shermaine’s bluntness that she seriously considered buying a plane ticket to Wallington just to have it out with her.
Molly: [Are you seriously trying to be a matchmaker now?]
Shermaine: [Someone asked me to put in a good word for him with you. What else could I do? Besides, you don’t actually dislike him, do you? You know how you are. You don’t need to overthink everything. If you like him, just go for it.]
Molly had to admit she was getting more tempted by Shermaine’s arguments, but something was still holding her back. Even if sh someone, now wasn’t the time. She was swamped with work and had no time for a long–distance relationship.
Molly: [I’ll think about it.]
After a good night’s rest, Roy woke up feeling much better. His fever had broken and he was full of energy.
wanted to date
Today was supposed to be another day of hanging out with his teammates, but Roy couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. All he wanted was to stick close to Molly’s side, especially since he’d be flying back tonight and wouldn’t see her for a while.
But Molly didn’t answer his call. Roy felt like crying. ‘This is all my fault for being so impulsive last night,‘ he thought.
Roy sat outside a coffee shop, wearing a black baseball cap with his legs crossed, playing on his phone.
The internet connection was terrible, but th
didn’t stop him from dominating in Phantom Epoch with his go–to assassin character, racking up kills left
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and right.
+10
People kept approaching him throughout the day. Some were Wallingtonian, others were women from different countries. The bold ones came right up and asked, “How much for a night?”
Roy didn’t even look up. “Get lost.”
‘They want to pay for my company? In their dreams. Ridiculous,’ Roy thought with a snort.
Somehow, even with his hostile attitude, other women still found him harmless and adorable rather than intimidating. But one–night stands required mutual interest, and since Roy wasn’t willing, they wouldn’t force the issue.
mless and
Soon enough, several big guys surrounded him. “Hey dude, let’s go somewhere private and have a chat.”
Roy looked up at them and immediately knew they meant trouble. He frowned, “Get out of my face.”
“Trust me. You don’t want to play the hardball. Be smart about this and don’t make us get physical.”
Roy let out a cold snort, slammed his phone down on the table, and stood up to throw a punch at whoever had been talking.
‘t make a punching tonight quin
Being big and bulky didn’t mean much. Roy was proving to them that he wasn’t drinking anything tonight, and he was in a seriously bad mood.
By the time the fight wound down, the guys were ready to leave. But Roy stopped and said, “Next time you invite me somewhere, remember to be polite about it, got it?”
They could only nod.
“Give me two minutes, then I’ll come with you,” Roy added.
They looked at each other, confused.
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After Roy finished giving instructions to the coffee shop staff, he got in the car with the big guys.
The employee now held Roy’s phone in their hands. Following his instructions, they dialed the first number in his contacts.
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Molly really didn’t want to take Roy’s call today. He’d made such an intimate move without her permission, and she felt like she needed to punish him a little. Otherwise, he’d just keep pushing boundaries.
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But the phone kept ringing, again and again.
Molly frowned and signaled for the meeting to pause. She finally answered. “I’m busy. You’ve got three minutes.”
Since she’d spoken in Wallingtonian, the person on the other end didn’t quite understand, but they spoke up anyway. “Hello, are you Ms. Hill?”
“Who is this?” Molly asked.
The person explained that they worked at the coffee shop. They said the phone’s owner had been taken away by several men, and his phone was left behind at the scene.
As soon as Molly heard this, she knew the people who took Roy were most likely working for Beckett.
Beckett really thought he was her man, actually going after Roy like this.
The person who had Roy taken was indeed Beckett. When Beckett saw Roy brought back looking perfectly fine and energetic, his expression turned
strange.
Still, it was good that they’d brought him back. He was going to make sure Roy would never dare set foot in Ustrana again.
Beckett noticed Roy looking him up and down with a disgusted expression. “Damn Wallingtonian, what are you staring at?” he snapped.
“Stay away from me. Why does a grown man douse himself in so much cologne? It reeks.” Roy pinched his nose, looking completely repulsed.
“I’m wearing the most expensive men’s cologne available. There’s no way it smells bad,” Beckett said viciously. “Who the hell do you think you are to criticize me?” He grabbed Roy by the collar.
“You sure are full of yourself.” Roy let him grab his collar without resistance. “If you’re trying to get me to stay away from Momo, I’ve got two words for you–not happening.
“Momo will never marry you. You’re not her type. No matter how much you try to win her over, she’ll never like you.”
Beckett’s temper flared at just a few words from Roy. “She doesn’t like me? You think she’d prefer some pretty boy like you?”
“Of course she would.” Roy smirked.
Beckett threw a punch straight at his face.
Roy didn’t dodge.
“I’m warning you. Momo is my woman. We’re getting married. If I catch you bothering her again, I’ll kill you.” Beckett’s voice was full of threats.
“I’m not scared.” Roy simply shrugged.
“Shit!” Beckett started hitting him harder, putting real force behind his punches.
Roy didn’t fight back at all. He just protected his head, only dodging when Beckett aimed for the more vulnerable parts of his body.
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The sight of Roy taking a beating without fighting back completely threw off the security guards who had been crying and begging for mercy just moments before. They even started wondering if this was some kind of trap.
Just as they were about to warn Beckett, Molly arrived. She saw Roy getting beaten and her anger exploded. She rushed over and kicked Beckett hard.
Beckett stumbled backward, his face going pale. He clearly hadn’t expected Molly to show up so quickly.
When Roy saw her arrive, a smirk subtly crossed his face. Then, he immediately switched to looking pitiful. “Momo, you came.”
Molly crouched down to check Roy’s injuries. His usually clean face was swollen from the beating, and his lip was split. She glared at Beckett furiously. “Who gave you the right to hurt him?”
“I..” Beckett hesitated. “Momo, I wasn’t trying to kill him.”
“You wanted to kill him?” Molly’s eyebrows shot up.
“Let me explain!”
Molly kicked him again, this time with real force. Beckett went down hard and stayed on the ground. He couldn’t believe what was happening. He’d beaten up Roy and Molly was this angry about it.
After dealing with Beckett, Molly turned to Roy with a stern expression. “I thought you could fight. Why didn’t you fight back?“..
“There were too many of them. I was scared.” Roy lied effortlessly. “They had guns, and I’m still getting over this cold. I hadn’t eaten anything, so I didn’t have the strength to fight.”
Roy kept playing the victim. “Momo, they really hurt me. Now you’re being mean to me too. Don’t you feel bad for me at all?”
Molly pressed her lips together. Her stern expression was starting to soften.
Beckett’s face turned red with rage. “You manipulative bastard! Momo, don’t let him fool you.”
Roy thought with satisfaction, ‘So what if I am? What are you going to do about it?‘
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Chapter 378
Beckett had dealt with scheming guys like Roy before, but this was the first time he’d seen a manipulative pretty boy get this kind of protection from Molly.
Molly kept warning him. “Don’t mess with him. If I catch you again, I won’t go easy on you.”
Beckett felt frustrated because right now, Molly wasn’t going easy on him either. She’d thrown that punch and kicked him as hard as she could.
Molly took Roy with her to her flashy red sports car parked next to the pharmacy. Roy couldn’t take his eyes off her, and knowing he’d be going back home soon made him feel even more reluctant to leave.
About ten minutes later, Molly came out carrying a bag. She got in the car and told him, “Bring your face over here.”
Roy leaned closer. Their eyes were just inches apart, and Roy almost couldn’t stop himself from kissing her.
Molly pushed him back a bit. “How can I put medicine on you if you’re that close?”
Roy couldn’t help himself anymore. He quickly kissed her cheek and lowered his eyes, speaking softly, “Momo, I miss you so much.”
Molly’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Am I really into this type of guy?‘ she thought.
“Didn’t I tell you not to touch me without permission?” Molly kept her face stern.
“I can’t help myself.” Roy had already been holding back his desires as much as possible. This was his limit. “Momo, if you’re mad at me, you can punish me, but please don’t ignore me, okay?”
That last part was pure wheedling.
If Henry and Joshua saw this, their jaws would hit the floor. They all thought Roy was their innocent, sweet friend, but apparently that sweetness changed depending on who he was with. Now, he was full of scheming tricks.
But it made sense. Even the most innocent guy picked up manipulation tactics when he hung around with Henry and Joshua long enough.
Roy never thought he’d become the type to play mind games, but ever since this trip to Ustrana, he’d been scheming every single day like it was second
nature.
Molly watched what looked like a pure–bred husky wagging its tail in front of her, cute beyond belief. Before she knew it, she nodded.
Roy’s smile got even sweeter. He looked completely harmless, but his ambition was actually pretty big.
Molly wasn’t sure how to punish him. When her actual husky at home caused trouble, she’d make him face the wall or take away
his bones. But Roy…
‘Never mind,‘ Molly thought. She pulled out cotton swabs and antiseptic. “Let me clean your wound first.”
Roy tilted his face up. “Thanks, Momo.”
“You’re welcome.”
The atmosphere in the car was getting pretty intimate. Roy stared at Molly without blinking as she treated his wound.
His breathing grew heavier as he remembered last night’s warmth and softness. He really wanted to hold her and kiss her again. Molly was just too tempting.
Molly worked quickly, finishing applying the medicine to his face. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Roy’s eyes flickered. He said yes. They were just surface wounds that would heal in a couple days, but he could use them.
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Molly didn’t think much of it. “Lift up your shirt.”
“Momo, it’s cold.”
Loang was overcast today and the temperature was definitely low, though the wind wasn’t too strong. They’d been driving with the top down the whole way here.
Molly put the car top up and turned on the heat. “There, now it’s not cold. Go ahead and lift it.”
Roy hesitated. His eyelashes trembled as he obediently pulled up his hoodie, revealing his toned abs and waistline. Even though he spent most of his time sitting and gaming, he made sure to exercise every day, and his skin was perfect.
There was a bruise on his side and another on his chest.
When Molly saw Roy’s physique, she smiled with satisfaction. “Nice waist you’ve got there.”
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Roy had been complimented. He got so excited his ears turned red.
Roy had worried that Molly might not like his lean build, so he’d been anxious about it. He’d already planned to start bulking up if she didn’t find him
attractive.
But it turned out Molly was actually satisfied with his body. She really didn’t like muscular guys.
Beckett’s build wasn’t her type at all. That kind of overly powerful look was sometimes all show and no substance. Molly rarely paid attention to men’s bodies anyway. Eye candy meant nothing to her compared to cold hard cash.
Molly took out the medicated patch and pressed it against his lower back. Her nail accidentally grazed Roy’s skin, making him ticklish. He flinched so hard that the patch went crooked.
Molly watched his ears turn red and saw a blush spread across his pale face. She grinned. “That sensitive?”
Molly clearly didn’t know that a man’s waist was off–limits territory. She poked his waist again.
Roy’s eyes widened and his hand trembled. “Momo…” His voice took on a pleading tone. He was struggling to keep control, and she was still teasing him.
Molly wasn’t trying to torment him on purpose. She was just feeling a little tempted, so she let her fingertips trail across the muscles of his abdomen.
The car smelled like medicinal patches, but the tension between them was heating up fast.
Roy’s breath caught and his abs tensed. His reaction was adorable, which made Molly want to tease him even more. She kept this up for a while until Roy’s face turned completely red. He glanced down at himself and took a deep breath.
‘Lil bro, please. Stay calm,’ Roy told himself. ‘Stay down and don’t look up. Please!‘
When Molly had enough fun, she elegantly pulled her hand back and cleared her throat. “You can put the patches on your chest yourself.”
Roy was all worked up but didn’t dare act on it. Molly had pulled away too quickly from their heated moment, leaving him flustered and sweating. He definitely couldn’t let her touch him anymore. Roy slapped the remaining patches on carelessly.
Seeing Roy look so flustered and vulnerable, Molly couldn’t help wondering what he’d be like in bed. The thought made her inexplicably irritated. She wanted a cigarette. Shermaine’s messages must have gotten to her more than she thought.
After finishing with his back, Roy didn’t dare get too close. He just rested half his head on Molly’s shoulder like a puppy. “Momo, I’m flying back to Wallington tonight. Will you miss me when I’m gone?”
“No.” She didn’t have time to think about men.
Roy looked disappointed but still said, “I’ll miss you.” His eyes darkened as he struggled to control himself. “Next time I come to Ustrana, will you pick me up from the airport?”
Molly didn’t give him a direct yes or no. She just said, “Come over and we’ll talk.” She brought Roy to the company and led him to her office, then headed back to her meeting.
Molly’s office was spacious with a separate lounge/area. The floor–to–ceiling windows overlooked half of Loang. When her meeting ended an hour later, she found Roy chatting happily with her assistants and secretaries.
Roy was fixing their computers and telling them, “Your company’s security system has some serious holes. Let me upgrade it for you.”
The women watched as Roy moved effortlessly through their security network, his fingers dancing across the black and white keyboard.
His computer skills weren’t quite at Shermaine’s level, but he was still world–class. He’d climbed to third place in the global hacker rankings this year, moving up another spot.
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The sea had sundaloy was just some pretty boy Mally had brought th, but it turned out he was incredibly talented in the tech field.
ko Kushed working on their security system by fue in the shernoon. It was plea for Bow to head bark
He went straight to find Molly “Mamo, I’ve strengthened your office compiter’s security system. You can now monitor the entire company’s security seed and your phone will pot alerts if anyone breake in
“I never asked you to do this for me.” Molly said.
Monow. I wanted to do it for you.”
Roy’s phone rang just as he finished speaking. His team manager was calling. He answered and said, “Don’t come pick me up. I’ll go straight to the airport. Just bring my luggage there. See you later.”
After hanging up, Roy looked at her. “Momo, I have to leave now. Can I get a reward?”
Molly nodded. She was sitting in the CEO’s chair when Roy leaned down and kissed her lips softly. “Next time I come to Ustrana, I want to hear your
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The night stretched on endlessly as thick fog rolled through Loang. People walking the streets couldn’t see each other even from a hundred yards away.
Hidden beneath a fog–covered abandoned building was an advanced laboratory. The man made another video call to Judy, his voice filled with excitement. “Your Highness, I’ve found a way to quickly identify royal blood.”
At Loang Airport, Roy was practically floating as he boarded the plane, completely oblivious to Bruce sitting nearby.
Bruce made an effort to strike up a conversation, and since Roy was in such a good mood, they ended up chatting the whole flight to Basterel. Roy even offered to give him a ride when they landed.
Bruce declined but they exchanged phone numbers.
“We should play some games together sometime,” Roy said.
“Sounds good,” Bruce smiled.
After Roy left, a car pulled up for Bruce. Instead of heading to a hotel, they drove straight to Horington.
Weekend at York Residence, Shermaine grabbed an astronomy textbook and went to Stephen’s study to ask for help. It took him a few minutes to answer the door.
When he opened it, she caught a faint smell drifting from inside. It reminded her of beef jerky.
Stephen’s expression was blank. “What do you need?”
Shermaine held up her book. “I’ve got some questions I was hoping you could help me with, Dad.”
“Let’s go downstairs.”
“Okay.”
Once they started talking about astronomy, Stephen came alive. His understanding of the subject was impressive and far–reaching.
Astronomy was one of the oldest sciences. It focused on studying celestial bodies in space, along with the structure, properties, and movement patterns of the universe.
Shermaine didn’t have much experience in this area, but she could keep up with Stephen’s conversation easily enough.
Stephen looked at her with growing admiration. “You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met, a genius.”
Shermaine’s eyes flickered slightly. “Thank you for the compliment, Dad.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just being honest.”
Shermaine’s IQ was the highest in the world. She was the most perfect human being on Earth. Any child she and Joshua had together would have exceptional genes.
“Since you’re so interested in astronomy, do you think there’s another parallel dimension besides Earth?” Stephen asked.
This parallel space would have more advanced technology than Earth, though it would be filled with violence and war.
Shermaine paused for a moment, then said yes without hesitation.
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Stephen pressed further. “Why are you so certain?”
If she hadn’t encountered that crystal sarcophagus, Shermaine might not have been so definitive. Before she had real answers, she would have said “maybe” or “possibly.”
But Shermaine knew the crystal sarcophagus was special. It didn’t belong to Earth.
Shermaine said, “The universe is huge, and just because we can’t prove something exists doesn’t mean it doesn’t. That’s why the world has so many unsolved mysteries.”
It was a pretty ordinary answer, but it made sense.
Shermaine went on, “It’s like how you look all proper and serious, but you sneak around eating beef jerky.”
Stephen was speechless for a moment before he protested, “I don’t sneak beef jerky.”
Just then, King Tiki came downstairs from the study. He’d found some evidence and brought it down as proof.
Shermaine gave him a meaningful look. “Do Grandpa and Joshua know you like beef jerky?”
Stephen fell silent. Of course they didn’t know, because the real Stephen never ate beef jerky. This excellent human was terrifying, but he couldn’t blow his cover. “I haven’t been home in years. You think they’d know?”
‘Fair enough, Shermaine thought. ‘I’ll let it slide for now.‘
Evening came and night fell. Joshua returned home earlier than usual today. His voice came from behind them. “What are you two talking about?”
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Stephen’s face showed a flash of nervousness, which was rare for him.
Shermaine noticed it too. This was probably the only real emotion he’d shown in days.
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Shermaine acted like it was nothing and brushed it off casually. She walked over to him, and Joshua leaned down to kiss her forehead. He didn’t ask any questions, just said, “I’m going upstairs to change.”
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Roy had called them as soon as he got back to the country. Joshua was dressed way too formally for tonight since Roy wanted to meet up for barbecue.
“I’ll come with you.” Shermaine turned and gave Stephen a little smile.
Stephen thought to himself that this woman was way too smart and observant for his own good.
Shermaine and Joshua held hands going upstairs. Once they got to the bedroom, Joshua automatically pulled Shermaine in for a kiss.
He kept kissing her all the way to the walk–in closet, but since they had to leave soon, he forced himself to let go before things went too far.
Shermaine’s lips were flushed from his kisses, like red plum blossoms blooming in December. With Joshua’s constant attention, she’d become this stunning rose that radiated pure temptation. Every look and smile could steal a man’s soul.
“Sheary, help me pick out something to wear.” Joshua’s voice was soft and affectionate.
Shermaine opened the closet. Most of his clothes were pretty serious and mature since he was thirty now, but the fall and winter stuff from this year had more variety to it.
Joshua kept plenty of clothes at York residence too. She picked out a charcoal gray t–shirt and a black bomber jacket.
Joshua slipped off his suit jacket and wrapped his arm around Shermaine’s waist. His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Help me out, Sheary.”
Shermaine reached up to loosen his tie and put it back in the drawer where he kept them. Then, she started unbuttoning his shirt.
As she worked her way down, his chest came into view. The vivid tattoo across his skin looked striking under the lights, giving the refined man a wild, dangerous edge.
During their intimate moments, Shermaine loved tracing the tattoo with her fingers. When things got more heated, she’d even kiss it softly.
Shermaine touched it briefly. “You can handle the rest yourself.”
Joshua felt his desire stirri
as she looked at him. His eyes darkened with want. If she kept touching him like that, they’d never make it out the door. He stopped teasing her and focused on getting dressed.
ne een.
es
the
The quiet room was interrupted by his phone ringing from his suit pocket. Shermaine pulled it out and saw Roy’s name on the screen.
“Joshua, have you and Shermaine left yet?” Roy asked.
“Almost,” Shermaine said.”
“Hey, Shermaine, we’re just waiting for you two.”
“Okay.”
After Shermaine hung up, she glanced casually at Joshua. He had his back to her as he pulled on his shirt.
Just as the fabric settled over his skin, she thought she saw something on his lower back. It looked like some kind of mark that seemed to shift between
dark and light.
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Shermaine froze for a moment, then reached over to lift up Joshua’s shirt. But when she looked underneath, there was nothing there.
“What’s wrong?” Joshua turned around and asked.
Shermaine shook her head and said it was nothing. “My eyes were playing tricks on me. I thought there was a bug on you.”
Joshua didn’t suspect anything and put his jacket back on.
Joshua was the kind of guy who could wear a garbage bag and still look like he stepped off a runway. No matter what he wore, it couldn’t hide that
aristocratic air he had about him.
Joshua put on his shoes, grabbed his car keys, and said goodbye to Owen before heading out with Shermaine.
The whole way there, Shermaine’s mind kept wandering back to Joshua. Halfway through the drive, she asked again, “Have you been feeling sick
anywhere lately?”
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While driving, Joshua turned to glance at Shermaine, his expression calm. “Sheary, we just did it last night.” He was implying that he wasn’t much more energetic than she was if she was feeling tired.
Shermaine pressed her lips together. When it came to that sort of thing, Joshua was always insatiable. She liked to think she had decent stamina, but with him, she was usually drained by the middle of the night–always the first to wave the white flag.
Joshua added, “Not just last night. The night before that, and the night before that too.” He’d certainly been paying his dues, night after night.
Shermaine rolled her eyes and turned away. She muttered, “Just keep your eyes on the road.” Then, she thought with a frown, ‘Maybe I was being a little paranoid. Maybe I’d imagined it. But if I hadn’t…!
They soon arrived at Roy’s place. The smell of barbecue greeted them the moment they stepped out.
Everyone there was from their usual circle. Ross had just been discharged from the hospital today, and Roy had invited him over. He even brought Danielle along.
Danielle sat in a wheelchair. When she spotted Shermaine, she waved her over. “Sheary.”
Shermaine asked, “So, when are you getting your cast off?”
Danielle replied cheerfully, “Next week.” Just a couple more days–she was almost there.
Over by the grill stood Ross, the ever–elegant heir, carefully tending to a pair of chicken wings. Since Ross clearly wasn’t very experienced at grilling, the chicken wings he was carefully tending to end up slightly charred.
By now, it was no secret among their circle that Ross and Danielle were officially back together. Their love story in Lightspring City had become a heartwarming legend among their circle–a much–told tale of deep devotion.
Shermaine walked over and began chatting with Danielle. Danielle handed her a cup of something warm and, with a twinkle in her eye, asked, “So I heard Roy fell head over heels for that queen of chaos, Molly, at first sight?”
Shermaine nodded. “Molly’s totally into guys like Roy.”
Danielle looked genuinely surprised. “Really? I thought she had zero interest in men. Turns out, she’s into delicate, pretty boys with pink lips and pearly
teeth.”
Roy did give off serious, soft, bunny–boy energy.
Shermaine took a sip of her drink and nodded again. “If nothing goes wrong, those two might actually work out.”
Just then, Joshua noticed the spread of raw skewers on the table. Without asking, he picked a few and headed over to Ross, who was manning the grill.
Tonight, everyone was paired up–except for Roy. Roy never expected Henry and the others to show up with dates. Left as the only single one, he felt a pang of loneliness. He sighed inwardly, ‘Damn, I really miss Momo.’
Feeling a bit left out, he recorded a video and sent it to Molly, who was in Ustrana, with a text. [Momo, everyone is here with their girlfriends except for me.]
Three minutes passed, and he received no
Roy: [Momo, are you busy?]
Roy: [Momo, I miss you so badly.]
reply.
Logically speaking, it was around 9 AM over there, so Molly shouldn’t have been too busy to reply to his messages.
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Over in Ustrana, Molly wasn’t working. She was swimming laps in her indoor pool. After finishing a round, she got out, wrapped a towel around herself, and grabbed her phone from the table. When she saw Roy’s video, she paused, slightly envious.
Because her friends, Shermaine and Danielle, were in it. It had been so long since the three of them had hung out.
Reading Roy’s message, her lips curved into a faint smile. She replied: [I was swimming.] Then, she instantly initiated a video call.
Roy hesitated for a second before answering, and the moment the screen lit up, he was greeted with the sight of Molly in a sleek black swimsuit, her smooth skin on full display.
Water still clung to her body, glistening as it slid down, and just below her collarbone, a small cross tattoo peeked out–subtle, but enough to make his throat tighten. He quickly averted his eyes.
The view was incredible, but if he stared any longer, he was afraid he might actually get another nosebleed. And that wasn’t an exaggeration. Roy had always been hopeless when it came to resisting Molly’s teasing.
Molly teased, “Didn’t you say you missed me? Then why aren’t you looking at me?”
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Roy’s face flushed, but fortunately, the lighting on his end was dim enough that Molly couldn’t see it clearly through the screen.
With the screen between them, Roy didn’t have to worry about Molly noticing anything. He glanced up, hinting softly. “Momo, Loang’s pretty chilly. Make sure you don’t catch a cold, okay?”
Although he said all the right things, his eyes lingered on her exposed skin. The longer he stared, the thirstier he felt, and the hotter his face burned.
“I’m indoors,” Molly replied casually. Whatever cold there was outside, she couldn’t feel it in there.
“So, Momo, are you trying to tease me?” Roy asked, putting on an innocent front, though deep down he was sure Molly was doing it on purpose just to
mess with him.
Privately, his thoughts weren’t nearly as pure. ‘Her skin looks so smooth. I just want to kiss her.‘
Hearing this, Molly chuckled casually and pulled the towel more securely around her shoulders. “Roy, it’s not like I’m not wearing anything. Besides, I grew up in Ustrana. People aren’t as conservative here as they are back home.”
Roy dropped his head, completely unable to argue. “Guess I read too much into it.”
“Exactly,” Molly teased.
Roy felt defeated. Molly, of course, would never admit it–but she’d definitely teased her little puppy on purpose, just to see how he’d react. It was safe to say she was quite pleased with the outcome.
Molly took a sip of warm water and said casually, “Pass the phone to Sheary. I want to chat with the girls for a bit.”
Roy pouted. “Momo, you don’t miss me at all, do you?”
The video call had barely lasted three minutes, and she was already asking to talk to Shermaine and the others. While drying her hair, Molly gave a low, indulgent hum. “I know you’re a good boy.”
Roy’s heart melted, but he still tried to bargain for some alone time. “Momo, promise you’ll give me an hour later?”
Molly wasn’t going into the office that morning–she’d given herself the day off. After all, knowing how to make money also meant learning how to enjoy life. She replied simply, “Deal.”
After passing the phone to Shermaine, Roy kept popping up in the video from time to time, desperate for attention. But more often than not, he reverted to his usual routine.
He’d go around showing off Molly’s picture to anyone who would look. Sidling up to Henry, he held out his phone proudly. “Look at my Momo. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
Henry chuckled lightly, “Your Momo?”
Roy shot back, full of conviction, “Momo is mine and mine only.”
Henry grinned. “Talk big all you want. Make it official if you can.”
With that, Roy huffed and went off in search of someone more agreeable.
Ross‘ first attempt at grilling chicken wings didn’t go well–both ended up charred. Unfazed, he just tossed them out and grabbed two more to try again.
Joshua, on the other hand, was rarely seen grilling, but with his natural skill in the kitchen, this was child’s play for him. Before long, the serving tray was stacked with perfectly cooked barbecue.
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Read esme tips, my deared brother in law?” Joshus drawled, the deep voice laced with awwnement.
“We thanks.” He wasn’t about to fail s spend time he’d already got the hang of it. After all, practice makes perfect
Before long, it became clear to everyone that the tien men weren’t just griffing. There was definitely a silent competition going on. That was family for you–gual parts love and rivalry, and surely entertaining as hell
So Shermiaine and Danielle had more than enough to eat, with plates piled high with barbecue in front of them.
The video call with Molly was still going, and even through the screen, she could almost smell the smoky aroma and feel the laid–back, happy vibe. “You two are really about to become family family,” she said, clearly amused.
She was referring to the moment she realized Danielle’s boyfriend was none other than Shermaine’s older brother.
“You could be too,” Danielle teased back without missing a beat.
Molly raised an eyebrow.
Danielle laughed. “Just take Roy home with you.”
Their families were already incredibly close; they were practically extended kin. If Molly got together with Roy, she and Shermaine would officially be a family.
“Give me a break.” Molly chuckled. Roy’s support squad was way too powerful. First, he had Shermaine, then Danielle joined in.
At that moment, Roy, already a few drinks in, popped into the frame again, all puppy–dog eyes and whined playfully, “Momooo, please take me home with you.”
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Danielle burst into laughter, thinking, ‘This guy really has it down. He’s a certified golden retriever boyfriend.
On the other end, Molly was starting to waver. “You’ve been drinking?”
“Yeah. Henry’s evil. I lost to him in a dice game,” Roy whined, looking completely wronged.
Behind him, Henry clicked his tongue, thinking, ‘Great. He thinks he’s the king of the world just because he’s got himself a girl now?”
He strolled over with a drink in hand, grabbed Roy by the collar and tugged him back. “Game’s not over, lover boy. Where do you think you’re going?”
Roy pushed his hand away. “Back off, I’m on a call with Momo.”
Henry looked like he was this close to kicking Roy. He thought, ‘Unbelievable. Now, I know he’s the chicks–over–dicks kind of friend.”
Danielle laughed and offered, “Let him flirt in peace. I’ll take his spot.”
“You sure?” Henry asked. “Aren’t you still healing?”
“I’m mostly healed. I can handle a few rounds,” she said.
“Say less.” Henry led her away.
Meanwhile, Shermaine had been quiet all night. She was not unhappy, but just… somewhere else in her head. Still, she went through the motions- smiled, chatted, picked at her food–but something was definitely weighing on her.
Back at the grill, Ross was failing miserably at multitasking. His wings were half–charred, and his attention was zeroed in on the fact that Henry and Danielle were getting very cozy.
He hadn’t forgotten that his grandma once tried to play matchmaker with those two. Nothing came of it, sure, but they clearly still clicked.
Now, with Danielle off laughing and playing games with Henry, Ross couldn’t take it anymore. He dumped the raw food on Joshua. “You handle the rest.”
Joshua just gave a knowing nod, letting him be. Ross marched over, dropped into the seat beside Danielle, slid an arm around her waist, and snatched
the drink from her hand. “I’ll take this for her.”
Danielle raised an eyebrow. “I can handle my own drink.”
Ross didn’t even blink. “Not tonight.”
Someone whistled. “Damn, didn’t know Ross was the possessive type.”
Ross downed the shot without breaking eye contact. Then, he turned to Danielle and said, “Alright. Let’s keep going.”
Classic. He showed up to make sure his girlfriend wouldn’t get tipsy without him.
Henry was still grinning, making small talk with Danielle like he didn’t have a care in the world. Ross, on the other hand, was not having it–his expression getting more solemn by the minute.
By now, the sky had turned navy, and autumn in Basterel meant the chill was really starting to bite. Around 10 PM, the party was winding down.
A few guests who’d had too much to drink decided to just crash at Roy’s place for the night and head out in the morning.
Joshua, sober as ever, had Shermaine tucked under his arm. She was warm and a little giggly from the drinks. He leaned close and murmured, “Let’s get you home, Sheary.”
“Mmhmm.” She nodded, leaning into him.
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She hugged Danielle goodbye. Danielle didn’t seem ready to leave she had a second wind and was deep in a game of poker with Roy and Henry. After being confined to a hospital for over two weeks, she was clearly enjoying her newfound freedom.
The drive back was quiet and slow. Joshua headed to his place instead of the family estate, as it was closer. Once they pulled up, he carried Shermaine inside.
The moment they stepped into the living room, Shermaine reached for his wrist. Her fingers pressed gently to feet his pulse. Then, she lifted the hem of his shirt, shipping her hand underneath while her eyes were focused, like she was looking for a sign only she could see.
Joshua kissed her forehead. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“I’m just checking,” she said.
Joshua said directly, “Sheary, I don’t like it when you hide things from me. Whether it’s about my dad, or whatever’s been off with you tonight–I’d rather you just tell me.”
Joshua had sensed something off about his father from the very beginning, but he’d chosen not to call it out. And as for Shermaine, there was no denying she’d been acting strange all evening.
Shermaine hesitated. Then she exhaled slowly, “When you were changing earlier, I thought I saw something on your lower back. Like… something strange. But when I went to check again, it was gone.”
It sounded crazy, even to her. However, Joshua didn’t look surprised. Instead, he said quietly, “Sheary, there’s something I’ve never told anyone. Not even once.”
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Shermaine looked up. “What secret?”
He gently took Shermaine’s hand and placed it to the old scar on his chest. The scar was completely concealed by his tattoo, leaving no visible trace.
Joshua slowly said, “Back when I was injured, I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it back alive. But against all odds, a miracle happened.”
After completing his mission, he was pursued by mercenaries and driven into West Forest of the uninhabited wilderness. Severely wounded, he found himself with no signal, no food, no medical supplies, and no way to contact anyone. He was completely cut off from the world.
With the rain pouring down, he had no choice but to take shelter in a cave. He could feel his pulse slowing, like his body was shutting down. At some point, he realized if he closed his eyes, that might be it. He might never open them again.
He managed to hold on for six hours, but with no rescue in sight, he finally slipped into a deep coma. When he finally regained consciousness, three days had already passed.
During those three days he was unconscious, his wounds had almost completely healed. And not just slightly–he’d recovered at a speed hundreds of times faster than what should’ve been humanly possible.
He had been injured before, but never experienced anything like this.
Given how utterly unbelievable it was, he remained in West Forest for a full month before reaching out to the outside world.
After all, everyone knew how badly he’d been injured. If he showed up completely fine, it might arouse suspicion from others.
Shermaine asked, “Besides the healing part, is there anything else different about your body? Like… data–wise?”
Joshua shook his head. “If there were, I wouldn’t have bothered going to Yaleview Hospital last year.”
“So, you lied about not feeling well back then?” Shermaine asked again.
Joshua was completely unapologetic. He leaned down and softly kissed Shermaine on the lips. “Yeah, I lied. I just needed an excuse to spend more time with you.”
Shermaine gave him a playful bite and grinned, “You’re so sneaky, Mr. York.”
Shermaine normally hated being lied to, but something about him opening up and telling her this wild, impossible truth tilted the scales. She just couldn’t stay mad at him.
At this moment, Shermaine found Joshua’s condition truly fascinating, and the scientist in her was intrigued. “I want to run some genetic tests on you,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Joshua smirked. “Whatever you want, Sheary. I’m all yours.”
At Roy’s place, Danielle took her seat at the poker table. The icy, untouchable beauty suddenly transformed into a fierce little gambler–though somehow, she still managed to look effortlessly graceful.
Danielle pulled off another dazzling win with a full house. As the next round began, Henry teased, “Danielle, time to call it a night. Your boyfriend’s waiting for you.” Henry was this close to saying “to pamper you senseless“.
Danielle turned toward Ross with a playful pout, her voice soft and sweet. “Ross, I still wanna play.”
Ross, slightly tipsy and fully relaxed in his chair, replied lazily, “Half an hour.”
“Okay,” Danielle chirped happily.
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That half hour New by. Before they knew it, it was almost 1 AM. Roy, now a little sleepy from the alcohol, rubbed his eyes and offered, “Hey, why don’t you guys just stay the night? There are plenty of rooms here, and I’ll have fresh clothes sent over.”
Rey threw Ross a wink. “Don’t say I never did anything for you. If you miss this chance, it’s gone for good.”
Ross caught on immediately and gave him a subtle nod.
“My foot’s still healing,” Danielle said. In other words, she was saying that spending the night would just be a whole ordeal.
Roy grinned. “Come on, what’s the problem? You’ve got your dear Ross right here to take care of you.”
That was when Danielle realized Roy wasn’t as innocent and harmless as he looked–dude was sharp. She played along, smirking. “You’re right. Lucky for me, I’ve got Ross.”
Roy raised an eyebrow, surprised by how bold Danielle was. Then, he glanced at Ross, wondering to himself, ‘That guy just recovered from a serious illness. Can he really handle her?‘
Henry stood up, cleared his throat, and said, “Alright, let’s call it a night. Everyone, go do your own thing.”
With that, everyone dispersed–some left, while others went upstairs to rest. Soon enough, the only two left in the living room were Danielle and Ross.
Ross looked at her with a gentle smile. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”
Danielle nodded and pulled out her phone to show him her poker winnings, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. With a playful smile, she said, “Next time you have a get–together like this, be sure to invite me.”
Whenever Danielle sat down at a poker table, it was game over for everyone else,
Ross had no idea Danielle was so into poker. He nodded, then, after a brief pause, he added, “Danielle, why don’t we head upstairs and get some rest?”
Danielle arched an eyebrow, stood up, took Ross‘ hand, and with a sultry smile, she
With all the second floor guest rooms occupied, Ross scooped Danielle up and carried her to the third floor.
Roy first brought over clean towels and a bathrobe, then added with a smirk, “Just so you know, my place has amazing soundproofing.”
Ross fell silent. The usually refined gentleman’s lips twitched slightly as he retorted, “Does Ms. Hill know what kind of person you really are?”
After returning to the country, Roy dyed his pink hair back to ash brown, which gave him a softer, more approachable look, much like the boy next door.
Roy put on an innocent look and said, “Ross, you’re the one making this weird. I’m heading upstairs. Both of you should take a good rest.”
Upstairs, Danielle still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. She was stalling–not because she needed more time, but because she was a little nervous. A little shy, too.
Then, she glanced at the heavy cast on her foot and sighed. With that thing on, even if she wanted to be bold, she couldn’t do much anyway.
There was a knock at the door. Ross called softly from outside the door, “Danielle.”
Danielle replied softly, “What is it?”
Ross asked, “Would you like to take a shower?”
She definitely did. After all that barbecue, the smoky smell stuck to her skin. “Yeah.”
“Roy brought up towels and a robe. Come grab them.”
She made her way over, cracked the door just enough to reach out, took the towels and robe from his hands. “Thanks,” she said quickly, then shut the door before he could say another word.
Left outside the door again, Ross couldn’t help but chuckle. Through the door, he said, “You’re welcome. If your foot gives you any trouble, just call me for help.”
“Okay,” Danielle replied softly.
Aside from changing clothes, the cast didn’t bother her much. And since she was already in a bathrobe tonight, it made everything easier.
Still, the way Ross looked out for her so naturally made her heart flutter. She lowered her gaze and smiled to herself, feeling like she was wrapped in a happy bubble.
Ross cracked open a window to let in some fresh air, then dropped onto the couch with a sigh. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through it absentmindedly. But the sound of running water from the bathroom kept stealing his focus.
He’d had more than a few drinks that night. Eventually, he gave up on the phone, tossed it aside, and draped an arm over his forehead, letting his eyes fall shut for a quick rest.
In the bathroom, steam clouded the air as Danielle patted herself dry. Her petite frame, with alluring curves, was faintly visible through the frosted glass door.
Balancing on one foot, she reached for the bathrobe on the shelf. Just as she was about to put it on, a tiny bug suddenly flew right at her face.
Danielle jerked back to dodge, accidentally knocking the shower gel bottle off the shelf It hit the floor with a resounding thud, echoing through the
bathroom.
Startled by the noise, she was just about to bend down to pick it up when she heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside, and the next instant, the door burst open.
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Ross was napping when a sudden noise jolted him awake. Fearing Danielle had fallen, he rushed to push open the door. Seeing her unharmed, he exhaled in relief until his eyes narrowed instantly at the sight of the freshly showered beauty before him.
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Danielle stood barefoot, her slender, smooth calves visible. The white bathrobe hung loosely on her frame, its sash casually crossed at the waist but left untied, revealing a fleeting glimpse of her skin.
Under the soft glow of the light, she looked almost angelic. A faint hint of lemon lingered in the air, fresh and intimate.
Their eyes met–his gaze deep and unwavering, like a tide pulling her in without resistance, dragging her into something darker, something that belonged to him.
The air between them tightened, heavy with silence and something unspoken.
Danielle froze momentarily, a blush rising to her cheeks. Abandoning the shower gel, she turned her back and took a deep breath. “You should go.”
“I thought you’d fallen,” Ross explained.
She fumbled to tie her robe tighter without facing him. “Got it.”
Without another word, Ross turned and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him.
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After wrapping herself securely in her bathrobe, Danielle bent down to pick up the shower gel and return it to its place. She then gathered up her used clothes before finally leaving the bathroom.
She never re wore used underwear, so beneath the bathrobe, she was bare. And now, she wasn’t entirely sure if she could trust herself not to interrupt
Ross later.
Danielle wondered, ‘Maybe we should sleep separately tonight. After all, there are plenty of guest rooms on the third floor.
With this thought in mind, she opened the door. Ross was still there, leaning against the wall. As she stepped out, his gaze immediately fell upon her.
“All done,” said Danielle.
“Mhm,” Ross replied, nodding. Then, he stepped forward, effortlessly lifted her into his arms, and carried her straight to bed.
Danielle hesitated. “Earlier, you…”
“I saw,” Ross replied.
Danielle’s lips curved into a slow, teasing smile as she leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear. “Did you like what you saw?”
That single whisper sent a flicker through Ross‘ eyes–deep, intense, barely restrained. With a hoarse voice, he said, “I do.”
Overjoyed, Danielle’s heart raced. She was about to say something when Ross interrupted her, “I’m going to shower.” Then, he added softly, “Don’t wait up. Go to sleep first.”
She hadn’t really planned on saying anything important. She just wanted to suggest sleeping in separate rooms before things got too heated. But Ross had already made his exit.
“Forget it. I’ll just tell him when he comes out,‘ Danielle thought.
Ross finished his shower quickly, stepping out of the bathroom in about ten minutes.
Danielle peeked out from beneath the blanket, heart thumping faster at the sight of him. She couldn’t help tightening her grip on the covers.
“You’re still up?” he asked.
Danielle arched a brow and shot him a playful look. “If you were in my place, could you sleep?”
Ross stared at her intently for three seconds before finally relenting. “I thought if you were asleep, I’d leave you be. But you’re awake…”
Danielle began, “I just wanted to wait for you to come out and let you know I was going to sleep in the next-”
Before she could finish speaking, Ross leaned in abruptly and captured her lips in a sudden kiss.
After a lingering kiss, he finally pulled back, his usually gentle voice now low with desire. “Danielle, I want to fall asleep holding you. I don’t usually sleep well, but that night at the hospital, I slept soundly with you.”
Danielle panted softly. “Climb into the bed then!
Ross slipped under the covers and pulled Danielle into his arms, holding her tight against him. His chin rested against her forehead, then slowly drifted down, his breath warm as it brushed along her neck. He murmured, “Good night.”
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“Night.” Danielle replied softly. She tried to roll over, but with her leg in a cast, the movement was slow and awkward. Their bodies were already pressed close, and her bent knee accidentally bumped into a hard part of him.
Danielle looked up and burst into laughter. “Ross, you sure you’re gonna sleep like this?”
Rass went silent, sweat already breaking across his skin just from lying next to her. He didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned in again and captured her lips.
The growing heat instantly swallowed Danielle’s teasing words. Ross knew this was just a stopgap measure, as he planned to pull away and sleep in the
next room.
But as he began to pull back, Danielle instinctively leaned in and caught his lower lip with her teeth, then gave it a slow lick. That single motion was all it took. The restraint he’d tried so hard to keep snapped.
Their matching lemon scents mingled into something even sweeter and more intoxicating.
Her eyes shimmered, her voice barely above a whisper as she said in a soft and playful voice, “My leg’s still in a cast, so be gentle. Okay, Ross?”
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The night stretched long. Eventually, Ross stopped and reached for the tissue box on the nightstand, gently wiping Danielle’s hand. He said, “Not the right timing. Maybe next time.”
Danielle gave a soft snort and said, “You came in my hands, so of course you’d say that.” Then, she teased lazily, “Got what you wanted and dipped,
huh?”
Ross tossed the tissue aside, picked Danielle up, and carried her to the bathroom to wash her hands. Torn between amusement and exasperation at her words, he protested, “That’s not true.”
Danielle raised an eyebrow, burying her face in the covers as she giggled. “Alright. I forgive you.”
That night, Roy tossed and turned, haunted by the dreams of Molly.
By dawn, the sky was beginning to lighten.
Early in the morning, Shermaine received a call from Ruben, the deputy director of Yaleview Hospital. He explained that a patient with a persistent high fever and coma had been transferred from Horington. After being admitted, the patient vomited blood and went into shock.
After resuscitation, the patient suddenly woke up in a frenzy, like a rabid dog, trying to bite anyone in sight. The symptoms were highly unusual, and he requested her immediate consultation.
Shermaine asked, “How is the patient doing now?”
“He was given a sedative and is now asleep. We’ve transferred him to a general ward,” Ruben reported.
Shermaine rose from the bed. “I’m on my way,” she said.
About forty minutes later, she arrived at Yaleview Hospital. Joshua had driven her, but since neither of them had eaten, he left to grab breakfast.
The deputy director had been waiting anxiously and promptly led her to the patient’s ward. When they entered, she saw that the patient was restrained at both wrists and ankles.
Shermaine walked over and examined the patient’s pupils, ears, and oral cavity. Then, she asked, “Could you show me the patient’s test results?”
Ruben handed the report to her. The patient’s organs appeared normal, and no clear source of the fever could be identified. Shermaine first skimmed through the blood test results, where most of the indicators were normal.
Shermaine asked, “Was genetic testing done?”
“It was,” Ruben replied. “Scroll down to the bottom. The genetic test was ordered on the first day of admission, per the family’s request.”
Shermaine scrolled straight to the bottom of the report and scanned the results. “We need to redo both the bloodwork and the genetic panel,” she said firmly.
“Got it. I’ll get it arranged right away,” Ruben said.
Just as the words left his mouth, the patient lying on the bed snapped awake, seized by a violent frenzy. The veins on his forehead bulged so much that they looked like they might burst at any moment.
Shermaine observed his unfocused eyes–he was clearly not fully conscious. The patient, whose fever had just subsided, was suddenly spiking a high temperature again.
Admittedly, this case is particularly unusual among all the atypical cases Shermaine has seen. If she had to guess, it was likely a viral infection.
Shermaine warned sternly, “Take extra précautions and avoid being scratched by him.”
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Hearing this, the doctors and nurses in the ward exchanged uneasy glances. That sounded serious, and they wondered if it was something bloodborne,
like HIV.
Everyone knew the patient had a wound on the back of his hand. According to his family, he developed fever and cold symptoms that very night after the injury.
“We’ll be careful,” the medical staff responded.
Shermaine promptly followed Ruben to the hospital’s private laboratory, located two buildings away from the main medical complex.
Although dedicated lab technicians were available to assist with the testing, Shermaine insisted on conducting the procedures herself, which Ruben agreed to without hesitation.
Truth be told, most hospitals lack the capability for genetic testing due to a lack of expertise, insufficient staff, and prohibitively expensive equipment. But Yaleview Hospital had that kind of money.
At this moment, Shermaine was the only one in the lab. Moments later, Joshua arrived, and Shermaine drew a drop of his blood.
Meanwhile, over in Ustrana, Kylie stirred awake.
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“You go on ahead. I’ll eat later,” Shermaine said. No food was allowed inside the lab, so after collecting the blood samples, she stepped back out.
Joshua insisted, “Eat first, then continue with work.”
With no other choice, Shermaine removed her PPE suit and medical gloves, then followed Joshua to the adjacent break room, After Shermaine finished her breakfast, Joshua left for work.
Shermaine wasn’t in a hurry to test Joshua’s blood sample. She was sure there was nothing seriously wrong with him, and whatever she had observed that night likely posed no threat to his health.
After all, they had lived together for so long. Shermaine knew Joshua’s health inside out.
His bloodwork could wait. But with the new sample from that patient already delivered, Shermaine finished her breakfast and immediately got down to
work.
That afternoon, when Danielle returned to the hospital, she went straight to the orthopedics department. As soon as the doctor told her she could finally
get her cast removed, she had it taken off immediately.
‘This damn cast had ruined so many opportunities for me, especially last night,‘ she thought. Upon learning that Shermaine was still inside the lab,
Danielle went over to check on her.
Danielle turned to Ross and said, “You can go now. I’m going to meet Sheary.”
Ross said, “Grandma just called. She wants us both home for dinner tonight. Let Sheary know, and ask her to come over with Joshua later this evening.”
“Got it,” Danielle said.
After parting ways with Ross, Danielle had just reached the doorway when Shermaine emerged from the lab, clutching a report with an unusually grave
expression.
“What’s going on?” Danielle asked.
Shermaine said, “We need to call an emergency meeting. This virus is highly complex, and we can’t deal with it anytime soon.”
The main issue was that it was blood–borne and neuroinvasive. Once it reached the central nervous system, the infected patient would become violently unpredictable, posing a major threat to others.
Until a serum or vaccine could be developed, strict precautions had to be taken. Even more urgently, they needed to trace the virus back to its source
and eliminate it before it could spread.
After being hospitalized and away from work for so long, Danielle immediately perked up, eager to get back to work. “I’ll handle it.”
“Transfer the patient to the isolation ward immediately,” Shermaine ordered.
“On it.” Danielle nodded.
In just thirty minutes, nearly all of Yaleview Hospital’s top executives assembled in the conference room. Even the hospital’s director, Ashley Reynolds,
was present.
Shermaine’s formidable reputation in the medical field meant that even the hospital director treated her with deference.
Her skills alone commanded respect, but her age made her accomplishments truly remarkable. It made people wonder just how far her extraordinary talent could go.
And it wasn’t just medicine. Shermaine had proven herself time and again across disciplines. She was an undeniable standout in any field.
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For someone as exceptional as Shermaine to convene a high level meeting over a single patient’s condition made it clear this case was anything but ordinary.
As the meeting progressed, and with Shermaine explaining the patient’s genetic test results, everyone’s expression grew increasingly grim.
Firstly, they were dealing with a completely new virus of unknown origin. It was bloodborne, and once the symptoms kicked in, the patients would lose all sense of reason. They become violent and even aggressive.
This patient was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
According to the patient’s family, while he was on his way home, a disheveled homeless man suddenly jumped out and attacked him. They got into a fight, and though he managed to get away, he didn’t come out unscathed.
That was how he got the wound. But they had a problem. If they couldn’t find that homeless man, they’d lose their only lead on the virus‘ source.
Ashley asked, “Is anyone willing to go to Horington to investigate this case?”
The room was filled with experienced department heads, all of whom were willing to take on the mission. The chief virologist was the first to raise their hand. “I’ll go.”
Ashley said, “It’s settled then. You’ll leave for Horington first thing tomorrow morning.”
Ashley had barely finished speaking when Shermaine cut in, “I’ll go with Dr. Morton.“,
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Yaleview Hospital filed a report with the Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC). Once they were briefed, they arranged for one of their staff members to accompany the team to Horington the next morning.
The blood samples and test reports were also sent to the CDC, hoping their experts could develop a serum vaccine to cure the patients.
After the meeting, Shermaine said to the attending physician of the infected patient, “Please notify me immediately if there are any changes in the patient’s condition.”
“Will do, Dr. Jean,” the attending physician said.
Shermaine nodded in response.
That night, around 8 PM, Ross drove over to pick up Shermaine and Danielle. By the time they got to Jean Villa, it was nearly 9 PM.
Outside, the chill wind howled, but inside, the warm glow of the lights enveloped the family in cozy harmony. Upon seeing them, Janice greeted them with open arms.
“Oh, Danielle. You shouldn’t have brought anything! Come on in and take a seat,” Janice said.
Then, she turned to Shermaine with concern. “Sheary, why aren’t you dressed more warmly? What if you catch a cold?”
Then, Janice asked the housekeeper to bring two cups of hot chocolate for the girls so they could warm up.
It was clear Ruth was thoroughly pleased with Danielle as her future daughter–in–law. She personally set a plate of freshly cut fruit in front of her, then told Ross to set Danielle’s bag aside.
Ruth smiled as she handed a piece of honeydew to Shermaine. “Here, Sheary. Try this honeydew. Is it sweet?”
“Let me try,” Shermaine said.
- 2.
Shermaine accepted the piece of fruit from her mother with a soft smile. “It’s sweet,” she said, then got another piece with her fork. “Here, Mom. Try
some.”
Ruth opened her mouth, smiling warmly as she ate. The honeydew was indeed sweet, and it was even sweeter because Shermaine had fed it to her.
Just then, Ruth’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen, her expression shifting subtly, clearly not planning to answer the call.
“Is that Richard?” Shermaine asked casually.
Ruth nodded in confirmation.
Shermaine asked, “Mom, if it’s Richard calling, then why aren’t you picking up?”
“Alright, I’m answering it,” Ruth said. She wasn’t going to answer at first, but since Shermaine had said so, her reservations melted away. She got up and stepped aside to take the call.
Ever since Ruth regained her memories, things between her and Richard had been lukewarm at best. She knew he still hadn’t given up on being with her, and after her divorce from Jameson was finalized, Richard only became more persistent in his pursuit.
Ruth answered the phone coolly, “What do you want?”
“Ruthie, I’m outside your place,” Richard replied.
Ruth’s gaze remained cool. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
Richard replied warmly, “Actually, I just came by to drop off some treats for Sheary and Ross.”
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Ruth sighed, “Wait there. I’ll come out and get it.”
Upon learning that Richard was just outside, Shermaine seized the chance to play matchmaker. With a knowing smile, she suggested, “Mom, since Richard is already here, why not invite him in for dinner?”
“Alright,” Ruth agreed.
Richard hadn’t seen Ross or Shermaine in a long time. For one thing, he still felt guilty about what had happened with Ross, so while Ross was hospitalized, he could only visit him secretly. As for Shermaine, she was always swamped with work.
Coming to Jean Villa tonight proved to be the right move. To his pleasant surprise, he ran into Joshua, who was approaching him gracefully at the entrance and then ushered him inside.
Then, as Ruth came out, Richard felt a wave of nervousness. Ruth asked, “Where are the treats?”
“Here,” Richard said.
“Sheary was wondering if you’d like to join us for dinner. But if you have other plans…” Ruth trailed off.
“I’m free,” Richard replied with a smile.
Ruth nodded. “Come on in then.”
With that, a relieved grin spread across Richard’s face. With everyone gathered, they took their seats around the table. The beef stew was already bubbling, releasing fragrant steam into the cozy dining room.
Janice was genuinely delighted. Her beloved grandson and granddaughter had found their significant others, while her other two grandsons were still young, so there was no need to rush.
But then, unexpectedly, Andrew showed up with Clyde in tow.
Following Shermaine’s advice, Clyde repeated his senior year of high school. Lately, he’d grown exceptionally driven, and if nothing unexpected happened, he was set to qualify for a top–tier university in the next SAT.
Andrew, on the other hand, could barely make eye contact with Shermaine now. Back when she offered to write a recommendation letter for Clyde to help him get into a prestigious school, he hadn’t taken her seriously.
He never imagined his niece would turn out to be a national–level prodigy.
Andrew thought, ‘The Professor Jean who’d been making waves all over the internet lately is my niece. And not just any academic–she is a top–tier powerhouse in the tech world. Experts in her field practically tripped over themselves trying to treat her like royalty.
ཚོ་༄ན་འན་ཚོ་ཕན་ཅན་ཕུར་རང་
‘That brother of mine really mistook a pearl for a pebble. Just look at him now–miserable, exiled from his own home, and stuck in a relationship so shameful no one dares speak of it. Honestly, cheating with Natalie is the biggest downfall of his entire life.’
As the eldest brother among his siblings, Andrew had passed through Horington on a business trip just the day before and made a point to visit Jameson.
Jameson’s kidney removal and transplant surgery went fairly well. But when Andrew consulted the doctors about the upcoming heart operation, they made it clear that the risks were too high, and the procedure would be extremely difficult.
Andrew thought, ‘If you ask me, since Shermaine has such exceptional medical skills, Jameson should swallow his pride and ask for forgiveness. After all, what could possibly be more important than his own life? Running off to Horington like that is truly an unwise move.‘
He had also advised Jameson to ask for their forgiveness. If possible, it’d be best if he could remarry Ruth. Then, everything could return to how it used to be. They’d still be family.
But now, seeing Richard seated beside Ruth at the dinner table, Andrew couldn’t help but think, ‘Looks like there’s no hope of them getting back together now.’
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Having shed his former arrogance, Clyde greeted the elders politely. Then, he turned to Shermaine with a respectful smile and said, “Hey, Sheary
Shermaine nodded slightly, murmuring a quiet “Mm.”
Janice had someone set two more places at the table. She smiled warmly and said, “Come, sit down. Let’s have dinner together.”
“Sure thing.” Clyde replied cheerfully.
At the dinner table, everyone noticed Andrew’s warm enthusiasm toward Shermaine. Though she remained rather reserved, she was polite enough to humor him.
As dinner was winding down, Shermaine mentioned she’d be going to Horington for a few days starting tomorrow. When Janice and the others asked why, she gave them a brief explanation.
“That sounds pretty dangerous,” Ruth cautioned. “There’s no cure for the new disease yet. You need to be extra careful out there, Sheary.”
“Exactly. And who knows how many other people are infected but haven’t been detected yet?” Janice frowned, her thoughts suddenly turning to Jameson, who was hospitalized in a hospital in Horington right now.
Shermaine reassured them, “I’ll be careful, so don’t worry. Once we identify the source of the infection, we can contain the outbreak in time.”
Ruth understood the science behind it. After all, she had once been a top biology student. Most viruses originated from animals, the environment, or human manipulation.
Joshua hadn’t said much throughout dinner. Instead, he just kept placing more food in Shermaine’s plate.
But once dinner wrapped, he got to work. He began contacting virologists across the country, pulling strings and rallying experts to kick–start the vaccine development process.
At Consla Laboratory, in Horington, Bruce sat across from an old man in a wheelchair–white–haired, sharp–eyed, and clearly no stranger to power games. Each side had their people standing behind them.
The old man took a slow drag from his cigarette. Bruce said, “Since the research’s gone sideways, we need to stop it right away.”
On top of that, this was not just some minor hiccups. This was big.”
“I don’t see any problem,” the old man replied, his tone cool.
Bruce narrowed his eyes. “This is Wallington. You really think they’ll let you walk if they find out what you’ve been up to?”
The old man gave a faint smile. “I’m a dying man. I have nothing left to fear. All I ask, Mr. Xavier, is that since you’ve chosen to break our agreement and leave my lab, you no longer have any right to meddle in our affairs.”
Bruce looked up defiantly. “What if I insist on interfering?” he challenged. In his mind, he was already resolved–not only would he interfere, but he
would raze this place to the ground.
“Then don’t blame me for taking up arms against you,” the old man warned.
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Early the next morning, Shermaine set off for Horington with the others. Before leaving, she reminded Joshua, “Grandma Bianca sent me some books, and the courier will be arriving soon. Could you take them for me before you head to work?”
Those books were all originally excavated from the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. From time to time, Bianca would sort through them and send a
batch over.
Apparently, the batch sent a few days ago contained some overlooked materials found in the underground chamber, so they were all packed up and shipped together.
Joshua fixed her collar. “Got it. Take care,” he said softly. Then, he leaned down, kissed Shermaine on the forehead, and saw her out.
All major hospitals in Horington have received directives from higher authorities that any patient with a persistent high fever and was coughing up blood must be immediately admitted to an isolation ward. So far, no such cases have been reported.
Meanwhile, the local CDC had already launched a covert investigation into the source of the outbreak. But there were frustratingly few leads to go on
with.
The police were helping search for the homeless man, but strangely, it was as if he had vanished into thin air. There wasn’t a single clue about him anywhère.
Two days flew by in a blink.
Shermaine spent most of her time buried in the CDC lab, working around the clock to develop a serum that could counter the virus. But despite her relentless efforts, progress was frustratingly slow.
Meanwhile, Jason–who had been off the grid for what felt like forever–suddenly showed up in Horington. He went straight to visit Jameson. At first, Jameson was genuinely pleased to see him, until he realized Jason had come with two cops.
Jameson froze. “Jason, why did you bring the cops here?”
One of the officers stepped forward. “Your son suspects you may be involved in the death of his mother, Ms. Natalie Keller. Given your medical condition, we’ll be conducting the questioning here at the hospital. We ask for your cooperation.”
Questions were running through Jameson’s mind. ‘I killed Natalie? What happened to Natalie?‘ No matter what happened to Natalie, Jason’s actions left
Jameson bitterly disappointed.
If anyone had been the victim, it was Jameson. Natalie had been slowly poisoning him, and he never even pressed charges. And now, his own son turned
and accused him of murder.
As the police questioned him, Jameson finally pieced together what had happened. To his shock, he learned that Natalie had also come to Horington, and had gone missing after she arrived.
With no one able to reach her, Jason apparently jumped to conclusions and pinned it on Jameson.
Fortunately, Jameson was hospitalized, with doctors and nurses providing solid alibis, which quickly ruled him out as a murder suspect.
Jameson was so enraged that his already frail body was wracked by violent coughing. Glaring at Jason, he choked out, “Get out! I don’t want to see your face ever again!”
Jason gritted his teeth. Moments later, the doctors rushed Jameson into the emergency room.
Shermaine hadn’t known any of this was happening–until Janice called to fill her in and asked if she could check on him. Only then did she leave the CDC and make her way to General Hospital.
In his dazed state, Jameson seemed to catch glimpses of Shermaine talking with the doctor. His fingers twitched slightly, as if he was reaching out–but he didn’t have the strength to say a word.
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At this moment, the doctor held the prescription Shermaine had provided, ready to have it filled. After giving her instructions, Shermaine stepped out of
the hospital room.
She barely made it a few steps before Jason lunged out from the shadows his sudden appearance took her by surprise. “Shermaine!” he shouted without any restrain. “What did you do to my mother?”
He couldn’t wrap his head around how a perfectly fine person just vanished without a trace. Shermaine sidestepped and said coldly, “Not everyone is as underhanded as you and your mother.”
Jason’s eyes were bloodshot. He glared at her and said, “You think you’re so noble and selfless, don’t you? You must be feeling pretty pleased with yourself seeing my mom and I in such a miserable state, huh?”
The malice rolling off him was suffocating.
Shermaine met his glare with a steady gaze. “I don’t even care about Jameson. What makes you think I’d care about either of you? Don’t overestimate your importance to me. You’re nothing to me.”
Another day passed. The night stretched long and quiet. Natalie was still missing, and the police had turned up with not a single lead.
But just beyond the city, out in the suburbs, all hell broke loose. The Consla Laboratory erupted into chaos. Sirens wailed, alarms screamed, and within minutes, a wall of fire engulfed the facility, with flames shooting high into the night like a beacon of disaster.
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The laboratory fire erupted without warning, catching everyone off guard. Thick black smoke billowed as hundreds of people in the laboratory scrambled in panic, fleeing in all directions.
Bruce’s expression turned grave the moment he witnessed the scene. Meanwhile, his subordinates were already overwhelmed, scrambling to contain the chaos.
Originally, their plan was to sneak into the laboratory today, eliminate all the test subjects, and then demolish the entire facility. Unexpectedly, a disaster
struck.
“What happened?” Bruce demanded.
One of the staff reported urgently, “The virus mutated. One test subject developed superhuman strength, injured our people, and escaped”
“Where did it go?” Bruce demanded.
The staff stammered, “N–no idea… We haven’t found the subject yet.”
Bruce ordered, “Expand the lockdown perimeter immediately. Don’t let it enter the city limits.”
“Many others have escaped as well. We can’t be sure if any of them are infected,” the staff said.
Bruce’s voice dropped to a cold, clipped edge. “Find the mutant. That’s the priority.”
Above them, a crescent moon hung low over the trees, casting silver light across the woods.
Natalie wore a white jumpsuit marked with a serial number–Subject 110 in Immortality Project. Unlike the previous 109 test subjects, she had been perfectly healthy.
Now, her clothes were splattered with blood. Under the moonlight, her mutation was unmistakable. Her nails had grown long and razor–sharp, her eyes burned red, and thick patches of coarse hair covered her skin.
As the hem of her jumpsuit fluttered, black scales glistened beneath, making her every inch the monster.
‘I never thought I’d be tricked into a hellhole like that,‘ Natalie thought bitterly. ‘Tortured until I turned into… whatever this is. Am I a human or a monster now? Or just something in between?‘
At least she hadn’t lost her mind like the others. Most of the test subjects went feral once the virus took hold–but not her.
She felt stronger now. Her limbs were lighter, her movements sharper, her body humming with power. Sure, she was covered in too much hair, but her skin had lost every trace of melanin. It was ghostly pale and cold to the touch.
Natalie was ravenous now, her stomach gnawing at her. It didn’t matter what it was–she just needed to eat. Then, she spotted the glowing neon sign of a 24–hour convenience store. So, she had made her way into town.
Driven by ravenous hunger, she barged into the store without a second thought and began tearing through everything, desperately searching for food.
The cashier jumped in fright, mistaking her for a homeless man or a lunatic. Grabbing the bat from under the counter, he marched over and growled, “Get out now, or I’ll make you!”
Natalie tore through bags of chips and gulped down sodas, yet her hunger never faded. Oblivious to the voices around her, she just kept stuffing food into her mouth with ravenous abandon.
Just as the cashier raised the bat to strike, Natalie reacted with inhuman speed. She spun around, grabbed the bat, and with a powerful shove, sent the cashier flying nearly ten feet across the store.
Staggering to his feet, the cashier stared in horror as Natalie lunged at the fish tank, snatched up a live fish, and gulped it down whole.
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The sight made the cashier’s stomach Thurn. His blood ran cold, and his knees nearly gave out. With trembling hands, há fumbled for his phone and daled the police.
The cops arrived swiftly. They were just two officers on night duty from the local station. When they walked in, the convenience store was in complete disarray. The shelves were overturned, wrappers strewn everywhere, and nearly all the food had been devoured. Finally, Natalie let out a guttural belch
“That’s her. Hurry, arrest her! She was eating the goldfish like some kind of monster!” the cashier cried out, pointing frantically.
“She ate every single one I had!” he added, his voice shaking with outrage.
The cashier shouted, “You freak! You’re a monster!”
Only then did Natalie realize with horror what she had just eaten. Her face drained of color as she protested vehemently, “I’m not.”
A sudden, inexplicable rage surged within her. The officers were skeptical at first, but the sight of goldfish remains scattered on the floor convinced them.
As they closed in on her, the enraged Natalie bared her razor–sharp claws and lunged at them. Her eyes were bloodshot as she snarled. “Apologize to me right now!”
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When Bruce arrived, he saw only a dozen or so injured people lying on the ground, However, Natalie was nowhere to be found.
Among the dozen or so people, most were police officers; the rest were late–night food stall owners who had rushed over to help when they sensed something was wrong.
Bruce’s expression turned grim. “Take them away. Quarantine them.” Then, without hesitation, he jumped back into the car and sped toward the town
exit.
But Bruce wasn’t the only one after Natalie. The investor behind the Immortality Project–who had finally achieved a hard–won breakthrough–wasn’t about to let his prized test subject escape now that success was within reach.
Meanwhile, the investor’s men were chasing a police car. Inside that car, Natalie slammed her foot down on the gas. It had been 40 straight minutes of weaving through dark country roads, but she finally broke back into the city.
At 11 PM, the streets of Horington weren’t exactly packed, but there was still a steady stream of cars coming and going.
Natalie glanced in the rearview mirror. There had only been one car chasing her. Now, two more had joined the pursuit.
‘There’s no way I’m going back,‘ Natalie swore in her heart. ‘If I end up back on that cold operating table, I might not make it out alive. Guess I’m the lucky
one.
Bruce slammed the gas in his black sports car. He swerved left, overtaking the vehicle ahead in a blur. The white car beside him, seeing this, recklessly swerved to block him, turning the chase into a deadly showdown.
There were no cops on the street at this hour. After a tense standoff at an intersection, the black sports car collided with the white police car. Then, a
small truck came barreling in, triggering a multi–vehicle pileup.
The police car vanished without a trace.
Bruce shoved open his door and climbed out, with blood dripping down his arm from a gash where glass had cut through. A fresh bump was swelling on his forehead from the impact of colliding with the steering wheel.
But he didn’t flinch. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it with steady hands, and leaned against the wreck. Smoke curled in the cold air as he stared into the distance sharply.
About 15 minutes later, the ambulance arrived, and the paramedics led Bruce into the ambulance.
The next morning rolled in, and a brand new day began. The temperature had dropped overnight, and a cold front had settled across the city.
Shermaine sat outside a small street vendor, working through a bowl of steaming ravioli soup. A sleek black Bluetooth earbud hung on her ear, and
Joshua’s voice crackled through the line. “It’s getting cold. Layer up, will you?”
“Mm, don’t just worry about me. Make sure you keep warm too,” she said.
“Any progress on the virus?” Joshua asked.
Shermaine said calmly, “Most likely, the virus is man–made. I’ve compiled a list of suspicious labs and will check them out after breakfast.”
Shermaine suspected it was a man–made virus because firstly, the homeless man mentioned by the patient had visited the infection site, but when they checked, all the surveillance cameras were faulty and the footage from that day went missing too.
There were too many coincidences. And that homeless man vanished without a trace. Unless someone was deliberately hiding him, Shermaine could not think of another reason why they were unable to track him down.
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While Shermaine ate, the flat–screen TV mounted on the wall in front of her played the morning news. The top story was a multi–car pileup from the night before
“Be careful,” Joshua said with concern. “I’ve arranged an assistant for you. He’s a top med school graduate, physically capable and professionally trained. He should arrive in Horington in about two hours.” Even with these precautions, Joshua still couldn’t fully relax, knowing how risky Shermaine’s job was.
“Got it.” Shermaine said casually. “Tell him to contact me directly when he arrives.”
The flat–screen TV was mounted on the wall across from Shermaine. As she reached for a tissue and looked up, she caught sight of a familiar figure at the scene of last night’s car accident. Narrowing her gaze, she realized it was Bruce.
‘What’s Bruce doing in Horington?‘ Shermaine wondered.
At first, the news wasn’t getting much traction, but once the footage of Bruce, injured and smoking beside his wrecked black sports car hit the internet, he instantly went viral and topped Twitter’s trending list.
His striking looks alone made him the center of attention. But not even half an hour later, the post had been mysteriously wiped from the charts.
Shermaine knew it wouldn’t be hard to dig up why Bruce was in town, but poking into someone’s whereabouts without a solid reason didn’t sit right with her, especially when they weren’t even close. So, she decided to let it go.
“I’m done eating,” she said, wiping her mouth and speaking into the earpiece. “I’m hanging up.”
“Mm, I’ll miss you,” Joshua said.
Shermaine’s lips curved into a smile. “Let’s go on a date when I’m done here.”
They didn’t get to do that much–barely ever, actually. But lately, Shermaine had been thinking maybe it was time they tried being like a normal couple
for once. Dates were supposed to be exciting, heart–skipping, even.
Joshua gulped. “I’ll plan something.”
Shermaine moved quickly. Of the five labs she’d flagged for possible illegal activity, she only had to visit one before she got a lead. It pointed her straight to Consla Laboratory–the one most likely running illegal experiments.
In this line of work, word had gotten around, especially when it came to Consla Laboratory. Their operations had always been brazen, but with deep- pocketed investors backing them, most people in the field just turned a blind eye and kept their mouths shut.
When she arrived at Consla Laboratory, she saw the aftermath of a fire. The flames were out, but thick plumes of acrid smoke still hung heavily in the air, their pungent odor clawing at her throat the longer she breathed them in.
Shermaine took a surgical mask and a sample case from the car, put on the mask, and headed straight inside.
Most of the place had been destroyed by the fire, but Shermaine still managed to collect some remaining samples to bring back for analysis to determine if the virus originated from here.
After about half an hour, Shermaine had gathered enough samples and was about to leave with the small case when a shadow suddenly loomed behind her. Instinctively, she spun around and delivered a sharp roundhouse kick.
A shrill, miserable scream rang out. The other party collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
Shermaine walked over. The man was dressed in white, with a shaved head and numerous needle marks on his arms. His face was deathly pale, and he was barely conscious as he mumbled weakly, “H–help me.”
Shermaine pressed her hand to his forehead. He was burning hot. He was running a fever.
“Are you a test subject from Consla Laboratory?” Shermaine asked.
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He nodded weakly. He hadn’t escaped far last night and just found a place to hide nearby. When dawn came, he woke up feeling wretched and had been enduring it ever since.
Shermaine asked, “How many test subjects like you were there in the lab?”
“A–A lot…” he whispered in a trembling voice.
Shermaine pressed. “Where are they now?”
The man shook his head weakly. “N–no… I don’t know,” he mumbled. “But last night, a lot of the other test subjects escaped.”
Upon hearing this, Shermaine’s gaze dimmed. Their escape meant the risk of ordinary people getting infected had skyrocketed. Because once the test subjects fell ill, they would lose all rationality and become violent.
Seeing he was about to pass out, Shermaine said, “I’ll bring the car over. Wait here.” Carrying the case, she headed outside.
As she reached her car, a van suddenly pulled up. Several thugs jumped out, and one of them shouted, “Drop what you’re holding and get out of here, or you’ll regret it.”
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These guys weren’t here to chat. If she had to guess, they were probably the clean up crew sent to keep whatever happened inside this lab buried for good.
A fire this big happened, and not a single headline was about it. Someone definitely pulled strings to keep it quiet.
Shermaine placed the sample case in the car, locked the door, then turned and said directly, “Bring it on.”
They exchanged glances, clearly thrown off, thinking, ‘She’s got the face, but not that much brains!
The leader sneered, “You asked for it. Get her!”
It was cold, which was the only reason Shermaine hadn’t tied up her waist–length hair. She had no hair tie with her either, but she did have a ballpoint pen in her pocket.
She lifted both hands to gather her loose strands, then deftly pulled out the pen, twisted her hair into a bun, and secured it in place.
Their target was the car keys in Shermaine’s pocket. Several men rushed at her at once, but in the next instant, the man in front was sent flying by a powerful kick from Shermaine.
That’s when it clicked for them that she wasn’t bluffing, and her confidence had nothing to do with her looks. She knew how to fight, and she was damn good at it.
It didn’t take long before they were outmatched. The leader whipped out his phone to call for backup, but before he could even dial, Shermaine darted over and, with a swift kick, sent his phone flying and the man sprawling to the ground.
As she landed, the ballpoint pen securing her hair flew out, just as a car approached from ahead. The pen clattered to the ground, while the vehicle behind it screeched to a sudden stop.
Shermaine’s gaze flicked toward the sound. She could’ve stayed and finished the fight, no problem. But there was no time to waste–someone inside was infected and needed her help now.
As she was about to get into the car and drive off to pick the injured man up, a man suddenly stepped out of the other car. It was Bruce, the man she had seen on the news that morning. Shermaine’s hand froze on the car door.
Bruce bent down, picked up the ballpoint pen that had rolled away and walked up to her. “Here,” he said, handing it over.
“What are you doing here?” Shermaine asked.
Bruce didn’t bother to hide anything and explained, “The backer of this lab once hired an operative from the Dark Organization. You know her–Kylie.
“Kylie was leading the lab’s ongoing Immortality Project. Ever since she joined, the experiments started going wrong.” He paused briefly before adding, “I’m here to clean up the mess.”
In other words, he was here to clean up Kylie’s mess. Shermaine raised an eyebrow, thinking, ‘Now, that’s a surprise.‘
Bruce had every reason to stay out of this. If this whole thing blew up, no one could pin it on the Dark Organization. He could’ve walked away with clean hands. But instead, he showed up.
And Kylie, that foreigner, had really stirred up a hornet’s nest on their turf.
Shermaine gave a brief nod, then asked, “So what’s the situation now?”
Bruce pursed his lips. “There was a big fire here last night. Many test subjects escaped. I’ve quarantined some, but about ten are still on the loose.”
Among those in quarantine were also the officers who’d gotten hurt in last night’s chaos. Bruce had already locked down the only road into the city, so anyone trying to sneak in would be caught immediately.
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Shenmaine’s expression turned slightly solemn. There were so many people infected, yet they still didn’t have a serum that could cure them.
Shemaine thought. Looks like I’ll have to speed up and develop the serum,‘
Bruce hesitated before delivering the crucial update. “There’s one more thing. A mutated subject made it into the city. I couldn’t bring her back.” This particular failure had weighed heavily on Bruce all day.
The woman carrying the mutated virus–Natalie had gone into hiding. In a sprawling city like Horington, home to over ten million people, tracking her down would be nearly impossible. That was when Shermaine’s expression finally turned serious.
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This wasn’t the right place to talk. After loading the infected patient into her car, Shermaine drove to the quarantine zone with Bruce.
It turned out to be an old clinic on the edge of town. Bruce had it stocked with top–tier medical equipment and supplies, and had even brought in some
of the best doctors and nurses to staff it.
Leaving the patient in Bruce’s care was Shermaine’s way of showing that she trusted him. Shermaine asked, “What did the patient infected with the
mutated virus look like?”
Bruce replied, “There’s a video, but her face isn’t visible.”
Shermaine said, “Let me take a look.”
Bruce pulled out his phone and handed it to Shermaine.
The video was actually surveillance footage from last night. It showed a woman in a white outfit–her hair a tangled mess, her face grimy–ravenously devouring food in the convenience store, as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
Shermaine didn’t recognize Natalie in the footage. She requested, “Send me a copy.”
“I’ll send it to you on WhatsApp. Give me your phone number,” Bruce said.
“Alright,” Shermaine replied.
After exchanging phone numbers, Bruce sent the video and said, “If you get any leads on that woman, contact me. I’ll handle the arrest.”
“Got it,” Shermaine replied. This way, she could focus most of her time on breaking down the virus strain and pushing forward with the development of a
working serum to help stabilize the infected group.
Bruce glanced at his watch. “It’s almost noon. Want to grab lunch together?”
She replied, “Another time.”
“Alright,” Bruce said without pressing further.
It was an overcast day, and a biting wind sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The gloomy weather did nothing to lift anyone’s spirits. Before long, a fine drizzle began to fall.
Shermaine drove off, taking the samples back to her research lab.
Instead of rushing to study the virus, she took out her laptop, powered it on, and launched GPS–an advanced tracking program she seldom used.
It was already geo–locked onto Horington. She uploaded the footage from the convenience store, hit run, then shut the laptop. If the system found a
match, it would ping her phone with a notification.
Time flew by, and a week had passed in the blink of an eye.
The tracking program, GPS, had scanned every surveillance–covered area in the city, yet there was still no sign of Natalie.
Shermaine had been holed up in the lab most of the time. Three days ago, she’d already formulated a prototype serum–one that could suppress the virus, at least temporarily,
It wasn’t a full cure, but it kept the infection under control and delayed symptoms without any side effects.
But what weighed on her mind wasn’t the patients under quarantine–it was the one still missing, the woman with the mutated strain.
Miles away, buried beneath scrap cars in a landfill, there was an old basement no one had set foot in for years. From within, muffled growls echoed now
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Natalie’s lower body was now completely covered in black scales, emitting a putrid, fish–like stench. She jolted awake from a fitful sleep, and upon seeing her grotesque appearance, burst into hysterical screams. “How did I become like this? This is disgusting?”
She looked neither like a human, nor a monster. The thought alone made her sick. She couldn’t accept what she’d become.
Up above, one of the landfill workers suddenly paused, having heard a strange noise. He turned to his colleague and asked, “Hey, did you just hear something?”
“Nope,” the other worker said.
“Sounds like it’s coming from the basement.”
“Really?”
“Let’s go check it out.”
Outside, the rain had started again, soaking everything in a steady drizzle.
Shermaine took off her lab coat and stepped out of the lab.
“We’re getting close,” Shermaine said.
“Glad to hear it,” he said, visibly relieved. Everyone had placed their hopes on Shermaine. The rest of them could only assist where they could, but the real work was hers alone.
The original virus wasn’t all that complex to manage, but the mutated strain inside that one patient changed everything.
Thankfully, the officers who had been injured by her didn’t show signs of mutation. At least, not yet. After all, the virus still had its incubation period. No one could say for sure what might happen down the line.
“Dr. Jean,” a calm voice called out. It was Steve Xavier, the assistant Joshua had sent. Right on cue, he showed up to remind her it was almost lunchtime.
The two picked a random restaurant and were about to order when Bruce called. “Shermaine, you need to come here now. The virus in those police officers seems to have mutated.”
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“I’m on my way.” Shermaine’s gaze dimmed. Her expression made it clear the situation had turned serious. Forget about eating they needed to get over there immediately to see what was wrong.
As Bruce had described, the police officers and ordinary people injured by that woman that night started showing even stranger symptoms–snake–like scales emerged on their skin, their fingernails grew alarmingly long overnight, and their hunger intensified.
While the virus hadn’t damaged their nervous systems or triggered violent outbursts, it had spread to their internal organs, forcing their bodies into
unnatural overdrive.
But the human body had its limits. Push it too far, and it would shatter like an overinflated balloon.
To make things worse, the virus wasn’t just mutating–it was merging with marine DNA, accelerating a primal regression. Bit by bit, they were becoming something else entirely.
Shermaine did the math. Without a serum to cure them, none of them would survive past the three–month mark.
“Doctor, is there still hope for us?” Their voices trembled, and their eyes were wide with panic. No one could accept what was happening to them.
They never could have imagined it, not even in their wildest dreams, that the woman from that night was a monster.
Shermaine reassured them, “There is hope. We’re working urgently to develop a serum. For now, your only task is to stay right here and don’t go anywhere.”
Her words were deeply convincing, and the unease that had been gnawing at them suddenly subsided. Over the past few days, they’d learned more about Shermaine, and they knew she was an exceptional doctor.
“Got it. We promise we won’t go anywhere,” they said in unison. Once they were calm and she’d collected the necessary samples, Shermaine stepped
out of the old clinic.
Beside her, Steve frowned and hesitantly asked, “Dr. Jean, will they eventually turn into zombies, like in those movies?”
The image sent a shiver down his spine. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle. He thought, ‘What if this was the beginning of the end? The whole world is going to be doomed.‘
Shermaine sighed helplessly, “Seriously? What nonsense are you thinking? You’re a medical student.”
Steve said, “I can’t help thinking about Resident Evil, Dr. Jean. Have you seen it? Honestly, whoever did this to them is just as despicable as the villains in
that movie.”
Steve thought indignantly, ‘We’re all humans. Why do we have to hurt each other? Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of life, so why are some people so obsessed with the idea of being immortal?‘
Shermaine didn’t respond. But now that the higher–ups were involved, those behind this mess were bound to pay the price.
Just then, Bruce cut in, “Have you two eaten yet?”
“Not yet,” Shermaine replied.
Since Steve and Bruce shared the same last name, Steve naturally felt a special closeness to him.
Bruce said, “There’s a great restaurant in town, Let me take you guys there.”
The shop was simple but clean, filled with the comforting smell of broth and spices. As the scent drifted through the air, Shermaine pulled out her phone and clicked on WhatsApp. Then, she sent a quick message to Joshua. [I miss your cooking.]
Meanwhile, at York Group’s headquarters, an executive meeting was in session. At this time, Joshua’s phone buzzed with a special ringtone he had set
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exclusively for Shermaine.
(Message from Baby Sheary!
He picked it up without hesitation. The sharp, commanding look on his face melted in an instant upon reading the text. Even the tension in the room seemed to lift with it.
Joshua: [What would you like to eat, love?]
Shermaine replied with a list of dishes she was craving.
Joshua: [Got it.]
She stared at his reply, puzzled as she thought, ‘Got it? What did he mean by that? It’s not like I can have it now!
Joshua: [What are you up to right now?]
Shermaine might have been craving his cooking, but Joshua was craving her–to hold her close as they slept, to kiss her, to share all the intimate moments only lovers do.
But they were both swamped with work. Shermaine was neck–deep in lab work, and he had a business trip to Neclen first thing tomorrow.
After all, with the year–end approaching, operations were bound to be hectic for such a large conglomerate.
Shermaine: [The virus in those officers injured by that woman has mutated. Came to collect samples. Now, I’m at a restaurant, and I’ll head back after eating.]
The news of the virus mutating was the last thing anyone wanted to hear. With that, their date was postponed once more.
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Chapter 397
Too lazy to type and with her food still not served, Shermaine shot off a video call to Joshua. But the moment his surroundings came into view, she ended the call immediately.
The very next second, Joshua called back. He stood up and told everyone. “Let’s take a ten–minute break.”
Since Shermaine didn’t put her earphones back on, Joshua’s deep, magnetic voice faintly escaped from her phone’s speaker, Bruce glanced up, his expression unreadable, then casually went back to drinking his juice like nothing had happened.
“You can finish your meeting first,” Shermaine said.
“No meeting’s more important than you, Sheary,” Joshua said.
Shermaine smiled slightly. Outside, a light rain pattered against the windows. The restaurant was a little cold, but with that quiet warmth in her eyes,
Shermaine didn’t feel it at all.
Ten minutes later, the food was finally served, and it was worth the wait. Shermaine hung up the video call and finished her food. Once she was done, she headed back to the city and plunged straight back into her lab work.
As evening fell, a helicopter soared over the city skyline of Horington.
Steve received a call and immediately drove over, where the helicopter’s pilot handed him an exquisitely crafted four–tiered lunch box. He had to admit he was practically green with envy.
Steve couldn’t help but think, ‘Seriously, when a filthy–rich guy spoils his wife rotten, it’s just unfair to the rest of us–he flaunts his wealth in the most outrageous way imaginable.’
She returned to the lab, held the lunchbox out with a dramatic flair, and announced, “Dr. Jean, your gourmet delivery from Basterel has arrived!”
Shermaine was taken aback.
Steve said, “Mr. York had this specially flown in by helicopter from Basterel just for you.”
A quiet laugh escaped Shermaine as a smile slowly spread across her face. She thought, ‘Did Joshua really have this specially delivered just because I casually mentioned that I crave his cooking?‘
She opened the lunchbox, and a wave of savory steam drifted up from the still–piping–hot food and soup. One sip of the broth, and her smile deepened- it was unmistakably Joshua’s cooking. That flavor had his signature all over it.
Steve, lucky enough to share the meal, was practically moved to tears. “This is insane. Who is this chef? Everything tastes amazing.”
Shermaine replied casually, “My man made it.”
Steve fell silent. The way long–distance couples flex their love was unbelievable to him.
Three days later, Shermaine’s serum was finally ready. The ordinary infected patients–most of whom had been terminally ill and tricked into becoming test subjects—began to recover once they were treated. But even with their conditions stabilized, they didn’t have long to live.
Meanwhile, those running the operation behind the scenes had already been arrested. Unless something dramatic changed, they were looking at life in prison or the death penalty.
But for patients with mutated strains, the serum was useless. Worse, it triggered severe side effects. They would get waves of unbearable pain that lasted until the serum’s effects wore off. Even the test mice in the lab couldn’t make it.
Just then, Shermaine got a call from General Hospital. To be exact, it was a call from Jameson’s attending doctor. Thanks to the medicine Shermaine had prescribed earlier, Jameson’s condition had improved enough for him to undergo heart surgery finally.
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“Dr. dean, will you be performing the surgery yourself?” the doctor asked.
“Yes,” Shermaine replied. “Have you set the time?”
“When are you available?” asked the doctor.
Shermaine replied, “Tomorrow works for me.”
Jameson was over the moon when he heard Shermaine would be the one in charge of his surgery. With her in charge, the fear of dying no longer weighed so heavily on his mind.
Later that night, a new headline quietly crept into the trending topics. [Horington Dumping Ground Dismemberment Case)
Netizens flooded the comment section quickly. [A dismemberment case? How many died? One or three?]
[I saw the photos and videos from the crime scene. Seriously, I nearly puked my guts out. It’s absolutely horrifying and gory.)
If you’re thinking of watching the footage or looking at the photos, don’t. It’ll haunt your dreams. I’m seriously regretting it.]
[The killer is brutal. I hope the police catch them soon.]
[What’s going on in Horington lately? The whole city’s on edge.]
In the reeking sewer beneath General Hospital, Natalie crept through the filth, staying hidden after committing another murder. She was after the nurse-
the one who had lured her into that cursed lab.
Natalie thought bitterly, ‘It’s all her fault. She’s the reason I became… this. And Jameson, that heartless bastard, treated me so cruelly. I’ll make sure he
dies too.
Early the next morning, Shermaine arrived at the hospital an hour early for her pre–op preparations. The corridors were unusually quiet, with only the
janitorial staff going about their cleaning routines.
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from one of the upper floors. At that exact moment, Shermaine’s phone blared with an urgent alert. [Target spotted. Target spotted.]
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When Shermaine arrived at the floor where the screams had come from, she was hit by the overwhelming stench of blood.
The only thing she saw was a nurse–her face clawed beyond recognition, with a gaping bite wound at her neck. Blood sprayed in rhythmic bursts from the gaping injury.
Shermaine immediately knelt down to check for signs of life, but it was too late. The nurse was already dead. Her phone was still blaring with the alert from GPS.
She glanced at the screen, and the system had just updated the target’s location. The infected woman was now in the adjacent inpatient building, moving steadily upstairs. Shermaine didn’t know who the next victim might be.
As other medical staff rushed to the scene, Shermaine sprinted toward the inpatient ward.
Meanwhile, in the inpatient ward, Jameson was finally starting to feel better, and his appetite had returned. But with surgery coming up, he wasn’t allowed to eat anything and could only sip some water. Bored, he sat in front of the TV, watching the morning news.
He was already thinking about what came next. ‘After this surgery is done, I should head back to Basterel. I’ve got to patch things up with Shermaine and the rest.
‘As for Jason, I’m done with that ungrateful brat. How dare he call the cops on me? What does Natalie’s disappearance have anything to do with me? What could I possibly do to her when I’m this sick?‘
The more Jameson dwelled on it, the more furious he became. Just as he lifted his glass of water, a stomach–turning stench hit him. He glanced toward the door–and nearly went into cardiac arrest.
There, half–hidden in the corner, stood a shadowy figure. Her long, claw–like nails glistened with fresh blood which was pattering softly onto the floor.
Jameson choked with fear, his voice quivering. “Wh–who… who are you?”
པ པ ག ད
“Jameson, if I can’t live in peace, neither will you!” she snarled. Her voice was rasping and rough, yet it stabbed his eardrums like glass splinters. With that, Natalie cracked her neck and lunged at him at a terrifying speed.
When Shermaine arrived, Jameson was cowering under the bed in terror, while Natalie, with her messy hair, relentlessly pursued him.
Natalie wrenched the hospital bed clean off the ground and hurled it aside with terrifying strength, leaving him with nowhere left to hide.
Jameson was shaking uncontrollably..“I–I’ve never wronged you. Please leave me alone!” Spotting Shermaine, he screamed desperately, “Sheary, quickly save me!”
At the sight of Shermaine, Natalie’s hatred flared into something far stronger than what she felt for Jameson. She thought bitterly, ‘If it weren’t for Shermaine, I wouldn’t be in this mess.‘
With a guttural roar, Natalie shifted her target and lunged straight at Shermaine. Shermaine slammed the door in Natalie’s face hard, trapping her hand between the hinges and causing her to let out a raw, animalistic scream.
The mutated virus may have made her stronger, but it also heightened her sensitivity to pain. And right now, the pain was excruciating.
‘My hand hurts like hell!‘ Natalie thought and flew into a rage. With one furious punch, she smashed the door to splinters. With bloodshot eyes, she shrieked madly, “I’ll kill you!”
But killing Shermaine required more than just shouting.
Even though she seemed a lot more formidable now, she was all brute force and no skill. Hence, she couldn’t even graze the hem of Shermaine’s clothes, let alone get anywhere near her.
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Shermaine, by contrast, stood perfectly still. Her gaze was intense and piercing–like a predator watching its prey make a fatal mistake. With every passing second, the feeling that she was the prey only grew stronger for Natalie.
At that moment, a middle–aged woman stepped out of a nearby ward–and froze in horror at the sight unfolding before her.
Natalie, already agitated, was enraged by the unexpected presence. She lashed out, throwing her claws toward the woman.
“Get down! Don’t let her touch you!” Shermaine shouted.
The woman dropped to the floor, slammed the door shut with a bang, and hastily locked it. After that, she gasped internally, her legs turning to jelly,
Holy shit. That scared the hell out of me. Please stay away from me.
Meanwhile, Shermaine swiftly grabbed a fire hose from the cabinet beside the hallway, looped it into a noose, flung it over Natalie, tightened it, and with a sharp tug, yanked her to the other side.
Just then, Steve burst out of the elevator with some items in his hands and tossed it toward Shermaine. “Dr. Jean, here’s tranquilizer. This stuff can put down an elephant. And here, your gloves.”
Shermaine caught it with perfect precision, slipped on the white gloves without missing a beat, and walked toward Natalie, completely unfazed.
Natalie panicked. She bolted for the window, leapt through it, and in the blink of an eye vanished down a sewer entrance. Once again, she was gone without a trace.
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Chapter 399
Shermaine had never looked into the infected woman’s identity before, but today, she seemed oddly familiar.
She ran the woman’s identity through GPS. Just as she had suspected, this woman was none other than the missing Natalie.
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Looking at where she ran off to today, it made perfect sense why GPS hadn’t been able to track her for so long. She’d been hiding out in the sewers all
this time.
The murdered nurse’s body was now in the hospital morgue. Shermaine urged the staff to handle it quickly to prevent any possible viral complications.
“Steve, go buy me a few drones,” Shermaine instructed.
“Roger that,” Steve replied cheerfully.
Jameson was still visibly shaken and hadn’t quite recovered from the morning’s events. But an hour later, he was wheeled into the operating room. Meanwhile, Shermaine remained composed and calm, like nothing had even happened.
Watching her, he couldn’t deny it anymore. He thought, ‘My daughter is stronger than I ever gave her credit for.’
Jason, on the other hand, knew his father was undergoing surgery that day, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. In his mind, the only person who had ever truly loved him was Natalie.
He thought, “She’s my mother. I’m all she has. For Jameson, even without me, he still has Shermaine and Ross.‘
But the longer he went without hearing from Natalie, the more that unease gnawed at him. Something just didn’t sit right with him, and he had a feeling something was about to happen.
Meanwhile, Joshua got a call from Steve. “Mr. York, are you still sending dinner to Dr. Jean tonight?”
“I am,” Joshua said.
“Then, could you bring a drone along as well? Dr. Jean needs it.” Steve started chattering away about everything that happened at the hospital that day.
Listening to Steve’s account, Joshua–who hadn’t smoked in ages–pulled open a drawer and took out a pack of cigarettes. Soon, a glowing ember burned between his fingers while his gaze turned stone–cold, betraying none of his emotion.
Steve exclaimed, “That woman jumped from the eighth floor and walked away without a scratch. Honestly, only Dr. Jean could handle that without even batting an eyelid.”
Joshua was silent the entire time, but he was actually worried sick about Shermaine. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke and asked, “What’s she doing
now?”
“Dr. Jean is in the operating room performing a heart transplant for Jameson,” Steve replied.
Joshua instructed, “Notify me as soon as she’s done.”
“Will do,” Steve said.
As soon as the call ended, Joshua summoned Bradley. “Purchase some drones,” he instructed, then added, “Reschedule my afternoon and evening appointments. I’m going to Horington.”
Bradley had expected this. He knew his boss couldn’t hold back any longer. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
“Okay,” Joshua said.
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Joshua took a couple puffs before stubbing out his cigarette, then typed into the family group chat. [I’m heading to Horington this afternoon Grandma, Mom, anything you want me to bring for Sheary?)
Danielle was the first to see Joshua’s message. After she and Ross reconciled, Janice had added her to the family group chat.
Danielle replied: [Perfect timing. I was just thinking of visiting Sheary too, Count me in. Other than my morning appointments, I don’t have any work arranged for later.]
Ross chimed in: [Count me in]
Janice: [Count me in
Ruth: [Count me in.]
Joshua chuckled at their unanimous response. He thought, ‘Alright then. Let’s all go together. Private jet it is.]
Ross asked Danielle: [You’re done with work?]
Danielle: [Yup.]
Ross: [Come by my office. Let’s grab lunch together.]
Danielle: [Sure thing.]
Danielle returned to her office, took off her white coat, slipped into a plaid blazer, and drove over to Jean Group.
She’d been here before, so when the receptionist spotted her, the receptionist greeted warmly, “Dr. Shelly, are you here for Mr. Jean?”
Danielle nodded.
“You look stunning today, Dr. Shelly,” the receptionist said.
Danielle smiled. “You all look wonderful as well.”
Today, Danielle wore a soft apricot knit dress. After she touched up her lipstick, her usual cold demeanor instantly softened. She took the executive elevator straight to the 30th floor.
Ross‘ assistant greeted her. “Mr. Jean is still in a meeting, Dr. Shelly/ Please have a seat and wait for a moment.”
Danielle went straight to Ross‘ office to wait for him. Shortly after, someone brought in refreshments and coffee. “Thank you,” she said.
“Enjoy, Dr. Shelly,” the staff member replied politely.
The clouds parted, letting soft sunlight stream through the floor–to–ceiling windows. Danielle lay asleep on the sofa with a throw blanket draped over
her.
When Ross returned, his gaze immediately landed on her graceful, alluring figure stretched out on the sofa. He tiptoed over to her, but he was unable to resist the pull she had on him. Before he knew it, he was leaning down, drawn irresistibly toward her soft, inviting lips.
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Breathless, Danielle opened her eyes and smiled as she circled her arms around Ross‘ neck, kissing him back.
Her hand slid down to Ross‘ waist, giving him a playful squeeze through his crisp dress shirt. Ross deepened the kiss, pinning down her wandering hand. “Behave,” he murmured.
“You’re my boyfriend. I get to touch you whenever I want to. Got a problem with that?” she teased, tilting Ross‘ chin playfully.
Danielle adored seeing Ross disoriented with desire because of her. She leaned in, nipped playfully at his lips, her fingers hooking onto his belt. She cooed, “Ross, are you going to stop me?”
His breath grew heavier. “If this gets out of hand… are you gonna take responsibility for it?”
“I’ll take all the responsibility you want me to,” she murmured, stealing another kiss while her hands continued their bold exploration.
Danielle thought, “We’re in his office. With his character, he’d never take things too far here. Besides, it’s broad daylight. Even if I get him all worked up, he’ll just have to restrain himself, right?‘
Emboldened by this thought, Danielle got hooked on teasing him. She kept calling his name in that sweet, honeyed voice of hers, which would melt even the sternest heart.
But the next thing she knew, Ross swept her up off the couch and strode toward his private lounge.
He laid her on the bed, pinned her beneath him and locked their lips together. Unlike the tender, lingering kiss from earlier, this one burned with raw passion. It was fiery, intense, and utterly unrestrained.
This wasn’t what she had in mind. She didn’t think Ross would actually go for it. Her knit dress had already ridden up her thighs. His gaze burned into her, so intense it made her limbs.
Danielle gave him a playful nudge with her foot and teased, “Ross, aren’t we supposed to go out for lunch soon? Are you sure this is the right time for
this?”
Ross‘ voice came out hoarse. “No. Definitely not.”
But-
The curtains remained drawn, casting the lounge in dim light. Danielle clutched Ross‘ shirt, her face burning with shyness as she let out a soft, pleading whimper in her sweet voice.
Danielle lay limp against him, her cheeks flushed a soft rose as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Biting her lip, she whispered, “Ross, how’d you
get so bad?”
Ross chuckled, reaching for a tissue to casually wipe his hands. “Dr. Shelly, you’re seriously good at flipping the script.”
Danielle pouted playfully and gave a little huff. “You’ve become such a naughty boy.”
He grinned, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his lap. “Actually, I was thinking about being worse.”
Danielle was speechless, her cheeks burning.
Back in the executive office, the assistants had all returned from their lunch break, chattering away. They were all sure that Ross had slipped out for a lunch date with Danielle.
“Oh my goodness. Don’t you think Mr. Jean and Dr. Shelly are such a perfect match?”
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Chapter 400
“Totally: Just like Mr. York and Ms. Jean, they’re the ultimate couple goals.”
streamy love story between the socialites straight out of a drama indeed.”
They were totally obsessed with Ross and Danielle being together.
At around 3PM, Ross calmly escorted Danielle out of the building like nothing had happened. The assistants all stared, exchanging glances thick with gossip.
Danielle, however, made a mental vow to never step into Jean Group again. Ross may look like a gentleman, but deep down, he was pure trouble through and through.
Meanwhile, Joshua returned to Riverswood Villa. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Stephen sitting on the couch, munching on–of all things–fried chicken.
Honestly, Stephen never expected Joshua to return at this hour. He froze mid–bite, blinking in surprise at the incriminating evidence–the fried chicken spread across the table like a damning exhibit in his own personal courtroom.
Joshua remained expressionless. Lately, he’d been staying at Riverswood Villa, but for some inexplicable reason, Stephen had stubbornly insisted on staying with him.
So, for the past while, Stephen had been living there with him. Stephen had no choice but to put on a brave front. “Since you’re back, do you want to join
me for some?”
He thought to himself, a little playfully, ‘This fried chicken is seriously good.‘
Now, Joshua finally understood why Stephen had packed on so much weight in such a short time. It turned out that behind everyone’s back, he’d been stuffing himself with all this junk food.
In Joshua’s mind, Stephen would never be caught dead eating this kind of junk food. “No,” he replied curtly.
“I’m sick of being vegetarian. Just wanted a change.” Stephen was really making up excuses for himself now.
Joshua gave a faint, humorless smile. “Suit yourself. Just make sure you clean up properly when you’re done.”
Stephen promised, “I will.”
With that, Joshua headed to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Stephen was breaking out in a cold sweat. He panicked internally. “Goodness. I almost choked to death. But the food’s just too good. I couldn’t help myself. Ugh.
‘Thank goodness Joshua didn’t say anything. He probably didn’t notice anything, right? Please, I hope he doesn’t get suspicious. Otherwise, I won’t be able to stay here. After all, my job is to stop those people from taking him away.‘
Joshua went upstairs to change, then came back down to make dinner. Since Janice and the others were all going to Horington to meet Shermaine, they agreed to gather at the airport at 5 PM.
Once Joshua finished preparing dinner, he got ready to head out. Stephen looked up and asked, “Where are you going?”
Joshua replied, “Horington”
Without missing a beat, Stephen said, “I’m coming with you.”
Joshua paused for a moment before saying, “Suit yourself.”
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