"Krystie, I think you should slow down already, you have already taken a whole bottle and you're already tipsy. It is not your fault that he cheated on you, it's because he was a fool," Mark reached out to the bottle that she was drowning.
Krystie had been crying, lamenting how she had caused an end to their relationship because she hadn't given her boyfriend any attention as she was always busy with work. She had also claimed that she had already moved on from him, and that she didn't care anymore. Mark and Chloe were not fools to not have realized that no matter how much Krystie acted like she didn't care at all and that she had already moved on from Alex, the truth remained that she was still so much in love with him, and even her act of kissing a stranger was only to provoke Alex, she still cared and that was what hurt her the most. At the moment Krystie was very drunk, and for some unknown reason she was feeling uncomfortably dizzy and nauseous, excusing herself from the table, she drunkenly staggered to the washroom. Chloe wanted to escort her but Krystie had insisted on going alone, she claimed that she was okay and could manage it on her own. In the real sense, Krystie wanted to give Mark and Chloe some alone time together. Krystie was not a fool to not have noted the way Mark looked at her sister, she was sure Mark felt something for her. As Krystie made her way to the washroom, her steps faltered and her movements became unsteady. The dimly lit hallway stretched out before her, her staggered steps clearly showing how drunk she was. Krystie's head spun with dizziness, and she grasped onto the wall for support, her fingers tracing the rough texture as she struggled to maintain her balance, her knee joints felt too weak to support her. With each step, Krystie's vision blurred, the edges of her surroundings melting into obscurity. The flickering fluorescent lights above cast strange patterns across her field of view, adding to the disorientation that clouded her mind, she could not clearly make things out. As she approached the washroom door, a sense of unease washed over her, crawling beneath her skin like a thousand tiny insects, she felt as if she was being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and a shiver ran down her spine, sending a chill through her veins. With trembling hands, Krystie reached out to push open the door, the creaking hinges breaking the silence of the empty hallway. The washroom beyond lay in darkness, a void waiting to swallow her whole. She hesitated, the fear gnawing at her insides, but the urgent call of nature spurred her forward. Stepping into the washroom, the stale scent of disinfectant assaulted her senses. Her heart pounded in her chest, a rapid rhythm that matched the frantic pace of her thoughts. And then, without warning, it happened. A figure emerged from the shadows, swift and silent like a predator stalking its prey. Krystie's breath caught in her throat as she turned to face her attacker, her eyes widening in terror when three more figures emerged from nowhere and stood before her, their masculine figures and physique patronizing her making her cower in fear. Slowly, Krystie took a slow unsteady step backward, hoping for the walk to open up so that she could find a way out. One thing that made her tremble with each reverse step, was the way they watched her. The mischievous smirk tugging at the corners of her lips made her only expect the worst. They were very ready to pounce on their prey. She silently blamed herself for drinking too much, and of course, she was a doctor so obviously she knew what had happened to her, she must have been spiked, and only two culprits that she could think of, Cassandra and Alex. It was not time to start regretting, so she acted strong, with one determination in her mind, no matter what she would never allow those filthy-looking men to do anything to her. With a gasp, she tried to resist, but they grabbed her forcefully, their rough hands gripping her arms roughly. Panic surged through her veins as she struggled against their hold, her screams drowned out by their laughter and grunts. She could only hear the echo of her gentle screams, she was helpless to even scream out loud. With each tug and pull tore at her dress, it made the fabric give way under the strain, her collarbones at their exposure. Frantically, she clawed at anything within her reach, to cover her half-naked body in their display, but their grip remained unyielding. Her mind raced with fear and confusion, thoughts fragmented by the chaos unfolding around her, tears forming at the corners of her eyes due to the overwhelming fear that tugged at her heart. Krystie fought to retain her dignity, kicking hard, her spirit unbroken despite the overwhelming odds. But with each passing moment, her strength waned, and the darkness threatened to consume her. As they carried her from the washroom, her world blurred into a nightmare she couldn't wake from. The echoes of her struggle reverberated through the empty corridors, her gentle echoes mocking her for being helpless. Krystie internally said the Lord's prayer, a silent plea to the heavens for someone, anyone, to intervene and rescue her from the clutches of her assailants. She could never think of having her first night given to strangers, not willingly, but as a result of rape, she would never forgive herself for that. Krystie had encountered lots of patients in the hospital who were traumatized as a result of rape, or whatsoever, it didn't sit well with her to think of herself as a victim of the same, that would ruin her life completely. As consciousness slipped away, Krystie's last thoughts were of the looming figure standing over her, a sinister silhouette against the backdrop of her fading reality. And then, everything went black.As Lucian strode down the corridor to his room, his mind wandering far away, he felt he heard some commotions, but minding his own business he was tempted to dismiss the commotion echoing around him and just walk by. Memories of the enigmatic woman's kiss lingered, tugging at his focus. Lucian could recall the softness of her lips, the warmth of her breath, and the subtle taste of her lips. The gentle touch of her hand at the back of his neck, and the electricity that had sparked between them stood out in his memory. Buried deep in his thoughts, Lucian halted. He had heard a familiar voice break through the chaos, the same voice that had sought his aid at the hotel's entrance, it felt like that of someone in need, helpless, barely audible. Not very sure whether he was hallucinating or something, Lucian stood in place. He wanted to be sure that it was the same voice, and sure enough, he heard it once more. "Help me! Somebody help me please!" The faint whisper rang once more in Luc
Krystie stepped out of the hotel, her heart racing from running, and her eyes filled with tears. Her once elegant dress now hung torn and tattered, a reflection of a rough night that she had shared with a stranger. Her mid-thighs hurt, and her legs felt jelly. She didn't have any strength but the fear of facing the young guy was more than the pain she was feeling. Memories of betrayal flooded her mind, each step echoing the pain she had in her heart as she ran across to her car. Just as she reached her parked car, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. It was Alex, her ex-boyfriend, the one who had shattered her heart into a million irreparable pieces. His presence sent a shiver down her spine, from anger, bitterness and disappointment. However, she refused to show any sign of weakness, not before this jerk who had betrayed her love. "Krystie," Alex called out, his voice dripping with arrogance, closing the difference between them, cornering her between the car and him. "I
Cassandra sat on her seat in the dimly lit room, fuming with anger, her gaze piercing through the shadows to meet the eyes of five men kneeling before her. Each had several injuries on the face and bandages on their arms. The air was thick with tension as they watched her trembling with fear. "You guys are nothing but failures, I should have known earlier before entrusting you with such a task. Was it so hard for you to accomplish such a simple task?" Cassandra's tone rang, full of anger for their failure as she stood from her mighty chair and started walking around circling them. "And what happened to you all? Why do you have wounds all over your body?" Cassandra asked rolling her devilish hawk's eyes. The group leader volunteered and explained how Krystie was rescued by a certain guy who had inflicted them with all the injuries. After the explanation, Cassandra couldn't help but mockingly laugh at them before slapping them, how weak were they exactly so as beaten by a single guy
Krystie immediately arrived home and took notice of two people who were cuddled on the sofa. Chloe was sleeping on Mark's lap while Mark held her protectively. A smile crept at the corners of her lips, and without disturbing them, she walked past them to her room to clean up. She was feeling stuffed, and the Lucian guy cologne still lingered on her body. Once Krystie was done, she came back down only to find them awake. Without a word, Krystie, too, sat opposite them, took her phone and started playing video games. She was so tired that she had asked for a day off from work, which would be so unusual of her. Chloe and Mark sat on the sofa, looking at Krystie as if she had grown horns. They appeared exhausted, with dark circles under their eyes and drooping eyelids. Clearly, they had not slept at all. Krystie completely ignored them and let them stare at her all they wanted. She was not going to answer something that they had not asked her. She let the staring competition go on unti
Lucian, who stood at the door not very sure whether he was at the right address, was stunned when the door was roughly opened, "What else do you want? Just do whatever you want. I am not interested in you all; you can have each other for all I care, that is none of my business!" Not very sure whether the outburst was meant for him or not Lucian once more rang the bell. Irked up, Krystie opened the door. She wanted to give the duo an earful, but that's until she saw who stood before her. Startled by the unexpected visitor, she cautiously opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Lucian standing there. "Lucian, what are you doing here?" Krystie asked, her voice tinged with apprehension, she had known his name when Alex had earlier on called him out. Lucian felt so happy hearing her call him by his name. Without waiting for an invitation, Lucian strode into the apartment, his demeanour self-assured. He ignored Krystie's question and instead welcomed himself in
Krystie's heart raced as she stood outside the imposing doors of the city hall office. It was almost the agreed time, just five minutes to eight. She couldn't believe she was here, about to get a marriage license with a man she barely knew. But the threat of a lawsuit from Lucian hung over her head like a dark cloud. "If that's your final answer, then I have no choice but to take legal action against you." These words were stuck in her mind, making Krystie wonder who the hell in this world takes responsibility for their one-night stand by marrying them! Everything had started with her reckless decision last night when she nursed her broken heart, drowning her sorrows in cheap drinks that she was not careful to end up spiked. Krystie regretted it because that one night stand had turned into a nightmare when Lucian had showed up on her doorstep the previous day demanding her to take responsibility for him by accompanying him to the bureau office. Krystie felt a shiver run down h
Krystie only took fifteen minutes to arrive at the hospital, a drive that would have taken her twenty-five minutes under normal circumstances. Earlier on, when Krystie had just started the engine, she had received another message from Mark, who had claimed that Chloe, Krystie's twin sister, was also a victim of the road accident that had occurred just a few minutes ago on the highway. Immediately Krystie arrived at the hospital she was faced with the most chaotic scene she had ever witnessed. As alarms blared and patients flooded in, those with minor injuries being assisted in while the critically injured were being wheeled in by the nurses, Krystie quickly activated her training, drawing upon her knowledge and experience to navigate the crisis. Good thing there were no deaths reported, and the injuries were not severe. With a calm smile, Krystie prioritized the patients' care, swiftly handling the most critical cases while delegating simple cases to nurses and other staff member
It was already a week since Krystie had gotten a marriage certificate with Lucian, and ever since they separated at the bureau office that morning, they hadn't been in contact. Not like there was any need for it, after all, she had already fulfilled his wish. It was already Friday, and Krystie was arranging her desk, finalizing her shift so that she could go home when she received a call from her boss, Mr. Xavier West, the owner of Regal Hospital, also her godfather."Krystie, am sorry for this urgent call, but I have a VIP customer visiting the hospital for a check-up today, you are the only person that I can entrust this work to, can you please do it for me? I don't trust Mark with it, at times he is so clumsy and might do something stupid. Just be careful with him, and do not annoy him, I will see you later. "Before Krystie said a thing, the phone was hung up on her, leaving her with no choice, not like she could reject her boss anyway. If there's one thing that Krystie hates the
Mark stood in front of Chloe’s apartment door, his knuckles white from clenching his fists. He hesitated for a second before knocking. Chloe opened the door, surprised to see him, but the look on his face made her step aside without question. "Mark?" He stepped inside, but he couldn’t look at her. His voice broke almost immediately. "I accompanied Krystie to see my father." Chloe’s eyes widened slightly, but she waited. Mark exhaled a shaky breath and finally looked at her, eyes red. "He admitted everything, Chloe. He killed them. Your parents just because he was bitter and envious." His voice cracked. "And I’m his son. I carry his blood, he stammered. I... I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me. If you never forgave me. I wouldn't forgive me either." Before another word could leave his lips, Chloe pulled him into a hug. He was stiff at first, then broke down, crying into her shoulder. "I’m so sorry…" he whispered, his voice raw.Chloe gently patted his back, her voice soft. "You
The heavy steel doors of the Blackthorn Federal prison clanked open as Krystie and Mark stepped inside. The long corridor echoed with the distant occasional shout from inmates. Guards led them in silence toward the visitation room. Neither Krystie nor Mark spoke. They all had lots of unanswered questions they desired answers to. It had been a month since the judgement, but Krystie had one more thing she desired to know. They were shown to a cold metal table. A few seconds later, Mr. Xavier was escorted in, clad in his prison uniform, hands cuffed, his once well-groomed face now unkempt beard and hollow eyes. But his smirk remained. "Well, well," he drawled, taking his seat and leaning back as far as the restraints would allow as if he were still the one in control. "See who finally decided to visit me if not my dear son and goddaughter. I was wondering how long it would take for the prodigies to come visit me. Have you come to gloat?" Krystie didn’t waste time. She straightened a
The courtroom buzzed as Xavier West was escorted inside, clad in an orange prison uniform that couldn’t quite mask the pride still etched in his posture. His expression remained composed, almost arrogant. His attorney, Mr. Clarke, adjusted his tie and leaned over. "Relax. We’ve got the best money we can buy. The judges are in our pocket. There’s no hard evidence they can use. We’ll have this thrown out in a week." Xavier didn’t respond, only stared at the room with cool detachment. Journalists filled the benches, their cameras flashing and pens ready. The public gallery overflowed with curious onlookers, family members of victims, and a few hospital staff. Xavier’s smirk returned when he saw the judges entering, three men he knew well, the judges from his case seven years ago. The lead judge struck the gavel, and announced, "Court is now in session. Case number 2328: The People vs. Xavier West." The prosecution began with an impassioned speech, laying out the charges including hu
At the boardroom on the top floor of Regal Hospital, sunlight filtered through the tall windows, where Mr. Xavier West sat at the head of the polished table, flanked by board members and stakeholders. All were dressed in fine suits, sipping imported coffee as they discussed the hospital’s future, oblivious to the storm that was about to hit.Xavier wore his usual calm mask, a faint smile plastered on his face as he nodded at a proposal from the finance director. "If we accelerate the expansion plans for our offshore branches, we can double our quarterly revenue," he said smoothly, exuding confidence and control.The silence shattered when the heavy double doors burst open without warning. Ben, Mr Xavier's personal assistant, stood there panting, sweat trickling on his forehead, his tie crooked as if he'd run all the way."Ben," Xavier barked, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell do you think you’re doing? You don’t barge in here when I’m in a meeting, especially not with the board!"Be
Krystie pulled her hood lower and stepped into the dimly lit back hallway of the Regal Hospital’s records wing. The place had been shut down for maintenance, but she knew better. Mark waited inside, pacing around nervously until he saw, Chloe behind her. "Took you long enough." "I had a meet-up with someone earlier, so I couldn't make it on time. I also had to make sure no one was tailing me," Krystie murmured. "Where’s Nancy?" "Already in the archives, decrypting the lock. She said she found something about shipments, offshore accounts and patient transfer names.” Krystie’s eyes narrowed. "Good. Let’s go." They moved quickly through the corridor, slipping past closed doors and inactive security cameras, courtesy of Nancy. In the sub-basement level, the archive room stood with its heavy, metal door already cracked open. Inside, Nancy hunched over a desk, documents and flash drives spread out on the table before her and a triumphant smile at the corners of her lips "Told you
Krystie stepped into Mr. Xavier’s study, her outer appearance relaxed but her mind was on high alert. He was sitting behind his large mahogany desk with an unreadable expression as he sipped his whiskey. "You’ve been out of reach for quite some time, busy?" he inquired, his tone casual, but his sharp gaze assessing her. Krystie offered a small, tired smile. "Just trying to move forward, and finding something else to do. O hospital wants to hire someone like me after the scandal." Mr. Xavier gestured toward the chair opposite him. " I'm so sorry about that. Take a seat." She did, crossing her legs as she waited for him to speak. "I need your help," he finally said, setting his glass down, his gaze softening a little. "Help?" Krystie tilted her head slightly. "With what?" "There’s a friend of mine who’s in some trouble." He paused, gauging her reaction. "I was hoping you could ask your husband, Lucian, to help him." Krystie stiffened slightly, lowering her gaze as if strug
Mr King stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his private office, his sharp gaze fixed on the city skyline. His brother still lay in the hospital bed, barely alive. The doctors had told him the chances of him waking up were only five per cent, or he might end up in a vegetable state because of the damage to the brain. The thought that the man who had done all this to his brother was walking around freely irked him to the core, and tonight he was going to make him pay, even if it meant shedding his own blood. Leo entered the room snapping him from his thoughts. "The men are ready, boss. We have got eyes on the big boss’s main warehouse near the port. Word is, a shipment is coming in tonight with illegal firearms." Mr. King turned with a playful smirk at the corner of his mouth. "Good. Tell them to move immediately. No mistakes." Leo nodded and stepped away hurriedly to relay the command. Mr King reached for the drawer where the folder Joel had sent him several weeks ago la
Mr. King sat in his luxurious office, his mind elsewhere. His fingers tapped impatiently against the polished surface of his desk while his other hand gripped his phone tightly. It was already three days. Three damn days without a single word from his brother. His younger brother had never gone this long without answering his calls or at least checking in. He had a bad premonition about it! Mr King exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. His sources inside the big boss’s operations had gone quiet too, which only deepened his unease. Something was wrong. His phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. It was an unknown number. Frowning, he hesitated before answering. "Who is this?" His voice was sharp and demanding. Silence. Then a distorted voice, as if through a voice changer. "Your brother is in critical condition at St. Lucy's Hospital." A cold chill ran through Mr King's spine. His grip tightened on the phone. "What the hell are you talking about? Who are you?" "Wh
The meeting room inside the warehouse was dimly lit with only a single overhead light. Across the wooden table, the men seated around with tension on their faces. The big boss sat at the head of the table, his gloved fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden table. His dark mask hid his expression, but the sharp glint in his eyes was enough to send chills through the men seated before him. His patience had run out. Ben stood beside him silently, watching as the others shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Every man in the room knew that meetings like these never ended well. Someone wasn’t going to walk out of this room alive. The big boss finally spoke, his voice calm. "We have a big problem!" He leaned back in his chair. "You see, everything has been going to hell lately. Our plan was interfered with, the dock was wiped clean, our men tortured, and Dr Lawrence returned to us in a state that not even the devil himself would wish upon his worst enemy. He let the words s