Seth pointed to another row of vials. "The antidotes are over there."Both the poisons and antidotes were labeled with numbers, making it impossible to distinguish which was which.Seth looked at Nash and continued, "What do you think of my proposal?"Nash turned his gaze back to Seth. "Does it have to be a collaboration?"Seth smiled. "You're about to marry my daughter. I consider you family. If you're unwilling, it shows you don't respect me."At his words, Seth’s men began to shift, ready to draw their guns.Miranda, still worried, pleaded, "Dad, Nash is definitely on my side."She continued to persuade, "Nash, just listen to my dad. He saved you. As long as no one says anything, no one will know what you're up to. You don't have to worry about being exposed!"Her thoughts were always hopeful.Nash simply observed his surroundings. The vials were well-protected, and there likely wouldn’t be any issues."Nash, you still haven't answered me," Seth pressed.Nash asked, "Wher
The special forces moved in swiftly, taking down one enemy at a time. They had no idea what the situation inside was like.Meanwhile, Nash was hiding behind the sofa, unarmed and fighting alone. His life hung by a thread. But he had no choice but to take this risk. If he didn't, he would never gain Seth's trust and would never have made it here. His goal was to find Seth's hideout, and taking the injection for Miranda ensured she would bring him here.Only Seth could cure his poison, which meant there was a good chance he could also cure Nina's. As long as there was hope, Nash was willing to risk everything, even his life. The price he paid was his current dire situation. He panted heavily, knowing there was no way out. Resolute, he stood up with his hands raised.He looked at Seth and smirked. "If you kill me, you won't escape either."Seth suddenly realized the truth and said coldly, "This was all part of your plan!"Nash replied, "Isn't it a win-win?"Seth glared at hi
Seth's situation was even worse than Sawyer's. Now, he was consumed with rage and had to keep an eye on the outside commotion. The special forces were closing in. Seth needed an escape plan for himself. He called all his men to hold off the special forces and opened a secret escape route. He had prepared this escape tunnel when he built the lab, anticipating a day like this.Seeing Seth attempting to flee, Nash immediately pursued him. Seth glanced back with a cold smile. "Nash, you think it's over? The real show is just beginning!"Without hesitation, Seth activated a mechanism and slipped into the tunnel, quickly locking the hatch behind him. The tunnel was pitch black by the time Nash opened it, with no sign of Seth.Left behind was only a distraught and helpless Miranda, clutching her head. "Nash, Nash!" she called out, still concerned for him.Nash glanced at her with a stern expression, not responding."Captain!" James rushed in, relieved to see Nash unharmed. "Where's S
Nash felt a surge of panic and asked urgently, "Where’s Nina?"James was equally puzzled. "She was just here a moment ago."Nash worried that Nina might have been kidnapped, realizing that this mission was far from foolproof. "Are there any suspicious people around here?""No way. This place is secure, and all the people here are my men," James assured him.Nash could not afford to take any chances. Even if they were his own people, he feared Nina could be used against him. "Search for her immediately!" he ordered, but his command was interrupted by a sharp ringing in his ears, intensifying his headache.Meanwhile, Nina was following a familiar feeling, heading toward the back of the lab. She walked a long way, cautious of the dangers around her. Despite the risk, she was determined to understand why she felt so strongly compelled to go this way.As she navigated through the overgrown area, she took care to avoid snakes and insects, treading carefully. Suddenly, she heard som
Hearing her call his name, Seth's composure wavered. "Are you a person or a ghost?"The wind blew, lifting Nina's hair, and with her pale face, she looked more haunting than ever. Seth furrowed his brows, feeling immense pressure.Nina was momentarily at a loss for words, afraid to say the wrong thing. However, she sensed that Seth harbored some fear-inducing secret. Seth quickly calmed down, realizing the woman he feared was dead and could not be here. He scrutinized Nina's face more closely, then narrowed his eyes dangerously. "No, you must be Nina! You actually dared to come here alone to find me. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"Nina's identity was exposed, but she held her ground and coldly smiled. "You figured it out. Though we've never met, you know my name, Seth. It seems there's a connection between us."Seth, wary of being tricked, asked, "Connection? What connection?"Nina boldly stated, "The little dark room. You’re the one who locked me in there!"Seth was sho
"Bang bang bang—" Several shots were fired in response. Seth's shot had not hit Nina.Nina squeezed her eyes shut in fear, her heart pounding wildly. The gunfire, passing just by her cheek, left a sharp ringing in her ears as it hit the trees behind her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Seth abandoning everything and diving into the river without hesitation. He had not shot her! Or perhaps, in that moment, he did not dare to.Nina, still shaken, stood there breathing heavily, watching the spot where Seth had disappeared. The river ended in a rapid cascade, a large waterfall where the current was fast enough that falling into it would mean certain death or serious injury. It was Seth's only option."Nina!" Nash rushed over, grabbing her arm and checking her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"Nina was too tense to breathe properly. She shook her head, her face pale. "I'm fine."Still rattled, she had gambled on Seth’s hesitation to shoot, and she had been right. For some r
Nina felt a bit bewildered by this. "I'm not sure."Everything she knew felt incredible. Seth had already disappeared into the rushing waterfall, and there was no sign of him. They had no choice but to return the way they came.The lab was in disarray, but it had not changed much. Nash thought about what was inside and hesitated. "Maybe you shouldn't go in.""Why not?" Nina asked. "You were just asking me about the mechanisms inside. I need to go in to understand."Nash frowned slightly. "The things inside the lab are not easy to look at.""So that's what you're worried about," Nina realized. "It's okay. I've heard about so many unbelievable things already. Nothing can scare me now."She reassured Nash, showing her inner strength. As they walked in, she was still shocked by the cruel extent of the lab’s contents. There were human organs used for some kind of experiments and various deformed animals from failed experiments. Caged animals were screaming, with one monkey having
Nina saw a faint light ahead, guiding her direction. However, she also feared it could be leading to her final destination which was death. She ran her hand along the wall and found a protrusion just as she expected. Pressing it, a sharp arrow shot out, embedding itself into the crevice of a rock. Then, lights flickered on.Nina was surprised by this. Under the dim lights, the walls appeared ordinary but were full of hidden traps. Nash looked at her. "You really do know your way around."Nina did not respond, relying instead on her instincts. She navigated through numerous traps, eventually reaching a hidden room."There must be something valuable here!" someone behind them said."What's written above the door?" they asked, seeing a string of text inscribed on the entrance. None of them could decipher the obscure language.Nina could not understand it either. She opened the door to the hidden room, releasing a burst of cold air. Inside was another lab, complete with equipment an
“Ava.”A deep voice cut through the air, and Karina turned to see a man in a black suit, wearing a hat and a mask, striding toward them. But the man’s white eyelashes and distinctive eyes were all Karina needed to recognize him. He was her albino patient, Xavier Jasper!Xavier also didn’t expect to run into both Wilfred and Karina here. “It’s you two,” he exclaimed in surprise.Wilfred’s gaze sharpened as he calmly addressed Xavier. “Keep your sister in line. Apologize.”Before Xavier could respond, Ava stepped forward and, to everyone’s surprise, said, “I’m sorry. I was too impulsive. Please forgive me.” Karina was taken aback by how quickly Ava apologized. Even Xavier, who knew his sister’s arrogant tendencies well, looked stunned.Karina nodded, her tone steady but firm. “I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will. You should work on your attitude. Stop acting so entitled everywhere you go.” With that, Karina turned on her heel and walked away. Although Xavie
”Those were her meticulously compiled notes, the result of hours of hard work—and now they were ruined just like that?” Karina thought.“I’ve never wronged you. Why would you do something like this?” she demanded, her voice trembling with indignation. Something about the situation felt off, and Karina’s sharp intuition told her this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding.Under Karina’s intense gaze, the nurse finally broke down, revealing Ava’s role in orchestrating the whole thing. Karina’s anger turned into a mix of rage and incredulous amusement. “Really? Rich people—did they all enjoy throwing money around like this?”All this trouble, just to ruin her hard-earned work over a seat?Her carefully compiled notes were gone, and there wasn’t a second copy. Arguing wouldn’t bring them back, but Ava wasn’t going to let this slide without giving someone a piece of her mind.Finding Ava wasn’t difficult. In fact, Ava didn’t even try to avoid her. She seemed to be waiting, eager to see
Just as Ava was about to cause a scene, the sound of steady footsteps filled the room. Wilfred strode in, his white coat enhancing his composed, almost ethereal aura. Ava shot Karina a glare, silently committing her to memory, then begrudgingly found another seat. Wilfred’s gaze swept across the room, pausing ever so briefly on Karina before moving on. She wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination. “Today, we’ll discuss cellular structures. I’ll start with an example from my doctoral thesis,” Wilfred announced, adjusting the projector. To Karina’s surprise, he was an exceptional lecturer—clear, engaging, and far more comprehensible than many university professors. She listened intently, taking meticulous notes. Yvette peeked over at Karina’s notebook, wide-eyed at the densely packed writing. “Karina, when you eventually get promoted, land a big raise, or go for your doctorate, I promise I won’t be jealous. Truly.”Karina chuckled. “If you need these notes, I can len
Karina glanced at the time and quickly gestured for Yvette to sit down as well. However, barely had they taken their seats when a haughty woman marched up to Karina, her sharp gaze fixed on the chair she was sitting on. “You, get up. I want that seat!” Karina frowned, studying the unfamiliar woman. She didn’t recognize her from the hospital, but the designer jewelry around her neck and the branded bag on her arm screamed wealth. She seemed like the kind of entitled socialite who rarely had to fight for anything, let alone a seat.Unsure if the woman was trying to pick a fight or genuinely wanted the chair, Karina pointed to the open seats nearby. “There are plenty of seats over there. Take one of those.”Then, she lowered her head, dismissing the woman entirely.The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me? I said I want your seat. Get up. Now!” Not content with words alone, she reached out to pull Karina up by force. Karina, now genuinely angry, shook her off. “I was h
Karina looked slightly surprised. She distinctly remembered that Wilfred wasn’t a drinker. “I thought you avoided alcohol?” Wilfred, ever the epitome of control and composure, preferred to steer clear of anything that dulled his sharpness. Back when they worked at the Birkham Central Hospital, she had seen him reject bottles of expensive wine from people trying to curry favor with him. He sipped his tea slowly before replying, “You’ve started at a new hospital. As your former mentor, I haven’t given you a proper congratulatory gift yet.” “This is… for me?” Karina asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Wilfred’s gaze was steady as he replied, “Don’t like it? If not, I can send it back and we can find something else later.” He raised his hand to call the server over. “Wait! No need. I like it a lot,” Karina interjected hastily, stopping him in his tracks. The idea of going gift shopping with him later felt uncomfortably like a date. And knowing Wilfred’s personality, w
Wilfred’s gaze swept over her without a word, and Karina climbed into the car on her own. When choosing her seat, she instinctively moved toward the back, but before she could get in, Wilfred spoke, “Sit in the front. It’s more convenient.” Karina hesitated briefly. Not wanting to appear overly particular, she complied and took the passenger seat. Although there was a saying that the front seat was reserved for a girlfriend, Wilfred didn’t strike her as someone who cared about such details. She decided to pretend she didn’t know. After buckling her seatbelt, a phone suddenly appeared in front of her. She looked up, her face full of confusion and surprise. Wilfred glanced sideways at her, one hand on the steering wheel, the car still stationary. “I haven’t decided on a restaurant yet. I’ll be driving soon. You pick something.” Karina took the phone. As Wilfred drove, she scrolled through the options, narrowing it down to three restaurants. But her mild indecisivenes
Karina forced a smile. “Really, it’s fine. You all go ahead.”Yvette pouted, her disappointment clear as she relented. “Alright then.”Once the others had left, Karina tried to refocus on work. She pulled out her research materials, determined to get something done. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept wandering. The cheerful chatter from outside finally snapped her out of it, making her realize just how distracted she had been.Karina gave a wry smile and muttered to herself, “This is why you don’t get ahead of yourself. Seriously, one of life’s biggest delusions.”For a fleeting moment, she had thought Wilfred might feel something for her too. But it was better this way, she told herself—better to wake up now than to fall in too deep later. Romance wasn’t her strong suit; focusing on her career was safer.While others might drown their heartbreak in food or a night out, Karina chose the most grueling outlet: work. It might be exhausting, but it was effective. S
After hearing Wilfred’s response, the director could barely contain his excitement. He immediately signed the contract.As he finished, the director couldn’t help but remark, “Dr. Wilfred, I had a feeling you’d be a great ally for our hospital. And now I see I was absolutely right!”Wilfred replied in his usual composed tone, “Well, considering you’ve helped me solve a big problem, it’s only fair I return the favor.”The director froze for a moment. When had he ever helped Wilfred? He had no idea what Wilfred was referring to.Instinctively, he glanced at Karina, catching the fleeting surprise and uncertainty in her expression. Realization dawned, and he let out a hearty laugh. “Dr. Wilfred, you’re too kind! Honestly, Dr. Norman is so talented. She’s hardly a burden. If anything, we’re the ones benefiting.”The rest of the conversation blurred in Karina’s mind. Her thoughts were stuck on Wilfred’s earlier comment, delivered so casually yet carrying so much weight. Was it really
Karina froze for a moment, watching as Wilfred walked through the crowd toward her. He wasn’t wearing his white coat but casual clothes—a khaki turtleneck sweater that softened the sharp angles of his features, paired with tailored pants. The outfit gave off a relaxed, homely vibe, yet the air of aloofness surrounding him remained untouched. If anything, that distance only added to his allure, intensifying the crowd’s fascination and desire to get closer. Wilfred extended a hand to the hospital director. “Dr. Lincoln, thank you for personally greeting me.” “No need for thanks, Dr. Wilfred,” the director said with a chuckle. “It’s a privilege to have someone of your stature visit our hospital. As the director, it’s my duty to show the proper respect.” Their handshake was brief, followed by the usual pleasantries. Karina kept her gaze down, avoiding any indication of familiarity with Wilfred. She guessed he would prefer it that way, and her suspicion was confirmed when