CHAPTER 209Sarah's Point of View!I couldn’t believe it. The recent years had unfolded as an unending nightmare, but I was finally free from it. The secret society had been destroyed, and the battle, which demanded numerous lives and emotional sacrifices, came to an end.The lobby of Heaven Hospital witnessed my realization of the massive changes that time had brought. My initial urge to help small things had expanded into a mission that far exceeded my expectations.“Sarah,” Blake interrupted my thoughts with his voice and brought me back to reality. By the entrance, Blake stood holding a tablet, wearing his usual serious expression. The burden of our experiences remained visible on his shoulders.“What is it?” I questioned while attempting to clear the fog from my mind.When Blake passed me the tablet, I noticed a Flint Pharmaceuticals report displayed on its screen. The company successfully avoided trouble at this time, but we had to implement measures to prevent similar events fr
Chapter 210SARAH'S POINT OF VIEW As the sun descended, it painted the city with a gentle golden light. A feeling of peace swept through me without any conscious effort. The battles and dangers that once consumed me now existed only in memories from the past. The secret organization that threatened my most cherished things dissolved, and I reclaimed my previous way of life.I smiled and breathed deeply while my fingers grazed the desk's smooth surface. My businesses flourished while my team remained resilient, but above all else, I had Jervis. I felt a deep ache in my heart about the amazing distance we had covered together. After experiencing so many hardships together, we finally reached a place where we could simply exist."How do you feel?" Jervis asked his question while maintaining a gentle and caring tone in his voice.I looked at him and noticed his dark eyes were focused on mine. A newfound depth appeared in his eyes, which showed a trust that had been absent before. This ex
CHAPTER 001The only thing you could hear was the espresso machine humming to itself and the slight scrape of a chair against the wooden floor. The streets of New York were blanketed in a pristine layer of white snow that fell steadily outside. I leaned slightly against the window, pretending to clean a stubborn smudge that didn’t actually exist, and my breath fogged the glass.People my age walked down the street out there, their laughter muted by the thick panes of glass. Outside they stopped in a group, bundled into scarves and coats and carrying armsful of paper bags from the bakery next door. Another girl pressed a muffin to her face; her eyes widened, announcing the muffin to her friend in a way that may or may not have been a joke. Their voices filled with warmth and joy; they laughed.I didn’t know I was staring until one of them looked up and made eye contact. I embarrassed myself quickly, turning away and concentrating hard on the counter that I was wiping down. Regret gnawe
CHAPTER 002As soon as I stepped in the air inside the house felt different. It smelled warm, like roasted chicken and herbs, but the smell made me want to taint. Maybe it was just the weight of the air or the way Mom and Lilith sat silently across from me at the dining table, their faces blank, unreadable. At the head of the table, Dad looked stiff, as if he were guarding something most important. Mom didn’t look up. “You’re late.” Her voice was as sharp as a knife cutting through the space where only quiet should have been. I set my bag down near the door, mumbled, “I came as fast as I could.” She frowned and moved a plate closer to Dad. “Dinner’s cold now.” I walked to the table and sat down in the empty chair farthest from everyone else. My hands were clenched so tightly in my lap that they hurt. No one spoke. It was just the clinking of silver ware on plates, and it made my skin crawl. Dad finally broke the silence, clearing his throat loudly. His voice was calm but firm
CHAPTER 003After I spoke, the room went dead silent. I didn’t look away, all eyes were on me. My words fell like a stone in a pond; ripples out, and settled in an awkward, heavy quiet. My chest pounded and I kept my face calm, I stood my ground. The first to break the silence was Lilith. She laughed a sharp, mocking laugh that I couldn’t stand. She smirked, “Run away?” “And where would you go, Sarah?” “Do you think you’re brave enough for that?” I forced my voice to stay steady and said evenly, “I don’t think.” “I know. And I mean it.” Lilith snorted, crossing her arms as if she didn’t believe me. On the other hand, Mom looked furious. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her face had gone red, and she glared at me. She shook her voice, “You’ve lost your mind.” “This is not a game, Sarah. You don’t just get to make demands,” he said. I met her gaze and said, “I’m not making demands.” I’m asking for basic respect. You want me to get married? Fine. I won’t do it on your terms a
CHAPTER 004The reception peaked with soft chatter and clinking glasses in the room. My friends were all around me, their smiles were bright, but thin, like they were trying too hard. They congratulated one by one.One said, her voice warm, yet strained, 'you look beautiful.'Another added, “Congratulations.” Starting new… a new life… it must be exciting… for you… right.I smiled, but it wavered. “Thanks,” I said. I could hear the pity in their words. I didn’t feel like they meant to hurt me, but I felt it all the same. This wasn’t a romantic beginning to them. This was an arranged marriage, not a marriage of love, a deal made by my family. I didn’t let it bother me, though. Not today. Not on my wedding day. Because I loved Rowan. And that love was enough. I held my hands to the delicate lace of my wedding dress, the soft fabric being cool under my fingers. It hugged my body just right, and it fit perfectly, and for the first time in my life I felt beautiful. It had been a m
CHAPTER 005THREE YEARS LATERThe grocery store was busy, the chatter hummed and the carts clinked. Trying to ignore the noise around me, I moved through the aisles looking at my list. This was the last task on my long list for the day, and dinner needed to be made. I heard someone say my name and reached for a carton of milk. “Sarah?” The voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I froze. Turning, I saw him. Jervis Stone. My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t seen him in years, but he was the same—tall, confident, with the same easy smile I remembered from high school. I blinked in surprise, saying, “Jervis.” “I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said. He stepped closer, and said “Likewise.” “How long has it been?” I brushed a strand of hair out of my face and said, “Too long.” He said, with a warm tone, “You haven’t changed much.” I smiled, genuinely, and replied, “Neither have you.” He leaned casually against the cart, then asked, “What brings you back to town?” 'I mo
CHAPTER 006My body was trembling with silent sobs, and I stood outside the door. Through the crack, Lilith’s voice came, sharp and mocking, each moan a cruel reminder of all I’d never been to Rowan. Each sound cut deeper, stabbing a knife into my chest.Tears streamed down my face; my lips quivered. I thought of all the nights I had spent with Rowan—the pain, the biting of my lips to keep from crying out. He had never looked at me the way he looked at her. It had never been gentle, because he had never cared enough to make it so. It was always cold and mechanical, something he never asked for. Until now, I thought that was all there was.I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold floor, pressing my back against it. The sounds from the room didn’t stop, and I felt a strange mix of shame and rage. I tried to block them out, but my hands clenched into fists, and they were relentless. Lilith’s laughter was echoing and taunting in my ears.Was I really so naive? If I had really t
Chapter 210SARAH'S POINT OF VIEW As the sun descended, it painted the city with a gentle golden light. A feeling of peace swept through me without any conscious effort. The battles and dangers that once consumed me now existed only in memories from the past. The secret organization that threatened my most cherished things dissolved, and I reclaimed my previous way of life.I smiled and breathed deeply while my fingers grazed the desk's smooth surface. My businesses flourished while my team remained resilient, but above all else, I had Jervis. I felt a deep ache in my heart about the amazing distance we had covered together. After experiencing so many hardships together, we finally reached a place where we could simply exist."How do you feel?" Jervis asked his question while maintaining a gentle and caring tone in his voice.I looked at him and noticed his dark eyes were focused on mine. A newfound depth appeared in his eyes, which showed a trust that had been absent before. This ex
CHAPTER 209Sarah's Point of View!I couldn’t believe it. The recent years had unfolded as an unending nightmare, but I was finally free from it. The secret society had been destroyed, and the battle, which demanded numerous lives and emotional sacrifices, came to an end.The lobby of Heaven Hospital witnessed my realization of the massive changes that time had brought. My initial urge to help small things had expanded into a mission that far exceeded my expectations.“Sarah,” Blake interrupted my thoughts with his voice and brought me back to reality. By the entrance, Blake stood holding a tablet, wearing his usual serious expression. The burden of our experiences remained visible on his shoulders.“What is it?” I questioned while attempting to clear the fog from my mind.When Blake passed me the tablet, I noticed a Flint Pharmaceuticals report displayed on its screen. The company successfully avoided trouble at this time, but we had to implement measures to prevent similar events fr
CHAPTER 208SARAH MOON'S POINT OF VIEW The last mission was hard. Too hard. I stand amidst the remnants of the secret society’s headquarters and experience an odd sense of relief. I convince myself that everything is finished, although smoke still lingers in the air while the structure remains intact only through sheer luck.Our final task remains for the team and me to complete. One final piece of evidence. The puzzle remains incomplete without this final piece. We can’t afford to leave anything behind. They can’t be allowed to rise again.The silence around me lets me hear my own breathing. The silence feels eerie now that we've experienced so much."Sarah, over here!" Jack’s voice abruptly brings me back to reality.My eyes shift towards him, who is already positioned at the debris pile. The flashlight attached to Jack starts to flicker when he moves through the debris. The flickering light produces strange shadows on the walls, which make the atmosphere more disturbing.As I appr
CHAPTER 207SARAH MOON'S POINT OF VIEW The surrounding walls seemed to press against us as though they were closing in. The security systems hummed in my ears while every alarm within my mind screamed louder than the one I stood on the brink of activating. I was ready. My heart pounded in my chest, but I stood my ground. Not now. We were this close to completing all our initiated tasks, and yet we weren’t finished. Tonight marked the end for the secret society, or our end. Under no circumstances would I allow this to become my second option.The group maintained silence throughout the last several minutes. The silence surrounded us as though we were all mentally getting ready for the approaching storm we'd face.I murmured, “Is everyone clear on their tasks?” as my query carried more significance than just procedural formality. We had invested too much effort to let this mission fail now.My most trusted ally and the person who had always supported me gave me a strong affirmation wit
CHAPTER 206SARAH MOON'S POINT OF VIEW I knew it was coming. The endgame. This critical moment will determine whether all our efforts succeed or fail. With the failsafe removed, our only option became a direct confrontation with our adversaries. I felt the weight in my chest knowing that we stood one final step away from destroying the secret society forever.As the team assembled, I heard the gentle buzz that filled the war room. Blake conducted discussions with his team members while managing connections with international law enforcement organizations. We assembled all available experts to ensure that no aspect of our operation was overlooked. It had to be perfect.The clock on the wall showed its ticking to me while the seconds slowly passed away, bringing us nearer to the upcoming battle. The plan was set. We aimed to dismantle the entire secret society structure by targeting all their networks and operations as well as their leaders. We planned to destroy everyone connected wit
CHAPTER 205 SARAH MOON'S POINT OF VIEW The clock was ticking. Each passing second felt as if I were receiving a blow to my chest. The system's low hum resonated through the chilly walls while the blinking red lights on the control panel quickened my heartbeats.Leo quietly said, "Time is running out," as he stood beside the door, gripping his gun tightly.My mind was spinning. Two options—both risky, both dangerous. Shutting down the failsafe would alert the secret society to our location. Or... I had the ability to find a different approach to get around the system, but this route would take additional time, leaving us vulnerable."Sarah... what are we doing?" Ethan asked, voice shaking. The condition of my team was clear as I saw their bruised bodies and their worn-out faces filled with fear. All of them had chosen to enter this nightmare alongside me without hesitation. They were my responsibility. Breathe, Sarah.I shut my eyes briefly to block out the throbbing pain in my hea
CHAPTER 204 ROWAN FLINT'S POINT OF VIEW The dense night atmosphere gave me the impression that everything in the universe paused momentarily. The silence swallowed every step as my heartbeat drummed in my ears while we stealthily moved through the shadows. The dim light from streetlamps stretched only to the warehouse's boundary and threw jagged shadows across its deteriorating concrete walls."We don't have much time," Sarah whispered. A wave of her breath swept across my neck, which caused an involuntary shiver to travel down my spine."I know."My voice sounded steadier than I felt. The exact nature of the failsafe plan remained unknown, and it was ready to activate at any time. Failure to shut it down would allow the secret society to erase all evidence of their operation through smoke, ash, and bodies.The clock started ticking inside my mind.Get in. Find the server. Disable the failsafe. Don't die.Simple plan. Too bad everything about it screamed disaster.I glanced at Sarah
CHAPTER 203 SARAH MOON'S POINT OF VIEW The courtroom buzzed with whispers. The courtroom was packed with spectators while the trial's oppressive atmosphere loomed heavily above everyone like a storm cloud ready to release rain. The room felt claustrophobic while the tension made the air feel dense.I clung tightly to the table edge until my knuckles turned white. My heart pounded hard against my ribs. This was it. After months of preparation and many sleepless nights, we arrived at this crucial moment."All rise."Entering the courtroom, the judge presented an expression that was as hard as stone. Everyone stood. My breath caught in my throat. Sit down. Focus.The desk before me displayed various evidence, including documents and photographs alongside voice recordings. The documents displayed evidence of every action taken by the secret society. Their corruption. Their crimes. Every sick, twisted secret.I looked across the room to where they stood.They were there. These men who
CHAPTER 202 JERVIS STONE'S POINT OF VIEW The cold air filled the room with its weight and clung to all surfaces as though it were alive. The machines emitted a low hum, which permeated the silence, while each beep signaled the relentless march of time. Sarah walked back and forth in front of the glass wall with her arms crossed tightly against her chest. She shifted her gaze rapidly among the unstable holographic images above the table. Our blueprints and countermeasures stood exposed with striking clarity.My throat felt dry. Once we initiate the system deployment, we commit to an irreversible course of action.Sarah looked at me with a pointed yet unsure stare. Her lips parted, but no words came. Her eyes displayed an internal maelstrom. We all felt the immense pressure of it.She finally said with a barely audible voice that turning back was not an option anymore. What we choose to do depends entirely on the distance we are prepared to travel.A muscle twitched in my jaw. The blu