I hate waking up in a strange place every time I'm knocked out. I hate being in a coma when my mind goes blank. This time I didn't dream. I thought I was in a coma for a short time. But when I opened my eyes and saw the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, I felt very happy.I'm back. I'm pretty sure this is America. I can smell the familiar smell in the air. It's the smell of home.The room looks like a presidential suite of a hotel, with three full-length windows. I can see most of the city at a glance from any window. I looked out the window at the towering buildings, cars shuttling back and forth on the road. The people walking downstairs are as small as ants. The sunlight tinted the glass windows. I put my hand on the glass window and felt the warmth of the sun. It lifted the gloom that had enveloped me on Puddin' island.I'm back. I'm back in Manhattan.But I seem to be a prisoner again. I found myself alone in a huge room. There's only one person who can keep me here,
I felt dizzy when I heard him finish his words. My feet slid back, but Daley stepped forward and put his hand on my waist. He spoke softly."You're shocked, aren't you?"I looked into his calm, golden eyes, which were nothing like Frade's green eyes. I still can't believe they are brothers. Then it dawned on me. In the backyard of the White House on Pudding Island, while I was in a coma, I saw a face that looked like Frade's. Maybe it wasn't an illusion, and I just thought Daley was Frade."You already know everything, don't you?" I pushed him away in disgust. I remember telling him Frade's name. It was from that moment that he became aware of my relationship with Frade, so he approached me to get back at Frade?“I never thought about going back to America in my life. I believe it was fate.” He rubs my hair. “I wonder if Frade would go crazy if he knew I was sleeping with the woman he likes.”His sneer made my scalp tingle, and this man frightened me. I know nothing about him. He is a
Liv drove me to Santa Maria Hospital, and I told her to wait for me in the parking lot. I took the elevator from the parking lot to the hospital by myself. Gina has been here before, so I know that special rooms are usually set up on the top floor.When the elevator door opened, I saw two bodyguards standing in the hallway at the end, so I quickly determined that it must be Frade's room. But how do I get into the room? A passing nurse gave me a strange glance. To avoid her attention, I quickly turned into the corridor.Then a bucket in the hallway caught my eye, and I thought of a way to get into Frade's room. So I found a room with a cleaning sign on the walkway on the next floor. Fortunately, there were not many patients on this floor, and no one else appeared in the corridor except the cleaner who was doing the cleaning.I went into the ladies' room and purposely dumped the trash on the floor when no one was around. I broke the flush toilet, and the toilet kept leaking. After all t
I leaned my head against the window, my eyes blank. I was lost in thought as the car rambled along the road.Where the hell am I supposed to go?"Why don't you go back to my apartment," Liv suggested. "I think you need a safe place to rest right now.""You're right." I had no choice but to go to Liv's house for a while.Liv's foot was on the accelerator as the car raced down the street toward the orange glow of the sunset. The hot wind that poured in through the car window blew straight in my face, and my mood was as low as it could get. My mind was as blank as a paste. I can't even think straight.I kept cursing in my heart, trying to get my sanity back in this way. But it only makes me feel worse.The glass windows reflected the sunset, and Frade's pale face appeared in the sky, floating with the clouds. His face turned into a silver mask.Daley, F.ucking Daley.Soon Liv was driving back to her apartment, and I followed her with my head down. When we passed the apartment, the securi
Calm down, Eva. I keep telling myself. What would a hunter do if he took something he didn't want? Use it as bait to lure out real prey? Yes, hunters who want to catch bears don't waste their time on squirrels. Yes, Liv is the squirrel. And I'm the bear in the eyes of the police. What they really want is me. If they didn't have proof that Liv was harboring a criminal, they'd let her go. Then they'll spy on Liv to find me. This is the plan of the police. First, I have to get them to let Liv out. Evidence, right. I had to destroy all the evidence that showed Liv was with me. I suddenly thought of the surveillance cameras in the apartment building. Before the police react, I have to find a way to delete all the records about me. The police car went away and I hid in the dark for a long time before I came out. The apartment building is right next to me. How do I get in? I looked back at the ladder and went back to where I had come from. So I climbed the ladder again. When
No, I can't. There must be a way. I kept saying to myself.A shadow appeared under the streetlight and I saw a homeless man with a backpack coming towards me. He sat down on another bench next to me, took out a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread from his backpack and began to eat. The sound of his mouth chewing stimulated my taste buds. I swallowed, and the tramp quickly finished the food in his hand. He drank the last drop of wine from the bottle and curled up on the bench with his backpack to sleep.The extreme hunger made me feel physically and mentally tired. So I leaned back against the bench and slept for a while. As long as there is a breeze nearby, I will wake up unconsciously. The tramp next to me kept snoring. I looked at the sky, which was still dark, and I wished dawn would come soon. But even at dawn, where should I go?It had been a long night, and I was almost waiting for the morning with my eyes open. The moment I saw the first light in the sky, I felt as if I had rega
"Hello, my little rose!" Daley's calm voice came over the phone just as I was about to despair. It gave me hope again."Please help me," I pleaded."At your service," Daley said. "There's a black car waiting for you outside the alley. Don't worry about the police. I've sent them away."When I hung up, I looked in the direction of the alley. After making sure the two policemen hadn't caught up with me, I walked out of the alley and saw a black Maybach parked on the side of the road. The car door was open and I could see a light silver glow from the back seat.It's Daley. He's sitting in the car."Are you spying on me?" I sat down beside him in a dejected tone. He's been following me. He even saw me sleeping in the park. He's just waiting for me to ask him for help."I told you that you would come back to me." He reached out and gently touched the wound on my face. "I hope these wounds will make you understand that you have to learn to bow your head at the right time."The real goal of
The auction reached its climax. The host showed a ruby ring weighing 20 carats. It starts at $2 million. Daley, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised his card to bid, and I looked at him in bewilderment. But instead of giving me any explanation, he just focused on the bidding.Daley bought the ring for $4.5 million. This is the highest bid in the auction tonight. All eyes were on him at once. When the staff came to Daley with the box containing the ring, Daley put the ring on my finger and the Ruby glowed like blood in the light.Daley smiled at me and said, "This is for you."I was so surprised that he kissed me on the cheek. Around me came the envious chatter of the guests. But he didn't care.When this heavy ring is on my hand, I feel it's like a shackle on me. Does this mean I'll never be free of the hunter?After the auction, the guests moved to another hall for the ball. Media reporters are not allowed to attend the ball because the final activity is exclusive to th
A week later, the trip to Mexico didn't go well. Mexicans were angry at Mickle's claims that the wall had been expanded. The Mexican president and Mickle met in secret for three hours. I don't know what they talked about.After the meeting, he got on a plane and left Mexico. But he left me behind, and I knew exactly what he was doing.I was not surprised to see Daley in front of me as the representative of Mexico. Instead, I had the urge to punch him, but I held back.During my stay in Mexico, Daley was responsible for receiving me as the Mexican representative. The night we met, he took me to a fancy restaurant in Mexico City.“I had no idea that the famous Daley was already a member of council.”I looked across at Daley. The last time we parted, he looked pale. But now, beneath his mask of calm lies a kind of ineffable pride.“Do you have to talk to me like that?” Daley smiled at me, “It's been a long time since we were alone together and I miss you so much. I think we should celebr
“Why do you always have to decide before you tell me?” Frade asked, smoking hard on the couch. “Didn't I tell you to consult me before you made any decisions?”“Because this time there is no room for negotiation.” I stood in front of him, looking at him like that. My heart felt extremely painful. But I had to tell him about my decision. We have to face the truth eventually.“Mia was dead.”Frade's face froze for a few seconds. “She's dead?”“She escaped from the sanatorium, frantically searching for her father and questioning him as to why he had abandoned her. Mickle's bodyguard shot her for endangering the president. It happened right in front of me.”I have mixed feelings about Mia's death. Even though she was detestable, her death was like a razor blade slicing through my unsuspecting skin. It was instant, clear pain.Frade continued to smoke heavily. He didn't show much emotion about Mia's death. But I guess he felt the same way.He was in love with Mia. Her love was fake, but hi
I didn't expect Mickle to agree to meet with me as soon as I contacted him. But I had to go jogging with him, so I changed into a white sweatshirt and drove to his estate.We jogged side by side on a path near the estate, with two bodyguards following us. I can't remember the last time I ran in the morning. I was a little out of it at first, but after a while, I got my breath back.“Do you need a few minutes?” Mickle, who was wearing a black, short-sleeved tracksuit, turned to me. “Looks like you haven't exercised in a while.”“I'm fine,” I said.“I'll wait for you at the lake ahead,” he said as he continued to run.By the time I got to the lake, he was resting. A burly bodyguard offered him water, but Mickle gave it to me.“You need water,” he says.“Thank you.” I opened the bottle cap and took a sip. The bodyguard somehow took out another bottle of water and handed it to him.“It's a rare day for you to call me,” Mickle said, his face flushed but his tone calm. Judging from his stro
According to Vickie's will, her body will be transported back to Italy for burial. So Frade decided to hold a simple farewell ceremony for Vickie in the manor. After the ceremony, he would be in charge of sending Vickie's body back home with Mark.Vickie was right that no Sicilian would refuse the dying wish to return home. This time, they offered to open their arms to the Logan family to show their deepest sorrow.The place of the farewell ceremony was chosen in the hall of the manor, and all the participants were dressed in black as a sign of mourning. Black-and-white photographs of Vickie's life were placed in the centre of the hall. As her body was temporarily placed in the hospital morgue, guests had to mourn over her picture in silence.Each of the guests held a white chrysanthemum in their hands and placed it in front of the tablet. In the photo, she looked at everyone with a smile on her face, her eyes looking at everything indifferently.Frade greets guests who have come to p
In the room, Vickie is lying on her bed, a private nurse holding a clear plastic tube attached to a ventilator up her nose. Since a trip to Italy, Vickie has grown weaker. Mark told me that she was taken home in an ambulance from a private hospital after she landed.“Why don't you take her to the hospital?” I asked in a low voice.“She's determined to go home,” Mark said. “No one can change her mind, and you know it.”“The patient needs to rest. Please leave the room,” the middle-aged brown-haired nurse said politely.Mark and I left the room just as Frade and Vickie's doctor came out of the other room. That was the room where they had been discussing Vickie's condition, and Frade's sullen face didn't look good.It's terrible.“Mark, please help me get Dr. Hans out of here.” Frade's voice was hoarse and tired, and the stubble on his face seemed to have grown overnight, making him look even gloomier.“Are you all right, darling?” I stroked his cheek and looked at the man in front of me
A middle-aged woman in a plain grey T-shirt and light blue jeans sat on the living room sofa, her hands on her closed knees, her eyes downcast. The coffee in front of her was steaming, and it was obvious that she hadn't touched it.“Hey!” I whispered. “I'm Eva.”“Hi!” The woman stood up at once. She looked at me a little stiffly. “My name is Joe. I'm a friend of Joan's. We're all in the same union.”“How did you find me?” I motioned for her to sit down.“Joan gave me your number,” said Joe, “And we found your place. I'm sorry to bother you so late. Joan needs your help.”“You didn't come alone?” I asked curiously.“I have another colleague with me,” Joe said truthfully. “He's waiting for me outside.”“Is he here to ensure your safety?” I looked at her. “Since your friend is worried about your safety, why are you looking for me? So, what's the matter?”“We just...” Joe looked down sheepishly. “Just in case. But Joan says you're a trustworthy person. You're not like your father.”“I hel
During my stay in the hospital, I received many greeting cards and gifts from strangers. They piled gifts for the baby in front of the hospital or at the nurses' station, and a few fanatical fans even pretended to be nurses sneaking into the ward to see the baby. Fortunately, the fanatics were spotted by the doctor on duty and called the police, who quickly took them away.To prevent this from happening, Frade picked me and my baby up from the hospital in the middle of the night and took us back to the manor. Frade also put guards around the manor to keep out outsiders, leaving Mark in charge of all security, and Liv came to accompany me.Frade was on the move for us to leave the United States. This time he didn't entrust anyone but himself. He didn't tell me that he had met with those people. But from his tired face after each return, I can guess that our departure would become a distant dream.When Vickie learned of Frade's plan, she decided to go to Italy herself, because most of t
“What does a newborn baby get him?” I stared at Ian. “He's already president.”“The president just wants to show his concern for you,” Ian explained patiently. “This baby is his granddaughter. You're family.”“What an official statement,” I said. “Just this once. I need at least three months off for the rest of the year. During that time, neither I nor my baby could be seen in any media.”“Deal,” Ian readily agreed.“I'll give you some time to get ready,” Ian said. “I'll let you know when the president is arriving at the hospital.”After Ian leaves, Frade gently places the baby in her own crib, where she falls fast asleep without crying or fussing. Frade walks to the bedside, his eyes brimming with anger. I knew he was unhappy with my decision, and as I prepared for his wrath, he just lowered his voice and said, “Why did you agree to his request?”“Because I can't say no.” I looked at him. “Ian's right. Mickle is the baby's grandfather. I have no reason to say no to him visiting his g
“Do you have to go to the inauguration?” Frade asked as he peeled the apple. “The doctor told me your due date is coming up.”The skin he cut off with a knife was attached to the flesh of the apple, and less than two-thirds of the whole apple was left in his hand. I stared at the silver knife in his hand and asked, “Do you have a problem with apples?”“I hope this knife didn't cut apples, but...”“Stop,” I reminded him. “Watch your mouth.”“I don't want you to go to a crowded place,” Frade said, handing me a peeled apple. “In that case, all eyes are on the new president. If you're not feeling well or...”“Ian will have a nurse with me,” I said. “Besides, I only promised to be at the inauguration, and as soon as it's over, I'll be home.”“I'm going with you,” Frade said, “Or I won't trust you.”“Sure,” I readily agreed. “I'll tell Ian and get him to set you up.”“All I have to do is stand next to you.” Frade walked to the bed and brushed my cheek, then put a hand on my belly.“She's mo