-2-

“Miss Addison, are you okay?”

The young woman wearing a black suit tried to reach the car ridden by Miller and Maria. Holly, Maria’s personal assistant, who was always with Maria everywhere, finally reached a steep cliff, then she tried to approach Maria.

“Holly, help me get Miller out of the car. There’s smoke billowing, the back of the car is on fire, I don’t want Miller to die here.”

Maria tried to plead with Holly in a panic, because Holly was the only person she could trust even more than herself.

“However, it is very difficult to save Mr. Barnet, Miss.” Holly answered in panic.

Maria shook her head, she was panicking, really panicking. She was afraid that something would happen to her future husband. No matter how bad he was, Miller’s life was the most important thing right now.

“Help me, Holly!”

Maria immediately pulled the locked car. Because she can’t open the door, she threw a stone and broke the glass of the door. She and Holly then pulled Miller’s unconscious body as far as possible. Terrible wounds printed all over his body. They took him away from the car, then the sparks that were initially small turned into big ones and caused a loud bang from the car explosion.

They were safe! That’s what Maria wanted, she didn’t care about the car and whatever, because everything could be thought of later.

“What should we do, Miss? Mr. Barnet’s condition is terrible.”

Maria was still silent, she was very confused about what to do now. She did not have permission from the Barnet family to go see Miller, while Miller had not come home for two weeks because he was on business out of town. If Maria took Miller to the hospital and told them everything that happened, of course she would be blamed by the Barnet family, and of course Maria would get into trouble here. Maria shall not leave the Barnet family’s residence because there were still many things she had to fight for, including revealing the case of her parents’ deaths.

“We… we’ll hide Miller first.” Maria decided after a very long thought.

Holly was shocked beyond belief hearing Maria’s decision, but she remained silent to simply digest it.

“First of all I know that this is fatal, I can’t possibly reveal it to the Barnet family members. You know Mrs. Barnet has a heart disease. Knowing Miller’s dying condition, especially that her beloved son is an opium addict, a drunkard and a womanizer. Do you think this is a good thing?”

“Then, can you make Mr. Barnet come back in a short time? Isn’t that impossible, Miss?”

Maria swallowed hard and then nodded her head perfectly.

“I have a secret residence in the middle of the forest near Berlin, and until now it can be said to be safe. I have acquaintances who are the best neurologists and surgeons in the country. By giving them a little money and a request, I am sure that they will keep quiet about this matter. Then, about Miller and our marriage…” Maria stopped. “I have another way for that.” Maria continued firmly.

“What is it, Miss?”

Maria immediately looked at Holly with a serious look. “I will ask Alvin for help.”

Holly was silent, her face stunned in disbelief. Wasn’t Maria’s intention unreasonable?

“How is that possible, Miss?”

Maria swallowed hard, then she looked at Holly with a serious look. “Just trust me, Holly. First help me get Miller out of here and save him.”

“Yes, Miss Addison.”

Both of them struggled to carry and remove Miller from the steep cliff. Then with all their clothes tattered and stained with Miller’s blood they rushed to the Berlin forest as agreed at the beginning, and arrived at midnight.

They both dragged Miller’s body until finally they arrived at a small house with dim lights, the house was guarded by an old couple who were in charge of guarding and cleaning the house. Seeing Maria’s arrival, the two of them immediately helped Maria carry Miller and lay Miller on the bed.

Miller’s pulse was faint, and his heartbeat was getting weaker. Luckily Maria was a woman who was quite knowledgeable in the medical field, she tried to provide first aid. And in the house, all the complete medical treatment was prepared like a clinic.

Not long after, several doctors and nurses arrived, they rushed to give Miller treatment, they even brought medical equipment that had been prepared beforehand according to the analysis of Miller’s condition given by Maria.

Everyone there panicked, Miller’s blood came out in large quantities. Luckily they brought blood bags as preparation, then they immediately took medical action to solve the problem that occurred.

“We have done everything as best we can, Miss Addison, it just seems too difficult.” The doctor began to tell. “Mr. Barnet is not out of the critical period yet, and even if he has passed that period, it is almost impossible for him to recover, Miss.”

Maria, who heard the fact, was shocked. “What do you mean, Doctor?”

“The blow to the head that Mr. Barnet experienced was so hard that it had very fatal injuries, and damaged the main nervous system in his brain. If he doesn’t die, it can be said that he will only live with the help of medical equipment like this… forever.”

Maria fell there hearing the doctor’s explanation. She cried out loud knowing that. Between feeling guilty, sad, confused, and afraid, all mixed together. In fact, she really didn’t know any other way to be saved from the sins she had committed.

If only she didn’t come to the bar at that time, Miller would still be fine. If only…

“Okay, Doctor. Thank you for your help.”

“I will try my best to save Mr. Barnet, Miss. But believe me this is the best we can do, then pray to God because miracles sometimes come to lucky people.”

The medical team left, leaving two nurses who would take turns every day to continue monitoring Miller’s condition. While Maria, who was still shaken, stood up, wiping her tears roughly.

“Miss Addison, where are you going?” Holly asked when she saw Maria walking unsteadily out of the small house.

“I have to meet Alvin, Holly, I have to ask for his help. I… I can’t possibly delay all this, and I don’t want the Barnet family to know that the heir of the Barnet family is dying and it’s my fault!”

Maria left, driving her car quite fast. She even left Holly in the tiny house.

Maria traveled quite a distance, until finally she arrived at her destination. Although she was frightened, Maria tried to be brave. Her tattered clothes and bloodstains made everyone in the headquarters of a secret security agency look at Maria with a scrutinizing gaze. Until finally Maria's steps stopped right at a table and there was a stocky man writing something down in a large book.

"Sir, I need one of your members to guard me."

The man glanced at Maria, then he leaned his back, trying to examine her then he folded his arms across his chest.

“Who are you?”

“I am a lady from one of the noble families in the neighboring city, and I was almost killed by someone. I have a feeling that my life is in danger so I must hire your services, Sir.”

“Okay, I’ll find—”

“Alvin Knet, I only want Alvin Knet. I’ll pay whatever it takes as long as Alvin Knet is the one who will guard me.”

The man remained silent without saying anything, until finally the figure named Alvin Knet walked in. The man stood beside his boss, his eagle eyes staring sharply at Maria.

Seeing this man was like seeing Miller’s real image.

“Sorry, sir. I don’t want to guard a weak woman like her.”

After saying that, Alvin just left, and of course this made Maria even more confused. What should she do to make Alvin willing to guard her and then cooperate with her? Really, Maria was really confused.