Ray’s heart twisted as he watched her, his mind racing. This wasn’t the Lilly he knew—but whoever this was, whatever had happened to her, he wasn’t going to let her face it alone.He straightened, his jaw tightening as resolve hardened in his eyes.“We’re leaving,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.Lilly raised an eyebrow, her smirk deepening. “Oh, mister,” she said with a quiet laugh. “You you’re not in charge. I am. Back to my question who are you? I know you are cute and all which I like I still want to know, are perhaps the master they are talking about”Her words chilled him, but he refused to let it show. Whatever was going on here, whatever darkness had taken root in her, he was going to get her out. He had to.Ray’s jaw clenched at her words, but he forced himself to stay calm. The playful edge to her voice, the almost mocking way she spoke—it was as if she were testing him, waiting to see how he’d react.“I’m your husband. Ray Manchester. And no, I’m not
Ray didn’t wait for another challenge. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, scooping Lilly into his arms like a princess. Her body was lighter than he’d expected, as though she hadn’t eaten properly in weeks.Lilly gasped, her arms instinctively looping around his neck, her smirk never fading. “Oh, we’re doing this now, huh?” she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.“Lucas, Viktor,” Ray barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Handle the rest of the situation. Clear the area and get them back to HQ for questioning. I’m taking her to safety.”Lucas exchanged a look with Viktor, then nodded, his hand already moving to his earpiece. “Got it. We’ll clean up here.”Viktor eyed Lilly warily, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Be careful, Ray.”Ray didn’t respond. His focus was solely on the woman in his arms—the woman he loved, no matter how much she had changed.As they exited the warehouse, the dim glow of the setting sun cast a golden hue over them. Lilly rested her hea
The hum of the engine roared to life as the SUV sped down the uneven road, the distant echo of the confrontation in the warehouse fading into the night. Ray sat in the backseat, his arms wrapped protectively around Lilly’s unconscious form. Her head rested against his chest, her breathing shallow and uneven.Viktor drove with steady determination, the sharp lines of his jaw clenched as he navigated the bumpy terrain. Lucas sat in the passenger seat, constantly glancing back, his usual quips absent in the face of the gravity of the situation.Ray kept his focus on Lilly, pressing the blood-soaked gauze tightly against her side. The bleeding had slowed, but the crimson stain on her shirt had grown, each second feeling like a countdown he couldn’t stop.“Lucas,” Ray said, his voice low but commanding. “How many to the hospital?”“Fifteen minutes,” Lucas replied, his tone clipped. “Maybe less if Viktor keeps pushing the gas like that.”“Push harder,” Ray growled, his eyes not leaving Lill
Ray slumped back into the hospital chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. His gaze lingered on Lilly, still pale and fragile against the pristine white sheets, but alive. The doctor’s warnings echoed in his mind—her body was at its limit, and the baby was clinging to life by a thread.He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Damon’s number. As the line connected, Ray’s voice was low but steady, masking the turmoil inside him.“Damon, I need you to handle something for me,” Ray said without preamble.“Morning to you too, Ray,” Damon replied dryly. “What’s wrong?” ‘Does this dude even check the time before calling’ Damon thought, it basically 2 minutes after 1 am.Jerry has already told him about Lilly kidnapped and he was the one who gave them the location of the best hospital around the area with the best medical equipment, and efficient doctors that can attend to Lilly fast and could be trusted.“It’s Lilly,” Ray said, his tone softening. “She’s stable, but… she’s not h
Ray paced the hospital hallway, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. His voice was low but sharp, the tension in his tone unmistakable.“Did the alpha team call to inform you the kidnappers and do you have any idea who sent them yet?” he asked, his words clipped and precise.Jerry’s reply came quickly. “No. They’re hired mercenaries, but there’s a link to underworld. I’ve already got people looking into it.”Ray’s jaw tightened. “Good. Have those bastards sent to New York. I want to interrogated them personally. I don’t care what it takes.”“I’ll make the arrangements,” Jerry assured him. “But, big bro, focus on SIL and the baby for now. We can handle the rest.”Ray nodded absently, though Jerry couldn’t see it. “Speaking of bastards, I know you Jerry, do not cause too damage on them that will make them lifeless before my arrival”“Seriously big bro, they are basically a new set of toys they hurt my family and you want me to let them be till your arrival, that’s unfair” Jerry whined.
Water doesn’t have taste Chloe hesitated for a moment, caught between relief and the usual unease Lilly’s sharp tongue brought out in her. “Y-yes, Boss! Right away,” she stammered, standing abruptly and smoothing her skirt. “I’ll, um, see what I can find.” As she turned to leave, the door opened, and Ray stepped in, his imposing figure filling the room. Chloe froze mid-step, her eyes widening as though caught in a spotlight. She has never felt this much fear in her life but he couldn’t be blamed, if she hadn’t listened to her boss and followed his order this won’t have happened. “Excuse me,” Ray said evenly, his deep voice calm but commanding. Looking at her annoys him, he can’t believe in entrusted his family life into her hand, she basically incompetent. Chloe immediately backed away, nearly tripping over her own feet. “S-sorry, Mr. Manchester— I mean, Ray— I mean, sir!” she blurted, her words coming out in a panicked rush. Ray arched a brow, his sharp gaze sweeping over her
"Her heart is not beating any more doctor," a lady in a short white dress said anxiously "check her pulse" the doctor yelled Even after checking her pulse, he realized that there was no sign of movement from the girl lying on the bed. He had no idea what to do right now because the girl lying on the bed is not just anyone but the great 'Liliana Anderson' the 'ice Queen' as she was popularly known by. A woman that's always see expressionless, never see smiling and all now been killed by food poisoning was another thing, who had the gut to do such a thing like this.Her family is just standing outside, what will tell them and how? This was the first time in history he does know how to announce the death of a patient, to the patient's family. When he stepped out of the room her family immediately got up and walked up to the doctor as well "What happened to my sister? A girl that looks the same age as Lilianna asked anxiously "How is my daughter " both her parent asked. "Well am mm
This was never the reaction he was expecting, he thought they would be sad, cry, and all not just sat 'oh' it quite obvious they wanted him dead, he just left them there to attend to another patient. Meanwhile, in another hospital, a woman in her late 40's was on her knees pleading with the doctors to treat her daughter. "Please doctor I beg of you, perform the surgery, I promise to pay the bills once the treatment is done" she pleaded with tears running down her cheeks. "Ma'am you need to pay the bills before we start treatment," said the doctor. "Please, I will pay, please," said the woman. While they were talking a nurse came out of one of the rooms and whispered something to the doctor's ear. Then the doctor turned to the woman and said "Ma'am am sorry to inform you that your daughter is dead". "No no no no, this can't happen, my Lily, my lily is fine, yes she is fine"
Water doesn’t have taste Chloe hesitated for a moment, caught between relief and the usual unease Lilly’s sharp tongue brought out in her. “Y-yes, Boss! Right away,” she stammered, standing abruptly and smoothing her skirt. “I’ll, um, see what I can find.” As she turned to leave, the door opened, and Ray stepped in, his imposing figure filling the room. Chloe froze mid-step, her eyes widening as though caught in a spotlight. She has never felt this much fear in her life but he couldn’t be blamed, if she hadn’t listened to her boss and followed his order this won’t have happened. “Excuse me,” Ray said evenly, his deep voice calm but commanding. Looking at her annoys him, he can’t believe in entrusted his family life into her hand, she basically incompetent. Chloe immediately backed away, nearly tripping over her own feet. “S-sorry, Mr. Manchester— I mean, Ray— I mean, sir!” she blurted, her words coming out in a panicked rush. Ray arched a brow, his sharp gaze sweeping over her
Ray paced the hospital hallway, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. His voice was low but sharp, the tension in his tone unmistakable.“Did the alpha team call to inform you the kidnappers and do you have any idea who sent them yet?” he asked, his words clipped and precise.Jerry’s reply came quickly. “No. They’re hired mercenaries, but there’s a link to underworld. I’ve already got people looking into it.”Ray’s jaw tightened. “Good. Have those bastards sent to New York. I want to interrogated them personally. I don’t care what it takes.”“I’ll make the arrangements,” Jerry assured him. “But, big bro, focus on SIL and the baby for now. We can handle the rest.”Ray nodded absently, though Jerry couldn’t see it. “Speaking of bastards, I know you Jerry, do not cause too damage on them that will make them lifeless before my arrival”“Seriously big bro, they are basically a new set of toys they hurt my family and you want me to let them be till your arrival, that’s unfair” Jerry whined.
Ray slumped back into the hospital chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. His gaze lingered on Lilly, still pale and fragile against the pristine white sheets, but alive. The doctor’s warnings echoed in his mind—her body was at its limit, and the baby was clinging to life by a thread.He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Damon’s number. As the line connected, Ray’s voice was low but steady, masking the turmoil inside him.“Damon, I need you to handle something for me,” Ray said without preamble.“Morning to you too, Ray,” Damon replied dryly. “What’s wrong?” ‘Does this dude even check the time before calling’ Damon thought, it basically 2 minutes after 1 am.Jerry has already told him about Lilly kidnapped and he was the one who gave them the location of the best hospital around the area with the best medical equipment, and efficient doctors that can attend to Lilly fast and could be trusted.“It’s Lilly,” Ray said, his tone softening. “She’s stable, but… she’s not h
The hum of the engine roared to life as the SUV sped down the uneven road, the distant echo of the confrontation in the warehouse fading into the night. Ray sat in the backseat, his arms wrapped protectively around Lilly’s unconscious form. Her head rested against his chest, her breathing shallow and uneven.Viktor drove with steady determination, the sharp lines of his jaw clenched as he navigated the bumpy terrain. Lucas sat in the passenger seat, constantly glancing back, his usual quips absent in the face of the gravity of the situation.Ray kept his focus on Lilly, pressing the blood-soaked gauze tightly against her side. The bleeding had slowed, but the crimson stain on her shirt had grown, each second feeling like a countdown he couldn’t stop.“Lucas,” Ray said, his voice low but commanding. “How many to the hospital?”“Fifteen minutes,” Lucas replied, his tone clipped. “Maybe less if Viktor keeps pushing the gas like that.”“Push harder,” Ray growled, his eyes not leaving Lill
Ray didn’t wait for another challenge. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, scooping Lilly into his arms like a princess. Her body was lighter than he’d expected, as though she hadn’t eaten properly in weeks.Lilly gasped, her arms instinctively looping around his neck, her smirk never fading. “Oh, we’re doing this now, huh?” she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.“Lucas, Viktor,” Ray barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Handle the rest of the situation. Clear the area and get them back to HQ for questioning. I’m taking her to safety.”Lucas exchanged a look with Viktor, then nodded, his hand already moving to his earpiece. “Got it. We’ll clean up here.”Viktor eyed Lilly warily, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Be careful, Ray.”Ray didn’t respond. His focus was solely on the woman in his arms—the woman he loved, no matter how much she had changed.As they exited the warehouse, the dim glow of the setting sun cast a golden hue over them. Lilly rested her hea
Ray’s heart twisted as he watched her, his mind racing. This wasn’t the Lilly he knew—but whoever this was, whatever had happened to her, he wasn’t going to let her face it alone.He straightened, his jaw tightening as resolve hardened in his eyes.“We’re leaving,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.Lilly raised an eyebrow, her smirk deepening. “Oh, mister,” she said with a quiet laugh. “You you’re not in charge. I am. Back to my question who are you? I know you are cute and all which I like I still want to know, are perhaps the master they are talking about”Her words chilled him, but he refused to let it show. Whatever was going on here, whatever darkness had taken root in her, he was going to get her out. He had to.Ray’s jaw clenched at her words, but he forced himself to stay calm. The playful edge to her voice, the almost mocking way she spoke—it was as if she were testing him, waiting to see how he’d react.“I’m your husband. Ray Manchester. And no, I’m not
Her head tilted slightly as their gazes met, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips.“Hmmm, more people are joining the party. Me, I like,” she said, her voice laced with mockery but tinged with exhaustion. Her tone was unnervingly light, as though she was entirely unfazed by the chaos surrounding her.Ray’s steps faltered for a fraction of a second, his brain struggling to process what he was seeing. Around her, the men—hefty, rough-looking thugs who should have been towering over her in control—were kneeling. Their expressions were masks of terror, their bodies trembling like leaves in a storm.This wasn’t the sight he had imagined when he raced here. His Lilly, the soft, vibrant woman he’d sworn to protect, was supposed to be waiting for him, scared but hopeful. She wasn’t supposed to be… this.His jaw clenched as his eyes swept over her, taking in the blood streaking down her arm, the split in her lip, the bruises blooming along her skin. She was hurt—badly hurt—and yet she stood the
Ray tightened his grip on his phone as he stepped off the plane, the icy night air hitting his face like a slap. His pulse raced as the first bar of signal returned, and he immediately dialed Jerry’s number, his fingers trembling slightly.The line barely rang once before Jerry answered.“Where is she?” Ray’s voice was sharp, cutting through the static like a knife.“I’ve sent you the coordinates,” Jerry replied, his tone grim. “An old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. She’s still inside.”“I’m on my way.” Ray growled the words before ending the call abruptly.Jerry exhaled slowly, his hands shaking as he stared at the screen. The location pin glowed back at him. This wasn’t just a rescue—it was a race against time. Ray’s fury was palpable, even through the phone.Chloe paced outside the makeshift operations center they’d set up in a nearby safe house. General Lucas, Ray’s trusted ally in the Austrian military, had organized everything with surgical precision. Chloe had been tol
“Aww, poor things,” Lilly murmured, her voice dripping with mockery as she surveyed the pathetic group of men scrambling to attack her.The leader, a wiry man who had mocked her moments ago, charged toward her in desperation, a knife clutched in his trembling hand. Lilly didn’t flinch. Instead, her lips curled into a cold, almost playful smile.Amateurs.She sidestepped his clumsy lunge with fluid grace, her movements swift and precise. Before he could recover, she reached out and grabbed his arm, her grip impossibly strong. With a calculated twist, she applied pressure to his armpit—an arc point known for its excruciating pain if targeted correctly.The man screamed, the knife clattering to the floor as his arm went limp. His knees buckled, but Lilly wasn’t done. With a sharp upward motion, she forced his arm backward, dislocating his shoulder with a sickening pop. He collapsed, unconscious, crumpling like a broken doll at her feet.Lilly tilted her head, a flicker of satisfaction cr