Chapter 56

MAX POV

"Are you ready yet, Max?" Nadia's voice crackled through my phone speaker, breaking the silence of the early morning.

She had called to remind me that I should get ready for our next mission. We were supposed to meet later at night.

I groaned, glancing at the clock on my bedside table. 5:15 a.m. I had woken up half an hour earlier to prepare myself for the day.

My plan required precision, and I wasn’t going to let Nadia’s constant pestering throw me off.

"Yes, Nadia," I muttered, barely able to suppress the irritation in my tone. "I’ve been up for a while now."

"Good," she said, sounding smug. "You know this has to go perfectly. No mistakes, Max."

I rolled my eyes. Nadia had always been a control freak, but I couldn’t deny that her meticulous nature was what made her such a good partner in all of this. "I know, Nadia. Is your plan ready?"

"Of course it is," she replied, her voice confident. "You just stick to your part, and we’ll get through this without a hitch."

"Fine," I said, my patience wearing thin. "If anything changes, call me."

"I will," she promised. "And Max? Don’t screw this up."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered before ending the call. Tossing the phone on the bed, I exhaled deeply. Nadia’s constant micromanaging was enough to drive anyone mad, but I needed her. She had connections and resources I couldn’t ignore.

After the call, I dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers…professional but not too flashy. I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention.

Grabbing my car keys from the kitchen counter, I made my way outside, the cool morning air brushing against my face as I slid into the driver’s seat.

The drive to the hospital was quiet, the streets mostly empty at this hour. I tried to focus on the road, but my mind kept drifting to what lay ahead.

Mr. Kenneth had to be dealt with carefully, and I wasn’t about to let a simple oversight ruin everything Nadia and I had worked for.

When I arrived at the hospital, I parked my car in the visitor’s lot and took a moment to compose myself.

The towering white building loomed over me, its polished windows reflecting the first rays of sunlight. I stepped out of the car, my heart beating faster with each step toward the entrance.

Inside, the hospital was bustling with early-morning activity. Nurses wheeled carts filled with medical supplies, patients shuffled around with their loved ones, and the faint hum of machines filled the air.

I made my way to the reception desk to ask for directions to Mr. Kenneth’s ward.

As I approached his room, my steps faltered. There, stationed at the entrance, was a police officer. His uniform was neatly pressed, his expression unreadable as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

I hesitated for a moment, quickly scanning my options. There wasn’t any other way in; the door to Mr. Kenneth’s ward was directly behind the officer.

Taking a deep breath, I approached him, trying to appear as calm as possible.

"Good morning," I said with a forced smile.

I tried faking my smile.

The officer raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze assessing me. "Morning. Can I help you?"

"I’m here to see Mr. Kenneth," I said, keeping my voice steady.

The officer’s posture stiffened slightly. "And who are you?"

"I’m his senior manager," I explained, hoping my tone sounded convincing. "I wanted to check on him and see how he’s doing."

The officer didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he scrutinized me, his expression unreadable. "Wait here," he said finally. "I’ll need to call Mrs. Daniella to confirm."

Panic surged through me. If he called Daniella, everything would fall apart. She would never approve my visit, not with the tension between us. I had to think fast.

"That won’t be necessary," I said quickly, forcing a chuckle.

" Mrs. Daniella is my elder sister. Mr. Kenneth is my brother-in-law. I’m just here to see him for a few minutes, nothing more." I lied to the officer not minding if I will be later be caught

The officer tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. He didn’t say anything, but his silence was unnerving. I could almost see the gears turning in his head as he processed my words.

"I’m telling you the truth," I added, trying to sound as genuine as possible. "I only want to check on him. Daniella would want me to be here."

The officer’s gaze remained fixed on me, his expression still unreadable. My heart kept racing in my chest as I stood there, waiting. I couldn’t tell if he believed me or not, and the uncertainty was eating me alive.

"Listen," I said, my voice softer now, almost pleading. "I came here early so I wouldn’t disturb anyone. Just a quick visit, and I’ll be out of your way."

The officer finally moved, but it wasn’t a relief. He shifted his stance, one hand resting on his radio. His eyes stayed locked on mine, and I could see the doubt in them.

"You’re saying Mrs. Daniella is your sister?" he asked, his tone skeptical.

"Yes," I replied firmly, nodding. "That’s exactly what I’m saying."

For a moment, the officer just stared at me, his expression unreadable. I could feel the sweat forming on the back of my neck as I stood there, waiting for his decision.

He was still in deep thoughts if to allow me in or not.

If he didn’t believe me, if he made that call to Daniella...everything would crumble because I told a lie that Daniella is my sister and also Daniella will see me as a suspect.

He didn’t move, didn’t speak. His silence stretched out, heavy and suffocating. I could only hope that my words had done enough to convince him.

I was scared at this point, I was scared that I wouldn't get the opportunity to get inside Mr Kenneth hospital ward.

And so I waited for him to decide if to let me inside Mr Kenneth hospital ward, my fate hanging in the balance.