ear. Lily stood outside her mother's room, Damien a silent, imposing presence beside her. The shattered cry

and hovering over the door handle.

"And you deserve answers. I'll be here." His presence wasn't comf

Tubes snaked from her thin arms, machines whispering her fragile vit

a frail smile touching her

r mother's cold hand. "Long ni

Damien standing near the doorway, a watchful shadow. "Mr. Thorne. Thank yo

devoid of its usual ice, replaced by a carefu

htly, a flicker of her old

he time for lies was over. "Mom.

htened weakly in Lily's. "Lily... no

amien had given her from her pocket Viktor Chen, sharp-eyed and cruel. "Because this man

p as her heart rate spiked. "No," she whispered, her eyes wide with terror, fi

nded, tears welling. "Why did yo

Her voice was a broken thread. "He got involved with terrible people. Dangerous debts. He... he did something awful. Betrayed someone powerful. There was blood... so much blood." She

grief. "He used me, Mom! He used *me* to g

en? Viktor... he's after *you*?" Understanding dawned, horrifying and

sharpening. "What betrayal, Mrs

gasp tore from her throat. Her eyes rolled back. The hea

hrieked, lung

ly aside, his training overriding panic. He tilted Clara's head back, checked her

into something else entirely. His hands, usually so controlled, moved with swift, precise certainty. He positioned

aloud, his voice a steady anchor in th

r mother's nose, sealing her mouth over Clara's, and

forehead. "Come on, Clara," he gritted out, the

n and Lily aside. A crash cart rattled. Defib

ear

ed off the bed. T

again!

another blip... then settled into a weak

or, his arm solid around her waist. His own breathing was ragged, his shirt damp with sweat, his expr

he's critical. The stress... the Vega Protocol is aggressive. This set her back significantly."

en shifting to Lily, still trembling in his arms. The battle lines had jus

unched in a plastic chair, wrapped in a blanket a nurse had given her, staring blankly at the speckl

ed, the words raw. "Viktor. He

ding us he can strike anywhere. At anyone." He stopped pacing, facing her. "Your mother mentioned a betray

p. "You think... you're the one he betrayed?

" He didn't elaborate, but the shadows in his eyes spoke volumes. "Viktor Chen was a parasite operating in those shadows.

lose to me. The contract marriage..." Damien's lip curled in disgust. "...was likely Viktor's sick plan all along, facilitat

shed, the realization chilling. "B

r desperate enough, to surface. Or..." His eyes met Lily's, icy and intent. "

ha

mitted. "But we're going to d

very still

elieve his plan is working. That you are destabilizing me. That

sharp, pricke

his eyes. "Publicly. Spectacularly. We g

te marble and sharp angles. She sipped vintage champagne, scrolling

THER IN CRISIS AFT

s presence brings ch

ing His Grip? Board

as crumbling, dragging Damien down with her. Perfect. The

. She answered, her voice dripping

, with a faint, unplaceable accent. "I understand you have a... pest p

idened. "And who

And Mr. Thorne's downfall. We believe Miss Chen's continued presence is detrimen

is wasn't Vance. This was some

and motivation. We provide the means, the plan. Yo

didn't care. If this stranger could remove Lily Chen permanent

in touch. Ensure you remain... clos

pation. Lily Chen's days were numbered. And Damien Thorne wo

ve floor, his expression a thundercloud. Lily followed a step behind, dressed in severe bl

conference room where Harrison Vance and sever

ngapore" Vance began, his vo

d on Lily, his voice echoing in the sudden silence. "Where

sorry, Damien. My mother... the hospital called...

or. "I pay you to focus, Lily! Not to crumble at the

spered, a tear escaping, tra

king the board members jump. "Get out! Get me that analysis, or pac

shaking with suppressed sobs, the

rtable. Vance hid a smirk. The board

an pushed to the brink. "My apologies, gentlemen. Personal matters... bleeding in

humiliation of his fragile fiancée would be on every business blog and socie

d office, Lily slumped into a chair, wiping away th

feeds. "And Vance will report to Viktor. The instability narrative is perfe

hone the one only Marcus Kane and Mrs. Finch had the number for, provided after

he ice. He'll melt and drown you

cold. She showed

"Tracing... Burner. Untraceable. Clever." He looked at Lily, his gaze in

asked, her voice stea

ut carefully. We need him to reveal

, her fingers trembling

e is home? You l

s almost ins

s kind. They destroy everything. I have proof. Meet me.

"He wants a meetin

rap. Or a test." He thought for a moment. "Stall him. Ma

typ

hes everythin

old pier. Warehouse 7. Where the music died

meant nothing to her. But it meant something to Viktor. And the

drain from her face

hardening into granite. "He named the place. He's confident. Arroga

ed, fear warring with a

Chen is walking straight into it." He pulled out his own secure phone. "Marcus? Assemble the team.

he fierce, protective fire she'd seen on the balcony

ther pays the price.' The fear was still there, a cold knot in her stomach, but it was overlaid now with something h

found something. A tiny anomaly. A shell company payment buried deep, routed through Vance Biotech subsidiaries, but with a digital finger

her eyes meeting his, no longer scared, but sharp, analytical. "I found Viktor's money trail

she'd seen flicker before was now a steady flame. The pawn had just