Chapter 4
With that, Zina turned and walked straight toward the dressing room.
Ben ground his teeth, but there was nothing he could do. “Call Mr. Kyle. Now,” he barked. “If Mr. Carter doesn’t make it, it all goes to him–and when it does, I expect to see my cut.”
The assistant nodded, then vanished without a sound.
At the same time, in a room lined with surgical equipment, Kellan sat up on the bed, gaze icy.
“You’re something else, Kellan. Even with those wounds, you hung in there until I found you,” Hayden said, arching an eyebrow.
Kellan simply shrugged. “Someone saved me.”
His mind flashed back–unbidden–to that cold, beautiful face. After breaking away from his attackers, he hadn’t left immediately. Instead, he lingered nearby, watching the whole thing play out.
He still remembered the driver’s driving skill, and he believed even professional racers would be envious.
And to think–the driver had been just a young lady.
“Someone saved you? No way.” Hayden doubted. “That road was a total wreck when I got to you. No way anyone could’ve driven through.”
Kellan didn’t respond. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused, trying to piece together every detail.
But just then, the door flew open. A servant rushed into the room.
“Mr. Carter, something’s wrong with Master Carter!” The servant fumbled.
“What?” Kellan shot up, fingers clenching into fists. “Take me to the hospital, now.”
He didn’t waste any time getting to the hospital. Seeing the group of trembling staff, a cold smirk crept across Kellan’s face.
“Mr. Carter,” Ben forced a smile and stepped forward. “Master Carter is in surgery.”
“Who’s performing it?” Kellan’s voice was like ice, pressing down on the room like a physical weight. A nearby doctor’s legs nearly gave out.
“It… it was a woman in a Bauta Mask,” Ben stammered. “She burst in and insisted she could perform the operation. She wouldn’t listen to reason—”
“So you handed my father over to a lunatic?” Kellan cut in, laughing softly, though the glint in his eye made Ben tremble.
Kellan’s gaze shifted slightly. His voice dropped to something even colder. “If something happens to him… you’d better start packing tonight.”
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Right then, the operating room door opened a crack. Zina stepped out, still wearing the Bauta Mask.
Kellan turned sharply, and locked eyes with her mask. Beneath the mask, he thought he caught a flash of red–a tiny mark under her eye, like a tear.
He’d seen it before. He was sure of it.
In the next heartbeat, the woman in the mask approached him.
Zina hadn’t expected to run into Kellan again so soon. Apparently, he was one tough guy to take down.
“The surgery was a success.” She turned to Ben and said plainly. “Master Carter’s stable.”
“Seriously?” Ben’s jaw dropped, an unreadable mix of shock and disbelief on his face.
‘So it means I’m in the clear!‘ He thought, but then his mind shifted. ‘Wait, what about the deal with Kyle?‘
“Kellan, she’s right–Master Carter’s fine now,” Hayden said as she stepped out of the OR, still stunned. After having Patrick transferred to a private room, he approached Zina, curiously and eagerly.
“May I have your name, please?” He asked.
Zina gave a slight shake of her head. “It’s none of your business.”
It had been years. Zina was sure there was no way he’d recognize her voice now–not after the damage to her vocal cords.
Still, Kellan narrowed his eyes. “Funny. I feel like I’ve met you before.”
He raised a hand to remove the mask. Before he could touch it, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. A silver needle gleamed under the light.
“Kellan! Are you alright?” Hayden cried out.
But Zina had already turned away. “It’s just a small trick of mine,” she said calmly. “It’ll wear off soon.”
“Wait,” Kellan held his wrist, unfazed by the pain. “At least leave a number. I might need to reach you about my father’s condition.”
Zina hesitated, but couldn’t refuse.
Years ago, when the Sinclair family found out she wasn’t their biological daughter, they’d humiliated her at every turn. She’d had no choice but to flee to the Carter family.
It was Patrick who took her in, and it was Kellan who had helped her escape that house of horrors. For a while, the Carter’s place felt like home.
“Fine.” Zina sighed. In the end, she jotted her number on a small slip of paper, tossed it into Kellan’s hand, and then turned to walk away.
Watching her leave, Kellan then stepped into Patrick’s ward and stopped by his bedside. Patrick was still sleeping, unaware of the unfolded scene.
“Father,” whispered Kellan. “If you don’t wake up soon… I’ll have to start cleaning house on your behalf.”
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Hayden, having finished treating his wrist, still looked dazed. “That woman isn’t just a nobody,” he said. “The surgery was flawless. I watched the playback–it was the work of someone with decades of surgical experience.”
“Find out who she is.” Kellan’s eyes darkened, pausing for a moment. “I think… she might be someone from my past.”
Outside the hospital, Zina met up with Chris. She climbed into the car and pulled off the mask, revealing her deep, unreadable eyes.
“Boss, are we heading out now?” asked Chris.
“Yes,” Zina replied. “I need to get my hands on the Emberrose. Patrick’s condition is far more severe than expected.”
Chris tapped away on his phone, frowning. “Boss, there’s only one left in the country. And it’s in the Lambert family’s hands.”
“Then it’s time to pay them a visit.” Zina closed her eyes, then sighed softly. “I’ll go alone. You handle the Base, and let the others know I’m back.”
The Base had always been Zina’s secret headquarters. Her followers–including Chris–used the Base as their home ground.
“Yes, boss.” Chris‘ eyes lit up, heart pounding. “I’ll handle it right away.”
*****
As everyone in the City of Jorvellan knew, the Lambert family was one of the four hermit clans, and also the only one still active in Jorvellan.
And at least, it made Zina easier to reach. She had someone send a formal request for an audience, then headed to their
estate.
This time, as a sign of respect, she wore no mask. Besides, the Sinclair and Lambert families had never moved in the same circles, so there was little risk of being recognized.
Despite the Lambert family’s decline from their former glory, the estate still brimmed with wealth and history. Enough to impress outsiders.
But as Zina walked through the grounds, her shock gave way to calm curiosity. By the time she was shown into the parlor, her expression had settled into practiced composure.
From what she’d gathered, the patriarch of the Lambert family was reasonable. The problem was Mrs. Lambert, the madam known for running a tight ship.
“Please have a seat, miss,” the maid said politely as leading Zina into the hall. “Mr. Lambert will return shortly, and Mrs. Lambert will be down in a moment.”
Zina exhaled quietly. She hadn’t expected to face the infamous Yvonne Lambert right away. But just as she reached for her teacup, the sound of cup shattering filled the air.
“Is that… you?” A shocked voice rang out behind her, trembling. “My sweetheart, is that really you?”
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