The soft hum of the air conditioning provided a steady background noise in Dr. Parker’s office, but the tension in the room was anything but calming.


    The sterile, clinical atmosphere shed sharply with the ndestine whispers and stolen nces that passed between Dr. Parker and his long-time mistress.


    They were ying a dangerous game, one that had been carefully orchestrated for years, and tonight, the stakes were higher than ever.


    His mistress paced the length of the office, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor.RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Her elegant appearance-dark hair pulled into a sleek chignon, and a tailored dress that hugged her figure-belied the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.


    She paused in front of therge mahogany desk, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face Dr. Parker, who leaned casually against the desk, his shirt slightly untucked from the passionate encounter that had just taken ce.


    “You should have finished him off when he copsed,” she hissed, her voice low but seething with frustration. “Why are you going so soft on him now, Parker? This was the perfect opportunity!”Dr. Parker sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to stave off a headache.


    “Honey, it’s not that simple. Killing him now would raise too many suspicions, especially with everything that’s already going on. We need to be careful and precise. Thest thing we need is anyone catching onto us.”


    His mistress clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to contain her anger. “Careful? Precise? We’ve been careful for years! I’m tired of waiting, Parker.


    Ryan’s already out of the picture for now, and Ivy is too wrapped up in her grief to notice anything. This is our chance!”


    Dr. Parker pushed himself off the desk and moved closer to her, his expression firm. “And what happens if someone finds out? If Mr. Kendrick dies suddenly, the board will start digging, and they’ll uncover everything.


    We need to ensure that when he’s gone, it looks natural, inevitable.”


    His mistress let out a frustrated sigh, crossing her arms over her chest as she tried to rein in her impatience.


    “And how long do you suggest we wait, then? He’s already survived one heart attack; what makes you think he won’t survive another?


    “Dr. Parker reached out, gently cupping her chin in his hand and forcing her to look at him. “Trust me, honey. I’ve gotten us this far, haven’t I? We’ve managed to keep our affair hidden, manipte the Kendricks, and maneuver ourselves into positions of power. We’ll eliminate Mr. Kendrick, but we’ll do it in a way that leaves no trace.”


    His mistress stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt. Finding none, she finally rxed, though her frustration still simmered beneath the surface.


    “Fine,” she conceded, though her tone was anything but satisfied. “But this needs to end soon, Parker. I’m not going to wait forever.”Dr. Parker nodded, releasing her and taking a step back. “It will. I have a n in ce, but we need to be patient.”


    She scoffed, her voiceced with sarcasm. “Patience, right? Because that’s something I’ve had plenty of over the years.”Dr. Parker ignored the jab, focusing instead on the next steps. “Where’s Ivy?” he asked, shifting the conversation away from their mutual frustration.


    “She’s gone home with Luca, I guess,” she replied, her tone softening slightly. “She’s been a wreck since the ident, and with Ryan still unconscious, she’s on the verge of breaking down.  it was best for her to get some rest.


    “Dr. Parker nodded thoughtfully. “Good. The less she’s around, the easier it’ll be to control the situation here.”


    She arched an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “And what exactly is your n, Parker? How are you going to make this look ‘natural’?”He leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if the walls had ears.


    “Mr. Kendrick’s health is alreadypromised. We’ll slowly increase his stress levels, push him to the edge, and when the time is right, we’ll administer a lethal dose of medication. It’ll look like a natural progression of his illness-another heart attack, or perhaps a stroke.”


    She listened intently, her mind racing as she considered the implications. “And no one will suspect a thing?”


    “No one,” Dr. Parker confirmed. “Not even Ivy. We’ve been ying this game for years, honey. We know how to cover our tracks.”


    Her lips curved into a cold smile, the excitement of their impending sess momentarily pushing aside her frustration. “Then let’s do it. The sooner we’re rid of him, the sooner we can take control of everything.”


    Dr. Parker returned her smile, though he was tinged with a sense of caution. “We will. But remember, honey, we have to be smart about this.


    One wrong move and everything we’ve worked for coulde crashing down.”Her smile faltered slightly, the weight of his words settling over her like a dark cloud.


    “I know,” she murmured, her earlier confidence wavering. “But I’m just so tired of waiting. We’vee so far, and I’m ready to see the end of this.”


    Dr. Parker reached out, cing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’re almost there. Just a little longer, and everything we’ve dreamed of will be ours.”She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. “You promise?”


    “I promise,” Dr. Parker replied, his voice steady. “Now, go home and get some rest. We’ll need to be at our best when the timees.”


    She nodded, reluctantly stepping away from him. “You’re right. But Parker… don’t make me wait too long.”


    “I won’t,” he assured her, watching as she gathered her things and left the office.


    Once she was gone, Dr. Parker allowed himself a moment of contemtion. The n was risky, but it was the only way to ensure they woulde out on top. As he sat back at his desk, his mind raced with thoughts of what needed to be done next.


    There was no room for error, no margin for failure. He reached for the phone, dialing a number he knew by heart. The line rang twice before a voice answered on the other end.”It’s me,” Dr. Parker said, his voice cold and calcted. “We need to elerate the n. Mr. Kendrick’s health is deteriorating, but we can’t afford to wait any longer. Make sure everything is in ce.”The voice on the other end responded with a simple, “Understood.”


    Dr. Parker hung up the phone, a sense of finality settling over him. The wheels were in motion, and there was no turning back now.


    Meanwhile, back at the Kendrick estate, Ivyy in bed, her mind a whirlpool of emotions. Thefort of Luca’s presence had soothed her earlier, but now, in the quiet of the night, the weight of her family’s situation pressed down on her like a suffocating nket.


    She had tried to distract herself by focusing on Luca, on the growing connection between them, but it wasn’t enough to erase the fear gnawing at her insides.


    She tossed and turned, sleep eluding her as she thought about her father and brother, both fighting for their lives.


    The thought of losing them was unbearable, and the helplessness she felt was overwhelming. Eventually, she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. She slipped out of bed, wrapping a robe around herself as she padded down the hall.