Vivienne paid little attention to the idle chatter as shepleted a series of checks on Karen before they entered the operating


    room together.


    Inside the pristine OR, Karen was hooked up to a plethora of monitors, all vital signs stable and within normal range.


    Lying on the operating table, Karen looked up at her daughter and whispered, "Frost, I''m counting on you."


    For Vivienne, there was no turning back now. All hesitation and concern had evaporated the moment they prepped for surgery.


    All that remained was her unwavering resolve to see her mother healed.


    She hugged her mother gently, whispering into her ear, much like Karen had done to soothe her to sleep when she was little.


    “Mom, just take a nice long nap, and when you wake up, we''ll go out for some hearty beef stew."


    As the operating lights brightened, Brody stood outside, monitoring Karen''s condition in real time with precision.


    Percival sat rigidly outside, his expression betraying nothing of the turmoil within. Only he knew the depths of his unease—not


    just for his mentor''s condition but for the weight on Vivienne''s shoulders.


    Outside YQ Research Center, Wi kept vigil by the door, perched on her motorcycle, clutching the ingredients for Karen''s


    favorite beef stew.


    Agentle breeze toyed with her long hair, veiling half her face—a portrait of stoic concern.


    Back at the Perez Mansion, Maddox was in the yard, building and toppling towers of blocks with Natalia and Yasmine, locked in


    a cycle of creation and copse.


    In the study, Jasper poured over an album filled with photos of Karen up to the age of ten. It was a thick tome, about eight inches


    deep, with many gaps representing the thirty-plus years Karen had been away from the Perez family, only to be filled with


    abundant life snapshots upon her return.


    As he flipped through the pages, Jasper''s silent prayers weaved through the air.


    Aday and night passed. Percival''s back was soaked with sweat, dried, and then soaked again. The stew ingredients in Wi''s


    grasp had lost their appeal, the blocks gleamed from Maddox''s handling, and Jasper, unable to sleep, remained with the album


    clutched to his chest.


    In the OR, Vivienne stitched thest suture, wiping a bead of blood from Karen''s face. She pressed the button to signal the end


    of the surgery, and Brody was the first to rush in.


    "How is she? Everything looks normal, no rejection when the ST-1 was administered. Was it a sess?"


    Vivienne didn''t answer but simply wheeled Karen out.


    As the doors opened, Percival hurried forward, his gaze searching Vivienne''s face for answers.


    Silently, they moved Karen to the ICU.


    Brody looked confused; the surgery had gone well, with noplication in sight. Why the long faces?


    Once Karen was settled in the ICU, Vivienne finally removed her mask and called Maddox, Jasper, and Wi.


    "The surgery was a sess. When my mom wakes up, though, will depend on her own willpower."


    The procedure had gone incredibly well. Karen''s brain had been skillfully repaired, and her body had epted the ST-1 without


    issue.


    But Vivienne had detected a severe reaction between Karen''s nervous system and the ST-1, plunging her mother into a deep


    coma—locked away in a space all her own, as if trapped within a nightmare.


    If Karen could awaken soon, it would mean triumph over this ordeal. If not...


    Vivienne sighed, adjusting the IV drip. "Get someone from the hospital over here. Theb''s too far from the city; | can''t always be


    here in time."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    “Already done," Percival assured her, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You''ve done great, Vivienne."


    A hospital vehicle soon transferred Karen to a high-level ICU, with members of the Nine Mystics Society taking turns to ensure


    her safety.


    Wi, concerned, came to tend to Karen herself, and that''s when she and Vivienne officially met.


    Wi greeted Vivienne with a nod, as cool andconic as Vivienne had imagined. "Hey, Vivienne."


    Vivienne couldn''t help but smile, remembering how Karen had described Wi''s awkwardness even with Natalia and Yasmine


    being born in front of her eyes—just a pat on the head, a reserved greeting, as if afraid to harm something so fragile.


    When faced with Vivienne, Wi was just as cautious, lightly patting her on the head.


    Vivienne hugged Wi, feeling her body stiffen before slowly rxing into the embrace.


    "You''re beautiful, just like Sasha," Wi said, and they shared a smile that spoke of a deep, instant connection beyond blood.


    Percival watched from a distance, giving them space. In moments like these, he thought, whether Vivienne or Karen or Wi,


    none would want any interruption.


    Stepping out of the room, Percival''s phone rang—it was Thomas on the line.


    "Trouble''s brewing, Percival. Flynn''s been hijacked by Gillian. They''re on the move as we speak, and the agency only just got


    wind of it!"


    Percival''s brow furrowed in concern. "But | thought Gillian lost all her privileges at the Vanguard Agency. How can she pull off


    moving a high-profile criminal?"


    "She pulled strings using the


    headquarters’ name," came the reply.


    "ims that Captain Lay''s lesuleit


    teshearisod bkdke protocol. They


    want Flynn transferred to a


    max-security facility where no one


    can get to him. HQ''s given the green


    light." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Clutching his smartphone tightly, Percival muttered, "Got it."


    Down the dustynes of the Rivenwood suburb, an armored vehicle trundled along.


    Inside, Flynn was a picture of


    restraints, his bodyden wit om


    shackles nd manjtsfed By a tracking


    Bycea Wear the vignt eyes of


    three Vanguard Agency operatives.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, the deste road was engulfed in a cloud of dust, forcing the vehicle carrying Flynn to a grinding halt.


    The three operatives huddled protectively around Flynn, eyes peeled for the source of the disturbance.


    As the dust settled, the imposing silhouette of a sleek ck Bentley blocked their path. From within emerged a figure of chilling


    elegance.


    Dressed in casual ck, the man’s face was shielded by dark sunsses. In his hand, he brandished a pistol and advanced


    toward the armored vehicle.


    The operatives, including the driver, stood paralyzed.


    With practiced ease, the man


    unlocked the vehicle and poi tedithe


    gun at th chaincakiGntFFivrin’s


    Wal&t: is voice was cool, tinged with


    a hint of frost, "Unlock him, or it''s


    lights out." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.