that stab
was far too vicious. It was just a hair’s breadth away from taking Imogen’s life.
No matter what the reason, i
it things had gone even slightly worse and Imogen hadn’t survived the surgery. <b>Stephan </b>shivered, not daring to let his mind go further down that thought.
He nced down at his phone, the screen lighting up with a newly received message. After a quick nce, his tightly wound nerves rxed slightly. He slid the phone back into his pocket.
Meanwhile, a cab slowly came to a halt outside the hospital, A slender figure handed over a couple of bills before stepping out of the car.
chin. Keeping a low
The young woman’s head was slightly bowed, the brim of her oversized hat casting a shadow over most of her face, revealing only a delicate ch profile<b>, </b>she walked straight into the hospital
Her eyes were gazing ahead, steady and purposeful as she moved like she knew the ce <b>well</b>. When she passed by a doctor’s office, she casually grabbed a whiteb coat and then removed her hat before slipping on <b>a </b><b>mask </b>
It was Felicia<b>. </b>
The hospital was bustling with people. Along the way, a patient stopped her to ask for directions.
Felicia had a sharp memory. She would remember anything she paid attention to, even if it had just been for a moment. She recalled the hospital map she had <b>nced </b>at when entering and pointed the way without hesitation.
“That way. Tum right, and there’s an elevator that’ll take you up.‘
“Thank you,” the patient said gratefully.
“No problem,” Felicia replied, slipping her hands into the pockets of her white coat as she continued walking
t <b>close</b><b>. </b>
As she expected, there w were the Russell family’s guards stationed at the ICU entrance. Other than hospital statt, no one could get cl Felicia nced at her reflection in the ss window of a nearby ward, Her altered appearance–disguised by a mask and <b>a </b>wig <b>in </b><b>a </b>different hair color–gave her a modest, inconspicuous look No one would recognize her
Walling calmly to the door, Felicia’s presence didn’t raise <b>any </b>suspicion. The guards gave her a cursory nce before resuming their upright, vignt stance. Felicia swiped her ess <b>card </b>to open the door and was about to step inside when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. A momentter, the guards straightened, lowered their heads slightly, and called out, “Mr. Russell”
The footsteps <b>grew </b>closer.
Felicia didn’t look <b>back</b>. Hermovements wereposed as she stepped through the door, swapped her shoes for sterile ones, and let the door close automatically behind her
As the door sealed shut with a soft click, Stephan’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure.
Felicia’s heart raced, pounding in her chest. For a moment, she could feel that gaze–<b>sharp</b>, <b>heavy</b>, and oppressive–pinning her in ce, making her breath hitch. She almost thought Stephan had recognized her.
But luckily, she slipped by unnoticed.
Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Felicia followed the directions Stanley had sent her and easily found her way into one of the ICU wards. There, on a hospital bed, Lay Imagen
The monitors beside her disyed steady vitals, and the equipment hummed softly. The surgery had <b>been </b>sessful. Fortunately, although Maurice’s knife had been deadly, it had <b>missed </b><b>a </b><b>vital </b>spot by two <b>inches</b><b>, </b>giving Imogen a fighting chance.
Seeing Imogen safe and stable with her own eyes, Felicia finally felt at ease.
She turned, intending to slip out as quietly as she hade. But as she pivoted, her nose bumped into something solid–a wall of muscle.
A familiar scent enveloped her instantly. Before she could react, an arm snaked around her waist, locking her in ce.
Felicia’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up sharply, meeting Stephan’s deep, dark eyes that were unfathomable and still,