"David..." Nathan hesitated. Some things were better left unsaid, but he couldn’t shake the urge to speak up.


    David, without looking up, asked, "What is it you want to say?"


    "I know I shouldn’t bring this up, but... if we can’t find the antidote..." Nathan’s words trailed off.


    David cut him off sharply, "If you know you shouldn’t speak, then don’t. Just keep quiet."


    "Understood. I’ll get to it right away." Nathan answered quickly, a little rattled.


    "Wait." David raised a hand to stop him. "Check on the two people in the cave and the group of masked figures. Find out who they are."


    "Understood." Nathan nodded and exited the room.


    David leaned back in his chair, massaging his temples as he sank deep into thought.


    *****


    Elsewhere, Danielle had spent the entire afternoon in theb, consumed by the blood samples she had collected. Her face was creased in concentration, simr to the expressions she wore back in the frontier during live experiments.


    The masked figures she had encountered in that cave? They were the result of someone’s twisted science. Holding the report tightly in her hands, she couldn’t help but feel a chill. These were people—humans—turned into indestructible weapons, devoid of any morality in their creation.


    Could the Shadow Domain be connected to these masked figures? And what did they intend to do with them?


    Danielle nced at her watch—it was already 8 p.m. Tonight, she had something important to discuss with her family.


    She left theb and checked her phone. A flood of missed calls and messages filled her screen. She dealt with the urgent ones quickly and stuffed the phone into her pocket.


    At the Treeside Vi, her brothers had been waiting anxiously ever since she mentioned having something to discuss with them. They were getting worried as time passed without her return.


    "Do you think Danielle’s poison red up again? Is she in danger? Why hasn’t shee back yet?" Austin asked, clearly concerned.


    "Austin, do you ever know when to keep quiet?" Elliot shot him a look of disdain. "She must be dealing with something important, that’s why she’ste. Let’s wait a little longer."


    Their parents, Howard and Vivian, shared their worry. They had seen first-hand what the poison did to Danielle, especially since Jason had mentioned that Danielle only had three months left to live.


    The brothers exchanged silent nces. The weight of their parents’ unspoken despair was heavy, and each of them felt it like a crushing blow to the chest.


    Danielle finally arrived, taking a deep breath as she stepped out of the car. Her brothers surely knew by now. With a warm smile, she walked into the living room and saw her parents and brothers all with their heads hanging low.


    "Mom, Dad, brothers, I’m home." She shed them a bright smile and sat down on one side of the sofa.


    "My dear, have you eaten?" Vivian asked, her voice strained, trying to mask the sadness she felt.


    "Not yet," Danielle replied, "Why don’t we eat together?"


    Joseph smiled. "Sounds good, I’m starving."


    Howard got up and said, "I’ve asked the kitchen to prepare all your favorite dishes."


    The dinner table was filled with dishes, and Danielle’s bowl was heaping with food. Her parents and brothers piled food onto her te, but they barely ate themselves. All of them were focused on watching her eat.


    "Please, stop piling food onto my te. I can’t finish it, and it’ll go to waste. You all eat, too." Danielle tried to ignore their gazes, but it was impossible to.


    """Danielle, it’s Matthew’s fault. If he hadn’t been kidnapped, none of this would’ve happened. Xavier wouldn’t have been hurt, and you wouldn’t have had a poison re-up,"" Matthew said with an apologetic expression.


    Danielle put down her fork and looked at them, her voice soft yet firm. "Matthew, stop saying such foolish things. We’re family. This isn’t your fault."