"How did you end up in Silverdale?"
Only moonlight spilled into the room. Elijah Clark stared at Adrian Frost, who had suddenly appeared in his home, soaking wet. It was clear Adrian was supposed to be handling matters in Europe. How could he show up here in such a mess?
"Save the questions. Stop the bleeding now. I've lost too much blood."
Adrian tossed his black mask aside. His blue eyes burned with intensity, his lips pale as water. Combined with his fair skin, he looked like he might die at any moment.
When Elijah noticed Adrian's hand pressed tightly against his abdomen, he immediately helped him onto the sofa. Just as he was about to turn on the light and grab his medical tools to perform a minor surgery on Adrian, his hand froze mid-air.
"What's wrong?"
Adrian's voice was already weak. He looked at Elijah.
"I'm afraid there's more than one pair of eyes watching my place right now."
Elijah crept to the window, lifting the curtain just a crack to peer outside. Though the night was deep, the streetlights still illuminated the road. Those people were well-hidden, but anyone with sharp eyes could spot their lurking figures.
"Didn't you lose them before coming here?"
Elijah let the curtain fall and turned to Adrian.
"I thought I did. I didn't notice anyone tailing me when I arrived."
Adrian thought for a moment before answering.
"Looks like we can't operate here. Follow me."
In the dim moonlight, Elijah lifted Adrian and carried him into the study. He moved a book, and the bookshelf on the wall split in two. Elijah helped Adrian inside.
"I can't believe you have a secret room here. I remember your father never came back to China, but he still set up an operating room. Looks like the son inherited the father's trade."
Adrian managed a weak joke.
"If you don't want to be taken off that operating table tonight and sold, shut up."
Elijah clearly didn't appreciate the comment. Though he had inevitably joined the Black Feather organization, he was nothing like his father.
His father was born to cut into people's bodies with a scalpel, extracting organs for profit. That twisted pleasure made him unfit to be a proper doctor. Eventually, the Black Feather organization bribed him, letting him indulge his horrific hobby.
Besides financial crimes, Black Feather also dealt in organ trafficking. His father could fully indulge his obsession there and naturally enjoyed it. But Elijah was different. Even if he wasn't a saint, he wasn't as insane as his father.
That's why the business he handled in Asia had always been financial. Even though he was a doctor, he had delegated all organ trade matters to others and never got involved.
Adrian only gave a faint smile at Elijah's words. When Elijah inserted the anesthetic needle into his abdomen, his willpower finally gave out. He fell completely asleep, entrusting his life to Elijah.
Elijah stood over the private operating table, performing surgery on Adrian with an expressionless face. But his mind was still racing, puzzling over why Adrian had come to Silverdale this time. Why hadn't the boss informed him? It made no sense.
The autumn night stretched long, the wind chilly. No one knew when the warm morning sun would finally arrive.
Emma Johnson's sleep was restless, plagued by nightmares. Sometimes she dreamed the blue-eyed man dragged her into the sea, the icy water surrounding her, nearly suffocating her. Other times she dreamed that Liam Williams was shot multiple times by that same blue-eyed man, collapsing before her in a pool of blood while she could do nothing.
When she woke, she was drenched in cold sweat, gasping for air.
"What's wrong? A nightmare?"
Liam, sleeping beside Emma, heard her stir and opened his eyes. Seeing the sweat on her forehead, he reached out and wiped it away, his voice gentle.
Emma turned to look at Liam. Though his face wasn't in great shape, there was no blood. She remembered the dream she'd just had.
"Liam, I dreamed you were covered in blood. It scared me to death."
Emma patted her racing heart. Remembering the image of Liam in her dream, she felt like something was squeezing her chest. It felt like if she closed her eyes, he would slip away.
"Dreams are always the opposite. See, I'm fine now."
"Yes, dreams are the opposite. But next time, you can't put yourself in danger without thinking about the consequences. I don't care if you're a special forces soldier or how many times you've been shot or how fearless you are in the face of death. All I know is you only have one life, and you don't live just for yourself. So you have to cherish it, understand?"
Emma grew serious, speaking to Liam firmly. She almost made him raise his hand and swear a solemn oath before her.
"You mean my life isn't just mine—it's yours too?"
Liam looked at her, pleasure spreading across his face. Emma realized what she'd said.
"What are you talking about? Your life was given by your parents. If something happens to you, your father would be worried sick. Think about his age—he shouldn't have to worry about you. That's just irresponsible."
Emma quickly shifted the focus to the old man, but Liam just shook his head helplessly. He looked at her reluctantly, wondering when she would finally express her true feelings to him.
This stubborn little woman. Though she was adorable most of the time, when she refused to be honest, she was a little less lovable.
"Since you're awake, let's pack up and leave."
"Leave the hospital?"
"I don't like being in the hospital. There's too much I need to do. I have to leave."
Liam wasn't asking Emma—he was telling her his decision.
"How can you do that? You were shot in the shoulder."
"It doesn't hurt. I know my body. I swear to you, I'll cherish my life. So trust me when I say I don't need to be in the hospital."
Despite Liam's repeated promises, Emma still wasn't at ease. She insisted he stay hospitalized. Just as the two were locked in a stalemate over the issue, the ward door suddenly swung open.