After the brutal torture, Blake lay on the ground, barely clinging to life, her eyes closed in exhaustion. She coughed up blood and eventually lost consciousness.As time passed, Cecilia grew impatient after not receiving the response she expected. Standing up, she stepped on Blake's chest and began taking pictures of the injured Blake on the ground.An overweight man commented, "This woman's tough. She didn't beg for mercy even once. But if she dies, we'll be in some legal trouble, ma'am.""Don't worry, she's not dead yet," Cecilia reassured him.At that moment, a skinny man received an urgent message. "We've got a traitor among us. Our location's been leaked to the police, and they're on their way."With the police closing in, the criminals, who were already on the wanted list, began to panic."You guys take her with you," Cecilia ordered, still hoping Kevin wouldn't abandon Blake.In a cold, damp basement, Blake lay unconscious, tasting a bitter flavor in her mouth as she dri

Eventually, Blake regained consciousness. She had suffered severe internal bleeding, and her condition had been critical. If her injuries had been slightly more severe, she might not have survived. Liam had stayed by her side at the hospital, aiding her recovery. He had not disclosed the full extent of her injuries to her, wanting to shield her from further trauma.The sun shone brightly as Liam wheeled Blake outside to enjoy it. Since waking up, she had not spoken a word, her usually lively and cheerful demeanor replaced by silence, a change that weighed heavily on Liam.Kneeling in front of Blake, who looked pale and haggard, Liam gently rearranged her windblown hair. "Blake, you can talk to me about anything. It would be better if you said something. I'm really worried about you not eating or talking."Blake hadn't eaten the nutritious soup Liam prepared for her, prompting him to resort to feeding her nutrient solutions. Her noticeable weight loss was a source of distress for Lia

"Removing him? What does human life mean to you, Ms. Samford? We live in a society governed by law. Do you understand the implications of your words?" Liam challenged.Cecilia remained composed. "Do you think your father is innocent? Ask him what it means to clash with the powerful in this society. He might have more insight than me. Liam, there are countless hands manipulating things above us."Cecilia offered one final piece of advice, "Kevin and Zach are cut from the same cloth. List their crimes, and they'd be imprisoned indefinitely. You'll learn more once you assume your father's position."After a final glance at the closed door, Cecilia declared, "That's all I have to say. Take good care of Blake. I'll visit her tomorrow."At that moment, Blake weakly emerged from the ward, leaning against the wall."Blake..." Liam rushed to her aid, but she avoided him.Blake, with a questioning gaze, turned to Cecilia. "So, your plan all along was to bring down Mr. Jardin and Kevin, the

Liam ended the call and turned to gaze out the window into the pitch-black night, dense with darkness. He had simply acted on his conscience. He thought to himself, 'Blake, I just hope you're okay.'The next morning, Blake awoke in an unfamiliar, dreamlike room. The fairy-like curtains and dolls around her bed seemed to fulfill every girl's childhood fantasies. Confused, she realized this was not the Harper residence.Sitting up, Blake tried to grasp her bearings. She wondered, 'Where am I?'A few minutes later, Cecilia entered the room with a bowl of soup. "You're awake? You haven't eaten in days. Have some butternut squash soup first. Liam said he would come to see you soon."Cecilia sat beside the bed, but Blake swatted the bowl away, spilling soup on the imported Italian carpet. Despite that, Cecilia gently brushed Blake's hair aside. "It's okay if you don't like it. The maid has prepared more.""Who said you could bring me here?" Blake demanded coldly.Cecilia replied as she

"Blake."At the sound of this long-missed voice, a torrent of tears broke from Blake. She rushed forward, her arms enveloping the woman before her in a desperate embrace. "Mom!" she cried.Hannah Sutton, her own eyes shimmering with unshed tears, held her daughter close. Years had passed since they last saw each other. "Why the tears, Blake? I'm here now, aren't I? Let me look at you," she whispered, a tremble in her voice.Blake, her face a canvas of distress, looked up."You've grown even more beautiful," Hannah observed softly, her fingers tenderly brushing Blake's hair.Yael Dion, his presence a mix of authority and warmth, joined them. "Calling only for your mother, Blake? Have you forgotten your dad?"Between sobs and laughter, Blake retorted, "Dad! How can you say that? You never responded to my messages."Yael, a leading academician in a research institute, was vital to many experiments. Even so, he had not forgotten about his daughter. He pulled out a bracelet made from