Tristan could hardly believe his ears.Sara, who was once acting as though nothing was more important than the cancer cure, was actually taking time out to leave with Alistair.No, he absolutely had to do something. “Are you sure? I mean, considering the crucial stage we are in, we shouldn't take any chances.” Tristan said. Sara paused, seemingly pondering Tristan’s words. “I guess you are right.” She muttered.Tristan, already celebrating inwardly, remarked. “Yeah, so what do you say?”“You should head back to Connor Group for now,” Sara said. “I'll join you as soon as possible.”Tristan nearly coughed up blood as he stared at Sara. Why was she so adamant about leaving with Alistair?Infuriated, Tristan barely managed to remain calm as he remarked. “I see. Alright then, I guess I'll be on my way then.”Then, he turned and made to leave.Just then, he noticed they were on their way down a flight of stairs leading to the parking lot of the courthouse.Immediately, he had a bright i

Miller looked up, his eyes snapping with irritation. "Who the hell are you? We’re busy saving a life here, kid. Get back behind the line!""I'm a physician," Alistair replied, stepping forward. "Her heart isn't the primary issue. Her left lung has collapsed, and the pressure is shifting her mediastinum. You need to perform a needle decompression immediately, or her heart will stop in less than sixty seconds."The younger medic let out a derisive snort. "A physician? You look like you just walked out of a high school graduation. We’ve got state-of-the-art medics here, and they say it’s a cardiac rhythm issue. Move aside before I have the building security toss you out for interference.""The monitor is reading the electrical interference of a struggling heart, not the cause," Alistair warned, his gaze turning icy. "Look at her trachea. It’s shifting to the right. Do you not see the signs, or are you just that incompetent?""That’s enough!" Miller yelled, reaching for the AED paddles. "

Alistair didn't bother to correct Sara.He knew the X-rays would come back clear, and he knew Tristan would simply pivot to a "soft tissue injury" that no machine could disprove.It was a tired script."Alistair!"A sharp, panicked voice broke through their standoff.Ronald Ray came running down the hallway, nearly skidding on the linoleum floor.He was breathless, his tie slightly askew."Master Reid! She’s awake! The nurses are confused, they’re saying her vitals are perfect but they can't understand the puncture wound—the lead doctor is demanding to know who performed the 'unauthorized surgery' in the lobby!"Sara let go of Alistair’s arm, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Unauthorized surgery? Ronald, what are you talking about?"Ronald looked at Sara, then at Alistair, realization dawning on him. "Oh, Mrs. Connor. You're here too? Well, you missed it. Master Reid just saved a woman’s life in the middle of a lobby with nothing but an IV needle and sheer nerve. It was... it was inc

"It's a simple question, Joseph.” Alistair calmly remarked. “If the medication is safe, there’s no harm in naming it. Unless, of course, you aren't buying what's on the prescription." "Are you accusing me of something?" Joseph stepped closer, trying to use his height to intimidate Alistair. "I’m her brother. Who are you to come in here and question my loyalty to my family?""I am the man holding the needle that let the air out of her chest," Alistair said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy whisper. "And right now, I’m the only thing standing between your sister and a 'relapse' that she won't wake up from."Joan looked back and forth between them, her eyes wide with mounting dread. "Joseph... What is the name of the pills? The ones in the blue bottle you brought over last week?"Joseph turned to his mother, his expression softening into a mask of hurt. "Mom, you’re listening to this stranger? I got them from the pharmacy on the 4th! They’re just supplements!""A tension pneumotho

For the first time, the bravado Joseph had built up through years of being doted on crumbled instantly."Let... let go..." Joseph wheezed, his voice trembling as much as his knees.Alistair leaned in, his voice a low, terrifying whisper that only Joseph could hear. "Get out before I lose my temper.”Then, he shoved him toward the door. Joseph stumbled, nearly falling over his own feet, before scrambling out of the ward without looking back.He didn't even stop to pick up his shattered teeth.The silence that followed was heavy with the scent of antiseptic and raw grief.Joan sank into the chair by the bed, her shoulders shaking with silent, broken sobs. Denise reached out a pale hand, resting it on her mother’s arm, her own eyes red with unshed tears."I'm sorry you had to witness that, Miss Lowe," Alistair said, his voice returning to its calm, detached baseline as if he hadn't just nearly crushed a man’s spirit. "But men like your brother only understand one language: the language