"Selene..."Xavier's voice was hoarse, each syllable strained as though it had been dragged from the depths of his throat."Selene... where is the serum?"The door slammed shut behind him.A sharp smell spread through the living room as fresh blood dripped from his clothes onto the floor.His once-black combat jacket had been torn in several places, exposing deep gashes that stretched across his chest and arms.Dried blood clung to his skin, while new wounds continued to seep crimson, leaving a trail of bloody footprints with every unsteady step he took.In his right hand, he still gripped a machete.Its blade was chipped beyond recognition, covered in blackened blood and pieces of rotten flesh. It was obvious the weapon had been through a brutal fight.His breathing came in ragged gasps. “Selene, are you even listening to me?”Every breath sent a sharp pain shooting through his body, but he forced himself to stay conscious. His gaze swept across the room until it landed on the woman

Darkness swallowed everything. There was no pain, no sound, no sense of time, only an endless void that seemed to stretch on forever. Then, without warning, a violent force yanked at his consciousness, dragging him upward as if invisible hands had reached into the abyss and pulled him back. Xavier shot upright in the hospital bed, a sharp gasp tearing from his throat as though he had just been pulled from the depths of the ocean after drowning. His chest rose and fell violently as he instinctively reached for the place where the bullet had pierced through him only moments ago. His fingers met intact skin. There was no wound, no blood soaking through his clothes, and no agonizing pain tearing through his chest. A look of confusion flashed across his face as his eyes swept across the unfamiliar surroundings. Sterile white walls reflected the fluorescent lights overhead, while the faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air. Nearby, medical equipment emitted steady electronic

"What am I doing here?" Xavier let out a quiet laugh before lifting his gaze to meet Selene's eyes. "I'd rather ask what you're doing here. Is this your so-called busy schedule? I thought you were occupied with company affairs."The smile on Selene's face froze.For the first time since she arrived, a flicker of panic crossed her features. She hadn't expected Xavier to appear here, much less catch her walking into the restaurant with George.Before she could think of an explanation, George stepped forward with an anxious expression."Brother Xavier, you've misunderstood." His voice trembled ever so slightly as though he had been wronged. "Sister Selene only brought me here because my kitten finally recovered. I wanted to thank her for taking care of us these past few days."He hesitated before forcing a bitter smile."But... didn't you also tell Sister Selene you were unconscious in the hospital? If you're here now..." His eyes lowered guiltily. "Were you actually following us?” Sele

Daisy rested her chin lightly against her fingers, the amusement in her eyes deepening."I never thought I'd hear those words from you," she remarked with a quiet laugh. "If the people in the business circle heard Xavier Lancaster admit he'd finally woken up, they'd think the world was ending."Xavier smiled faintly but offered no explanation, there was nothing he could say that she would believe.How could he tell her he had already watched the world collapse once? That he had seen entire cities overrun by zombies, witnessed governments fall within weeks, and died at the hands of the woman he had loved?No one would accept such a story.Instead, he reached into the document case beside his chair and placed a neatly organized folder on the table."This is why I asked to meet you."Daisy's playful expression gradually faded, she lowered her eyes to the documents before opening the folder.The very first page made her eyebrows rise.Share Transfer Agreement.She flipped through several

The headquarters of Horizon Technologies stood proudly in the heart of the city's financial district, its towering glass exterior reflecting the brilliant morning sunlight. Employees moved in and out of the revolving doors as they began another busy workday, completely unaware that the calmness around them would turn into chaos very soon.Near the company entrance, Kate Wilson stood quietly with a cardboard box clutched tightly against her chest. Inside were the few personal belongings the security guards had allowed her to take after escorting her out of the building. Every few moments, she glanced anxiously toward the road, hoping Xavier would arrive soon, though she couldn't help wondering whether he would be able to help at all after being suspended himself.While she was lost in thought, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.George walked out from the company lobby accompanied by two security guards. The smile on his face widened the moment he spotted Kate still stand