Jason Blackwell pushed through the hospital doors with hurried steps, his breathing uneven. The cold night air slammed into his face, yet it did nothing to cool the pressure crushing his chest.“No. No. No,” he kept chanting under his breath. “This can't be happening.”His mind was a complete mess.The doctor’s words kept replaying inside his head like a cursed recording that refused to stop.“Five hundred thousand dollars.”“Emergency surgery.”“Your mother will not survive much longer.”Jason rubbed his forehead roughly as he walked toward the roadside. He quickly pulled out his phone and checked the time.Every second felt like someone tightening a rope around his neck.“Please hold on, Mom,” Jason whispered shakily. “Just hold on a little longer.”His mother was still lying inside that hospital room with machines connected to her weak body. “She's the only family I have, I can't let anything happen to her,” Jason released a quiet breath.She had worked herself sick just to feed

The rain fell heavily as Jason Blackwell stepped through the gates of the Hale mansion.He didn't even notice that his clothes were already soaked. His mind was still trapped inside the living room."I never truly considered you my husband.""You were only a temporary solution."Jason stopped walking and slowly looked back at the mansion."Three years..." His voice was barely audible. "Three years, Davina?" He laughed bitterly. "Was everything really a lie?"His phone suddenly rang again and Jason immediately answered. "Doctor?""Mr. Blackwell, where are you?" The doctor asked. "I'm on my way." Jason said quickly."Jason, you need to understand something." The doctor's voice became serious. "We can't keep your mother in that condition much longer.""I know." Jason answered."Do you have the money?" The doctor asked. Jason fell silent. "No.""Then you need to find it quickly." The doctor said with a sigh."I will." Jason said."How quickly?" The doctor asked.Jason looked up at the d

The black vehicles raced through the rain.Jason sat in the back seat, gripping the strange black card tightly. His eyes remained fixed on Marcus."What did you mean when you said nobody told me about the second test?"Marcus sat opposite him. "Exactly what I said."Jason's voice became impatient. "Then explain it."Marcus remained silent.Jason leaned forward. "My mother has less than ten minutes.""Your mother will be fine.""You keep saying that." Jason snapped."Because it's true.""Then prove it." Jason said loudly. Marcus looked at the driver. "How much longer?""Four minutes." The driver replied. Jason frowned. "Four minutes until what?"Marcus looked back at him. "Until the hospital receives the money."Jason's eyes widened. "You already transferred it?""No.""Then what are you waiting for?" Jason asked."The authorization.""Authorization from who?" Jason asked again.Marcus didn't answer.Jason's patience disappeared."Listen, Marcus. I don't know who you people are, and

Jason stood frozen at the top of the hidden staircase.The voice came again from below. "Jason..."His heart began pounding. He knew that voice. Or at least, he thought he did."Father?"Marcus immediately grabbed his arm. "Don't go down there."Jason pulled his arm away. "That was my father's voice.""You never heard your father's voice.”Jason turned toward him "What?"Marcus stared at him. "You were six years old when Richard disappeared.""I remember him.""You remember what your mother told you about him." Jason said.Jason frowned. "I remember his face.""Do you?"Jason stared at Marcus. "What are you trying to say?"Marcus pointed toward the staircase. "Someone is using an old recording."Jason looked back into the darkness.His father's voice came again. "Jason, if you're hearing this, then they have finally found you."Jason's expression changed.Marcus stepped forward. "That's not possible."The voice continued. "Don't trust anyone."Jason's breathing became shallow. "Father

The car moved through the darkness at full speed. Jason sat quietly in the back seat, staring at the photograph of his father.Marcus sat opposite him.For several minutes, neither man spoke.Finally, Jason broke the silence, "How far?""Twenty minutes."Jason looked at him, "You said the estate was destroyed.""It was.""Then why are we going there?" Jason asked. "Because if your father left something behind, that's where he would have hidden it."Jason looked down at the photograph, "Did you ever go there after he disappeared?""Once.""What did you find?" Jason asked."Nothing."Jason frowned, "Nothing?""The entire property had been burned.""Then why do you think something is still there?" Jason asked, confused.Marcus looked out the window, "Because your father never trusted banks."Jason gave a faint smile, "Apparently, neither do I anymore."Marcus looked at him, "There's something else you need to know.""What?""The Blackwell estate wasn't destroyed by an accident."Jason's