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Caleb gripped the key Mr. Callahan had given him, its cold metal a stark contrast to the burning confusion in his mind. This new identity, handed to him almost casually after years of searching, left a bitter taste. He had found his family, yes, but disappointment coiled in his gut. The man who was his father, the one who had unknowingly raised the son of his mother's killer, the one whose adopted son had publicly shamed him—it was too much to reconcile. He found himself already plotting Tony's demise, a vengeful fire igniting within him. This wasn't just about Cathy anymore. Tony wasn't just a rival for a woman; he was the blood relative of a murderer. He scoffed, pulling out his button phone. His thumb hovered over Diana's number. A week ago, they had made a deal: she would help him find his identity, and he would play her fiancé to crash the engagement meeting.Now, he had the answers, but the truth felt like a heavier burden than the search. He hesitated, a long moment stretching as he weighed the complexities of his new reality against the simple promise he'd made. But he couldn't leave her to struggle alone. He needed to tell her not to worry,He pressed Diana’s contact "Hey," he said, once she answered. "I need to meet. I have some huge news." "Me too!" Diana’s voice buzzed with an excitement that mirrored his own. "Why didn't you call earlier?" "Just got free," he answered, letting the lie hang. "Thought you'd call too." "I was going to, after work. Meet me in front of the hospital by 5 PM?" By 5 PM, Caleb's bike was already parked by the curb in front of Reed Medical Center. He leaned against it, dressed in his black denim, a plain white singlet under a black jacket. The key from Mr. Callahan felt like a hot stone in his pocket. Then, she appeared. Diana emerged from the hospital's grand entrance, a vision of composure in a smart business dress, walking with a regal poise that drew eyes. He gave a slight wave. She saw him, her face lighting up with a genuine smile. "Hi! That's a nice jacket you have there. It would fit me so well," she said, her voice light. Without a second thought, she dropped her elegant handbag onto the seat of his motorbike. Caleb offered a small smile and scratched the back of his head, feeling a familiar awkwardness. "Let's talk in the car." She pressed her car keys. A Mercedes sedan, sleek and dark, beeped in response. Caleb glanced at his humble bike, then at the expensive car, a wry smile touching his lips. He picked up her bag and followed. Inside the quiet luxury of the Mercedes, Caleb began. "I've been holding back from saying this, but guess what happened?" They had only met three times, yet a strange ease had settled between them, a comfort that felt far older than their brief acquaintance. "What?" she asked, turning to him, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Well, I found my identity! Guess who?" Caleb blurted, a thrill running through him. But Diana didn't look surprised. Not even a flicker. "You already know?" The question felt like a punch to the gut. His voice dropped, disappointment lacing his tone. "Is that why you called? is that what you wanted to say? How many people knows about this?" The thought that she might have been privy to his deepest secret, while he’d agonized over revealing it, stung. "Partly," she admitted, her gaze steady. "I already knew Mr. Callahan was your father. He came to me to know about you, and I did the DNA." "But why didn't you tell me as soon as you found out?" His voice held a trace of accusation. "I tried calling you, but it didn't go through," she explained. "Also, I needed to adhere to policies." She stopped, her eyes flicking to something in his hair. She reached out, her fingers brushing his temple to remove a loose thread. The sudden proximity, the warmth of her touch, created a charged, awkward silence. The air thickened between them, a silent invitation. She cleared her throat, pulling back abruptly. "Well, that's not all I wanted to say!" She fiddled with her seatbelt. "My father has been hounding me about meeting your family. I didn't know what to tell them, especially about how I knew my brother Michael had your file. I'm not sure how much they know, but I'm very sure they haven't found out about your relationship with Callahan." "What?" Caleb asked, reeling. "I thought you cleared him? Said there was nothing going on between us after the meeting that day?" "No, I didn't," she stammered, her gaze dropping. "I... I..." "You what?" Caleb prompted, his patience wearing thin. "I don't want to tell him that. I want him to believe we're really dating. Let him plan the wedding. On the day of the wedding, we'll bail," Diana suggested, her voice gaining a desperate conviction. "What?" Caleb's jaw dropped. "What are you thinking, Diana? Are you willing to hurt your father's feelings all because he wants the best for you?" "If he wanted the best for me, he'd accept this deal," she countered, a spark of defiance in her eyes. "I helped you find your family. If I hadn't taken you to that engagement, you wouldn't have known." Her voice softened, a manipulative edge entering it. "Besides, don't you want to know how Cathy is living?" Caleb stiffened. He hadn't told Diana about Cathy. The mention sent a chill down his spine. "You know, you'd fit in as a spy much more than a doctor, Ms. Reed. I've already helped you with the engagement. What more trouble do you want to put me through? Look for someone else to play your fake fiancé and leave me alone." He reached for the door handle. Diana moved swiftly, grabbing him from behind, her arms locking around his waist. "Please, Caleb, save me this once! Please! You have the looks, the height, everything I need in a man. Just help me this once. Meet my grandfather and my family. I promise I will cancel this myself after I get promoted to professor." Her voice was a plea, raw and urgent. .
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The grand hall of the Reed Hospital remained tense after Diana’s declaration. Mr. Reed and Michael, exposed to the shocked shareholders, offered weak excuses. Their authority was gone. Diana, with Ms. Davies beside her, moved with quiet purpose, securing her win. She made sure the independent audit began, with a clear focus on all transactions and communications involving her shares and the hospital’s recent business. Her presence alone shifted power, but her calm actions cemented her control.“Ms. Davies, make sure everything is checked,” Diana instructed, her voice low but firm, as the remaining shareholders left, talking about the day’s revelations. “Every suspicious activity, every questionable transfer. We need solid proof.”Ms. Davies, with new determination in her eyes, nodded. “It’s as good as done, Dr. Reed. They won’t know what hit them.”Diana’s face stayed calm, but a quiet, fierce satisfaction burned inside her. She had taken back her place, but the fight was not over. Sh
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A stunned silence hung over the grand hall after Tony Callahan’s frantic exit. His wild accusations and desperate betrayal of Mr. Reed and Michael echoed in everyone’s minds, leaving behind thick, uncomfortable tension. All eyes were now on Diana, seated calmly beside Ms. Davies. Despite everything she’d been through, her presence radiated quiet strength and control.Mr. Reed, looking pale and rattled, was the first to speak, though his voice wavered.“This... this is outrageous! I... we... we thought you were dead!” he stammered, scrambling to hold onto his authority, but it was slipping fast.Michael, just as pale, said nothing. His mouth hung slightly open. Tony’s outburst had wrecked everything they’d carefully planned. Their alliance and true intentions were now wide open to every shareholder in the room.Diana looked straight at Mr. Reed, her expression calm but unflinching.“On the contrary, Mr. Reed,” she said, her voice sharp and composed, slicing through the awkward silence.
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Days passed quietly in the hidden cabin. Caleb and Diana lived in a strange rhythm of waiting and planning. The old radio device sat silent, like a patient guard. Caleb kept sending out coded signals faint whispers into the shadow network hoping K.J. would pick them up. He also worked on the old laptop he’d found in the cabin, trying to set up a basic, secure connection. Just enough to check the news, nothing that could be traced."Still nothing?" Diana asked one afternoon, her voice low. She sat by the small window, staring out at the endless trees.Caleb shook his head. "Not yet. K.J.’s careful. He won’t reply until he’s sure it’s really me and it’s safe." His fingers tapped restlessly on the table. Waiting was the hardest part, especially knowing their enemies thought they had already won.They spent hours going over their plan. They needed proof not just guesses about Tony and the Reeds. They had to know every part of the enemy's strategy. Diana, sharp and thoughtful, helped Cal
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The biting cold of the ocean clung to Caleb and Diana as they walked from the dark water. Every muscle screamed in protest, their lungs burning with the effort. They moved away from the shore, their wet clothes heavy and suffocating, each step on the rocky, uneven ground a struggle. The distant, faint sirens were a stark reminder of the world they needed to disappear from."This way," Caleb gasped, his voice tight, guiding Diana towards a dense thicket of gnarled trees that promised deeper concealment.They pushed through the undergrowth, branches clawing at their skin, the leaves slapping wetly against their faces. They moved higher, away from the immediate coastline, until they found a small, natural indentation in the rock, almost a shallow cave, hidden by thick, low-hanging foliage. It offered scant shelter, but it was dry enough to escape the direct chill of the wind.Inside, they shivered violently, wrapped in each other's arms for a shred of warmth. The initial shock of surviva
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Hold on tight, Diana!" Caleb yelled, his voice raw with urgency. He reached out, pulling Diana close to him with his free arm, shielding her body with his own as the car spun out of control.The car slammed into the road barrier with a horrifying screech of tearing, twisting metal. The barrier, meant to protect cars from falling, splintered and broke apart under the force of the impact. For a chilling, endless second, the car flew through the air, suspended above the dark, hungry waves. Then, with a deafening, thunderous splash, it plunged down into the freezing ocean below.Water instantly rushed into the car, cold and dark, swallowing them whole. The vehicle sank with terrifying speed, dragged down by its own heavy weight into the ocean's depths.Caleb's mind, against all odds, snapped into survival mode. His thoughts were clear and sharp, cutting through the shock and the freezing water. He remembered the strict, intense training Mr. Callahan had put him through, the drills for suc
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The night city hummed outside the tall windows of Tony Callahan's office. He held his phone, his voice low and sharp, filled with a cold anger."Hey Christopher," Tony began, "do you know when Caleb will be going home from the office?"Christopher's voice came through the line, calm and professional. "He will be going in a few minutes, Mr. Tony. His car is already prepared downstairs."A cruel smile touched Tony's lips. "Good. Make sure you mess with the car according to the plan.""Yes, sir," Christopher confirmed without hesitation.In his spacious office at Fiona's Empire, Caleb looked at the time. It was late, but a new idea had sparked in his mind. He pulled out his phone and called Diana."What's up, babe," Caleb said, his voice dropping to a softer tone he reserved just for her. "What if we go out for a date tonight? You know, just the two of us, before the shareholders meeting?"Diana's voice on the other end held a hint of surprise, then pleasure. "Alright, that sounds cool.
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