Everyone could see that it was Loak, who had been missing all this time. He seemed to be smiling lightly.By now, Cane and Dylan had reached them. Together, they lifted the man off Loak's back, exclaiming loudly, "It's Mr. Rory! It’s him!”Joy surged in my heart. "Dad!"As I was about to rush over, I saw Loak collapse."Loak!" Anya's crying voice echoed.Stunned, I looked at the man they had brought down and then at the fallen Loak. My first instinct was to rush to Loak's side.Atlas came over to check on Loak's injuries. I saw that he was wounded in the abdomen and chest. Blood was still oozing out from his wounds."Loak. Wake up." I tapped his face gently. He was terribly pale now, indicating his severe injuries.Anya sobbed uncontrollably, kneeling beside me and pleading, "Mrs. Chloe, save my brother. Please save him.”"Atlas, we need to save Loak." I looked at Atlas.Atlas got up and checked on them. Then, he took out his phone and made a call before he gave instructions
I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. I never expected that Loak would run back with my father in those final moments. He had managed to do it amidst gunfire with heavy injuries as well.I felt greatly indebted to him and I was determined to save him.I stayed by his side with Anya while my father got in another helicopter. I wanted to see him properly, but I knew that Loak needed care more urgently.Millard was also now unconscious. Tristan told me that he had shielded us with all his might, preventing the Non-Organization from catching up to us.The final battle was fierce, and Millard had been shot multiple times."I didn't expect him to be so tough. He fought to the death against his subordinates and the Non-Organization. Without him, Navi’s men would have been in chaos, and the reinforcements would have suffered casualties," Tristan said as he sat on the ground, looking at me."What about Stella?" I still couldn't shake off my resentment toward that traitor.Tristan shook h
The man lying on the hospital bed before me was frail and weak. He was nothing but skin and bones. He resembled a skeleton. His hair was gray, his cheeks were sunken, and only his cheekbones remained prominent, making him look much older than his actual age. But it was clear that he had been handsome. You could see it amidst his pallid complexion.His condition made it clear that he had been confined underground for a long time. Coupled with malnutrition, he basically looked half-dead.I couldn't imagine how he had survived these past twenty years.He still hadn't regained consciousness. If it weren’t for his faint breaths, I wouldn’t have believed he was still alive. I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do, my emotions running high.Atlas embraced me and gently guided me forward. "This is your father. The examination results aren't out yet. Let's wait."I turned to Atlas. "Is this really my father?""Yes, it’s your father who loves you deeply." Atlas's gaze was serious
There was a moment of silence, and I anxiously gripped the phone in my hand. Truth be told, I had been afraid that Anson wouldn't pick up or would say something hurtful.In many ways, I had been lying to Millard before.But this call was real. There had been no prior communication, and I wasn't sure if Anson would understand my hints.Anson’s silence made me incredibly nervous. I just wanted Millard to receive affirmation from Anson in his last moments.Once again, I was betting on Anson's kindness.But I didn't expect Anson to react like this. After a brief pause, he immediately said, "Millard? Did you really find him? Where is he?""Dad, listen, Millard wants to talk to you," I said, switching the phone to speaker mode and holding it up to Millard's mouth.On the phone, Anson called out again. "Millard?"Millard seemed to gain some strength, as if he had been injected with a stimulant. "Dad... I'm sorry. Dad, I was wrong.”His weak voice traversed time and space, reaching An
Two hours later, we went to the airport and returned to Foswood, heading straight to the Klinein Hospital.Upon arrival at the hospital, we found that everything had been arranged. The top expert team arranged by Atlas was waiting in the hospital, ready to conduct a comprehensive examination on my father.Loak was admitted to the intensive care unit, and I comforted Anya. I led her to the room arranged for Loak, urging her to rest as soon as possible.Until then, I waited anxiously outside the examination room, awaiting the results of the examination for my father.Every nerve in my body was still tense. I still didn't know my father's condition or if he could stand again.There were still many mysteries waiting for my father to unravel. The Pierce family's vendetta had yet to be avenged. The reason the non-organization had been trying to find my father, as well as the involvement of Stella and so on, had not been answered yet.Too many things were related to him, making him the
When I woke up, the sharp scent of hospital disinfectant filled my nose. Groggily turning over, I collided with a warm body.I quickly opened my eyes to find Atlas lying beside me. Staring at him in confusion, I struggled to grasp what was happening.He looked at me with a tender smile and gently kissed me. "Good morning, sleepyhead. Are you finally awake?”Still dazed, I mumbled, "What time is it?""It's 7," he replied softly."7?" I blinked, suddenly realizing it was evening. But why did it still seem like dawn outside?"7 p.m.," Atlas clarified.I gasped, glancing outside and then back at him. "It's 7 p.m.? Then... where's Dad?" Uncertain, I asked, trying to make sense of it all."He woke up briefly, then dozed off again. The doctor says he's finally getting some real rest," Atlas informed me in a gentle tone.Relief flooded through me. So, it was all real—my biological father was truly back.With a surge of happiness, I sat up abruptly, ready to get out of bed. Atlas's
Arnold strutted in with indifference, voicing his reproach for Atlas. "I told you that you shouldn't have let her go there. Look at how precarious it turned out. It’s almost cost my nephew's life.""Atlas, let me tell you, you're too arrogant. If something were to happen, you'd regret it big time, wouldn't you? Besides..."Atlas and I exchanged a glance, both of us chiming in unison, "Enough."Seeing the synchrony between us, Arnold pointed at me angrily. "You're just heartless."I laughed and collapsed into Atlas's embrace. At that moment, I felt incredibly happy. It was no wonder I couldn’t control the urge to vomit when I smelled blood at Navi’s base.Just thinking about it made my stomach churn, and it felt like that bloody odor was assaulting me again."Ugh..."I clamped my hand over my mouth, feeling the sweat beads forming on my forehead.Atlas immediately tensed up, swiftly jumping out of bed to carry me to the bathroom, where I retched.He gently patted my back as he
"I have a plan." Atlas asserted confidently."What plan?" Arnold asked."I'll tell you tonight.""Okay." Arnold nodded.I felt uneasy. I put down the spoon in my hand and looked at Atlas. "Atlas, aren’t you getting too comfortable at deceiving me? Has it become a routine for you now?"Atlas's smile was charming as he sat down behind me. "No way, I can't keep it from you this time. You need to know our entire plan to work with us. But with so many people around in the hospital, we need to be careful."His reasoning seemed sound, and after a moment of hesitation, I glanced at the door and nodded. "Alright then. But remember what you said."After finishing my meal, I pushed the small table away. "I need to go see my dad."Atlas, seeing that I wasn't pressing further, accompanied me to my father's room. Luckily, he had just woken up. When he saw us enter, his eyes lit up, and he seemed to regain some spirit. "Stella, you're awake."His voice was hoarse. I quickly took a cotton s