Chapter 4

Silas POV

That night, I didn't return to the villa.

I sat all night on a hospital bench. The wound on my hand was simply bandaged.

At three in the morning, a violent coughing fit woke me.

A metallic sweetness surged up my throat. I covered my mouth, coughing my lungs out.

Opening my palm, I saw a pool of horrifying black blood.

This was a sign my organs were beginning to fail.

The bullet in my spine had compressed too long. Toxins had already invaded my bloodstream. My body was long past the point of collapse.

"Mr. Sterling, you really can't delay any longer."

The doctor on duty was a young man, not the one Zane had bribed.

Looking at my examination report, his brow furrowed tight. "If we don't operate immediately to remove the foreign object, you could die suddenly at any time. We must notify your family to sign immediately."

I smiled bitterly. I had no family. My only relatives were the Williams siblings.

But now, Leah wished I were dead.

"No need."

I pulled a pen from my pocket and on that flimsy critical condition notice, signed my own name.

The handwriting was a bit crooked because my vision was starting to blur again.

"I'll sign myself."

The doctor froze. "But this surgery has extremely high risks, the mortality rate-"

"I'm not having surgery."

I interrupted him, handing back the notice.

"Just prescribe me those painkillers. Preferably something that keeps me alert."

Even if it was just a last burst of energy before death.

I still had one last thing to do.

Leaving the hospital as dawn was breaking.

I called my old friend in forensic medicine, Nathan Cole.

"Nathan, I need a favor."

On the other end, Nathan's voice was groggy. "Early morning call, what's up?"

"In a month, I might be dead." I spoke calmly. "When that happens, I need you to personally perform my autopsy."

Deathly silence on the other end.

After a long while, Nathan finally cursed through gritted teeth. "Silas, what the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm not crazy. There's something in my spine. Only you can remove it, and only you dare tell the truth."

I looked at the rising sun, but felt no warmth. "It's the truth about Ethan's death. Nathan, I'm begging you."

After hanging up, I took a deep breath, pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in half, and threw it in the trash.

When I returned to the villa, Leah was sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.

Seeing me come in looking haggard, her hand holding the spoon paused. A flash of barely perceptible panic crossed her eyes, but was quickly covered by coldness.

"Gone all night-getting bold, aren't we?" She spoke coldly, her gaze falling on my bandaged hand, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. "What happened to your hand?"

I instinctively hid my hand behind my back.

"Nothing. Just accidentally cut it."

"Good thing it's nothing."

Zane came out of the kitchen carrying hot milk. Seeing me, he immediately put on a friendly face. "Silas is back? Perfect timing. The champagne spill from last night hasn't been cleaned up yet. The cleaner called in sick, so I'll have to trouble Silas."

Leah said nothing, just lowered her head to have her oatmeal. Tacit approval.

I looked at the floor covered in glass shards and dried wine stains, nausea rising in my stomach.

But I didn't object.

"Okay."

I agreed and turned to get the broom.

The instant I turned, everything went black and I fell forward uncontrollably.

Bang!

My forehead slammed hard into the door frame.

"Silas!"

Behind me came the harsh sound of a chair scraping.

Leah had almost instantly stood up, her voice carrying a tremor she herself didn't notice. "What's wrong with you?"

I lay on the floor. It took several seconds before I could barely prop up my body.

My vision slowly recovered a bit. I saw Leah standing two steps away from me, her hand extended in mid-air as if wanting to help me, but then rigidly pulled back.

"Didn't sleep well. My blood sugar's low."

I supported myself on the door frame and stood up, forcing out an ugly smile. "Don't worry, I won't die."

Leah flinched as if stung.

The panic in her eyes quickly faded, becoming hard again.

"Who's worried about you?"

She sat back down and picked up her spoon, but didn't take another bite. "Since you're not dead, get to work. Stop being an eyesore here."

I nodded and took the broom toward the living room.

Behind me, Zane said quietly, "Leah, look at him, acting like nothing happened. Definitely faking again."

Leah didn't respond.

But I could feel a complicated gaze fixed on my back.

Leah, if one day you knew what kind of pain I endured while sweeping for you, would you feel even a little bit sorry?