Alexander's POV
Hospital Parking Lot, 3:09PM
Sebastian lowered his voice slightly as he spoke to me.
"One of our men just sent a message," he said carefully. "Zero Veil needs to see you personally."
I stayed silent for a second. My eyes lifted toward the hospital building again.
The glass doors reflected the afternoon light sharply while nurses moved in and out through the entrance. Something about it made my chest tighten slightly.
"Start the car," I told Sebastian quietly.
He nodded and moved quickly. The car engine hummed softly as it came to life.
But instead of entering the car, I turned and walked back toward the hospital.
The automatic doors slid open immediately.
Cold air brushed against my face as I walked through the hallway toward Elena's ward.
I stopped at the door of her ward before opening it. A doctor stood beside her bed. My steps slowed instantly.
His back faced me while he adjusted something beside Elena's bed.
My shoulders stiffened automatically.
The doctor turned at the sound of my footsteps and smiled politely.
"Good evening, sir," he greeted quickly.
I didn't answer immediately. My eyes moved past him toward Elena. She looked exhausted. Her eyes were barely open.
The doctor stepped forward slightly.
"We need to take her for another scan immediately," he explained.
"She'll be brought back as soon as possible."
My eyes flicked toward the clock on the wall. It was 3:20PM. I looked back at Elena again. Her breathing was slow and heavy.
I stepped closer to the bed before speaking calmly.
"She's exhausted."
The doctor smiled awkwardly.
"It won't take long, sir."
I finally looked at him fully.
"No."
The word came out flat.
The doctor's smile stiffened slightly.
"We really need to…"
He stopped speaking.
Because I was staring directly into his eyes.
The silence stretched heavily between us.
The doctor swallowed once before forcing another smile.
"I understand," he said quickly.
He turned slightly like he wanted to leave immediately.
But I stretched my hand out first.
The doctor paused in surprise before shaking it carefully.
"Thank you for taking care of her," I said calmly. "Please extend my gratitude to the medical team."
Relief crossed his face almost instantly.
"Of course, sir. It's our job."
I gave a small nod. Then he left the room quietly.
The moment the door closed, I looked back at Elena. Her eyes were half-open as she watched me weakly.
I moved closer and gently brushed my fingers through her hair before kissing the top of her head softly.
"I love you so much," I murmured.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"You say that a lot."
The weak laugh that followed melted something inside me instantly.
Without thinking, I leaned down and pulled her carefully into my arms.
I held her quietly for a few seconds before speaking again.
"I'll station one of my men outside your room."
Elena looked up at me.
"You don't have to do that."
"I do."
My voice came out firmer than intended. Her eyes softened slightly before she nodded. I kissed her forehead gently before stepping outside the ward.
The moment the door closed behind me, I pulled out my phone.
"Send one of the men to Elena's ward immediately," I ordered Sebastian. "Now."
Less than five minutes later, one of the men arrived.
He stopped directly in front of me and bowed his head.
"Master."
I nodded once before opening the ward door again.
Elena looked toward us immediately.
"This is Grey," I told her calmly. "Lucien Grey."
The man stepped forward slightly. I looked directly at him.
"You protect her like you're protecting me."
"Yes, master."
Elena looked slightly surprised before smiling softly.
"You really didn't have to go this far," she said quietly.
Then she looked toward Grey politely.
"Thank you."
Grey lowered his head respectfully.
I leaned down and placed another soft kiss against Elena's forehead before stepping back.
Lucien walked outside first. I followed after him before giving him one final look. He understood immediately and took his position beside the door. Then I left.
****
Inside the Car, 3:50PM
The car moved quietly along the road.
I sat in the back while Sebastian worked quickly on the tablet beside me.
"Check the hospital footage," I said coldly. "The doctor from Elena's room."
Sebastian nodded and his fingers began to move quickly across the screen.
Seconds passed. Then minutes. The silence inside the car slowly became heavier.
Sebastian stopped moving completely.
My eyes lifted slowly toward him.
"What?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned the tablet slightly toward himself again before checking something twice.
Then finally he spoke.
"Between 3:10PM and 3:30PM…" he said slowly, "the cameras captured nothing."
My jaw tightened slightly.
"What do you mean nothing?"
Sebastian looked disturbed now.
"There's no footage inside Elena's room." He swallowed once. "And none inside the hallway either."
The car suddenly felt colder. My fingers curled slowly into a fist.
Sebastian kept staring at the screen.
"It's blank," he muttered quietly. "Like that timeframe never existed."
Neither of us spoke again after that.
The car sped down the road.
****
Silent Hill Mansion, 4:15PM
By the time we arrived, evening had already started settling over the mansion. The headlights swept across the entrance gates.
Zero Veil stood waiting outside with two bags beside her feet.
The moment I stepped out of the car, she walked toward me immediately. Without wasting time, she held out a small drive.
"I managed to pull something out," she said quietly.
I took it from her carefully. But before I could speak, she adjusted the strap of her bag nervously.
"I have to leave now," she added quickly. "I think I may have been compromised."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed immediately.
Zero Veil gave a dry laugh.
"So for my own safety… disappearing sounds smart."
I looked at her for a second before reaching into my coat and pulling out a cheque.
The moment she saw the amount written on it, she froze. Her eyes widened.
"That's too much."
I stayed silent.
"You're paying me like I finished the entire job," she continued carefully. "But I couldn't."
"You'll need it," I replied simply.
Zero Veil stared at me for another second before slowly taking the cheque.
Then she stretched her hand out.
"If you ever need me again," she said quietly, "I'll come."
I shook her hand once.
Then she turned, picked up her bags, and disappeared into the darkness outside the gates.
Silence followed after she left.
I looked down at the drive in my hand before turning toward Sebastian. He was already watching me carefully.
I slid back into the car slowly.
The drive remained in my palm.
"Ready?" I asked quietly.
Sebastian immediately straightened.
"Yes, master."
I plugged the drive into the computer and the screen came alive.