Kei sat by Rena’s bedside, his hand gently holding hers. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room, a constant reminder of her fragile state. He watched her face intently, searching for any sign of consciousness, his heart aching with worry.
After what felt like an eternity, Rena’s eyelids fluttered. Kei leaned forward, his heart pounding in his chest. “Dove? Can you hear me?” he asked, his voice trembling with hope.
Rena’s eyes slowly opened, her gaze unfocused at first. She blinked a few times, trying to make sense of her surroundings. When her eyes finally settled on Kei, a weak smile tugged at her lips. “Kei…?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kei’s relief was palpable. He squeezed her hand gently, his voice filled with emotion. “I’m here, dove. You’re safe now.”
Rena’s voice was barely a whisper. “What happened?” she asked, confusion and fear mingling in her tone.
“You were attacked,” Kei explained softly, his voice steady but filled with concern. “But you’re going to be okay. The doctors took care of you.”
Rena’s brow furrowed as she tried to recall the events. “I remember… a man… he came out of nowhere,” she said, her voice trembling.
Kei nodded, his expression darkening. “We’ll find out who did this. I promise you,” he vowed, his voice firm with determination.
Rena’s grip on his hand tightened slightly. “I’m scared, Kei,” she admitted, her voice breaking.
Kei leaned closer, his voice filled with reassurance. “You don’t have to be. I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said, his eyes locked on hers.
Just then, Dr. Lawson entered the room, his presence a stark contrast to the tender moment. “Good to see you’re awake, Ms. Reyes. How are you feeling?” he asked, his tone professional but gentle.
Rena glanced at the doctor, then back at Kei. “Tired… but okay,” she replied, her voice weak.
Dr. Lawson nodded, checking her vitals with a practiced hand. “You need to rest. Your body has been through a lot,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Kei looked at Lawson, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and suspicion. “Thank you, Dr. Lawson,” he said, his voice sincere but cautious.
Lawson’s gaze was unreadable. “Just doing my job. But remember, she needs to stay calm and avoid stress,” he advised, his tone firm.
Kei nodded, understanding the underlying message. “I’ll make sure of it,”
As Dr. Lawson left the room, Kei turned back to Rena, his expression softening. “Get some rest, love. I’ll be right here,” he said, his voice tender.
Rena’s eyes began to close again, exhaustion taking over. “Thank you, Kei… for everything,” she murmured, her voice fading.
Kei stayed by Rena’s side, watching over her as she slept. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor.
Hours passed, and Rena stirred again, her eyes slowly opening. Kei was immediately alert, leaning closer. “Hey, how are you feeling?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Rena managed a small smile. “A bit better. Thank you for being here,” she said, her voice soft but grateful.
Kei squeezed her hand gently. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he replied, his voice warm with affection.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Azul stepped in, his expression serious. “How is she?” he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Kei glanced at Azul, then back at Rena. “She’s awake. Still weak, but she’s going to be okay,” he said, his voice steady.
Azul nodded, relief evident in his eyes. “Good. We need to talk, though. We checked the cameras, It was Whitlock,” he said, his tone grave.
“Whitlock? Why did he attack me? What if he tries again? ” she asked, her voice trembling.
Kei nodded, his jaw clenched. “We’re going to find him and make sure he can’t hurt you or anyone else again,” he said, his voice wavering slightly.
“Kei, what’s wrong?” Rena asked, sensing his unease.
Kei took a deep breath, his grip on her hand tightening. “Rena, there’s something you need to know. It’s about Whitlock,” he said, his voice heavy with reluctance.
Rena’s eyes widened, fear creeping back into her heart. “What about him?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kei glanced at the door, making sure they were alone. “Whitlock… is your father,” he revealed, his voice filled with sorrow.
Rena’s breath caught in her throat. “What?,” she said, her voice shaking with disbelief.
Kei’s expression was pained. “Your father is Liam Whitlock, a Scab for the Mafia. Mr. Emerson confirmed it,” he said, his voice filled with regret.
Rena’s mind raced, trying to process the revelation. “How do you know? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Kei sighed, his eyes filled with regret. “We wanted to protect you. Emerson thought it was best if you never knew. But Whitlock found out about you, and that’s why he’s been after you,” he explained, his voice heavy with guilt.
Tears welled up in Rena’s eyes. Kei nodded, his heart aching for her. “I’m so sorry, Rena. I know this is a lot to take in,” he said, his voice filled with sorrow.
Rena wiped her tears, her expression hardening. “I don’t care who he is. He wasn't there for me as a child, and he tried to kill me. He’ll never be my father,” she said, her voice filled with resolve.
Kei leaned in, his voice gentle but firm. “You’re right. He doesn’t deserve that title. But it was time for you to know the truth,”
Rena took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Thank you for telling me, Kei.” she said, her voice soft but strong.
Kei kissed her forehead, his heart swelling with pride at her strength. “We’ll get through this together, dove. I promise,” he said, his voice filled with love.
“Keiko,” Azul said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. “You should tell her the rest,”
Kei flinched, his expression tensing. Rena squeezed his hand, offering him comfort. “Kei?” her voice soften. “What is it?”
Tears formed at the corner of his eyes. “Whitlock… is the one who killed my parents,” he stuttered, his voice breaking.
Rena’s eyes widened in shock, her grip on Kei’s hand tightening. “Kei…” she whispered, her voice filled with sorrow and disbelief.
Kei looked away, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “I didn’t want to burden you with this, especially now. But you needed to know the truth,” he said, his voice trembling.
Rena reached up, gently touching his cheek, her eyes filled with empathy. “I’m so sorry, Kei. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you.”
Kei took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “It’s been a long time, but the pain never really goes away. Knowing that Whitlock is your father… it complicates things even more.”
Rena’s expression hardened with determination. “He may be my biological father, but he means nothing to me. What matters is that we stop him from hurting anyone else.”
Kei nodded, his resolve strengthening. “You’re right.”
Azul, who had been standing quietly by the door, stepped forward. “We have to move quickly. Whitlock won’t stop until he gets what he wants. We need to be ready for anything.”
Kei looked at Azul, then back at Rena. “We’ll protect you, Rena. No matter what.”
Rena nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “I trust you both. Thank you.”
Unbeknownst to them, Dr. Lawson had paused just outside the door, overhearing the entire conversation. His expression was a mix of surprise and contemplation. He weighed his options quickly, deciding he needed to speak with them and ultimately involve them in his plan to bring Whitlock down. He softly knocked on the door before entering.
“If I may, I’d like to have a word with you two,” Lawson said, his tone measured and his expression unreadable as he glanced between Kei and Azul. “Follow me.”
Kei looked at Azul with concern, his brow furrowing. Azul just shrugged it off and turned to follow Lawson.
“I’ll be right back, Dove. Get some more rest, okay?” Kei said softly to Rena as he stood.
“I will,” she replied, her voice tired but trusting, as she settled more into her bed.
Kei and Azul followed Dr. Lawson to his office. The air was thick with tension as they entered, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the walls. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a large wooden desk, a few chairs, and shelves lined with medical books and equipment. The atmosphere was oppressive, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.
Lawson sat behind his desk, his piercing gaze fixed on them as they approached. His eyes were cold and calculating, a stark contrast to the warmth he usually displayed in the hospital. The flickering light from a single desk lamp cast eerie shadows across his face, making him look almost sinister.
“Sit down,” Lawson commanded, his voice cold and authoritative.
Kei and Azul exchanged a wary glance before taking their seats. The silence in the room was palpable, each second stretching into an eternity. The only sound was the faint ticking of a clock on the wall, each tick amplifying the tension.
Lawson leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “You two have been keeping secrets,” he began, his tone accusatory. “I overheard your conversation with Ms. Reyes. Interesting connections you have there.”
Kei’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching. He could feel the anger rising within him, but he forced himself to stay calm. “We didn’t think it was necessary to tell you,” he replied, his voice strained.
Lawson’s eyes flashed with anger, his expression hardening. “Not necessary? This information changes everything. We need to be united if we’re going to take Whitlock down.”
Azul leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes never leaving Lawson’s. “So, what do you propose we do?” he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of challenge.
Lawson’s lips curled into a smirk, the tension in the room shifting slightly. “We develop a plan. Together. Whitlock is a dangerous man, but he’s not invincible. We can take him down if we work as a team.”
Kei’s eyes narrowed, suspicion still lingering. “What’s your angle, Lawson? Why are you so eager to help us?” he asked, his voice filled with distrust.
Lawson’s smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. “Because Whitlock took something precious from me. And because I believe in justice. Now, are you with me or not?”
Kei and Azul exchanged another glance, the unspoken understanding passing between them. They knew they had no choice but to trust Lawson, at least for now. “We’re with you,” Kei said, his voice resolute.
Lawson nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Good. Then let’s get to work.”
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCI2hkPMVh
