78
While he spoke, his lips were pale, and the vitality he once had was gone. Before Stacy could ask, he turned and walked forward, remaining silent until everyone was safely delivered to their destination.
After everything was settled, the central government quickly dispatched a team to retrieve Nate and the others.
*Stacy, you’ve worked hard,” said the inspector warmly. “I heard you nearly lost your life protecting the documents. We all deeply admire you!”
Stacy shook the inspector’s hand firmly. “It’s our duty. Anyone else in my place would have done the same. For the sake of the motherland, they wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice everything.”
truly
The two inspectors sitting nearby rose and applauded her words. Such a courageous American girl was tri extraordinary!
After handing over the personnel, Stacy felt an unshakable gaze following her, but she couldn’t pinpoint its
source.
Outside, her attention was abruptly drawn to the tall figure of a man collapsing before her. Only then did she understand why Tara’s face had been full of worry along the way–Nate had been shot while saving her.
Unwilling to cause alarm, Nate had only received basic first aid on the plane and had forced himself to stay upright until he witnessed her successfully complete the mission. The moment it was over, he collapsed.
They rushed him into the car and sped to the hospital.
When the operating room lights flicked on, Stacy found herself in a daze. The relentless days of running and danger had left her tense, but she hadn’t broken. Now, seeing him being wheeled into surgery, her composure
crumbled.
Tara paced anxiously, muttering prayers to every deity and ancestor he could think of. When Stacy asked why, he explained, “Whenever the major general gets injured. I pray to the ancestors for his safety”
Stacy mimicked him, clutching the cross in her hand tightly.
“Tara,” she asked hesitantly, “can I know your major general’s full name?”
Their voices echoed in the quiet corridor. His answer–Nate–confirmed the suspicion she had held in her heart.
While the chaos in Scarborough was finally settling, unrest brewed elsewhere. Across the city, Pat sat restlessly in a conference room. The manager was presenting monthly and quarterly reports, but the moment Pat received a photo of a woman, he abandoned the meeting entirely.
Left alone, the manager endured the scolding of the board. “Meeting dismissed! Taylor’s company is as good as
dead!”
“It’s bad luck to work under a boss like him,” someone muttered.
For three years, Pat had been spiraling, teetering on the brink of ruin. While he hadn’t yet destroyed the company entirely, his erratic behavior had alienated his employees. He lashed out frequently, letting his emotions dictate his
decisions, as he did today.
Clutching the report filled with losses, the manager sighed at the sight of the empty president’s office. He could only hope the former general manager, Taylor, would intervene–otherwise, survival seemed impossible
Meanwhile, at a coffee shop…
Two hours earlier, Pat had booked the nearest flight to Scarborough.
“Pat” his companion said firmly, “I’ve told you before: that isn’t Stacy. Stacy died three years ago.”
Pat gripped his coffee cup tightly “it’s her if it isn’t, explain why their faces are identical”
tha
“S’s not Stacy the man said with a sigh “Her name is Macey–Stacy’s twin sister. I’ve told you this three times
Pat, wake up You were the one who arranged Stacy’s funeral Do I need to remind you of that painful day?
Frustrated, the man stood to learn, unwilling to continue the argument
Pat grabbed his arm. “Where is she? I want to see her
“I can’t tell you” The man shook his head “I sent you the photo to help you let go of this fantasy That’s all!
For three years, Pat had been told repeatedly that Stacy was gone. Her sister, shielded by a world of privilege. was unreachable Despite his efforts, he hadn’t ever been able to reclaim Stacy’s ashes: Yet, no matter what anyone said, he couldn’t accept it Deep in his heart, he still believed she was alive
Now there was hope, but it felt utterly in
