Chapter 385: The Darkness Draws Near

Meanwhile, back in Astoria...

Inside the quiet VIP suite of the hospital, Nina sat near Alec’s unmoving form, her distant gaze fixed on the grey skyline outside.

The abrupt ringing of her mobile phone shattered the silence, making her pulse leap.

Reading the caller ID, her chest tightened.

She pressed the receiver to her ear and murmured respectfully, "Grandma."

"Save your pleasantries! Disaster strikes, and you leave me completely in the dark!" The voice on the other end was sharp and commanding, making Nina shrink back as if the matriarch were looming directly over her.

"Please... do not be angry, Grandma. I intended to reach out, but everything fell apart so quickly-"

"I will not listen to weak excuses, Nina. I knew this was going to happen, and you knew it too, but that hot-headed husband of yours never listens to anyone! Now look at the consequences of what I warned you about," the elderly woman scolded, causing Nina to close her eyes in dismay.

"Grandma, please... he needs your help. His leg is completely ruined, as if struck by raw force, and he has been comatose for days." Tears welled in Nina’s eyes, her voice trembling with desperation.

A cold, heavy sigh vibrated through the speaker. "You know my hands are tied in this matter, Nina."

A heavy silence settled between them before her grandmother spoke again. "But someone else can. What is the progress with her?"

Nina looked up helplessly at the ceiling. "She will not listen to me. She is far too guarded now after her heated argument with Alec. You know how stubborn she is."

"Darkness lurks closer than you think, Nina, and she is the key. You must act quickly... before it is too late."

"I know... I will try speaking to Owen and see if he can help," Nina replied.

"Your son cannot help you much either. He remains just as headstrong as his father."

"Owen is sensible," Nina replied in her son’s defense. "I will try speaking to him... I am sure he can convince her."

"I hope for your sake you are correct," the elderly woman replied.

Before she could disconnect, Nina blurted out, "Grandma, wait!"

"What is it?"

"Do you... do you know who did this to Alec?" Nina asked in a quiet whisper.

"The visions are not clear, Nina. You know I would have told you if I knew who it was. Do not dwell on that now... just focus on her. We will speak again."

With that, the line went dead.

Nina released a weary sigh and buried her face in her palms. "How am I ever going to convince that girl..."

....

Meanwhile, at Van Empire...

Owen slammed a glass onto the floor the moment Nigel exited his office.

The conversation had gone like this...

"Boss will be out of the office for the remainder of the week," Nigel had stated smoothly when Owen inquired about Aliana’s absence.

"For the entire week? Is something wrong?" Owen asked, his forehead creasing.

"She is away on an important trip... with her husband. All pressing work will be approved through me." Nigel maintained a completely straight face, giving nothing away.

Owen was caught off guard.

Aliana had given him no indication that she would be away.

He recalled Gavriel mentioning during their meeting with the Archon Group that they would be out of town the following week...which was why they had moved the site visit forward. But Owen had never realised Aliana would be joining him for so long.

Under the desk, his fingers curled into a tight fist, though his face remained calm. "There are certain documents that require her direct input and signature. How will I manage those?"

"Mr. Ross, as I mentioned, all arrangements made between Boss and you will pass through me. If an absolute necessity arises, only then will I approach her. Rest assured, nothing will be delayed in her absence. As for anything else regarding daily operations... Mr. Vanderbilt will be in the office to oversee things, so you have nothing to worry about."

"Oh... I see," Owen replied.

"If there is nothing further, I will return to my duties," Nigel said, giving a polite nod before turning toward the exit.

The second the office door shut, the calm mask slipped, and Owen’s bottled-up fury violently erupted.

Why... why would you go with him?

Where are you?

Why are you spending so much time by his side?

The questions raged inside his mind, making his pulse skyrocket and his chest heave. Without warning, a burning, white-hot pain ripped through his body, folding him in half against his desk.

"Ngh... not here!" Owen ground his teeth together, straining to keep quiet, but the agony was relentless.

Knowing he had seconds before losing total control, his shaking hand scrambled across the wooden surface toward his key.

He fumbled through the bundle, isolating the smallest key.

Pressing a fist tight against his chest to suppress the searing pressure near his heart, he inserted the key into the central drawer lock and turned it with a sharp click.

Reaching inside, he snatched a silver flask. Yanking off the top, he tipped his head back and drank greedily, swallowing the thick liquid in frantic gulps.

Almost instantly, the excruciating fire under his skin faded into a dull, numb sensation.

Owen slumped back into his seat, breathing heavily as cold sweat beaded across his forehead.

He remained motionless, staring blindly at the ceiling overhead and mumbled, "Don’t lose it...again."

His grip tightened around the silver flask until the metal groaned and bent under his knuckles as he whispered, "What am I going to do with you, Aliana... if you keep running away from me like this?"

....

Back on Caya Island...

After taking a relaxing bath, Aliana dressed herself in a graceful white, floor-length A-line dress with a fitted square neckline, delicate straps, and soft pale-blue floral embroidery. She then made her way down the hallway until she reached the stairs.

Taking careful steps down the stairs, her eyes took in the lower level, and once again she was pleasantly captivated.

The spacious area featured an open-plan interior, with a sleek kitchen to the left and a generous lounge area to the right. A low-profile sectional sofa and wooden tables occupied the space, while expansive glass walls opened directly onto a stone patio with an infinity pool overlooking the misty sea beneath an overcast sky.

The scenery was truly dreamy.

But when her eyes landed on the broad, muscular back of the man in a white shirt standing in the kitchen, everything else faded into the background.

Gavriel was leaning against the long white kitchen island, casually flicking his fingers.

’Wait... what is he doing?’ Aliana wondered in confusion.

Approaching quietly, her eyes widened in surprise as she noticed several serving bowls hovering in mid-air with steam rising gently from the warm food inside.

Right then, Gavriel pointed his finger toward the dining table by the glass wall, and just like that, the hovering bowls glided through the air and settled onto the table on their own.

Turning around, his eyes met hers.

A small smile curled at the corner of his lips when he saw her staring at the table in awe. "Lunch is ready."