That night felt darker than usual. The sky was shrouded in thick black clouds that hid the moonlight, making the atmosphere even gloomier.
Not far from the hospital building, a luxurious car slowly came to a stop. From within, a woman stepped out, her appearance striking yet shrouded in secrecy. She wore a long dark grey coat, a mask covering most of her face, and a designer black handbag hung from her shoulder.
Her sharp eyes scanned left and right, making sure no one was watching her before she proceeded into the hospital.
Calmly, she approached the receptionist's desk. After a brief exchange with the nurse on duty, she was directed to a certain area. Without saying much, she walked down the hallway as instructed and paused when she noticed an empty bench in the corner.
She sat down slowly, taking a moment to rest while observing her surroundings. The hospital was quiet, with only the occasional sound of footsteps and the low hum of machines from the treatment rooms. It was very late at night, and most of the medical staff seemed to be on break.
As her eyes swept through the corridor, her gaze landed on a police officer sound asleep on a chair, positioned right in front of one of the patient rooms. Her eyes narrowed. She had found her target.
After ensuring the hallway was truly deserted, the woman rose slowly. Her steps were so light, they made barely a sound. She approached the guarded room and slipped in carefully, making sure not to wake anyone.
Inside, her eyes immediately fell upon a man lying on the bed, connected to various medical equipment. His face looked peaceful but pale. He was in a coma.
She walked closer, her expression flat—almost emotionless. Whatever was stirring in her mind remained unreadable.
From the pocket of her coat, she slowly pulled her hand out, moving it toward one of the medical cables attached to the man's body.
But before she could touch it, suddenly—
"What are you trying to do?"
The cold voice shattered the silence. The woman flinched and quickly turned toward the source of the voice, her eyes wide in shock. The dim room lighting made it difficult to recognize who had caught her.
"Still choosing to stay silent? Or are you hoping to deny it?"
the voice continued, now tinged with mockery.
The woman said nothing. She stood still, hiding her true intent behind silence.
The figure who had spoken stepped forward, emerging from the shadows, now standing just a few meters away. The dim light began to reveal her face. Though they had never met before, the masked woman noticed something familiar—perhaps a resemblance to Elena in her younger days.
"One more time. What were you planning to do to that man?"
the woman asked again, pointing at the unconscious man. "Mrs. Shine..." she added with a thin smile.
But that smile felt cold and hollow. Her piercing gaze held a clear warning.
The woman—Lydia Shine—was stunned. She hadn't expected her identity to be recognized.
Serena stepped closer, an air of chilling authority radiating from her, making the room feel heavier with tension.
"I strongly suggest you don't do anything stupid, Mrs. Shine,"
Serena said in a flat yet threatening tone. "And let me warn you... don't you ever lay a finger on Elena. Because if anything happens to her, you'll regret it... to the point you'll wish you were dead."
Serena's tone slowly escalated, each word pressing heavier, causing Lydia to tremble slightly.
Then Serena smiled again—a sharper, colder smile that pierced through Lydia's polished exterior, exposing the fear she had long hidden behind elegance.
"Go back to City X. Be a good wife, just like always. Obey Mr. Shine. And don't you dare think about Elena again. Focus on your own life!"
Lydia lowered her head, her courage shrinking. Not a single word came out of her mouth.
"Understood?" Serena asked firmly.
Lydia nodded quickly, then turned on her heels and left the room in a hurry.
Once the door closed, Serena's expression changed dramatically. Her face was now blank, devoid of any smile.
She walked toward Tom's bed, staring at the man who lay unconscious, her expression unreadable but tinged with sarcasm.
"Look at you, Tom... the person you once thought of as a savior now wants to take your life."
She reached for something beside Tom's pillow—whatever it was—and then turned and walked out of the room calmly.
---
The Next Morning
Elena sat in her hospital room, watching Serena who was asleep on the sofa.
Dark circles under Serena's eyes made it obvious that she hadn't slept the night before. She lay slumped in an uncomfortable position but had drifted into a deep sleep.
Soon after, Darian walked into the room.
"Hey,"
Darian greeted as he saw Elena awake.
"Shh... keep your voice down. Serena's asleep,"
Elena replied, pointing toward the sofa.
Darian glanced over. Serena was still asleep, her head leaning to the side, her face weary.
"Did she stay up all night?"
he asked curiously.
"I'm not sure. She didn't say anything," Elena replied shortly.
"What did the doctor say about your condition?"
Darian redirected his attention back to Elena.
Elena smiled. "I'm allowed to go home today."
"Thank God!"
Darian exclaimed loudly. Elena was about to shush him, but it was too late. The noise had woken Serena.
"Ughhh... what's going on?"
Serena groaned, rubbing her temples. Her head felt heavy and sore.
"Your mom's going home today,"
Darian replied enthusiastically, though a bit guilty for waking her.
"Ah... yeah, I know,"
Serena responded flatly, without any emotion.
Darian fell silent. Normally, Serena would be excited or even tearfully happy to hear her mother was okay. But this time was different. Serena looked empty, as if all her energy had been drained.
"Serena... are you okay?"
Elena asked, concern in her voice. There was something off about her daughter.
"Me? I'm fi—"
Suddenly, Serena's sentence was cut off. Her body swayed and then collapsed to the floor.
"SERENA!!!" Elena screamed in panic.
Darian rushed over, his face turning tense. None of them had expected that after one night in the hospital, Serena would suddenly collapse.
---