FEDERAL HOSPITAL, WAN STATE – ELENA'S OFFICE
Third Person POV
The faint scent of antiseptic hung in the air, blending with the sharp chill of the air conditioner. Elena's heart pounded, palms damp beneath the latex gloves. Her mind raced through a dozen terrible possibilities if she didn't stop Alexander from pulling down the zipper of her scrub and seeing the tattoo.
How could he remember the mark on her skin but not her face?
"Sir, let me go this instant or you'll regret it!" she snapped, voice trembling despite her defiance.
Alexander froze mid-motion. Something flickered in his eyes- Confusion? Memory?- before he released her. Elena stumbled back, rubbing her wrist where his grip had burned into her skin.
His gaze swept her from head to toe, lingering at her chest. The loose scrub offered him nothing, yet she thought she saw irritation as he twisted his lips- the kind of frustration reserved from a man used to getting what he wanted.
He took a step forward; she mirrored it one step backward.
The office suddenly felt smaller. The faded paint curling at the walls, the buzzing fluorescent light casting a pale, sterile glow. The once-white tiles were dulled to tired grey. On the wooden desk lay thick folders, corners softened from years of use. Federal Hospital in Wan State- the country's first federal hospital now felt like a relic.
Alexander's sharp eyes scanned everything. He stood tall with shoulders straight as he surveyed everything. His eyes never losing their intensity. "So this is the legendary Federal Hospital," he muttered under his breath. "The first ever built in Thide. And now look at it… falling apart."
He reached toward the stack of folders.
"Sir," Elena warned, stepping forward, her voice steady, "those are confidential."
His hand paused. His gaze flicked to her face, softening slightly. "I heard you're the one who saved my grandmother's life- Madam Helena Blackwood."
Elena straightened. "It was a team effort, sir. The nurses, the doctors, and your grandmother's own strength made her recovery possible."
A slow smile spread across his lips- one that didn't reach his eyes. "Humble. I'll remember that."
He walked to the door and paused, hand on the knob. "We'll meet again, Nurse Elena Prescott."
Elena's chin lifted, her voice lacking warmth. "If you must meet me again, sir, let it be because you're seeking treatment, health advice, or wish to be led to a peaceful death."
A soft chuckle escaped him. "Cold and straightforward. I'll keep that in mind too."
The door shut behind him. Only then did Elena realize she'd been holding her breath. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her pulse hammering.
****
MALCOM BLACKWOOD'S MANSION – LATE AFTERNOON
The chandelier's golden light bathed the marble floor. The room smelled faintly of old wine and cigar smoke.
Malcolm Blackwood reclined in a velvet armchair, his suit dark and crisp, the rich scent of old wine and tobacco lingering around him, the fabric of the chair soft beneath his hands, the chandelier light glinting off his polished cufflinks. Beside him, Vivian Laurent, his mistress, sipped from a crystal glass. Across from them sat Elder Asher Maple, hair white but his mind sharp.
"So, Elder Jade…" Malcolm began.
"Please," the old man interrupted gently. "Call me Asher."
Malcolm's smile tightened. "Very well, Asher. You were saying?"
Asher removed his glasses, polishing them with a trembling hand. "I am prepared to transfer ownership of Jade Maple High-End Jewelry to the Blackwood family."
Malcolm leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "And what do you want in return? It couldn't possibly be for free."
Asher sighed. "Your word, in writing with your seal, that your son, Alexander, will marry my granddaughter, Hazel Jade Maple. My time is short, Malcolm. I want her future secured before I leave this world."
Vivian's lips curved smugly but she hid it well as she slipped again from the crystal glass containing wine. She had orchestrated more than Malcom ever knew, including the disappearance of Alexander's real mother. And now, this also was going according to plan.
Malcolm tapped the armrest. "Twenty-five billion farqus' worth of jewelry… that's quite the dowry."
"Then you understand my sincerity," Asher said, voice trembling. "Please, Malcolm. Let me die in peace."
Malcolm swirled the remaining wine in his glass, eyes glinting with calculation as he tapped his foot gently on the floor. "My answer is… pending."
***
EVENING – FEDERAL HOSPITAL, WAN STATE- WARD B
Soft evening light spilled through half-drawn blinds, bathing the room in gold. Low murmurs of nurses and patients drifted from the hallway.
Alexander sat beside his grandmother's bed, her hand was thin and warm in his, her breaths came slow and uneven, each one a quiet reminder of her age. He kissed it gently, brushing his thumb across the thin skin.
"Are you sure about staying here, Grandma?" he asked.
"Of course," she scoffed, eyes sparkling. "Those fancy doctors were killing me with their poisons. If not for that young genius, I'd be six feet under."
Alexander smiled faintly, worry shadowing his gaze. He hated seeing her in a shared room- five other patients, one bathroom, the faint scent of disinfectant and hope lingering in the air.
"Grandma, at least let me move you where you'll have privacy."
"If you say one more word, I'll bite your ear off," she snapped.
He laughed softly. "Yes, ma'am."
"Now go," she grumbled. "You talk too much. I need my beauty sleep."
He kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, Grandma."
As he left with Sebastian and the guards, Sebastian's phone buzzed sharply. Frowning at the caller ID, he answered, "Damien? …Yes, I can hear you. This better be important."
Moments later, he turned to Alexander, face pale. "Master… Damien says you should check Peaky Pines."
Alexander unlocked his phone. The glow reflected in his stormy eyes.
BREAKING NEWS (Peaky Pines, Thide's official chat app):
Alexander Blackwood of the Blackwood Family is officially engaged to Hazel Jade Maple, heiress of the Jade Maple legacy.
Alexander's hand tightened around the phone causing his knuckles to turn white. His jaw clenched and his eyes twitched. Hazel? The heiress? This… was sudden.