“Randall, can’t you see? The person you love doesn’t want you doing something this insane,” Aiden said, his voice sharp with anger. Randall let out a bitter laugh. “Anna is just kind. Her kindness is the rarest, most precious thing in this world; and you…” His eyes flicked to Aiden, burning with accusation, “You’re the real bastard here, trying to use that kindness against her.” Tears shimmered in Anna’s eyes as she whispered, “Randall… I know you mean well, but this isn’t the kind of love I need.” “Don’t say that,” Randall said, his gaze softening, almost worshipful as it landed on her. “Soon, you’ll be able to live like everyone else.” “But I mean it,” she said, her voice trembling but resolute. “What you’re doing… it only hurts me. Even if I get to live a normal life after this, I’ll never be happy knowing what it cost.” Randall froze; the hand holding the scalpel began to tremble, the sharp edge quivering against my skin. “Please, stop, Randall,” Anna begged. “Just love me—for whatever time I have left—that’s enough.” The words seemed to knock the breath out of him. Anna’s knees buckled, and with a dull thud, she dropped to the floor, her eyes full of desperate pleading. Randall’s hands trembled so hard that the cold edge of the scalpel grazed my throat. I lifted my head, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Randall, I can save her.” His eyes snapped down to me. “Can you save Anna?” I forced a weak smile. “I’ve got all of Tempest’s medical expertise. If you can get me the right ingredients, I can save her. I promise.” His voice cracked. “Why didn’t you say this earlier? For her, I can get anything. Anything.” “I hadn’t met her before,” I said quietly. “Now that I’ve seen her, I know what to do. Let me go, Randall. Believe me. I’ll make sure she’s cured.” The scalpel clattered to the floor. Randall straightened, dug a key from his pocket, and unlocked the cuffs from my wrists and ankles. In an instant, Aiden was there, his arms wrapping tightly around me, pulling me close.Randall stepped off the bed, moving to help Anna, but the wolf guards pinned him to the ground before he could reach her. Anna swayed and sank to the floor. “Please,” she begged, her voice trembling, “please don’t hurt Randall.” Aiden pressed his lips together, his sharp gaze flicking to me for an answer. I nodded. He let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. I’ll let him go.” The guards released Randall, and the moment his arms were free, Anna threw herself into them, clutching him tightly. “Randall…” He stroked her hair gently, murmuring, “It’s okay. I’m here.” His sharp, steady gaze locked on me. “You promised. You’ll save her. Keep your word.” I rubbed my sore wrists and rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I promised. But not right now. You’ve had me chained up for a week. Can I breathe first?” For once, Randall looked almost sheepish. “I’m going to rest,” I said, exhaustion weighing down my limbs. “Once I’ve recovered, I’ll help her.” Anna managed a small smile. “It’s all right, Raelyn. Take your time and rest.” I reached out and brushed a hand over her pale cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m a hell of a lot more reliable than Randall.” That earned a soft laugh from her, the tension in the room easing slightly. “You’re the first person to ever say that. No wonder someone as cold as Mr. Aiden would fall for you. If I were a man, I’d probably fall for you too.” “Enough,” Aiden said, his voice flat as he adjusted his hold on me. “I’m taking her back to rest.” Randall stepped into our path, his expression serious. “Tell me what you need for her treatment. I’ll get it ready.” “Ginseng, a ten-thousand-year Frostbane, and Spriteleaf,” I said evenly. His face froze, tension flashing across his features.I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. “Relax. I’m kidding. I said I’d help, and I will. I’ll handle the medicine.” I already had the right connections in the underground market—getting what I needed wouldn’t be an issue. “I’ll be in touch when everything’s ready,” I added, turning toward the door. “Raelyn, thank you,” Anna said softly, her gratitude genuine. I waved her off and left with Aiden, heading back to the Capital City villa. As soon as we stepped inside, he pulled me into a tight, desperate hug. He buried his face in my shoulder, his entire body still as stone. “I was so scared,” Aiden whispered. “Those days when I couldn’t find you… I tore Capital City apart. It wasn’t until I started looking into Randall that I finally found a lead. This is the first time you’ve been gone this long. I was terrified… terrified that I’d never see you again.” His voice was raw, quiet but steady. “Saving you… it’s the first time I’ve ever felt this kind of relief. Not even creating Eclipse Corporation from the ground up felt like this.”