Right after Nelly had fallen asleep, someone's phone lit up. Alpha Kilian picked it up, but when he saw the content, his eyes narrowed. He glanced at the sleeping Nelly and got up quietly. Then he changed into his clothes and left the room.
Spencer was in the lab, staring at the test results. A dark look crept onto his face, his eyes overshadowed by a hint of malice.
At that moment, Alpha Kilian opened the door and walked in. Noticing the report Spencer was holding,
Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes. “The results are out?”
Spencer stared at the papers, keeping his silence, but the look on his face betrayed his thoughts. Alpha Kilian approached Spencer and extended his arm. Promptly, Spencer handed the report to him.
Alpha Kilian took a look, and he frowned. He had no idea what these numbers meant, but judging from the look on Spencer's face, things were not looking good. “Just tell me what this means.” Alpha Kilian looked at him.
Spencer stared back as well. A moment of hesitation later, he took a deep breath. “That's the cure, all right.”
“And?” If this is really as simple as it looks, he'd be jumping around for joy, not brooding like a moody kid.
“There's one element in this cure that only Boss has. I have no idea what it is. I can create the cure, but without that particular element, it's not going to work,” said Spencer.
“So you're saying we still only have one dose of this.” A frown creased Alpha Kilian 's forehead. No wonder he looked like he just saw something terrible. Alpha Kilian held the report in silence.
Spencer looked at him. “I have no idea what to do now, so I called you.” Alpha Kilian looked at him. “Just feed it to Thalia.”
“I would like to, trust me.” Spencer looked at him. “But Nelly is my friend as well. I don't want any of them to get hurt.”
There was a hint of surprise and a hint of dilemma in Alpha Kilian 's eyes. “This is more complex than I expected.”
Spencer said nothing. He had hoped for better results, but this was just bad.
Alpha Kilian inhaled deeply. A few moments later, he looked at Spencer. “Do we have any alternatives?”
“No. We must have that particular element if we want to make another dose of this cure.” Spencer shook his head.
Alpha Kilian pursed his lips, his jaw tightening up.
Spencer slammed the table with his fist, and he stared at the ground, blaming himself for this failure. “I thought I was smart enough and that nothing could get in my way. I can't believe I'm challenged by something so trivial. That's years of training wasted.”
Alpha Kilian stared at the report again. Even though he knew nothing, he still tried his best to get something out of it. “Not everything happens as we want it to.”
Spencer said nothing in return.
A moment later, Alpha Kilian tucked the report away and looked at Spencer. “Are you sure this is the cure?” Spencer nodded.
Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes. It seemed like he had noticed something. Noticing Alpha Kilian 's silence, Spencer asked, “Did you find something?” “Something's off.”
“How so?”
“He only had this on him because Nelly said she would help. But Boss is a paranoid man. He wouldn't have given the cure away that easily.”
Spencer frowned as well. “So you're saying...”
“As I said, he's a paranoid man. He trusts no one. He might have thought Nelly would run away the moment she got her hands on the cure,” said Alpha Kilian .
“True...” Spencer narrowed his eyes. “Then that settles it. Something is off.”
Spencer looked at him, surprised. When he first saw the results, all he could think of was the one he should save. That, or how they could get their hands on that mystery element.
It was a tough call to make, and he knew Alpha Kilian would fall into the same dilemma when he was told of the situation, yet he never thought Alpha Kilian would assess this matter from another viewpoint.
Honestly, I'm impressed by how calm he can be. “So what are you suspecting?” asked Spencer. “I'll need you to reassess this cure.” Alpha Kilian tossed the report back at Spencer.
A conflicted look flashed in Spencer's eyes. “You don't trust me?”
“No. I'm just saying that you might find something else if you just look closer.”
Spencer's eyes darkened, and his face fell. “You know you're making me angry, don't you?” He cocked his eyebrow.
“Of course.” Alpha Kilian looked at him. “But if you're smart enough, you won't do such a silly thing.”
Spencer stared back at Alpha Kilian , and he mocked, “Get off your high horse, Alpha Kilian . I know you'd want to do the same thing, no?”
“Yes,” Alpha Kilian answered honestly, the look in his eyes indifferent. “It's honestly a much easier way. The easiest way out in this situation, in fact.”
Spencer sized the man up in silence.
Alpha Kilian continued, “But I won't do that for now. Not unless I've figured out the whole truth. A simple cure isn't valuable enough to make me lose my rationale.”
A smirk curled Spencer's lips. “Honestly, the fact that you said that either means you're mentally tough, noble, or you don't care about Nelly enough.”
If it were Spencer, he wouldn't have let Thalia suffer. If Alpha Kilian does like Nelly that much, he won't let her suffer as well. We should all be selfish in matters of the heart. Being all noble is just... foolish.
A smile broke out on Alpha Kilian 's lips. He said hoarsely, “I'm not a noble guy indeed. I can be as underhanded as need be, but if I were to do that, I'd have killed you the second we got the cure. This conversation wouldn't have happened.”
“Ah, right. That's the real you.” Spencer looked at him.
“But I'm sure she would leave me forever if I had done that.”
Spencer paused for a moment. That's true. Nelly would do that. And to think all I've considered was the one to get this cure, not what they would do after that.
“Nelly 's not the kind of person who'd sacrificed herself just to save someone else. She's not the kind of woman. She treasures her life more than anyone, but I know what she'll do in this case.” Alpha Kilian looked at Spencer. “She'll let Thalia live.”
Spencer looked at him, and he tried to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth.
“Even though Nelly transferred Thalia her blood out of her kindness, she never thought things would turn out this badly, but she still thinks this is her fault. And she thinks the children are the reason Thalia is here. We cannot deny that. Perhaps it's an obligation, and perhaps it's because of their new friendship,
but one thing's for sure—Nelly will save Thalia.” “So, what are you trying to say?”
“I need time to think. And this might be the only cure we have for now, but it's not necessarily so in the future. We always have a chance as long as we're alive. I was able to get the cure once, so I can
definitely do that again,” stated Alpha Kilian solemnly. Spencer pursed his lips but said nothing.
Alpha Kilian looked at him for a while. He tensed up a little, a spark of fury burning within him. But in the end, he left without saying anything.
Spencer was left in the lab. As he glanced at Alpha Kilian 's disappearing figure after the door closed, a complicated look appeared in his eyes.
Instead of going back to the room, Alpha Kilian went around to get some fresh air. He would be lying if he said he didn't want the cure for Nelly .
Every time he thought of how she tried to hold it in while the poison kicked in, it felt like someone was stabbing him over and over with a knife. Everything he told Spencer was also a warning he was telling himself.
It was times like this that they must stay calm. One rash move could cost them everything. Alpha Kilian took a cigarette out, lit it up, and had a few slow puffs.
He seldom smoked. Only when he was frustrated. Nicotine was the only thing that could stop him from doing anything rash. He held the cigarette between his fingers, and his brows knitted in a frown.
Swirls of smoke twirled around him, and before he knew it, the ground around him was littered with cigarette butts.
Right at that moment, someone called him softly from behind, “Daddy.”
He turned around only to see Donna holding a doll in her arms. She seemed adorable and delicate while dressed in pajamas and a pair of tiny slippers.
The sight of Donna made Alpha Kilian 's frown ease up a little. “Donna ? Why are you still up?”
Donna inched closer. “I was going to get a glass of water, then I saw you.” She then looked at the cigarette butts on the ground. “Are you bothered by something, Daddy?”
Alpha Kilian placed Donna on his lap. “It's nothing.”
“You're lying, Daddy,” Donna grumbled. “You only smoke when you're upset. Nelly told us that.” Alpha Kilian was surprised. “Nelly did? When?”
The first thing Nelly saw when she woke up was Alpha Kilian lying right beside her. He looked elegant, yet a slight frown tinged his forehead. He had a distant look even in his sleep, yet she thought that only added to his allure.
The sight of him made her smile, her eyes shimmering. He had been working for long hours lately. Seeing him the first moment she opened her eyes was a rare treat indeed.
She extended her arm and slowly brushed her fingers across his face. If it was possible, Nelly hoped this quiet morning would never end. But when her finger touched his lips, Alpha Kilian 's eyes snapped open. Shocked, Nelly tried to pull her hand back, but Alpha Kilian grabbed it.
She raised her head to look at him. All of a sudden, Alpha Kilian leaned closer and gave her a deep, passionate kiss.
When he finally let go, Nelly looked at him. “So you were pretending to be asleep?” “No. I just woke up.”
“It sure doesn't look that way to me,” muttered Nelly .
Alpha Kilian leaned closer. “Why does it matter? Were you trying to do something to me, Ms. Jackson ?”
Nelly put some distance between them. For the last few days, he had ravished her far too much, and she was worried he might do it again. “No.” Nelly shook her head seriously.
Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes. “Why are you backing off?” He pulled her into his embrace and rested his
chin on her forehead. If he could, he would've merged the two of them together. “Here, let me hold you for a bit longer.”
“Just a hug?” Nelly raised an eyebrow.
Alpha Kilian paused for a moment. “Do you have something else in mind?” Nelly immediately shook her head.
“Nelly , they say sometimes no means yes.”
“If you try anything stupid, you'd really kill me.” Nelly shot Alpha Kilian a solemn look.
It wasn't every day she flashed that look. It was serious yet coy at the same time. Alpha Kilian wanted to ravage her, but he knew she had been taking in a lot lately, so he held it in.
That did not stop him from teasing her, however. “You're exaggerating.” “Not at all. If that continues, my bones will break!” said Nelly .
Alpha Kilian stared at Nelly 's face for a while, and he smiled. “I'll take that as a compliment, then. Are you trying to say I'm superb in bed?”
Nelly narrowed her eyes. “Why do I sense you're behaving smugly, Alpha Morris ?” “Really?” Alpha Kilian asked.
“Should I hand you a mirror, so you can have a look?”
Alpha Kilian shook his head. “No need for that. The look on your face tells me all I need to know.” Nelly burst into laughter. “Men are so full of themselves!”
Alpha Kilian muttered, “I was saying that I could see my reflection in your eyes. You were thinking about something else, weren't you?”
Nelly was rendered speechless.
“Wait. Do you think I'm not good in bed? Hm, I don't mind proving myself,” muttered Alpha Kilian .
Nelly instantly brought the conversation to a close. If she didn't, she might not get out of bed the whole day.
Then, she quickly sat up. “I-I'm hungry. I need to eat something.” Alpha Kilian looked at her. “Are you sure?”
Nelly shook her head. “Yes. I have anemia, so I need something to replenish my health.” Before Alpha Kilian could say anything, Nelly got up, yanked some clothes over, got changed, and darted into the bathroom.
Alpha Kilian lay on the bed, smiling. However, the moment she closed the bathroom door behind her, his smile froze.
Ten minutes later, Nelly was done washing herself up. She changed into a long casual dress, the hem
covering her ankles. She looked even taller than she was in that dress.
Makeup wasn't her favorite thing in the world. She only rubbed some sunscreen over herself, yet her skin still looked like a freshly-peeled hard-boiled egg. Supple and perfect. Her skin was flawless like a supermodel's.
Alpha Kilian stared at her as he changed into a dark-colored shirt. He wanted to do matching outfits. “Let's go.” He held her hand, and they went downstairs.
When they arrived at the dining area, Spencer and Thalia were there as well. Thalia quickly waved at Nelly , and the latter took a seat across from hers smilingly.
“The coffee is amazing today. You should have a cup,” said Thalia. Nelly nodded. “All right! I'll try.”
The housekeeper went ahead and prepared another cup of coffee. “Oh, and this is awesome too. You should have some,” said Thalia. The housekeeper smiled, nodded, and left.
Nelly looked at her. “You have quite an appetite today.” “I guess so,” Thalia replied.