Chapter 457
At Meta Doctors Hospital
The lights suddenly dimmed in the restricted wing where Carla Clayton was held under high security. Tonight was the night, Tim was finally going to get her out. He had mobilized his team, ready to carry out the plan they had been preparing for days. Security was tight, but that didn’t mean it was unbreakable. There was an opening, and Tim wasn’t about to let it slip away, no matter how risky it was.
He had heard that Carla had regained consciousness and was recovering well, so well that the court had already scheduled her trial. But Tim wouldn’t let it come to that. He refused to watch Carla stand trial and be sentenced to rot in prison.
Not far from the hospital, his van was parked as he monitored the situation of their retrieval operation for his daughter.
Inside the hospital, in the control room two floors down in particular, a man in lab coat approached with a clipboard in hand. His badge said “Dr. Everett p>
“Power test from maintenance,” he told the guard at the console.
The guard barely looked at him before nodding. “We already had one earlier p>
“Yes, this is a follow-up. There’s been a voltage inconsistency. Just need to reset the panel p>
Before the guard could respond, a swift jab of a syringe sent him crumpling to the floor. The man took off the stolen badge and coat, tossing them into a trash chute as he moved.
Meanwhile, Carla was sitting upright in her bed, staring blankly at the wall. Her body was still recovering, but her mind was sharper than ever. Hatred brewed in her eyes, hatred for Rain, who had taken what she believed was rightfully hers.
The door clicked. The guards outside didn’t stir.
Inside, Carla turned her head, and her lips twisted into a slow, malicious smile.
“Took you long enough,” she whispered. She recognized the man as one of Tim’s trusted lackeys in the shadows who would often meet with her.
He stepped inside, already unhooking the IV from her arm. “There were delays. Extra security rounds. I had to put a few men to sleep, and we don’t have much time p>
“I’m not leaving without destroying her,” Carla hissed as she tried to swing her legs off the bed. “That little witch destroyed everything, my career, my name, my family, my life p>
“You’ll have your revenge,” he cut her off, helping her to her feet. “But first we get out of here p>
A small black box in his coat pocket buzzed twice and the hallway lights flickered.
“What was that?” Carla asked as they moved quietly into the hallway.
“Power diversion. I had one of my men create a system fault in the west wing. All security personnel are being pulled for backup. We’ve got a four-minute window p>
They moved swiftly, Carla leaning heavily on him at first, but soon picking up her pace as adrenaline kicked in. She wasn’t going back to prison. She wasn’t going to rot while Rain pranced around with her perfect family.
In the underground service corridor, two men were already waiting, dressed as janitors, one pushing a rolling bin.
He nodded. “Phase two p>
Without a word, the men opened the bin, revealing a hidden compartment padded and spacious enough to hide Carla.
“Get in p>
Carla scowled. “This is humiliating p>
“So is a life sentence,” the man shot back.
With a grimace, Carla climbed in. The lid closed, and the bin was rolled down the corridor like any other laundry cart.
They passed three checkpoints, each distracted by false alarms by Tim’s man had planted. The power was unstable. A fire alarm had been triggered. Every nurse and guard was too busy to notice the slow escape taking place right under their noses.
In fifteen minutes, Carla was out.
The man, who she didn’t bother to know the name, joined them in the waiting van parked at the alley behind the hospital.
“She’s secure?” the driver asked.
“Drive,” he ordered. “We’re heading to the safe house. The Boss is already waiting p>
As the van pulled away, Carla emerged from the compartment, breathing heavily. She stared at the city lights outside the tinted window, her lips curling into a cruel smile.
“She thinks she’s won,” she said quietly. “She thinks she has everything now. But I’ll take it all back. I’ll destroy her. Her baby. Her perfect family. And then I’ll watch her beg p>
At Lancaster Ancestral Mansion
Alexander was sound asleep beside Rain when he was woken up by the ringing of his mobile phone.
Alexander was sound asleep beside Rain when he was woken up by the ringing of his mobile phone.
He groaned, eyes still closed, and reached for the phone on the nightstand. The screen glared in the darkness, 1:47 AM. His heart skipped. Calls at this hour were never good.
“Yeah?” he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
“Sir, it’s me, Jordan. We have a situation,” came the urgent voice on the other end.
Alexander sat up instantly, careful not to wake Rain. “Go on p>
“There’s been a breach. They’ve already taken her p>
Alexander’s face remained unreadable. He gave a series of sharp, quiet instructions, then ended the call without another word.
Beside him, Rain stirred slightly, her brow furrowing as she reached out toward the empty space on the bed. “Alex?” she murmured, still half-asleep.
“I have to go,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Go back to sleep p>
She gave a faint nod, already drifting off again as he pulled away.
In less than a minute, Alexander was dressed and moving. As he stepped outside the bedroom door, he found William already waiting in the dim hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Took you long enough,” William muttered, straightening up. “They moved fast,” he added. “Faster than I expected p>
“Is everything ready?” Alexander asked with a sigh.
“Yes,” William replied with a nod.
“Good,” Alexander muttered. “Then let’s get it over with. Honestly, it’s better that he moved earlier than expected. We can end this sooner p>
He cracked his knuckles, jaw tightening. “Catching that man has been delayed far too long p>