Julian’s Stand-In Wife

If he used explosives again, he might end up hurting Diana.

He stared at the password panel, as anxiety overtook him.

His men in the helicopter received no instructions from him. One of them finally asked, “Mr. Fulcher? Do you need help? The explosives we’ve prepared are sufficient to raze the entire lab to the ground.”

“Don’t,” Julian said, stopping them from doing something so dangerous. “My wife is inside. Wait for my orders.”

Should they just be waiting here aimlessly if they’re not using the explosives?

No wonder Jim didn’t make any move after seeing him and his mother communicate, Julian thought. Jim was certain he wouldn’t be able to make his way in.

Just as Julian was at his wit’s end, the door opened right before him.

Shock flashed past Julian’s eyes. “Simon?! What are you doing here?”

Simon smiled wordlessly.

Ever since he tried the drug, his voice box was destroyed. He couldn’t make a sound. The rare times he could, they sounded frightening and scratchy.

He had frightened some passers-by, who looked at him as if he were a monster.

decided not to say

Julian followed Simon.

anything further, because he realized that Simon seemed very

for Simon, unlocked with

arrived at the

around and pulled out a letter, which he handed

as to why Simon would

have written one to Diana

ask Simon, but the look in Simon’s eyes stopped

and pointed to the letter, signaling for Julian to keep it well and read

moment, a strange feeling arose in Julian’s

disgust he felt toward Simon disappeared. A warmth he never felt toward Simon blossomed in the

chance to revel in his feelings, the

was the

right inside. She was still

his agitation and stepped inside.

was no one in the

Julian no longer bothered trying to communicate with Simon. He shoved the latter aside and hurried into the innermost room. “Where

Where is Betty?!”