"She'll need to be moved to a private, sterile room for observation. There's a large patch of subcutaneous bleeding on her back-probably from bumping into something in the mountains. The bleeding's under control now, but we need to keep a close eye on her."

For leukemia patients, even the smallest bruise is a threat. The skin might not break, but severe internal bleeding beneath the surface can have disastrous consequences.

Briony was dangerously fragile now.

Even the most ordinary germ could send her spiraling back into crisis.

Stewart's mind was a storm of confusion; he still couldn't process the reality of Briony's illness.

But denial was pointless now. All he could do was face it head-on and find a way to save her, whatever it took.

"Is a bone marrow transplant really her only option? Is there any chance on your end...?"

"It's leukemia," Jonah replied, already knowing what Stewart was about to ask. He let out a weary sigh. "And it's the most aggressive kind. Even if I could help, it would take years of work. She simply doesn't have that kind of time..."

Stewart closed his eyes, pain etched deep into his face.

...

Briony lingered in a coma for three days and nights. Her temperature and vital signs gradually stabilized, but she never woke.

Stewart visited her every day, suiting up in sterile gear and sitting by her side for hours on end.

If the organization hadn't needed him to handle some final details, he would have stayed with her day and night, never leaving her bedside.

day,

estate had been a resounding success. All remaining members of the syndicate had been captured, save

the following week, the organization deployed special operations teams. Using Stewart's

decade, the long shadow of the "Gray Operation" was lifted-all

complete. He

week of relentless rain, the sun

Briony's room

hesitated, staring at the screen,

was rough, but steady. "Ten years. You finally made it to the

the phone, silent for a long

he murmured, "Mr. Hoffman, you've carried

old man now," Mr. Hoffman chuckled. “And you're not so young yourself. For this mission, you lost

Stewart closed his eyes.

He didn't answer.

point,

wanted now was for

up, Stewart lingered outside the hospital room, taking a

length, he gently pushed open the door and slipped

had just been moved out of isolation the day

to have the top-floor

Briony was standing at the window,

turned at the sound

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