CHAPTER 21

.....

Watts strode to the hospital reception, tension riding high as he prepared to finalize payment for his aunt's surgery.

Deep down, he knew he could heal her completely with his powers, restoring her to perfect health in an instant.

Yet, her paranoia about anything supernatural left him little choice but to rely on modern medicine. For now, the hospital would have to suffice.

"I would like to pay Elizabeth Lance's bills. What is required?" he asked the receptionist, the same woman he had spoken to earlier.

The moment she looked up and recognized him, her demeanor shifted.

"Oh, it's you... again," she said, her tone laced with an odd mix of surprise and... something else. Her behavior was unmistakably peculiar—biting her lip, her gaze lingering a moment too long, and was she... adjusting her skirt?

The faint yet undeniable scent of arousal reached his heightened senses, making him grimace inwardly.

Being able to detect scents with such precision wasn't always an advantage.

Often, it was a curse. And now, it felt like one as he struggled to ignore the unwelcome sensory intrusion.

The receptionist's clumsy attempts at seduction were impossible to miss, yet utterly ineffective.

She lacked finesse, and he was too preoccupied to entertain any distraction. Minutes ticked by as he managed to complete the payment, receiving the necessary confirmation.

"Please proceed with the surgery immediately," he requested firmly. A doctor, he was informed, would first perform a quick assessment to ensure his aunt was ready for the procedure.

Watts returned to her ward, bracing himself for the next step.

As he opened the door, a smile touched his lips. "I've paid in full, and a doctor is on their way to check on you," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with relief.

Layla, his younger sister, shot up from her seat, disbelief etched across her face. "Wait, what? Where did you get over $100,000?" she demanded.

"Does it matter?" Watts countered, his tone clipped but calm.

"Of course it matters!" their aunt exclaimed, her voice tinged with worry.

Before he could respond, the door creaked open. A striking woman in a doctor's coat entered the room, her presence commanding attention. Watts blinked in surprise.

"Linda?" he muttered, confusion coloring his voice.

The woman smirked. "Oh, so you know her?" she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.

At first glance, she bore an uncanny resemblance to Linda, the woman he had met at the supermarket the day before.

However, subtle differences set them apart—she was slightly shorter, her figure more voluptuous in certain areas. The confidence she exuded was magnetic yet distinctly different from Linda's quiet charm.

"I'm Lisa," she introduced herself with a sultry smile. "Linda's twin sister. Same father, same mother. And you must be her... friend?"

Watts frowned. "A friend, yes. For now. Are you two close?"

"Close enough. Though, I must say, it's rare to hear about Linda having male friends. She usually keeps to herself. But," Lisa's eyes roved over him appraisingly, "she does have good taste."

Lisa's demeanor was a stark contrast to Linda's. Where Linda was gentle and unassuming, Lisa radiated a bold, wild energy.

Her gaze lingered a beat too long, and her smile hinted at playful mischief.

"I'll be conducting your aunt's checkup," Lisa announced, moving with practiced grace. "And since you're Linda's... first boy, let's say, you'll get special treatment." The suggestiveness in her voice was impossible to ignore.

Watts sighed inwardly, once again finding himself at the mercy of yet another woman's bold attempts at flirtation. He suspected that if they were alone, Lisa wouldn't have hesitated to push boundaries further.

..........................

Watts and Layla sat in the hospital waiting area, the tension between them as thick as the sterile air.

Time was critical; Elizabeth's damaged organs were deteriorating rapidly. If the surgery didn't happen soon, the consequences would be irreversible.

Layla, however, seemed more intrigued by something—or someone—else. "So," she began, propping her chin on her hand, "this Linda... care to elaborate?"

Watts scowled. "There's nothing to tell. I met her yesterday. That's all."

Layla smirked. "Oh, sure. That's not what your eyes are saying." She leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I might need to start calling myself Aunt Layla soon. Think of how thrilled Elizabeth will be to wake up to such news. What a perfect 'welcome back' gift!"

Watts rolled his eyes. Her teasing reminded him of someone else—Chloe.

The comparison brought a faint smile to his lips.

"Women," he muttered under his breath.

..........................

Meanwhile, Lisa stood on the hospital's balcony, her phone pressed to her ear as she gazed at the glittering New York skyline. She chuckled softly. "So, he's just a 'friend'?"

"Why do you ask?" Linda's voice came through, tinged with suspicion. "Are you interested in him?"

"Relax, sis." Lisa's tone was playful. "I'm just surprised. My ice-queen sister melting for someone? That's newsworthy."

Linda was silent for a beat. "You'd better not try anything."

Lisa grinned. "Come on, you know me."

"Exactly," Linda shot back. "You can't resist a handsome man."

Lisa's reputation preceded her—using her charm and beauty to manipulate men into ruin.

Yet, for all her bravado, even Lisa had limits. Linda's icy wrath was one she'd never dare provoke. Recalling a past incident, Lisa shivered involuntarily.

"You're safe," she conceded. "This one's off-limits."

.....................

04:15am

Morning arrived.

A nurse approached Watts and Layla, summoning them to the doctor's office. Inside, a man in his thirties greeted them.

"Elizabeth is prepped for surgery," he informed them. "However, the procedure is risky. There's a chance she might not make it."

Neither Watts nor Layla flinched. They trusted that Elizabeth would pull through.

Still, nerves gnawed at them as they waited outside the operating room. Layla's hands trembled, her foot tapping anxiously against the tiled floor.

Watts reached out, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "She'll be fine," he murmured, though the words were as much for himself as for her.

Suddenly, Watts froze. A presence materialized inside the operating room—silent, yet unmistakable. It was powerful, overwhelming, and deeply familiar. His heart sank.

Shadow.

The name reverberated in his mind like a warning bell. Shadow, the enigma who always seemed one step ahead.

Was he behind Elizabeth's "accident"? If so, why reveal himself now?

Watts' jaw tightened, his body humming with urgency. He couldn't let Shadow interfere—not when Elizabeth's life hung in the balance.

Resurrecting her was an option, but it would strip away her essence, leaving only a soulless shell.

He rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing with determination.

Why now, Shadow?