He is here

Having spent the entire day in the hospital until visiting hours were over, Mr. Thomas Evans had come to know more about Caleb and reunited with his family. He knew it could not last forever; after he recovered, the police would immediately take him back to prison. He understood that it wasn't safe, but he felt powerless to change the course of events.

As he watched Lilian and Caleb, he experienced conflicting emotions. He could see the love they shared and the happiness they had found with each other. Amber and Cole's integration into the family felt natural, devoid of any tension or awkwardness. They had become a family, and for Thomas, this stirred complex feelings. He was pleased to see his daughter with someone who loved her deeply, but he couldn't ignore the growing fear of the person who had orchestrated his downfall. He had returned, and Thomas knew he wouldn't spare any of the elite families, especially their children. To him, it was a matter of karma.

Thomas couldn't help but want to protect them. That was the very reason he had taken the actions he had, trying to atone for his past crimes and secure their release. However, it seemed his efforts had been in vain. Lilian, driven by love, had willingly walked into danger, and it tore at Thomas's heart.

Lilian was a fearless and strong-willed woman, much like her mother. Her resemblance to her late mother sometimes brought tears to Thomas's eyes. The thought of his eyes welled with tears, but he pushed them back. This person, Caleb, meant the world to his daughter, and Thomas would do anything to protect them. He smiled, waving them goodbye as they left the hospital room, knowing that the time for reckoning would come, and maybe then they would agree on the course of action.

Thomas didn't have to wait long. The door to his room creaked open, and a tall, imposing figure entered. He could feel the aura of menace that surrounded the man, who bore burn scars on the left side of his face and neck. A grim smile stretched across the man's rugged and handsome face. He seemed to have forgotten how to smile genuinely; it appeared more like a grimace.

Thomas avoided eye contact with the scarred side of the man's face, reminded of the horrifying incident that had caused those burns. Memories of a mansion engulfed in flames, accompanied by agonizing screams, flashed before his eyes. Shaking off the haunting recollections, he realized there was nothing he could do to change the past.

"Hello, Thomas," the man said with that eerie smile.

"Hello, Michael," Thomas replied, acknowledging him.

"You seem to remember me," Michael chuckled. "I thought you might pretend not to know me."

Micheal recalled their past conversations, where he had teased Thomas for having nine lives like a cat. However, now it seemed Thomas did have nine lives.

"am impressed you survived your suicide attempt"?

"You know I didn't do it," Thomas said, growing agitated.

"Oh, yes, that was my boys," Michael casually admitted, as if discussing a trivial matter. "I told them about your alleged nine lives, and they seemed eager to test the theory. You know how boys can be, always curious."

Thomas couldn't help but feel a mix of anger and helplessness. Michael was responsible for the attempt on his life.

"But," Michael continued, "you should have known it wouldn't last forever, didn't you? Did you think I'd let you live?"

"I had to try to protect my daughters," Thomas retorted.

Michael's gaze turned cold. "And how did that work for you, Thomas? I put you in a position among the elite, but you always were a slimy, manipulative ghetto kid, weren't you? You should have known that one day you'd use that cunning mind of yours against me."

"I wanted to spare my daughters your ere," Thomas explained, his voice filled with frustration.

Michael, still wearing his eerie smile, patted Thomas's hand soothingly. "Oh, don't look at me like that. You've deceived others before, to get me off your back"

"You found out about my plans and got me arrested earlier. I had everything planned to ensure my daughters' safety, but you destroyed it" Thomas says frustrated 

"Did you think I'd let you survive?" Michael interrupted. "You've underestimated me, silly Tommy, I've changed my mind about killing you. Instead, I'll destroy your newfound family and watch you suffer the heartache. It will be entertaining to see you beg for your children. I don't care if you want to keep them safe; you'll need to endure more suffering than I did. The emotions I can feel are so few, but isn't it deliciously cold-hearted?"

Thomas clenched his fist, but he was powerless in his current state. He had one more thing to say. "You won't win this."

Michael leaned in closer. "I already have," he affirmed coldly. With that, he patted Thomas on the back before departing, leaving Thomas with a sense of foreboding.

The room fell into an eerie silence as Thomas contemplated the impending threat, knowing that Michael's return would bring chaos and danger to their lives.