Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime
Chapter 107: The Countdown

Chapter 107: The Countdown

[145 Days Left to Live]

"I already made the necessary calls," Brent said firmly, his voice low but full of urgency as he stood in Cassius’ dimly lit study. "They don’t have much time. We need your cooperation, Cassius. I can’t do this without you."

Cassius, lounging on his favorite leather armchair, looked up slowly. His sharp eyes, always masked with a thin veil of mystery, now gleamed with something colder.

"You think I would just sit here and let them die?" he replied, setting down his glass of untouched scotch. "I need them alive as much as you do."

Brent gave a short nod. He’d worked with Cassius long enough to know that when he did speak, he meant every word. But even now, he couldn’t help but glance at Sophia who stood silently to the side, arms crossed and gaze unwavering.

"Sophia," Cassius said suddenly without looking at her. "Call Kendrick. Now."

Sophia nodded once, then pulled out her phone and dialed. Her eyebrows furrowed as she listened.

"No answer," she muttered. She tried again. Still nothing. Her fingers moved quickly to try Zephany’s number. Silence.

Cassius straightened in his seat, already sensing something was wrong. He met Brent’s eyes.

"Let’s go," he said, grabbing his coat. "Bring the car around."

The next thirty minutes felt like hours. When they finally reached Kendrick’s apartment, Brent was the first to rush out of the car. The hallway was quiet—too quiet. As soon as they pushed through the front door, the sight stopped them in their tracks.

Zephany was lying on the floor just outside Kendrick’s room. Her small frame was curled slightly, one hand resting against the door as if she’d tried to knock before collapsing. Her skin was pale, and her breathing shallow.

"Zephany!" Brent rushed to her, gently checking for a pulse.

Cassius moved past him quickly, heading for the back of the apartment. The high-tech room Kendrick used for monitoring was eerily quiet. Kendrick lay crumpled on the floor, collapsed beside the main desk where screens still showed live feeds of Barmon’s latest moves.

Cassius glanced at the monitors and then back down at Kendrick, stunned for a moment. Brent entered behind him and caught the sight.

"So this is how you’ve been keeping tabs on him," Brent said, voice low.

Cassius gave a quick nod, but his focus was entirely on Kendrick. He knelt and carefully rolled him over.

"His pulse is weak. Just like hers," Cassius muttered. "We have no time. We take them to Diamond Private."

Brent hesitated. "Public hospital is closer."

Cassius shook his head firmly. "Christy works there. If she finds out like this—"

"Right," Brent said quickly. "Private it is."

They wasted no time loading the unconscious pair into the back of the vehicle. Sophia was already on the phone, barking urgent orders to the private facility.

When they arrived at Diamond Private Hospital, the doctors were already waiting. The two were wheeled into separate rooms, yet close enough in proximity for immediate procedures. Brent followed closely behind one gurney while Cassius flanked the other.

Inside a sterile, brightly lit room, Cassius paced as the head doctor approached. The same man who’d handled Lian’s injection now stood with another syringe and quiet dread in his eyes.

"We need to act now," Brent said without hesitation. "Do what you did before. Use the blood from one to stabilize the other."

The doctor nodded but looked nervous. He pulled Cassius aside slightly.

"Are you absolutely sure they’re the two survivors from before?" the doctor asked.

Cassius gave him a look. "I wouldn’t bring them here otherwise. Just do it."

"Yes, sir. But this will only hold them for a while," the doctor added. "Maybe a month. Like Lian."

Cassius closed his eyes for a moment and let out a slow breath. "Then we buy them that month. And find a cure in the meantime."

Brent remained silent, watching through the glass as tubes connected to both Kendrick and Zephany’s arms were carefully inserted. Machines beeped steadily. Slowly, color returned to their cheeks.

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor stepped back and removed his gloves.

"It worked. For now. Their vitals are stabilizing. They’re not out of the woods, but they’ll wake up soon."

Brent let out a deep sigh of relief, rubbing his temples. "We can’t let this happen again."

Cassius turned to the doctor again. "How much more of their blood do we have left?"

"Two, maybe three injections’ worth. Also, the maximum number of days we can continue prolonging their lives is roughly 145 days from now. That’s it. And if we don’t alternate, they’ll both deteriorate. Each one can only survive if they receive blood from the other—not just anyone. Their blood types are a match, but it’s the pathogen resistance in their unique systems that keeps them alive."

"Then they need each other," Brent muttered, almost to himself.

Cassius stared at him, then quietly replied, "More than they know."

Outside the room, Sophia stood watching them through the observation glass. Her arms were crossed, but her eyes weren’t cold this time.

"They’re going to have questions when they wake up," she said. "What do we tell them?"

Cassius replied quietly, "The truth. But only the part they need to know. For now."

Sophia nodded. "And the rest?"

"We keep it buried. Until it can’t be anymore."

Inside the room, Zephany stirred first. Her fingers twitched. Brent stepped closer but didn’t enter. She looked fragile, nothing like the agent she once was. But he knew better.

Moments later, Kendrick groaned faintly. Cassius watched from behind the glass, a flicker of something soft crossing his usually impassive face.

"Let them rest," Cassius said quietly. "We’ll explain when they wake."

Brent turned to him. "And then what? What happens in a month?"

Cassius didn’t answer right away. He walked to the end of the hallway, staring out the window into the city lights below. After a long silence, he finally said, "Then we do it all over again. Or we stop running and finish what started twelve years ago."

Back in the room, Zephany’s eyes opened slowly. Her gaze wandered to the IV in her arm. Confused, she blinked as her breathing steadied. Across from her, Kendrick shifted, his brows furrowing as he woke. Their eyes met briefly, neither understanding what had happened.

And outside, two men stood in the hallway. One with answers. The other with a growing fear they may never have enough time to fix what’s been broken.

145 days left. The countdown continued.