Chapter 90
“Dr. Humphrey, what will it take for you to save her?“N
“My life is yours, the entire Cordova Corporation is yours–will that do?” As he spoke, Augustus actually drew a dagger and raised it to his own throat.N
I caught his wrist before the blade could pierce his skin.N
He looked at me with desperate, expectant eyes.
Letting out a sigh, I said, “A doctor’s heart is for saving lives. If someone can be saved, of course, I will save them. But doctors are not omnipotent.”
His eyes turned bloodshot. “You’re still blaming me, aren’t you?”
Nooked at him, another sigh escaping my lips. “If Mr. Cordova insists on thinking that way… there’s nothing I can do.“>
I released his wrist and turned to leave.”
Behind me came a man’s voice, shattering with despair and rage.
My body had mostly recovered.”
After a short recuperation, I returned to work. But not long after, I was summoned to a banquet.
Augustus stood there in a tailored suit, smiling at me.
Only the smile was hollow, steeped in death. “Dr. Humphrey, do you still remember them?”
The bodyguards pushed several people forward.
My eyes widened as I recognized them. “Beatrice? Darwin? Director Higgins?”
Their mouths were stuffed with filthy rags, their eyes full of terror as they stared at me. Crack!
A whip lashed across their backs.
Augustus‘ smile turned dangerous, laced with mockery.”
“A bunch of fools. Did you really think you could run abroad and I wouldn’t find you?” He rubbed the blood between his thumb and forefinger, sneering. “You faked your deaths to escape me, didn’t you?”
Lifting Beatrice’s chin between his fingers, he tilted his head. “Too bad. Only when you’re truly dead will I never find you again. Why don’t I help you with that?”
“Mm–mm!” Beatrice thrashed, eyes bulging, shaking her head frantically.”
It didn’t matter. Augustus raised his glass to me, smiling like a predator.”
“Dr. Humphrey, enjoy the feast.”
Four Rolls–Royces stood waiting in the plaza.”
Beatrice was dragged out, her limbs tied to four different cars.}
Engines roared to life. I closed my eyes.Д
Darwin’s eyes went wide, horror etched across his face as he watched everything.”
“Darwin‘ Save mel Beatrice cried.
Moments later, blood sprayed across his face.
When the rag was torn from his mouth, his first reaction was to spit venom at me. “Annalise! You’re just going to watch someone die in front of you? You bitch! You’ll die a miserable death!“!!
Before I could speak, Augustus made a small gesture.
Darwin was yanked upright, his bravado evaporating into a pallid mask of fear
“What are you doing? Let me go!%
A block of ice was set beneath his feet, and a noose dropped around his neck.N
Augustus gestured for me to sit and clink his glass with mine. “Dr. Humphrey, care to guess how long he’ll last?“N
“Annalise Darwin stood trembling on the ice, trying desperately to keep his balance. If he slipped, the rope would finish what fear had begun
“Arinalise say something His eyes were fixed on me, full of desperate hope.
The hospital director was tied to a chair nearby, watching in horror, puddles spreading beneath him on the floor. N
Seeing I calmly took a sip of wine, Darwin nearly went mad with anxiety
“Annalise Annal Augustus always listens to you–tell him to let me go! We’ve known each other for years!”
“You and Beatrice were childhood sweethearts for even more years, weren’t you?‘ I spat sarcastically.@
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6:57 PM P
Despair crept across his face. “Young feelings are more like family. You and I–what we had was true love!“}
And at that moment, I finally understood.
The only reason Darwin had dared to be so aggressive with me earlier was because he was convinced I would plead for him.”
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
