CHAPTER 56: RACE AGAINST TIME

Caleb felt his heart skip a beat.

A cold, heavy knot twisted in his chest.

Julia’s eyes were shut—completely still.

No flutter. No sign of life.

"Julia!" he cried, his voice cracking.

"Julia!"

He shook her—first gently, then more urgently.

Still no response.

His mind froze for a second, locked in disbelief.

Then instinct took over.

He tore a strip from his shirt and pressed it firmly against the gaping wound in her stomach.

But the fabric soaked through almost instantly, the blood refusing to stop.

"We need to get her to a hospital—now!" he yelled, scooping her into his arms without hesitation.

Naya was already by his side, matching his urgency.

Together, they bolted down the corridor—Caleb’s footsteps thundered against the ground, his heart racing with every desperate stride.

Caleb didn’t know why he felt this way.

Why the weight in his chest felt so heavy.

Why the girl in his arms felt so important.

Julia wasn’t his real sister—but after everything they’d been through, after spending so much time together, she had become one.

She had given him something he hadn’t even realized he’d been missing: the genuine warmth of a sibling.

And somewhere along the line, he’d grown attached. Deeply.

She looked after him with a fierce, unwavering care—so much that he couldn’t help but return it.

That love, that bond... it ran deep.

So deep that sometimes, he couldn’t even tell if it was just familial. Or something more.

And because of that, the system’s mission—the manipulation, the deceit—it had all become harder for him to carry out.

Julia would’ve done anything for him. He knew that with certainty.

And now, she was bleeding out in his arms.

A storm of emotions swelled inside him—grief, guilt, rage.

He had been reckless. Too reckless.

’If only I had been more careful...’ Caleb thought, grinding his teeth as the light at the end of the hallway came into view.

They didn’t slow down. They sprinted faster.

Once outside, Caleb made a beeline for his McLaren.

"Take care of her—I’ll drive," he said, carefully handing Julia over to Naya as he climbed behind the wheel.

Naya quickly slid into the passenger seat, cradling Julia’s fading body in her arms.

"Hold on," she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady. "Don’t leave us yet... Please, Julia, stay with us."

It was already late into the night.

The roads were nearly empty—most people had already turned in for the day.

Those who attended the auction had checked into nearby hotels, leaving the streets eerily quiet.

Caleb had no time to waste.

He slammed his foot down on the accelerator.

The engine roared to life like a beast awakened.

The force shoved him back into his seat as the McLaren surged forward, cutting through the silence of the night like a bullet.

There were no restraints, no hesitation.

The car tore down the road at a blistering speed, a blur of motion and fury.

Any pedestrian or driver unlucky enough to catch a glimpse would only see streaks of headlights disappearing into the distance.

But Caleb was in complete control.

His hands gripped the wheel tightly, his eyes locked on the road with razor-sharp focus.

Every curve, every bump—he anticipated it all.

When he took a sharp turn, the tires screamed against the asphalt, the air thick with the scent of burning rubber.

The McLaren weaved through the street with precision.

Not too fast to lose control. Not too slow to waste a second.

Next to him, the dashboard lit up with the digital display of the map.

The nearest hospital was only a few blocks away.

He pressed harder on the gas.

Time was bleeding out, just like Julia in Naya’s arms.

It took only two more sharp turns before they pulled up in front of the hospital.

Caleb hit the brakes hard. The car jolted to a sudden stop, making both him and Naya lurch forward slightly.

But he didn’t hesitate.

He jumped out of the vehicle, rushing to the passenger side as Naya stepped out with Julia still in her arms. Caleb took her carefully—desperately—and bolted into the hospital entrance.

The nurse at the front desk looked up, startled. Her eyes widened at the sight of him sprinting toward her, confusion flashing across her face.

But when she caught sight of the blood-soaked girl in his arms, everything changed.

"What happened to her?" the nurse asked quickly, standing and rushing for the emergency bed nearby.

"This is not the time for questions—just help her!" Caleb snapped, his voice laced with panic and fury.

Without another word, the nurse wheeled the stretcher forward. Caleb gently laid Julia down, his fingers trembling.

The nurse took off down the corridor, shouting for backup as she pushed Julia into the emergency ward.

Caleb could only stand there for a second, frozen, watching the doors swing shut behind them.

Then he slumped into the nearest seat in the waiting area, running both hands through his hair.

His chest heaved. His thoughts spun.

He’d been through a lot in his past life—hell, he’d survived worse. But losing people? That was something he never got used to.

Especially not someone who had genuinely cared for him.

Naya quietly sat beside him, her face tense with guilt.

’This is my fault again... What should I do? It’s because of me...’

Her fists clenched tightly in her lap.

But she knew—this wasn’t the time to drown in regret. This wasn’t about her.

The person who needed comfort right now was sitting next to her, and if offering that was all she could do, then she would.

She reached out slowly, her hand hovering in the air, unsure if she should touch him. Her fingers trembled.

Caleb didn’t notice her hesitation.

His mind was a hurricane of self-blame and rage.

’I froze that bastard... He planned ahead. He tricked me. I’ll make him pay. I swear I will.’

His fists were balled so tight, his knuckles were pale.

But then—he felt it.

Warmth.

Arms wrapped around him from the side, hesitant at first, then firm.

He looked slightly to the side. He couldn’t see her clearly, but he didn’t need to.

He could feel her—the softness of her embrace, the scent of creamy vanilla mixed with sandalwood.

"I’m here," Naya whispered. "Don’t worry. It’ll be okay..."

And just then—click—the ward door swung open.