The tension in the hospital hadn't lifted — it clung to the air like static.
Even after the chaos in the consultation room, the echo of that woman's slap and her haunting words still rang in Arora's head.
Kelvin had gone silent. Jennie was trying to calm him down, her voice trembling slightly.
And Arora… she just watched.
Expressionless.
But her mind wouldn't stop spinning.
Something about all this isn't right.
When she finally stepped out of the room, her cigarette trembled faintly between her fingers — something that almost never happened. She hated that her hands betrayed her.
Who was that woman? Why did Kelvin's reaction look so real?
Her instincts screamed that there was another player behind this mess — someone orchestrating it from the shadows. And the more she thought about it, the more her suspicion fell on one person.
Jennie.
The too-perfect nurse. The too-timely appearances.
And now that woman barging in just before their "date"?
Coincidence didn't exist in Arora's world.
She flicked her cigarette away and turned sharply, her heels echoing across the corridor — not with elegance, but with purpose.
---
Jennie was in the staff room, her phone pressed tightly against her ear, pacing.
Her voice shook. "What should I do, ma'am? He's still here… and that girl—Kelvin's sister—she—"
"Just leave the place for now," a cold, steady voice ordered from the other end. "I'll tell you what to do afterwards."
Jennie hesitated. "What about that girl?"
"What girl are you talking about?"
"The one who's supposed to be Kelvin's sister," Jennie whispered.
There was a sharp intake of breath. Then the woman's voice came, tight and impatient.
"What? What did you just say?"
Jennie flinched. "I—I forgot her name—"
"Say it. Quickly."
"Her name… I think her name was Ar—Arora."
A deadly silence followed. Then the voice snapped,
"Arora is there? Get out. Now. Leave the place immediately!"
Jennie's eyes widened. "But ma'am, I—"
"No excuses. Leave before she finds you."
The call cut off.
Jennie stood frozen for a second — until she felt someone's presence behind her.
---
Arora leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her glasses glinting faintly under the light.
Her tone was calm, but her eyes were sharp enough to cut through steel.
"Who were you talking to, Jennie?"
Jennie spun around, startled. "Ah—Leader— I mean—Doctor! It was just—"
Arora didn't wait for her to finish. She stepped forward and snatched the phone right out of her hand.
"Let's find out, shall we?"
Before Jennie could react, Arora pressed the phone to her ear.
For a few seconds, there was nothing but static.
Then a familiar, cold voice came through.
"If it's Arora, then don't waste your time standing there."
Arora froze. Her heart gave a violent jolt.
She knew that voice. She knew it — from somewhere far behind her current life, buried in the part of her memory she'd tried to kill.
Her voice hardened. "Who the hell are you? And how do you know my name?"
"Long time no see, little girl."
Her breath hitched. Anger flared instantly. "Who the hell is your little girl?"
"Chill, kiddo… don't get angry. You'll age faster."
Her patience snapped. "Say another word like that, and I'll find you myself and tear your tongue out."
"Then I'll be waiting," the voice replied, soft and almost amused. "My dear kiddo."
The line went dead.
Arora lowered the phone slowly, her pulse hammering in her ears. She didn't even realize she was gripping the phone hard enough for her fingers to ache.
Her mind spun with fragments — a voice, a memory, something half-forgotten but too familiar to ignore.
Why am I this angry just by hearing her voice?
And why… does it feel like I've heard it before?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the faint shuffle of movement.
Jennie was backing toward the door — eyes darting, trembling hands clutching the table behind her.
Then, in a flash, she lunged — snatched the phone from Arora's hand — and bolted out of the room.
Arora didn't chase her. Not immediately.
She just stood there, her reflection cold and sharp in the dark window.
"Run as much as you want," she murmured. "But you can't hide what's already mine to find."
She exhaled slowly, straightened her coat, and walked out.
---
Meanwhile, far away — in a facility buried deep within a fog-soaked forest — a woman sat before a dimly lit monitor, her fingers tapping the desk in rhythm with her thoughts.
"She heard me," she said quietly.
Loren, standing nearby, froze. "Arora?"
"Yes."
He hesitated. "Ma'am… are you sure you want to go through with this mission? Now that she's involved?"
"Of course," the woman said smoothly. "Why are you asking that?"
"Because… he's with her, ma'am."
A low chuckle echoed through the speakers.
"Don't worry about him. He was never worthy enough to change the outcome."
Loren bowed slightly. "Then I'll proceed as per your order."
"Good. Let's see how long she can keep pretending she doesn't remember me."
The screen went black, the forest wind howling softly outside — whispering the name Arora into the night.
---
To be continued…