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    The moment their lips met, an overwhelming surge of emotion-fierce and unrestrained- rushed from Justin''s chest straight to his mind, consuming him entirely.


    Be''s soft body was pinned beneath him. His lips and tongue invaded clumsily yet


    forcefully, while her eyes glistened with unshed tears.


    At first, she resisted gently, her breath unsteady. But soon, she sumbed to the kiss she had longed for, her back arching upward as her small hands clutched at thepels of his suit, eagerly returning his kiss.


    Their breaths mingled, creating a perfect harmony of desire.


    Justin''s deep gaze lingered on her delicate nose and her tear-filled eyes, his passion intensifying.


    In the stillness of the room, their entwined bodies spoke volumes of longing without uttering a word.


    Then suddenly, the shrill sound of a phone ringing shattered the moment.


    Both of them jolted awake, as though pulled from a dream. At the same time, Justin felt a sharp, debilitating pain crash through his head, spreading throughout his entire body.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He abruptly broke away from her lips, stood up, and hurried out of the room without looking back.


    Be trembled, kneeling on the hospital bed, her slender hand reaching out in the direction he had disappeared, only to grasp a handful of cold, empty air.


    She bit down on her lips, swollen and reddened from the kiss. She swallowed the growing ache in her heart as she picked up the still-ringing phone by the bedside.


    "Yvonne, what''s going on? Why are you calling so early?" Be, trying to steady her breath, asked with concern.


    Yvonne''s voice came through, low and apologetic. "Be, I''m sorry... Did I disturb you?" Be forced a light tone, wiping away the lingering tears at the corner of her eyes. "It''s fine. I was already awake. We''re best friends; no need to worry about that."


    "Be... Are you getting close to Granttely?" Yvonne''s voice suddenly shifted, growing tense with worry.


    Be immediately sat up straight. "Not particrly close. It''s just that he saved me the other day, so we''ve had more contacttely. Why?"


    "I don''t know how to exin it... My head is a mess right now." Yvonne took a deep breath, her voice shaking. "Yesterday, I ran into Grant when I was volunteering at the orphanage. As I passed by him, I heard him speak. His voice sounded incredibly simr to the voice of the


    Boss behind Christopher."


    Be''s almond-shaped eyes widened in shock, the warmth of the previous moments vanishing as a cold chill crept in. "Yvonne, are you sure?!"


    "I... I can''t be 100% sure," Yvonne stammered, her voice trembling, "I know voices can sometimes be simr, but when I apanied Christopher to meet that Boss in Meridan, I overheard part of their conversation. His voice was so distinct, so memorable, that I couldn''t forget it."


    Yvonne''s anxiety was palpable. "Also, hasn''t Grant also been in Meridan for treatment all this time? Could it really be a coincidence? If Grant is that Boss, then his intentions in getting close to you might be dangerous!"


    Be clutched the phone tightly, her gaze drifting toward the window and the sky just beginning to brighten.


    The Boss had been in Meridan. Grant had also been in Meridan. Right after Christopher''s downfall, Grant who had stayed under the radar for twenty years suddenly made his return.


    Why?


    Was it just because he missed home and felt that his health had recovered? No one would believe that.


    Maybe it was because he finally felt strong enough, confident that the time was right to return and reim everything that had once been his. Or perhaps, with Christopher -his puppet-now out of the picture, Grant had no other choice but to personally take charge of the situation and restore order.