The faint scent of antiseptic filled the air.
A single light flickered above the hospital bed, illuminating the pale face of Vannie Lung — or rather, Nattalie Huang, the name the world didn't know.
Her eyelashes trembled. Her fingers twitched.
Then, slowly, her eyes opened.
At first, she didn't remember where she was. The sterile white walls, the beeping of the heart monitor, the faint chill of the IV running into her arm — all of it blurred together.
When the memory hit her, she gasped.
The stone. The sharp pain at the back of her head. The smell of blood.
And darkness.
Her heart raced.
The monitor beeped faster, almost in sync with her panic.
Nattalie Huang winced, frowning deeply as her fingers moved to touch the bandaged side of her head, trying to sit up.
Vincent Huang's sudden voice startled everyone in the room.
"Lilie! You're awake?" he exclaimed, rushing over to take her hand.
In an instant, the others crowded around her.
"Lilie! You're conscious?"
"Does anything hurt? Is the wound still painful?"
"Say the word and we'll call the doctor right away!"
"You scared us half to death—thank heavens you woke up!"
"I nearly got myself hanged because of your stupidity!"
Everyone turned toward David Huang with matching glares.
Of all the worried and emotional things her family could have said, he had to make that kind of joke?
David tried to return to logic and quickly waved his hands.
"I'm sorry! It was just reflex. Honestly—this is how I deal with panic and… relief!"
The attention returned to Nattalie.
Her mother, Lilian, gently cupped her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Lilie, you made us so worried! How could something like this happen to you? And why was that man so cruel?"
"Cruel and lucky to have escaped," muttered Norte Huang darkly.
He already looked as if he was mentally listing the ways he'd punish whoever dared to harm his little sister.
Nattalie's eyes moved across every familiar face.
She was grateful for their concern—but hated being the reason for their fear.
"I'm sorry for making you all worry," she said softly. "I never thought it would become so serious… or so awful."
Her gaze dimmed as she continued.
"I didn't even realize how long he had been near me—standing behind me, just waiting for the chance to release his hatred."
The memory made her tremble.
She wasn't the strongest person in the world, but she had learned something from this: never again would she let her guard down.
Lilian gasped, covering her mouth, unable to bear imagining what had happened.
Nakulla, her father, wrapped an arm around his wife, his jaw tightening with fury.
"I will never forgive that man," Nakulla growled.
Then, sharply: "Vincent Huang!"
"Yes, Father."
"Find him—whoever he is. I don't care how. I'll deal with him myself."
Everyone froze.
When Nakulla Huang made a declaration like that, it was no empty threat.
Vincent gave a solemn nod.
"Don't worry, Father. I've already contacted someone—an expert—to investigate this. That bastard won't get away with it."
Nakulla's glare softened as he turned toward his daughter again.
"But more than that—how could you hide all of this from us? Keeping everything secret and facing it alone… with your foolish brother?"
David shrank where he stood, looking like a scolded puppy.
Nattalie immediately defended him.
"Please don't blame him! It was my idea to keep it quiet. I didn't want to make you angry or worried. Just look at everyone's reaction now!"
Her father, Vincent, and Norte all clenched their fists, anger and frustration written across their faces.
Nattalie could feel it—the heavy disappointment filling the room.
Slowly, she tried to sit up, her fingers brushing the thick bandages wrapped around her head.
She could tell how deep the wound must have been by the weight of them.
But her mind, as usual, went straight to work.
"I just hope the scar doesn't stay," she murmured. "It'll ruin the shoot if I can't continue filming."
A few people gave her sharp, disbelieving looks.
"You still want to go back to that damned set?" Nakulla's voice thundered, half in disbelief, half in anger.
Vincent and Norte both stepped forward at once.
"We won't allow it!"
"Neither will I!" they said together, in rare agreement.
Nattalie sighed, glancing toward David.
He blinked back at her, confused. "What? Don't look at me like that! I didn't convince them to say that—I've been defending you this whole time!"
Now all three Huang men turned their glares on him.
David groaned, clutching his head.
"Seriously?! Why is it that no one ever takes my side? You all keep cornering me when I didn't even do anything!"
Norte shot back coldly, "You did—you failed to protect her. Instead of helping, you put her in danger."
The words hit David like a punch to the chest.
"I already told you—I never wanted this to happen! If I'd known there was even a chance of an attack, I'd never have left Vannie alone! Never! I'd follow her everywhere if I had to."
No one responded.
They'd already turned back to Nattalie, discussing what to do next.
David slumped in defeat, his frustration simmering silently.
But when he looked back at his sister—alive, breathing, awake—he swallowed the protest that rose in his throat.
It wasn't worth another fight.
***