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--x--The Chapter Starts Here--x--

At Damice Enterprises, employees had taken their seats. The whole office was wrapped in a heavy silence, pin-drop silence. No one dared to look up from their assigned work.
Because their boss, Damien George, had arrived. And he looked angry.
When Damien was angry, someone usually ended up fired. And no one wanted to risk losing a salary package like this over a mistake.
In his cabin, Damien lifted the office phone.
“Robert. In my office. Now.”
He ended the call without waiting for an answer.

Within moments, there was a knock, three sharp raps.
“Sir. May I come in?”
“Yes, Robert.”
“Sir, you needed something?”
“Yes. As you know, Candice is missing.”
Damien’s gaze dropped to the small photo frame on his desk. His thumb brushed over Candice’s frozen toothy grin, the glass cool beneath his fingers.
Robert cleared his throat. “Uhh…”
“So… yes. Arrange a press conference. One hour sharp.”
“Yes, sir. Will do.” Robert bowed slightly before leaving, exhaling as he stepped out.

Damien’s jaw tightened.
“I will find you, Candy. My buttercup. You’d better stay put… and not even think of running.”

Meanwhile, at the hospital near the forest…
Dylan carried Candice into the lobby, her limp weight pressing against his chest.
Two hospital aides rushed over with a stretcher.
He laid her down carefully, his hands trembling as he followed alongside while they wheeled her away.
His own fingers were growing numb, his knees threatening to give out, but he forced himself forward. She had to live. He couldn’t lose the only person he had left.
“Rabbit… Rabbit… just stay with me… don’t go…” he whispered, the words barely audible… more to himself than to her.

They pushed her into the ICU. Dylan stopped just outside the door, chest heaving, cold sweat mixing with the rainwater on his clothes. He was freezing, but he didn’t move.
What if she woke up and needed him? What if the doctors called? Worst of all… what if Damien found her and took her away?
No. He wouldn’t let that happen. Not this time.
“Sir, are you with the lady admitted inside?”
The voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Ye… yes.”
“Hello, sir. I’m Dr. Sameer Sen.” The man extended his hand.
“Is she okay?” Dylan’s eyes searched his face for any hint of good news.
“Yes, sir. She’s stable. She was cold… maybe fell from somewhere. A few scratches, but nothing serious.”

Relief loosened something in Dylan’s chest. “Can I meet her?”
“Only after we move her to a normal ward. Can you wait a little?”
“Yes… and please, book a VIP suite for her. Put the bills under Dylan Paul.”
Dr. Sen blinked in surprise. “Sir… are you by any chance, the Dylan Paul?”
“Shhh… yes. But keep it quiet.” Dylan’s voice was low. Until now, no one outside his labels had seen his face, the public knew only his voice.
The doctor’s tone dropped to match. “My wife’s a big fan. Could you… maybe meet her once madam recovers?”
“Yes, of course.” Dylan forced a tired smile.

Before the doctor could say more, the ward boys emerged, pushing Candice’s stretcher. Dylan fell in step beside them, following into the suite.
The nurse adjusted Candice on the bed, speaking softly. “Sir, here’s the bell switch in case you need us.”
Dylan nodded without looking away from Candice’s pale face.
“Take care of your wife,” the nurse added with a warm smile. “She looks like a lovely person.”
“She’s the best person in the universe.” His voice softened as his fingers brushed a damp strand of hair from her forehead. Ignoring what the thought, “Wife” did to him
Candice’s lips curved faintly in her sleep… a ghost of a smile, though her breathing stayed slow, her body still heavy with exhaustion.
The nurse glanced at them once more before leaving.

“My Rabbit…” Dylan bent to press a kiss to her forehead. “I thought I’d have so much to say when I saw you again. I had complaints… questions. But now… none of it matters. Just wake up. We’ll leave this country.. anywhere you want. Okay?”
His thumb traced the edge of her cheek, careful not to wake her. He kept speaking, low and steady, the sound more like a lullaby than a conversation.
Eventually, his own eyes closed, his body sagging in the chair beside her bed. And his mind drifted back to the past…

Flashback: twenty-two years ago

A boy of about four sat in the orphanage, crying quietly, his stomach empty. His bully had taken his food tray.
“Oye… give Danny’s food back!”
The voice came from a small girl, nearly the boy’s height, her words tumbling out in a mix of gibberish and determination. She shoved at the older boy, twice her size… who only grinned and pushed her back.
The crying boy’s face changed. He wiped his eyes and ran at the bully, kicking him as hard as he could.
“Ma’am! Dylan’s kicking me!” the bully yelled when a warden appeared.
“Dylan, why did you hit Sam?”
“Ma’am, he hit me first!”
“No, ma’am! He’s lying, you saw him hit me!”
The little girl jumped in. “Ma’am, Sam was pushing me! He took Danny’s tray!”
“Candice… you always have to defend him,” the warden sighed. “Dylan, eat and then stand near the wall.”

“Ma’am… Candice will join her Danny,” the girl insisted, pointing at herself.
The warden muttered something about them being impossible and stalked away to check the CCTV.

“Come, Danny. Let’s eat,” Candice said, tugging Dylan toward the corner with a five-tooth grin.
“Why’d you push him, Rabbit?” Dylan asked, breaking a piece of roti and feeding it to her.
“He… took your plate.”
“So?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Candice will plotect you, Danny,” she said, raising her little fist and laughing.
“And why did you kick him, Danny?”
“I’ll always protect you, my Rabbit.”
“But…”
“Shhh. I know you can protect yourself. Now eat quietly… we’ll need strength to stand in the corner.” He stuffed another morsel into her mouth before she could argue.