I Was Hoping She Would Notice but again Now When She Did... Im Tired

Lucian staggered out of the room, locking it behind him as he clutched his stomach, trying desperately to slow the flow of blood.

What the hell is she thinking? Has she gone mad? Trying to kill me for no fucking reason?! He cursed under his breath, every step sending fresh waves of pain rippling through his body.

He knew he wouldn’t be able to walk much farther. The bullets lodged in his gut ensured that. And worse, Cassandra wouldn’t stay trapped for long she’d find a way out. He needed to hide. Fast.

With ragged breaths, he forced himself forward, staggering through the dimly lit building. There was no way he could make it down the stairs in this condition. His best bet was to stay on the third floor just long enough to figure out his next move.

His vision blurred slightly, but he pushed through, scanning his surroundings. His gaze landed on a room near the end of the hallway. It looked untouched, abandoned perfect.

At least I’m lucky here, he thought grimly, slipping inside as silently as his wounded body allowed.

The room looked like an old office, its air thick with dust. Large wooden bookshelves lined the walls, towering over a massive conference table in the center. Filing cabinets and storage lockers cluttered the space, providing plenty of cover. Good enough.

Lucian took careful steps, making as little noise as possible, and crouched behind the table. His back pressed against one of the sturdy cabinets, shielding him from view. He exhaled sharply, trying to calm his racing heart.

But something was wrong.

Even now, his survival instincts weren’t kicking in. His skills his finely honed assassin’s intuition were failing him. Not even Hiding Genius is working…

MAX, you motherfucker, are you there yet? His mind screamed in frustration. Come out already or I might really die this time! Blood’s already pouring out, and this is fucking painful!

Silence.

Lucian’s pulse hammered. His head pounded with frustration. MAX! He mentally roared. At least give me some goddamn medical tools! I can take the bullets out myself if I have to. Just something… anything!

Nothing.

His breath hitched as a horrifying realization sank in. His hands trembled as he looked down at them.

Wait… I can’t even think of a proper treatment… Has my Genius Doctor skill malfunctioned too?!

A cold dread seeped into his bones.

Max… do you want me dead? Or is something seriously wrong with you?

His mind raced. This had never happened before not in his past life. So why now? What the hell was happening?

Lucian grunted, forcing himself into a tighter position under the table. His body screamed in protest, his wounds pulsing with unbearable heat. But for now, he was at least partially hidden covered on three sides, only visible if someone walked directly to the back of the room.

He exhaled shakily and lifted his bloodstained shirt. Two bullet wounds marred his stomach, crimson oozing sluggishly from the torn flesh.

Ah… at least my six-pack is still intact, he thought with a weak chuckle one that quickly turned into a sharp, pained grunt as fresh agony shot through him.

Even breathing was hellish.

Suddenly, a crack.

A gunshot rang out, shattering the tense silence. Lucian flinched instinctively. Then, the sound of a door creaking open echoed through the space, filling the air with a heavy sense of dread.

“She’s out already… Max… if you don’t come online now, I might really be on my way to meet God. I swear, I’ve never been this scared in my entire life.”

His heart pounded wildly, an erratic rhythm against his ribs.

Just hope she doesn’t find me… Or maybe if I’m lucky she’s dumb enough to think I ran out of the building.

He pressed himself against the floor, trying to quiet his breathing, willing himself to disappear into the shadows. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the ragged sound of his own breath.

Then hurried footsteps. Fast, urgent.

Lucian tensed. The footsteps echoed down the hallway, receding. Was she leaving? His chest loosened just slightly, the faintest whisper of relief slipping in.

But then they stopped.

A sharp, eerie silence fell over the room.

Lucian’s stomach dropped.

Then, the footsteps returned. Faster. Louder. Rushing straight toward his hiding place.

“No… No way… Why is she coming this way? Is my luck really that bad?”

His mind raced, panic clawing at his thoughts.

The footsteps reached the door. And then someone stepped inside.

Lucian squeezed his eyes shut.

“Am I going to die now?”

A wave of memories flashed before him. Moments of joy, pain, regret all swirling in an instant. His fear morphed into something else. Resignation. He exhaled sharply, his resolve solidifying.

“Whatever. It’s not like this would be my first time dying.”

Ignoring the pain searing through his body, he pushed himself up, prepared to face whatever came next.

Then

A voice. Trembling. Fragile.

“Are you… are you Harry?”

Lucian froze.

His breath caught in his throat.

Behind the desk, his entire body went rigid. His fingers curled into his palms.

He sighed. How did she…?

His mind raced. Of all the things that could have happened, this this was the last thing he wanted.

For years, he had lied to her. He had hidden behind a screen, pretending, talking to her as someone else. The weight of deception pressed against his chest. If she found out the truth… if she knew that all this time, “Harry” had been him Lucian what then?

It would break her.

And that thought alone was unbearable.

“I know you’re behind that table.”

Cassandra’s voice cut through the air, filled with fear and certainty.

“Come out. I know you’re Harry, aren’t you?”

Lucian swallowed hard. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet.

A flicker of pain shot through him as he rose, blood soaking through his shirt, staining it a deep crimson. But he didn’t flinch. His expression remained unreadable.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, crazy woman,” he said, his voice steady despite the agony coursing through him.

Cassandra’s breath hitched. She clutched the pistol in her trembling hands then, suddenly, it slipped from her grip, clattering onto the floor.

Her hands flew to her mouth, eyes wide, horrified.

Her gaze locked onto the wound in his stomach.

The blood.

So much blood.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“You’re Harry… aren’t you?” Her voice broke.

Lucian met her gaze.

“I’m not,” he said.

She took a shaky step forward.

“Look into my eyes.”

Cassandra held up the necklace with trembling hands, her voice thick with emotion.

“Look at this… This belongs to Harry. And you were wearing it.” Her eyes locked onto Lucian’s, desperate and searching. “At least don’t lie to me now. Are you really… him? I never thought you would betray me, Harry. I trusted you.”

Lucian’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker small, almost imperceptible a hesitation, a hint of guilt buried in his gaze.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said flatly.

But Cassandra saw through him. The moment of doubt, the crack in his mask. It was enough.

“You’re an idiot,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Tears, the ones she had been stubbornly holding back, finally spilled over, cascading down her cheeks like an unstoppable flood.

“I tried to kill you,” she choked out. “And you didn’t even say anything…! I would’ve stopped, you idiot! Why didn’t you tell me?! And now look”

She stepped toward him, concern replacing the anger in her eyes.

Lucian instinctively took a step back.

“Cassandra, wait…” His voice wavered, genuine unease flashing across his face.

She bit her lip, noticing the fear in his eyes.

“Don’t worry,” she muttered, though her voice still carried frustration. “I won’t kill you now.”

But it wasn’t just about that. It wasn’t just about him deceiving her. It was about years of trust unraveling in a single moment.

Lucian exhaled, his breathing unsteady.

“I can explain,” he said, voice raw. “At least… before I die, I need to clear my name. I don’t want to leave this world as a liar.”

Cassandra clenched her fists, shaking her head.

“Forget that for now, idiot!” she snapped. “Why are you such an idiot? You almost got yourself killed! Why didn’t you say something?! You could’ve died… I could’ve killed you!”

Her voice cracked, her gaze locking onto the crimson stain spreading across his shirt.

“So stupid… so, so stupid,” she whispered, her hands shaking.

Lucian was silent for a long moment. Then, out of nowhere, a dry, almost humorless chuckle escaped his lips.

“Just leave it,” he murmured. “Let me die.”

The words cut through the air like a blade.

Cassandra froze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

“What…?” she whispered, her face pale.

Lucian let out a slow, shuddering exhale, his back sliding down the wall.

“I mean… why was I even trying so hard to live?” His voice was disturbingly calm. “What do I even have left? Everything’s already falling apart… What’s the point?”

He slumped against the cold surface behind him, his body finally giving in.

Cassandra’s pulse roared in her ears.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” she nearly screamed.

She lunged forward, grabbing his collar, shaking him.

Lucian coughed violently, blood spilling past his lips.

Her stomach twisted.

“Lucian”

His gaze drifted to her, distant, empty.

“I just wanna sleep,” he murmured.

Cassandra felt something inside her crack.

“You…you… What happened?!” Her voice wavered with fear. “I didn’t even do anything! Why are you talking like this now?! Didn’t I say I wouldn’t kill you?! We need to get to a hospital”

Her voice caught in her throat.

“Let’s go to the hospital,” she repeated, her own panic swallowing her words.

Her tears had stopped. Not because she had found control but because pure shock had stolen them away.

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