Nine months too late: After divorce

His hand reached out, pulling the oxygen pipe down from his nostrils. The patient's eyes widened in shock as he began grasping for it.

As Kage watched him struggle for life, all he could see were the images of that day, flooding his mind. The day he'd made the worst mistake.

That flash drive contained his secrets, among those of many others, and they couldn't afford to lose it into the wrong hands.

"None of this would've happened if you hadn't betrayed me," he spoke icily, staring into the face of the man as he continued gasping for air. "We trusted you, let you into our circle, and you betrayed us." Machai and Zack were not nice men, but they hadn't come there with the intention of actually killing the patient. So, they exchanged worried glances when they saw Kage trying to do something like that. "Hey, it's okay. That's enough," Machai stepped in.

He tried taking the oxygen pipe from Kage's hand, but Kage held on tight.

"Man, let it go." Machai tried harder, and finally, Kage released it. Then he fixed it back under the nostrils of the man, inhaled sharply, his eyes rolling back.

"We have enough blood on our hands already, Kage. Let's not add this fucker's to it," Machai added in consolation.

Kage still had his rough expression on. His hands soiled, he reached for a wipe on the table, cleaning them. When he finished, he tossed it into the trash can by the side of the bed and exited the room with the others. The nurse was just outside the door when they stepped out.

"See? Told you we'd be right on time," Machai said with his usual smile.

The nurse offered no response but looked worried as she went into the room, obviously to make sure they hadn't truly murdered her patient.

"I need a restroom, man," Zack announced, walking off to find one.

Kage and Machai stayed behind, just standing in the quiet passage.

"You almost killed him in there," Machai scoffed.

"Key word 'almost. He's still alive," Kage answered coldly.

"Yes, but only because I stopped you."

"You speak like you're any different from me."

who

"Well, I sure am, because I wouldn't rush to kill a patient in a goddamn hospital where the doctors and nurses are aware I was the last person to visit. You really think you can stop that many witnesses from getting you in more trouble?" Kage said nothing as he started walking.

"We already have enough mess on our hands and need to be careful, Kage. We can't afford to make any more mistakes."

"Quit it, Machai. Stop whining like my mother."

Machai chuckled. No matter how much the two men disagreed, they knew they needed to stick together as they had a common interest. Machai had important info on that drive as well and would be in as much mess if it fell into the wrong

19:35

hands.

They couldn't discuss the details there at the hospital as they believed the walls had ears. When they reached a safe place, they'd need to talk about their next course of action on retrieving the item.

"When did you and Sylvie become close?" Kage suddenly asked, bringing his steps to a stop. Machai stopped walking too.

"Huh?" Machai arched a brow.

"At the party, you helped her out of the pool and drove her home. You wouldn't have done that if you two hadn't been communicating before then."

"What the hell? Did you have us followed?" Machai dipped his head and laughed, one hand in his suit pocket.

"Anyway," he straightened up, "it's kind of a small world, you know? The other day, she came around my father's company to sign a deal. I thought it'd be rude to ignore her like she was a stranger. So, all I did was say hi. Then, at the party, since nobody wanted to get their dresses and suits wet, I had to dive right in to save her. And... what was the point of letting her go home on her own when I could easily drive her myself? So, I did

Kage had a cold expression in his eyes as he watched Machai.

"Careful, mate." Machai tapped his shoulder. "I might think you're still interested in her. You hate her, don't you?"

Kage's shoulders visibly stiffened as he continued walking, Machai doing the same.

"Of course, you do. More than anyone, I know what she did to you. And what she made you do. I was there, remember?* Kage stopped walking, his hands clenching beside him.

"You

go

ahead, Machai. I need to stay back and get something handled." Machai didn't miss the dismissiveness in his voice.

He smiled. "See you later, then." While Kage stayed behind, he walked off-much to Kage's relief.

If he had to spend one more minute with the man, he might punch him in the face.

He stood back and kept watching until Machai got into the elevator and vanished. Good riddance.

Then, he set off on his own. He was close to the elevator when he heard someone whimpering. It struck him deep in the bones because it wasn't just any voice-it was a familiar one. One that unnerved him.

He stopped walking, looking to his left at the door where the sound was coming from.Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

Someone was in there, crying. And it wasn't just anyone.

But how could it be? How was she there?

Slowly, he moved towards it, stopping at the window that gave him access to see the room. It was an empty room-probably one that was meant to be an office but hadn't been arranged.

She was on a phone call, crying to whoever was on the other line.

"I really didn't mean to, Ruby. I'd never want to hurt her intentionally," she whimpered.

Ruby Cheng-Kage thought.

From the way she stood, her waist leaned against the table, she was backing Kage and wasn't aware of his presence. Kage found himself watching her, one hand tucked into his pocket. He should have no business being there. He shouldn't be interested in watching her cry. Yet, for some reason, he couldn't