<b>“</b>Dad… Dad… <b>Please </b>listen to me! <b>It’s </b>not what you think. T–This map is actually-”
<b>“</b><b>Ka</b>! Don’t you dare lie to me<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Dexter was enraged. The map that was swapped without his knowledge had turned their family’s fate upside down. The hardships, the humiliation, and the ambush they enduredst night<b>… </b><b>It </b>was all <b>because </b><b>of </b>that switch!
He was so angry that his fingers <b>were </b>trembling.
<b>How </b>could it be her? The daughter he loved beyond measure, the one he would give his life for, had betrayed him.
If he hadn’t stumbled across the truth today<b>, </b>she <b>would’ve </b>kept ying innocent<b>, </b>watching the Fullers crumble into ruin while standing on the sidelines- untouched and uncaring.
<b>“</b>Hand me the map. Now!<b>” </b>Dexter demanded, extending his hand. His voice was <b>so </b>loud it seemed to shake the ceiling.
<b>“</b>Dad… I <b>can’t </b>give <b>it </b>to <b>you</b><b>. </b>It’s mine<b>!</b>”
Ka felt a twinge <b>of </b>guilt, but her determination didn’t waver. She even tried to manipte Dexter as she said, “Dad, this map is useless in your hands. Only I can unlock its true potential. That’s why I can’t give it to you!”
Dexter was left speechless. At that moment, he was very furious.
Then, summoning strength he didn’t even know he had, he ripped <b>the </b>IV from his arm andunched himself at Ka. He wanted to snatch the map back.
Whether he tore it apart or handed it over to someone else didn’t matter. The map just couldn’t be in the hands of the Fullers.
Otherwise, the disasters it would bring were unthinkable.
<b>“</b>Dad?”
Ka waspletely caught off guard. She never imagined Dexter would resort to grabbing it by force.
Panic <b>set </b>in, and her instincts kicked in. She lunged forward, grappling with him as the struggle for the map began.
As the struggle intensified, Ka’s frustration turned into cold resolve.
Seeing Dexter’s weakened state after his surgery, she pushed him forcefully back onto the hospital bed. Without hesitation, she grabbed a pillow and nket from nearby<b>, </b>pressing them firmly over his face.
With eyes burning with rage, she said maliciously, <b>“</b><b>You </b>forced me into this… You made me do this. Just die already!” novelbin
Dexter thrashed beneath her, his body convulsing with desperate resistance. However, his strength quickly faded, and a muffled whimper escaped him as his <b>movements </b><b>slowed</b>.
Suddenly, the sound of a door handle turning shattered the tension in the air.
Ka panicked, and her heart pounded like crazy at that moment. She then quickly threw the pillow and nket aside while crying out, “Doctor! Doctor, help! My dad<b>… </b><b>He’s </b>not breathing! Please, someone, help!”
Chaos erupted <b>as </b>medical staff rushed into the ward. Dexter was whisked away to the emergency room amidst themotion.
<b>With </b>her face streaked with tears<b>, </b>Ka wept bitterly, clinging to her role as the distraught daughter. She painted a convincing picture, iming Dexter had tried to take his <b>own </b>life after waking up in despair.
<b>Her </b>tearful exnation <b>was </b><b>enough </b>to dispel any suspicion, <b>so </b>no one doubted her story.
When Myra <b>received </b>the news and rushed to the hospital, Dexter had already <b>been </b>sent into the emergency room. She refused to believe that the tough man, Dexter<b>, </b>would <b>attempt </b><b>to </b>take his <b>own </b><b>life</b><b>. </b>It was <b>so </b>absurd! It was impossible!
<b>No </b>matter how many <b>times </b>she <b>pressed </b>Ka for answers, all she <b>got </b>in return were sobs and a tearful exnation.
“Mom<b>, </b><b>I’m </b><b>so </b><b>sorry</b>. If I had been more <b>attentive</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>could’ve stopped Dad from doing something <b>so </b>reckless<b>. </b>I’m so sorry…”
<b>Ka’s </b>hands <b>were </b><b>icy</b>, and her face was pale<b>, </b><b>as </b><b>if </b>she <b>were </b>truly terrified.
Myra felt bad <b>as </b>she said, “This is all my fault<b>. </b>I should never have left the two <b>of </b><b>you </b>alone while I went to rest. If I had stayed, none of this would’ve happened.” Fortunately<b>, </b>the ordeal in the emergency room didn’t <bst </b>long.
An hourter<b>, </b>the doors opened. The doctor <b>stepped </b><b>out</b><b>, </b>pulling off his mask. “The patient is stable now and out of danger<b>.</b>”
<b>“</b>Thank goodness! Thank you so much, doctor<b>!</b><b>” </b>Myra eximed.
She was too overwhelmed to notice the subtle tension in <b>Ka’s </b><b>expression</b><b>, </b><b>such </b><b>as </b>the stiffness of her <b>posture </b><b>or </b>the way her <b>gaze </b>flickered <b>nervously</b><b>. </b>
It was over now… What was she <b>supposed </b>to <i>do </i>now<b>? </b>