Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 151: Baited Strings

Room after room was empty. The doors that had been open earlier on the feed were now shut. No trays, no containers, no people in lab coats. The place was completely abandoned.

They reached the room where Ted Frin had been injected only minutes ago, but it was bare. The gurney was gone, the floor swept clean. Not even a paper scrap remained.

Jeric exhaled sharply. "This is impossible. We just saw them."

Reynold’s eyes scanned the bare walls, frustration building in his chest. It didn’t make sense—moving this fast, erasing all traces in a matter of minutes.

His fist slammed into the wall, the sound echoing through the empty hall. "How come they moved so fast?" he muttered through clenched teeth.

---

Elsewhere, inside the luxurious but dimly lit study of the Diamond mansion, Brent sat comfortably in a leather chair, watching the same footage Reynold and Jeric had just seen. Only now, the screens showed Reynold and his men walking through the abandoned hospital, searching room after room.

A smirk played on Brent’s lips. "Too slow," he murmured to himself.

Beside him, Larman leaned on the edge of the desk, arms crossed. "Are you really going to keep doing this?"

Brent didn’t look away from the screen. "Why not?"

Larman’s expression tightened. "You know Cassius is against it. He already told you to stop making Reynold involved in this."

Brent finally turned toward him, his smirk fading into something more resolute. "Cassius keeps delaying things. He’s being overly protective. He even erased Barmon’s existence just to keep Reynold and Kendrick out of it. But we both know Barmon is our only key to finding out who’s really pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Larman studied him for a moment, then tilted his head. "So this is about angering Cassius? Or paying him back for something?"

Brent leaned back in his chair. "I’m just trying to make him focus on what’s important. If he really cares about his son and Reynold, he’ll stop playing his careful little game and start making actual moves."

Larman’s brow furrowed. "I know you want revenge for what happened to your girlfriend. But don’t forget—Reynold is Soren’s son. And Zephany... she’s at risk too."

Brent’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. "I know. That’s exactly why I want Cassius to work with us, instead of wasting time on unnecessary things. If he won’t move, I’ll keep baiting Reynold until he does."

Larman let out a slow breath, shaking his head slightly. "You’re playing with fire, Brent. One wrong move, and the people you’re trying to protect could get caught in it."

Brent turned back to the monitor, eyes narrowing on Reynold’s figure in the feed. "Then Cassius better decide which is worse—me baiting Reynold, or the real enemy making the first strike."

---

[96 Days Left to Live]

The past week had settled into an odd rhythm. Zephany had been quietly slipping out of the apartment each day, always through the secret passage. Every time she returned, it was the same route. Kendrick kept watch, thinking he might catch her leaving or arriving, but she was like smoke—gone before he knew it.

He leaned against the hallway wall, eyes fixed on her closed door. "What time does she even go out?" he muttered. "Is it too early? Or is it too late? How come I never notice?" His voice was low, almost as if he was afraid the door would hear him.

Days had passed since he’d last seen her. The memory of her in Kaelion’s music studio replayed in his mind. Now there was only silence between them.

"She doesn’t need me anymore," he murmured to himself. "What did I expect? It was just part of a deal anyway. Just a contract marriage that will end in less than a year." His jaw tightened, and then he let out a quiet sigh. "Maybe I should stay at Mom’s place for now."

---

On the other side of the city, Cassius kept his daily routines intact. He still monitored Kendrick, watching for any signs that the boy would make his move.

He still taught Levy’s class at the Elite Legacy Institute, sometimes staying behind after lectures just to glance at her in secret.

And he still took his silent seat in the Diamond Public Hospital’s cafeteria, his eyes occasionally straying toward the corridor where Christy worked as a nurse. He would sip coffee like any ordinary visitor, but his mind was far from ordinary.

---

Zephany’s own days had been full. She spent her mornings at Air Media, tapping away at articles, chasing leads, and answering to Pia’s endless teasing. As soon as work ended, she would head straight to Kaelion’s music studio.

Over several nights, she and Kaelion had built a song together. Jace and Kana had been around too, each offering their own input. They had argued over chord progressions, debated tempos, and laughed at failed takes. Tonight, at last, the song was finished.

Inside the warmly lit studio, all four of them gathered around the central console. The air was heavy with anticipation. Kaelion sat with his arms folded, leaning back in his chair. Jace tapped a pencil against the desk. Kana hugged her knees to her chest while sitting cross-legged on the couch.

Zephany pressed play.

A soft, bright piano melody filled the room, clear and almost jubilant, like sunlight breaking over a hilltop. Kaelion’s voice entered—smooth and strong—carrying the energy higher, almost as if the song itself was celebrating the listener.

But then, without warning, the chords shifted. The brightness fell away, replaced by heavy, dissonant notes. The drums deepened, slow and dragging, the way footsteps sound when someone is too tired to keep going. Kaelion’s voice lowered, his tone strained, almost as if the lyrics were mocking the hope that had just been offered.

The song slowed further, the sound fading into near silence. It felt like drifting in a dark ocean with no shore in sight. Zephany’s piano returned in faint notes—hesitant, lost.

Then came the heartbeat. Not a real one, but a rhythmic thump from the bass, slow and steady. It pulsed under Kaelion’s voice as his tone lifted again. The melody grew more hopeful, layered with harmonies that suggested a path forward. Instruments joined in, weaving together as if forming a safe place.

The music swelled toward what felt like the climax—strings, percussion, and piano all in harmony—until it suddenly fractured. A rush of chaotic drums and sharp notes broke through, as if war had erupted within the song itself. The rhythm stumbled, uncertain. Then silence.

A single, slow heartbeat returned. Steady. Waiting. Still holding on.

The lyrics followed the music’s story.

When the light first found me, it sang my name,

Danced with the wind, played in the rain.

But whispers grew colder, shadows took hold,

Told me the truth was a lie I’d been sold.

I walked in the dark, forgot how to dream,

Lost in the noise, afraid to be seen.

Then a spark broke through, a hand reached for mine,

Led me to places where the stars could still shine.

But the world is a storm, it turns without care,

It tears down the bridges you thought would be there.

I’ll keep my heart beating, no matter the fight,

Still searching, still hoping... I’ll find you in the light.

As the final note faded, the studio went still. Zephany stared at the keyboard, her hands resting lightly on the keys. She hadn’t noticed the tear sliding down her cheek until it reached her chin.

Kaelion caught the glimmer in her eyes but didn’t mention it. Instead, he grinned and raised a thumb. "Idol! That was really good. As expected, you’re amazing."

Zephany smiled faintly, brushing at her cheek as if the tear was nothing. "Thanks."

Jace leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Seriously, that was incredible. Your playing, and Kaelion’s voice—it just works."

Kana’s eyes were wide. "I got goosebumps," she admitted. "The part where it goes quiet and then the heartbeat comes back? That was beautiful."

Zephany laughed softly, a little shy. "I’m glad you liked it."

Kaelion leaned back in his chair, stretching. "Liked it? I think this could be one of our best tracks. You’ve got talent, Idol."

"Yeah," Jace added with a nod. "You really poured something into that. Feels like it came straight from your heart."

Zephany looked down. In her mind, Kendrick’s face surfaced again. She’d been avoiding him for days, slipping out before dawn and returning when she was sure he wouldn’t be around. But maybe... it was time to stop running.

A few minutes later, Zephany gathered her bag from the corner and stood. "I should get going," she said softly, offering the group a small smile. "Thanks... for tonight."

"Drive safe," Kaelion replied, giving her a casual wave.

"Don’t forget to eat when you get home," Kana added, pointing at her as if delivering an important order.

Zephany laughed under her breath. "Yes, ma’am."

Jace gave her a quick nod. "See you around, Zephany."