Chapter 6 Tiger's Cage

Dayna paused for a moment, sneaking a quick look at the man next to her before hitting decline on the call.

She rarely saved numbers unless necessary, and this one was just another unsaved string of digits. Hopefully, Kristopher hadn't paid attention.

Until she knew for sure she could trust Kristopher, there was no way she was telling him who she really was.

The funny thing was, she'd once trusted Declan with everything. She was ready to tell him all of it. But he never had the patience to listen, so those secrets stayed hidden.

Looking back now, maybe his cold impatience had been a blessing in disguise.

She took a calm breath and quickly sent a message to Nell.

"What's up, Nell? Can't talk at the moment."

Before she could even turn the screen off, Nell's reply lit it back up.

"Huge case! My dear Wraith, they're tossing money like it's confetti. The first offer's already in the millions. Are you in or not?"

Dayna... was the famous Wraith Physician that everyone had been desperately searching for.

The legendary doctor who, according to rumors, could save someone even when they were hanging by a thread.

Her skills were beyond value.

But for the last few years, she'd set everything aside to be Declan's wife. She hadn't accepted a case in years unless it was truly urgent.

Her gaze sharpened as the memory of Declan's phone call yesterday surfaced. Suspicion growing, she quickly typed another message. "Is it Declan?"

She was so caught up in her phone that she didn't notice Kristopher watching her.

Kristopher's lips pressed into a thin line. The way she angled her phone, clearly trying to block his view, it was obvious she didn't want him seeing anything.

Was she keeping secrets?

Could it actually be true?

Was Dayna actually... the Wraith Physician?

Her phone buzzed once more. She glanced down at the screen and saw another message from Nell.

"Ugh, you're seriously my golden goose. Sharp as always. That fool didn't even know his wife was the miracle doctor and paid me millions to go find you!"

Dayna exhaled softly, half amused. She could practically see Nell's theatrical eye roll just from the message.

"Not interested, Nell. I'm over it. Trash like him doesn't deserve a second more of my time," she replied.

Her face turned colder, bit by bit.

She hadn't realized the full extent of the rot until after she married Declan. His entire family was just as twisted as he was.

His parents barely spoke, each living their own life under the same roof. His father, even in his old age, was still dragging women into the house like they were shiny new prizes. Years of reckless living had wrecked his health, and worse, he picked up STDs no doctor wanted to touch.

They'd exhausted every option. When things got desperate, they began searching for the elusive Wraith Physician.

Dayna had thought about stepping in. She really had. But every time, Declan would shoot her down with a look of disgust and tell her to stay out of it.

So, in the end, she sent Nell to reach out to the Fosters since everybody knew Nell was the Wraith Physician's trusted agent.

On that day of the treatment, Dayna was wearing a mask and trying to handle things quietly. But even with her identity hidden, Declan had recognized her right away.

He'd accused her of orchestrating the whole farce. He even said that she had paid Nell off to put on a show. She'd tried explaining herself until her voice gave out, but none of them had cared. Declan's mother and sister had gone as far as to insult Dayna to her face.

But that was all in the past now. None of it mattered anymore.

Nell's text came through not long after. "Didn't you always say you wanted to help them? Why are you backing out now that they've finally tracked you down?"

"I left him and got remarried, Nell. I'm Mrs. Hudson now." Dayna typed the message and hit send without hesitation.

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed again, and this time, not with a text.

Kristopher, seated beside her, happened to glance at her screen. He didn't say anything, but Dayna caught the slight shift in his expression.

Her stomach tensed. Nell wasn't exactly known for her patience, and if she was calling again so soon, she was probably about to lose it.

Still, Dayna had no choice. She declined the call and started typing a message, but before she could hit send, Nell fired off another one.

And just reading it, Dayna could practically hear Nell shouting in her head. "Mrs. Hudson? Seriously? Which Hudson are you even referring to? Cuz' not many big shots in town have that name. Don't tell me you mean Kristopher Hudson!"

Dayna's fingers paused over the keyboard. She sighed and typed, "It's him."

It only took a second for Nell to completely blow up.

"Have you completely lost it? You barely made it out of the wolf's den, and now you're walking right into the tiger's cage? Do you even know what Kristopher Hudson is truly capable of?"

Dayna's hand trembled slightly. She didn't even need to look to know Kristopher was watching her now-closely.

A jolt of panic surged through her chest. She hurried to type a quick reply. "I'm busy right now. We'll talk later." She hit send, silenced the phone, and shut off the screen.

But when she looked up... Kristopher was still staring at her. His expression had darkened.

Her heartbeat picked up.

Had he seen it all?

Then came his voice-low, smooth, and edged with something dangerous.

"So," he said slowly, "mind telling me exactly what 'tiger's cage' means?"

Suddenly, the car felt colder, the air heavier, as if the temperature had dropped all at once.