Chapter 3 She Had Not Been Forgotten

A fit of coughing echoed from the doorway.

Jordy, whom Daniela had called a dying father, braced himself on the frame and dragged his feet forward, determined not to collapse.

"Are you Nadine?" His voice wavered, but his eyes shone with a fragile hope as he looked her way.

A strange warmth welled up in Nadine's chest, leaving her shaken in a way she could not quite explain.

Did all those stories about family bonds ring true after all?

"I am," she replied, her voice steady.

Jordy's composure shattered at her answer, and tears rolled freely down his cheeks. "You've come home. That's all I ever hoped for. Just having you here is enough for me."

In the middle of this, Stacey quietly emerged from the chaos, holding an old wooden box in her arms. "Naddie, come see... everything in here is for you."

When Nadine peered inside, she found a treasure trove of keepsakes-a faded pink dress fit for a little princess, sweaters that had been lovingly hand-knit, and a handful of hair clips still wrapped and untouched by time.

Jacob, his voice soft and eyes rimmed with red, stood by her side and explained, "Nadine, we saved these gifts for every birthday you missed after you were gone. Mom and Dad, and all of us, kept them for you every year. At last, we can finally give them to you ourselves."

Her hand trembled as she reached for the princess dress, brushing the rough fabric with her fingertips.

The texture brought a sting of emotion so deep she almost forgot to breathe.

All this time, she had not been forgotten. They had always been waiting for her to come home.

"Nadine... Nadine, my little girl." Jordy's hand clamped over his chest as a violent cough overtook him, and blood spilled past his lips, darkening the floor.

Even with pain twisting his features, a gentle smile tugged at his mouth. "You came back to me, Nadine. That's all I needed. I can go in peace now."

"Dad!" Jacob lunged forward, catching Jordy just as he faltered, panic rushing into his voice. "Don't give up! Stay with us, Dad! I'm calling for help! Brad and Kaden aren't even home yet. We need you here!"

Moving on instinct, Nadine bent down and brushed her fingertips across the crimson on the ground.

She lifted her hand, bringing it close for a quick sniff.

Decadesleep Toxin. Only a handful of people in the world would recognize it-she did. Lethal, patient, impossible to cure once it took hold. Jordy had reached the very end.

Someone had waited years for this. Who hated the Clark family so deeply?

Now wasn't the time to search for answers. Nadine's eyes hardened with determination.

She gently eased Jordy onto his back and, without hesitation, produced a scalpel from a hidden pocket at her waist.

Jacob, frantic, tried to intervene. "Nadine! Are you out of your mind? What are you doing?"

She shook her head. "If you want him to live, trust me. I'm not letting him die here."

There was no way she would lose the family she had just gotten back.

Nadine dropped to one knee and sliced Jordy's shirt open in a single, practiced motion.

Her scalpel danced with precision, never straying near anything vital, parting flesh and muscle to reveal the heart that was struggling to go on.

With swift, practiced hands, she pressed the scalpel's tip to a series of precise points around Jordy's heart.

Thick, inky blood welled up and spilled out in slow streams.

Each drop that left his body seemed to make his breathing just a bit calmer, the strain in his chest slowly fading.

Wiping her blade clean, Nadine lifted Jordy into her arms and carried him straight to the neatest bedroom she could find.

She moved so quickly, the entire rescue lasted less than sixty seconds.

For a moment, Jacob stood frozen, mouth open, unable to process what he had just seen.

Could this really be happening? Had Nadine just pulled their father back from the edge of death?

Specialists from across Sheftol had all said there was no hope. Yet, here was Nadine, missing for two decades, saving their father's life as if it was nothing more than a routine procedure.

How was this even possible?

"How did you... Nadine, you... you're unbelievable," Jacob stammered, his voice shaky with awe.

As soon as Jordy was tucked in and stable, Nadine turned, exhaustion written all over her face. "Jacob, I need a place to lie down. I'm worn out."

Jacob snapped out of his daze. "Of course! Right away!" He led her down the hall and opened the door to a bright, well-kept room. "This has always been your room, Nadine. We've made sure to keep it clean every single day. You rest now. I need to call Brad and Kaden. They're going to be thrilled to hear this!"

Stacey lingered in the doorway, eyes brimming with emotion. Nadine smiled and motioned for her. "Mom, come over. Let's share the bed."

...

Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of an exclusive club in Sheftol, Rhys Bailey sat quietly, a cold, distant look in his eyes.

A woman dressed to turn heads strolled over, her voice laced with bravado. "Mr. Bailey, you look a little lost on your own. Want some company and a drink?"

Rhys shot her a glare. "Go bother someone else."

His friend, Nicholas Howard, let out a low chuckle from across the table. "Rhys, you really ought to learn a thing or two about charm. Are you really that devoted to your mystery fiancee, Nadine Clark? You have not even met her, man."

Just the sound of her name made Rhys tense, irritation flashing across his face. "That engagement ends tomorrow. I am done."

Nicholas arched a brow, his grin playful. "Calling it quits, huh? You think your old man is just going to smile and let you walk away?"

"I'll choose my own path when it comes to marriage," said Rhys, his voice cold as he slouched back on the sofa. His hand drifted to the scar over his chest, lost in memory.

Three years earlier, everything had gone wrong at the Urygan border. Trapped by enemies, left bleeding from gunshot wounds, he was certain he would not see another sunrise.

Through a haze of pain, he remembered a woman's steady hands, a scalpel flashing in the dim light, saving him from death.

He fought to focus, catching only a glimpse of her face before darkness took him.

When he woke, she was gone as if she had never existed at all.

Since then, Rhys had unleashed every resource the Baileys possessed, searching every corner of Urygan. The woman who saved his life and captured his heart remained a mystery.

Whatever agreement his family made with the Clark family, he knew what he wanted.

Only the woman who pulled him back from death could ever truly be his.