Chapter 73

Sophia had to move fast to get Howard's okay and push forward with this tricky case.

She stepped out of the hospital room, not even bothering to fix her messy hair. She quickly pulled out her phone and called Howard.

Taking a deep breath, she filled him in on the case.

Howard listened quietly on the other end.

"How sure are you about this?" Howard's voice was serious and cautious.

Sophia frowned a bit, her eyes showing some concern. She bit her lower lip, thought for a moment, and then said honestly, "I can't promise it'll work, but it's our best shot right now."

Her voice was steady, but she was gripping the phone so tight her knuckles turned white.

The silence on the other end was intense.

At that moment, it felt like the world had stopped, and the quiet was so deep you could hear a pin drop.

Sophia's grip on the phone tightened, her fingers turning white from the strain. Time seemed to drag on forever.

She was desperate to hear Howard's yes.

But she knew some things couldn't be rushed; patience was key now.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Howard spoke, "Go ahead with your plan. I'll back you up."

Sophia's tense shoulders relaxed a bit at his words.

"Thanks, Mr. Smith," she said quickly.

After hanging up, Sophia jumped into action, starting the preparations right away.

First, she shared the good news with Henry.

Then, without wasting any time, she began organizing the scene carefully.

The area was eerily quiet, with only the wind howling in the background.

Following Henry's instructions, Sophia had the officers increase security around the area.

To avoid alerting anyone, she also told the officers to stay a certain distance from Laura's room, making it look like it wasn't guarded.

Sophia directed the setup, personally checking each point to make sure everything was perfect.

By the time she finished, she was drenched in sweat.

Just then, the doctors came out of Laura's room, looking relieved. They told Sophia, "The patient's condition is stable for now. She should wake up soon. The rest is up to you."

Sophia nodded slightly. "Thank you."

She signaled Henry to start and then led the officers away from the room, hiding nearby to wait for the right moment.

Following the plan, Sophia positioned herself at a good spot, closely watching the room.She hid in the shadows, eyes glued to the door, hands clenched, ready for anything.

Meanwhile, Henry took a deep breath and slowly wheeled himself into the room.

The place smelled faintly of disinfectant, the light dim, with only a small bedside lamp casting a weak glow.

He maneuvered his wheelchair closer to Laura's bed.

As he got closer, he noticed subtle changes in Laura's face. With his experience, he quickly realized she was awake.

"You can stop pretending. You've been awake for a while now," he said.

Henry stayed calm on the outside, but he was carefully watching Laura's reaction.

Laura lay there silently, the room falling into a brief silence.

Henry waited patiently, his eyes never leaving her face.

After a moment, he continued, "Do you want to talk? I've had everyone leave. It's just us here."

His voice was gentle, trying to coax Laura into speaking.

Laura slowly opened her eyes, her tone calm. "How did you know I was awake?"

Her eyes showed a mix of curiosity and wariness as she looked directly at Henry.

Henry smiled slightly, explaining patiently, "It was simple. Your facial expressions gave it away. When I got closer, your eyelash movements sped up, and even your facial muscles twitched. Those are signs of tension."

Laura was initially shocked, a hint of panic in her eyes, but she quickly smiled in relief. "So, what do you want to say? Aren't you afraid of the danger, sending everyone away?"

Her smile was taunting as she sat up slightly, gripping the blanket.

Henry shrugged. "Afraid? Sure, I'm in a wheelchair. I can't fight back if you decide to do something. So, you could say I'm willingly stepping into the lion's den."

He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and squinted at Laura. "Want one?"

He offered the cigarette, thinking, 'Let's see how long you can keep this up.'

Laura's smile deepened. "You're different."

Henry raised an eyebrow, pressing on, "So, will you give me a chance? A chance to understand you?"

He moved closer, eyes locked on Laura. "Or should I call you Laura Two?"

Henry's heart raced, and he was unsure if his words would provoke Laura, but he knew he had to take the risk.

"Sir, you overestimate yourself. As a reward for your bravery, I'll tell you on the way out." With that, Laura smiled, suddenly leaning in.

A broken thermometer appeared in her hand, pressing it against Henry's throat. She continued, "But for now, you'll have to endure a bit."

Her eyes gleamed with intensity as the thermometer pressed harder, leaving a faint red mark on Henry's throat.