Chapter 102: An Oath in the Dark
Xavier crumpled the paper in his hand. The sharp rustle of the parchment echoed against Agatha’s ears. Her husband’s gaze was frozen on the rows of figures and medical terms printed there. He did not blink for several seconds. His massive fingers shook as he traced the line written in red ink at the very bottom.
"Agatha, are you serious about this?" Xavier asked. His voice was incredibly raspy.
Agatha nodded slowly. She reached for Xavier’s hand and guided it to her still flat stomach. "Pierre has performed the test twice. The results are the same. I am carrying your child, Xavier. But Marco’s toxin is still in my bloodstream."
Xavier took a deep breath. He closed his eyes. "Ugh." The man groaned slightly as he tried to shift his position on the bed. The wound in his abdomen throbbed, but the anxiety in his chest was far more agonizing.
"We cannot let anyone find out. Especially Grandfather," Agatha urged.
Xavier opened his eyes. "Why? Cardios has access to the best doctors in the world."
"You know how Grandfather thinks, Xavier. To him, family security and the purity of the bloodline are everything. If he finds out there is a toxin threatening the development of this fetus, he might make a decision we do not want. He might view this child as a failure," Agatha explained, her breathing becoming shallow and uneven.
Xavier went silent. He looked at his wife’s face, which appeared deathly pale. He knew Agatha was right. Don Cardios was a man of cold logic when it came to strategic matters.
"I will protect you. I will protect our child," Xavier said. He pulled Agatha into his embrace.
"We have to see Pierre right now. I need an explanation for what happens next," Agatha whispered.
Xavier released his hold. He tried to get out of bed. His feet hit the floor with a dull thud. He nearly lost his balance as a sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
"Akh," Xavier groaned, clutching his head.
"Xavier! You aren’t strong enough to walk yet!" Agatha immediately grabbed her husband’s arm.
"I don’t care. We need to get to the sub lab before Grandfather finishes with the security team," Xavier forced himself to stand straight.
The two of them slipped out of the room with extreme caution. Agatha ensured the corridor was completely empty. She knew the guards were busy in the monitor room with Don Cardios. They took the rarely used back stairs. Their footsteps echoed through the silent hallway.
Click.
Agatha opened the door to the underground laboratory. The sharp scent of chemicals immediately hit her nose. Pierre was standing in front of a microscope. He turned around instantly, his face masked in fear when he saw who had entered.
"Mr. Xavier? You shouldn't be out of bed!" Pierre exclaimed in a hushed voice.
Xavier walked toward the lab table. He slammed the test results down in front of Pierre. "Explain this to me. Clearly. What exactly is Marco’s toxin doing to my wife and my child?"
Pierre swallowed hard. He glanced at Agatha for a moment before looking back at Xavier. "Sir, the neurotoxin Marco used is a highly aggressive strain. It binds itself to nerve cells. The problem is, the placenta cannot entirely filter out chemical agents that small."
"What are the risks?" Agatha asked. Her voice was steady, even though her hands were clenched tight inside her pockets.
"There is a possibility of neurological developmental issues for the fetus, ma'am. Or worse, your body might identify the fetus as a foreign object due to the chemical interaction. It could lead to a spontaneous miscarriage," Pierre explained.
Crash!
Xavier struck the wooden table in front of him. The glassware on the surface rattled violently. "Find a solution, Pierre! By any means necessary!"
"There is a blood purification procedure, sir. But it is extremely risky. We would have to inject a neutralizing agent into Mrs. Agatha’s circulatory system. The issue is that the agent itself is very harsh. There is a fifty percent chance the fetus will not survive the purification process," Pierre said, lowering his head.
Agatha felt her world crumbling. "You mean, to save myself, I have to gamble with my child’s life?"
"Medically, it is the safest choice for your survival, ma'am," Pierre answered quietly.
Xavier grabbed Pierre by the collar. "I didn't ask you for the safe choice! I want them both to live! You are the best doctor I have, Pierre!"
"Ugh, sir. I am doing everything in my power," Pierre gasped, choked by Xavier’s grip.
Agatha placed a hand on Xavier’s arm. "Let him go, Xavier. Your anger won't solve anything."
Xavier released Pierre roughly. He turned away and moved to the far end of the lab. He punched the wall with a fist still wrapped in thin bandages.
"Why does it have to be like this? We just escaped death," Xavier muttered.
"Pierre, how much time do we have before the toxin begins to cause permanent damage to the fetus?" Agatha asked.
"About two weeks, ma'am. After that, the vital organs will begin to form. If the toxin is still present, permanent defects will be unavoidable," Pierre replied.
"Two weeks," Agatha repeated the words in a voice that was barely a whisper.
"We need a safer place to perform this procedure in secret. If we stay here, Cardios will know about every drop of medicine that enters your body," Xavier said. He had calmed down, his mind already working through a plan.
"We can move to the villa," Agatha suggested.
Xavier nodded. "I will arrange the transport of the equipment through the company’s logistics channels. Pierre, you need to prepare a list of everything you need. Don't miss a single thing."
"Understood, sir. But what about Don Cardios? He will be suspicious if both of you vanish suddenly," Pierre asked.
"Tell him I need a total recovery in a quieter environment. Agatha will accompany me. Grandfather won't suspect anything if the reason is my health," Xavier answered.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps sounded from the stairs leading down to the laboratory. The sound grew closer and closer.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The three of them locked eyes in panic. Agatha immediately pulled Xavier to hide behind a large medicine storage cabinet. Pierre rushed back to his microscope, pretending to be deep in work.
The door creaked open.
"Pierre?"
It was Don Cardios’s voice. The old man entered with slow, deliberate steps. He scanned the room with a piercing gaze. His eyes stopped for a moment on the wet patches on the floor left by Xavier’s slippers.
"Yes, Don Cardios. How can I help you?" Pierre asked. His voice shook slightly, but he tried to maintain his professional composure.
Cardios walked toward the lab table. He spotted the test results Xavier had slammed down earlier. Pierre held his breath. His heart was hammering so loudly he felt he could hear it.
"Why are you still here? I was waiting for you in the monitor room," Cardios asked, his hand moving toward the paper.
"I was just re examining some blood samples from the attack yesterday, Great Sir. I want to ensure no viruses were left behind in the villa area," Pierre answered quickly.
Cardios picked up the paper. He read it carefully. Pierre felt his legs go weak. Agatha and Xavier, hidden behind the cabinet, gripped each other’s hands tightly. Xavier held his breath so the sound of his breathing wouldn't give them away.
"Whose test results are these? Why is there no name?" Cardios asked, holding the paper up to Pierre.
"That is an anonymous sample from one of the wounded guards, sir. I deliberately left the name off to speed up the analysis in the computer system," Pierre lied.
Cardios set the paper back down. He stared at Pierre for a long time. "I do not like secrets in my own home, Pierre. You know that, don't you?"
"Of course, Great Sir. There are no secrets here," Pierre said, bowing his head.
Cardios turned and walked toward the door. However, he stopped right in front of the cabinet where Agatha and Xavier were hiding. He stood silent for a moment. He sniffed the air around him.
"Why is the scent of a woman’s perfume so strong in this room?" Cardios asked, his voice dropping an octave.
Agatha squeezed her eyes shut. She realized her perfume might still be lingering in the area. Xavier tightened his grip on Agatha. He was ready to step out if Cardios pushed any further.
"Mrs. Agatha stopped by briefly to ask for a headache remedy, Great Sir. Perhaps the scent remained," Pierre said with sudden bravery.
Cardios did not reply. He continued to stare at the cabinet door for several seconds that felt like an eternity. The atmosphere in the laboratory turned deathly silent, until the ticking of the clock on the wall sounded like thunder.
"Bring all the security data to my office in ten minutes, Pierre. Do not be late," Cardios finally ordered.
The door closed again.
Thud!
Agatha slumped to the floor once Cardios was truly gone. She felt as though her strength had vanished just from holding her breath. Xavier immediately emerged from their hiding spot and helped his wife up.
"He knows something," Xavier whispered.
"We don't have much time, Xavier. Grandfather is starting to sense something is wrong," Agatha replied.
Xavier looked at Pierre with a sharp, lethal gaze. "Prepare everything tonight. We leave before dawn."
Pierre nodded firmly. "I will prepare the company’s private ambulance so no one suspects the movement of medical equipment, sir."
Agatha looked at the sheet of paper on the table. She knew her life and the life of the child inside her would change forever after tonight. There was no turning back. They were heading to a place where it would be just the three of them against a deadly toxin.
"Xavier," Agatha called out.
"Yes?"
"If something happens to me during the purification process, promise me one thing," Agatha said, looking deep into Xavier’s eyes.
Xavier placed his finger over Agatha’s lips. "Do not say that. Nothing will happen."
"Promise me, Xavier," Agatha insisted.
Xavier took a deep breath. "I promise."
"Save our child. Even if it means you have to let me go," Agatha said with a hauntingly calm resolve.
Xavier did not answer. He simply held Agatha tighter, as if he would never let her slip from his reach. In the darkness of the laboratory, they shared a silent terror that neither of them dared to voice.