Chapter 263: Larrisa's downfall

A bitter laugh escaped her.

"Yes." Her eyes were wild.

"You drove me crazy."

She pointed toward her car.

"Walk over there and get in. We're going for a ride."

Alex didn't move.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

Her finger tightened around the trigger.

"I'll shoot if you don't move!"

Before either of them could act, several voices rang through the parking lot.

"Police! Drop the weapon!"

Officers emerged from different directions, surrounding her.

"Miss Larissa, you're under arrest for stealing a police officer's firearm and threatening another person's life."

Larissa's face, drained of color.

"No..."

The officers moved closer. "Drop the gun now!"

Panic overtook her. "If I can't have you, no one will."

Her jaw clenched as her finger squeezed the trigger.

Bang! The shot rang out.

Alex instinctively turned as the round struck him in the back.

The impact forced him forward. He staggered several steps before falling to one knee.

The officers rushed in immediately.

"Drop it!"

Larissa froze as the gun was wrestled from her hands before she was pinned to the ground.

She screamed and struggled, but the handcuffs clicked around her wrists.

As she was dragged toward the police vehicle, Alex slowly stood, brushing himself off.

"Make sure she rots in prison!" he shouted after her.

Larissa stared at him in disbelief.

"How...?"

The officers exchanged knowing glances.

What Larissa had never realized was that she had been under surveillance for days.

During the investigation into her earlier crimes, detectives discovered she had been manipulating a police officer who had repeatedly made planned advances toward her.

Believing she could use his interest to gain access to his equipment, she secretly stole his service firearm.

What she didn't know was that the theft had been noticed almost immediately.

Internal Affairs and the police had been monitoring her movements ever since. To prevent anyone from being harmed while gathering enough evidence to secure a conviction.

The stolen weapon had been rendered incapable of firing live ammunition before it was recovered as part of the sting operation. The round that struck Alex was a non-lethal training round.

As an additional precaution, Alex had been discreetly fitted with a bullet proof jacket before the operation because officers believed Larissa might target him.

The shot hurt badly, and the impact knocked the wind out of him, but it caused no serious injury.

Within minutes, paramedics examined him and confirmed he had suffered not even bruising.

Larissa, however, faced a long list of charges, including theft of a police firearm. Unlawful possession of a weapon and making criminal threats. Bearing fake name Hunter which indirectly aided kidnappers, attempted kidnapping, and attempted murder.

As she was led away in handcuffs, Larissa looked back one last time.

Alex simply turned and walked back into the hospital.

The moment he stepped into Lucas's room, Lucas looked up anxiously. "You're late."

Alex smiled gently. "I'm sorry baby."

Lucas frowned on seeing his expression.

"What happened?"

Alex crossed the room, wrapped his arms around him carefully, and rested his forehead against Lucas's.

"Nothing that matters anymore."

He kissed Lucas softly. "It's finally over, the main Hunter has been arrested."

“Larrisa had been caught with evidence?”

“Yes baby, no one will ever pester you again.”

“You mean pester us again.”

For the first time in a long while, both of them believed it.

Days later, after the evidence against her proved overwhelming, the court handed down a lengthy prison sentence of 70 years.

The shadows of the past had finally begun to lift, leaving room for the future they had fought so hard to keep.

The room was peaceful as Lucas rested comfortably against his pillows while Alex sat beside him, their fingers intertwined.

Doctor Peters smiled as he made his evening round seeing them happy. He reviewed the latest test results.

"Everything looks encouraging. You can go home tomorrow if you insist."

With that the doctor left.

Alex released a relieved breath.

"So... once Derby signs the annulment papers, the last obstacle will finally be gone." Lucas said.

Alex recalled that he hadn't told him. “Oh baby, I forgot. "It has been sorted since."

“What are you…”

He had barely finished speaking when his expression suddenly changed. His smile faded.

"Oh..." He lifted a hand to his temple. "My head..."

Alex's heart skipped.

"Lucas?"

Lucas squeezed his eyes shut.

"My head is... aching again."

Without hesitation, Alex slammed the emergency button beside the bed.

Within seconds, the room filled with doctors and nurses.

Doctor Peters entered last and hurried to Lucas's side. "What happened?"

"He suddenly complained of a severe headache," Alex answered anxiously.

Before anyone could say another word, Lucas's eyes rolled back.

His body went limp.

"Lucas!" Alex lunged forward, but a nurse gently held him back while the medical team began examining him.

He was connected to oxygen. The monitors started beeping steadily.

Doctor Peters quickly checked Lucas's pupils and vital signs.

Alex felt every second stretch into eternity.

"Doctor..." His voice trembled.

"What's happening? He just said his head was hurting."

Doctor Peters remained calm.

"Relax. His vital signs are stable."

"But he passed out!"

"We're monitoring him."

Alex clasped his hands tightly.

"Oh, good heavens..." His voice cracked. "Please save him."

He paced helplessly across the room, unable to keep still.

One minute...Two minutes...Three.

To Alex, they felt like forever.

Then, Lucas's fingers twitched.

His eyelids fluttered open.

"Lucas!"

Alex was at his side in an instant.

Doctor Peters leaned forward.

"How are you feeling?"

Lucas blinked several times before slowly sitting up. "I'm... fine, Doctor."

He rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully.

"My head doesn't hurt anymore."

Doctor Peters smiled. "What just happened? Do you recall anything?"

Lucas's eyes slowly widened.

"I..." He looked around the room.

"I think..." He turned toward Alex.

"I think my memories are coming back."

Alex froze. "What?"

Lucas frowned as scattered images flashed through his mind.

"I remember..." He closed his eyes briefly. "...working as a chef at Benson's Eatery."

Alex's mouth fell open. "You remember that?"

Lucas nodded slowly.

"And..." More memories flooded in.

"I remember meeting you."

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You were sweet then turned arrogant."

Alex laughed through the tears forming in his eyes. "I was?"

Lucas looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Oh, you definitely were."

Doctor Peters exchanged amused glances with the nurses.

Lucas continued. "I also remember..." His gaze locked onto Alex. "You accused me of cheating with my best friend."

Alex winced immediately. "Oh...baby that was a mistake."

Lucas folded his arms.

"So..." He raised an eyebrow.

"Care to explain?"

Alex rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Baby...I was wrong."

Lucas pretended to think deeply.

"Hmm..."

"I suppose you deserve punishment."

Alex nodded obediently. "I accept."

Lucas smiled mischievously.

"Your punishment..." He leaned closer. "...is one thousand kisses."

The room burst into laughter.

Doctor Peters laughed so hard he nearly dropped the patient's chart.

"I wish my wife punished me like that whenever I made a mistake."

The nurses laughed with him.

Alex's ears turned bright red. He scratched his head awkwardly.

"Doctor..."

Doctor Peters chuckled.

"What?