Chapter 35 Chapter 35 30 Vouchers Rafe drove faster , glancing occasionally at the rearview mirror and scanning the area . He was looking for a clinic where he could get Aliana treated . Aliana's pale face made Rafe even more anxious . The car sped through the increasingly deserted city streets . The clock showed . " Just a little longer , Miss , " Rafe murmured . A few minutes later , the car stopped in front of a small clinic on the city outskirts . A " Closed " sign hung on the door but th lights inside still glowed dimly . Without wasting time , Rafe got out and moved to the passenger side . Aliana could barely stand on her own . Her black dress was soaked in blood on her right shoulder . Rafe opened the trunk , pulling out a dark hoodie and oversized sunglasses from a small bag he always carried . He wrapped the fabric around . Aliana's head and covered part of her face . Then , Rafe put on a black cap and a surgical mask himself . Rafe pushed open the clinic door while carrying Aliana in his arms . A middle - aged man wearing glasses sat at the reception desk . His eyes widened when he saw the barely conscious woman . " We're closed ," the doctor said nervously . " She's injured . Treat her now . This is urgent ," Rafe said firmly , his tone cold . The doctor hesitated , glancing at Aliana's blood - soaked shoulder . Rafe pulled a small pistol from inside his jacket , pointing it at the desk . " Do it now , or tonight will be your last . " The doctor immediately stood , his legs trembling . " F - follow me . " Rafe carried Aliana into the exam room and gently laid her on the narrow bed . The doctor quickly put on gloves and examined the wound . " A gunshot ? " the doctor muttered in shock . " It's … it's bad . The bullet's been removed before , but the wound's reopened . " " Treat it , now , " Rafe ordered . " No talking . " The doctor , terrified - especially with Rafe still holding the weapon - said nothing more . He opened the medicine cabinet and began preparing antiseptics and bandages . His hands trembled as he cleaned the wound , terrified of making a mistake that could cost him his life . Aliana groaned weakly , still unconscious . Blood continued to pour from the gaping wound . " Sir … she's lost too much blood . If this isn't handled in a proper hospital , she may fall into a coma … or worse , " the doctor said in panic . " She could die . " " Don't make suggestions , " Rafe snapped coldly . " Do your best . You're treating her here . Now . " " But I don't have proper tools for a transfusion , no plasma … this is madness ! And if the police find out- " Rafe stepped closer , pressing the pistol toward him . " If the police find us , I won't hesitate to shoot you right now . " The doctor swallowed hard and resumed treating Aliana . He wrapped her wound in thicker medical gauze and injected a strong antiseptic into the area . 1/5 8:19 pm Chapter 33 20 Vouchers A few minutes later , Aliana's breathing steadied slightly , though she remained weak . Her face was still pale , but her eyes slowly opened . " Rafe … " she whispered . Rafe rushed to her side . " You're awake , Miss . Thank goodness ! " " Where are we ? " Aliana asked , glancing around . Her eyes widened as she realized . " We have to go . " She stared sharply at Rafe , realizing they were in a clinic . " Your condition is still critical . Let the doctor finish treating you . " " We have to leave now , " Aliana insisted , rising from the bed . Her eyes shifted to the doctor , who was pretending to he cleaning blood from the table . " Give me basic medical supplies . " " What ? " the doctor stammered , shocked . " Strong painkillers , local anesthetic , sterile compresses , and waterproof wound coverings , " Aliana replied quickly . " He'll pay for everything . " The doctor looked to Rafe for confirmation . Rafe nodded sharply . Still shaking , the doctor packed the requested items into a medical plastic bag and handed over a small box containing ketorolac ampoules - potent painkillers typically used for serious wounds but known for dangerous side effects if misused . " Inject it into your thigh . No more than one ampoule every 8 hours , " he warned . " If you overdose , you could collapse ." " I know ." Aliana took the plastic bag without another word and got off the bed . Rafe rushed to support her , handing the doctor a wad of cash . " Forget everything that happened tonight , " Rafe threatened . The doctor just nodded stiffly . Once inside the car , Aliana tossed the medical bag onto the passenger seat . She took a deep breath and leaned her head back . " I'm sorry , " Rafe said suddenly . " I had to bring you to the clinic . I was afraid something worse might happen . " " It's fine , " Aliana murmured . She glanced at Rafe in the driver's seat . " Now take me back to the Velor estate . " Rafe nodded . Without wasting a moment , the car sped toward the city center , leaving the small clinic behind - slowly swallowed once again by the silence of the night . Meanwhile , inside the Velor family hotel's security control room , tension filled the air . Several CCTV screens replayed footage taken from various angles of the building hosting the charity gala , in an effort to locate Aliana . Andrian stood behind Elric , staring intently at the largest screen , which showed a black car stopping not far from the building's rear service area . Hours earlier , Elric had rushed to the hotel the moment he heard that Andrian's life was in danger . He had immediately begun searching for clues about the assassin targeting Andrian - while simultaneously trying to locate Aliana . 2/5 8:19 pm S D Chapter 35 " We haven't found Miss Aliana yet , but we did find this , " Elric said , pointing at a specific frame . 20 vouchers One of the exterior parking cameras had captured a black car briefly stopping behind the hotel . Elric zoomed in and pointed to the license plate . " This vehicle … it's the same one that transported Nyx out of the warehouse two days ago . The plate matches the previous report . That car was at the hotel just hours after the gala started ." Andrian narrowed his eyes , analyzing the car's shape and movement . It didn't take long for him to recognize it . It was indeed the same vehicle . " That car was here after the attack ? " Andrian asked sharply . Elric nodded . " Yes . I've confirmed it using satellite data . It's the exact same vehicle - even the plate number is identi confident the driver was also the same ." " Nyx came here after I was targeted ? " Andrian didn't respond right away. He folded his arms and began thinking . " Or before , " Elric countered . " If Nyx really was at the scene , he could have been the attacker . Maybe he's seeking revenge- because we thwarted his mission last time and injured him . " " So , you think Nyx came here to kill me ? " Andrian murmured , almost to himself . " It's the most likely scenario ." Andrian went quiet again , then slowly shook his head . " It wasn't him . " Elric turned quickly . " What do you mean ? " " I know how Nyx attacks . His grip is strong , and his stabs are sharp and fast . But the one who attacked me earlier had a weaker grip . Even in the dark , I'm sure it wasn't Nyx ." Elric frowned . " Maybe Nyx was still injured - his strength could've dropped ? " " No , " Andrian said firmly . " It's not just about strength . Their body structures are different . The one who attacked me was a man . " Elric fell silent , processing Andrian's information . He knew Andrian's memory and perception were sharp , which made the assessment hard to dispute . " If it wasn't Nyx , then who ? " Elric muttered . " And if that car really was Nyx's … then he had another reason to be here ? " Andrian exhaled , tension rising in his chest . He turned swiftly . " Did you find anything about Aliana ? " " Not yet , sir . " Elric shook his head . " We've reviewed all the CCTV footage . We didn't see Miss Aliana exiting the ballroom . But … we also didn't find her inside the building . " Andrian stared at the screens , his expression hardening . Something wasn't right . Then suddenly , memories from the moment of the attack flashed through his mind . He was sure he'd heard two people fighting near him . " Oh , I forgot to report , " Elric added . " There was a bloodstain on the emergency stairwell . It didn't belong to any guests or staff . No one else has reported injuries . So most likely … it was either the assailant's , or- " 3/5 8:19 pm 0 Chapter 33 " Aliana's , " Andrian said quietly , cutting him off . Silence fell . 20 ouchers Andrian's face tensed . A fleeting thought crossed his mind - was it possible that Aliana was Nyx ? But he didn't say it out loud . His right fist clenched by his side . It was too early to conclude anything , but the clues overlapped far too conveniently . The trained movements , Nyx's presence , the unidentified blood , and Aliana's sudden disappearance . Andrian turned sharply . " Update me immediately if you find anything else . And … review the footage of anyone exiting o back area of the hotel . Don't let anything slip ." " Yes , sir . " Andrian's phone vibrated . Albert's name appeared on the screen . Andrian answered immediately . " Albert ? " " Sir , " Albert's voice sounded rushed . " Madam Aliana has returned to the pavilion . She arrived just a few minutes ago . " " What ?! " Andrian nearly dropped the phone from his hand . " How is she ? " " She looked exhausted when she arrived . Elena said she asked not to be disturbed . She just wanted to rest ." Without waiting for further explanation , Andrian ended the call and strode quickly out of the control room . " I'm heading home . You handle everything here , " he instructed Elric . " Is something wrong ? " " Aliana's back . " Elric's eyes widened . But before he could say anything , Andrian had already entered the elevator and vanished from sight . On the way home to the mansion , Andrian's thoughts were a mess . He didn't know what to believe anymore . Was Aliana really Nyx ? Why had she returned only after hours of vanishing ? Could Nyx and Aliana be the same person ? Too many things didn't add up . But one thing was clear - his wife was hiding something big . And tonight , he was going to uncover the truth . When Andrian arrived at the mansion , he ignored Albert's greeting . None of the servants dared speak , seeing his expression carved in stone . Without hesitation , Andrian headed straight for the pavilion . His steps were brisk . His breath was heavy . And when he stopped at Aliana's bedroom door , he found Elena standing outside , looking anxious . " Sir … " " She's inside ? " Andrian asked coldly . Elena nodded hesitantly . " Miss Aliana is asleep . She looked so exhausted . I think she's unwell . " 4/5 8:19 pm D Chapter 35 A 35 vouchers Andrian didn't hear the rest of Elena's words . He opened the door and stepped in - bringing with him all his fury and doubt . Aliana was lying in bed , the covers pulled up to her shoulders . Without a word , Andrian walked up and yanked the blanket . away . " What are you doing ?! " Aliana woke with a start . Andrian pulled her upright and stood before her with a piercing glare . " I want to know - who is the real Aliana Zavier that I married ? Are you … a hired assassin ? " 市