Xu slips quietly through the back entrance of Mrs. Allen’s luxurious estate, moving with a practiced stealth that makes him almost invisible. The tension in his body is palpable; the mission hadn’t gone as planned. He was supposed to eliminate Laura completely, but now she was in a coma, and there was still a chance she could wake up and remember everything. He curses under his breath, knowing Mrs. Allen won’t be pleased.
He steps into the grand sitting room where Mrs. Allen waits, her expression calm but her eyes sharp with anticipation. She’s sitting in a high-backed chair, her posture perfect, a glass of wine in her hand. The room is filled with an air of opulence, from the crystal chandelier overhead to the plush Persian rugs underfoot. She looks up as Xu enters, her lips curling into
