She gradually lost consciousness. When she woke again, she was in an infirmary bed. A patrolling colleague had saved her.
Serene stared blankly at the ceiling.
She feared water. When she was young, she had once choked while learning to swim. The suffocating feeling left her terrified of anything near water.
Ivan knew that.
She lowered her gaze, hiding the strange expression in her eyes. The infirmary was eerily quiet. She was the only one there.
Serene closed her eyes to rest. When she opened them again, Ivan's angry face was right in front of her.
"Serene, Wendy tried to kill herself because of you."
She looked straight into his furious eyes and let out a laugh.
"Because of me? Ivan, I am the victim here."
"I know you are angry about this, but Wendy is innocent. If you want to blame someone, blame me."
Innocent?
Serene recalled Wendy's smug expression last night and the way she faked innocence while framing her.
She curled her lips into a cold smile.
Ivan had eyes as sharp as an eagle's that could identify criminals within a crowd, yet he could not see through Wendy's act.
"Leave. I am tired."
Ivan hesitated and looked at her once more.
"Serene, don't hurt Wendy."
Before Serene could respond, a doctor interrupted.
"Captain Kane, Wendy has woken up."
Ivan shot up immediately, knocking into the table in his rush as he ran out.
Serene let out a self-mocking laugh and pulled out the medical report from under her pillow.
"Multiple injuries. Not suitable for field missions."
Three years of youth. All exchanged for a body full of wounds.
Serene clenched her fists.
Once she was officially transferred back, she would make them pay.
She placed the report into the cabinet and wrapped herself in the blanket, falling into a deep sleep.
"Ms. Hale, why has your mother's medication not been delivered this month?
"Her condition is not good. It cannot be delayed."
Serene was woken by a hospital call. Her heart tightened and she quickly apologized, promising to resolve it soon.
Her hands trembled as she dialed Ivan. It took several tries before it went through.
No, it could not be. Ivan was not that kind of person.
She kept making excuses for him until ten calls went unanswered.
Ivan's job meant he never turned off his phone or ignored calls.
A sudden panic rose in her chest. The unease would not go away.
"Ivan!"
She could not find him. The team said he was on leave today.
Too much of a coincidence. She leaned against the wall in despair and hugged her knees.
She went to the place Ivan used to stay three years ago. There was no sign of him.
She turned to Joseph for hope and called him with shaking fingers.
"Joseph, have you seen Ivan?"
Her voice trembled, almost breaking.
Joseph paused.
"He is on leave today. I think he went to the neighboring province."
Serene wiped her face in a panic and booked the earliest bus there.
Wendy had posted a photo of Ivan's back on social media. Serene curled her lips, trying to smile but failing.
On the ninety-ninth call, Ivan finally answered.
"My phone ran out of battery. Why did you call so many times?"
His tone was calm, as if nothing had happened.
"Why? Why did you cut off my mother's medication?"
There was a pause.
"Serene, Wendy almost killed herself because of you.
"This is just a lesson for you."
A lesson again. She let out a cold laugh.
Her numbing heart still felt a sharp sting.
"Tomorrow when Wendy is better, I'll have someone send the medicine."
"Ivan, it hurts."
Wendy's voice came through faintly. Ivan hung up immediately.
Serene stared at the screen and gave a cold smile. Then, there was a call from the hospital. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Ms. Hale, your mother's condition is critical. Please come immediately."
She rushed to book a ticket, but she was still too late.
She stood frozen, staring at the covered body on the hospital bed.
Serene could not hear the doctor's words clearly. She slowly lifted the white cloth.
Her mother, whom she had not seen for three years, had become a cold, lifeless corpse.
"Serene is the strongest. She will complete the mission successfully."
That was her mother's last words before she left.
She lowered her head and touched the pendant around her neck. Tears fell endlessly. It was the protective charm her mother had given her.
"May my daughter live safe and happy."
She broke down completely and kept calling for her mother.
But there was no response anymore.
She handled the funeral alone and packed away her mother's belongings.
Serene gently touched her mother's photo and whispered.
"Mom, I am coming back soon. I'll not take such dangerous missions anymore. You can rest now."
She took a few days of leave and stayed in a dazed silence.
On the third day, Ivan called her.
"I have already sent the medicine.
"Serene, don't take your anger out on Wendy."
"I don't need it."
She refused coldly.
Ivan's anger rose.
"Serene, don't be ungrateful.
"If you still refuse to admit your mistake, then you are suspended so you can reflect on it."
Aksara