---
**Han and Evan in Action**
Han joined forces with Evan, both of them sneaking in fully armed and outfitted in bulletproof vests.
Adrian held Lucia tightly, trying to wake her. "Lucia, open your eyes. Lucia, Lucia!"
But she was still unconscious.
"Damn it, what is all this? How did things get like this?"
---
**At the Police Station**
At the police station, Emily was finally released. "Thanks, Dad, I knew you wouldn't let me down."
Andersen nodded and let Emily hug him. "I hope this never happens again. Jail was terrifying, Dad. I was scared."
"It's okay now, Emily. You're free. Let's go home; your mother is waiting."
"Dad, what about Adrian? I need him."
"Ah, you know, I sent Adrian to distract everyone."
"What do you mean, sent him where?"
"Never mind. Adrian is helping you, and he might even sacrifice his life for you. Isn't that what a partner should do?"
Emily went pale, trembling. "What do you mean, Dad? Where's Adrian?"
"Emily, let's just go home."
"Dad, we need Adrian. I need him! Who's going to be the father of this baby in my fettus?" Emily's voice was strained. "We need him, Dad. I don't want to betray Mom. I can't sacrifice everything. I need Adrian! We need Adrian to cover this pregnancy! You'll never understand what it's like to be me. Are you going to shout to the world that I'm carrying your baby?"
Smack!
Andersen's slap left Emily silent, her tears the only response. "Watch your mouth, Emily. You're the one who slept around. I could sleep with anyone, but you! You're the one who wanted a baby from me. Abort it!"
Emily shook her head, then got into the car, followed by Andersen. They drove out of the parking lot.
---
**Lucia's Awakening**
My eyes fluttered open to a voice calling my name. My vision blurred before it cleared, revealing a man with only his eyes visible, holding me close. Another figure crouched over someone in the corner of the room.
"Are you awake, love?" His voice jolted me awake, and I hugged him tightly before everything went blank again. I couldn't see anything, only the deafening sounds of chaos.
Bang!
Bang, bang!
"If you touch her even an inch, you and your descendants will never see the light of day!"
"LUCIAAAAAA!!!"
Beep… beep… beep…
The faint scent of medical supplies reached me, and a voice continued to call my name.
"Lucia!" His hand gripped my arm tightly. "Honey..." His warm tears fell on my cheek. "Lucia, I'd rather die than see you like this," he whispered, making me smile.
"Evan?"
"Yes, honey! It's me, I'm here! I'm here, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry~" He kept crying, holding me.
There was pain, but more confusion—what had happened?
"Lucia! Lucia! Forgive me..." My hand stroked his hair; I wanted to hold and hug him, but I felt too weak, utterly drained.
---
**Recovery and Reflection**
Despite successfully capturing all the drug dealers, Lucia was shot in the abdomen. Though it missed any vital organs, it was enough to drive Evan mad. For a week, he neither ate nor slept, staying by Lucia's side, his condition deteriorating. Han grew frustrated and had to give Evan morphine to calm him down.
Lucia and Evan were like two people awakening from a long coma.
"Evan, you promised that if Lucia survived, you'd become stronger and better. I'm disappointed because you're so weak," Han grumbled as he helped Evan put on his jacket.
"Stop mocking me. I'm weak and helpless; I could die if Lucia leaves."
"Are you crazy, Evan? Life isn't just about love!"
"You're used to risking your life, but Lucia... she's only 20. She doesn't know anything. Being with you is like putting her head on the chopping block! And one more thing, her father... he's Andersen, the man who brutally killed your family!"
Evan pushed Han's hand away from his jacket. "You don't understand. I've never loved or been loved like this. This is my paradise, and I don't want to leave it and lose this feeling." With that, Evan hurried back to Lucia's hospital room.
"Lucia!" Lucia's smile eased Evan's tension as he sat down and began to spoon-feed her. "I'll feed you."
Lucia, now able to sit up, nodded, her eyes locked on her boyfriend. "You look like you've lost a lot of weight; I can see your jawline more clearly." Her fingers traced Evan's face.
He cried again, capturing Lucia's hand and kissing it as if inhaling her essence. "I'm just tired and haven't been sleeping."
"You need to eat," Lucia whispered.
"Yes, I will. You, too; you need to eat, darling..."
"Evan, kiss me. I miss you."
Evan swallowed hard, then smiled, leaning in for a deep kiss, nearly dropping the bowl in his hand.
"Ah..."
"Gently, love," Lucia whispered, holding Evan's jaw and gazing into his weary eyes. "I've missed you."
Evan nodded, holding back tears, then sat down and started to feed her. "Let's eat."
Lucia shook her head, directing the spoon toward Evan's mouth. "You eat first; I want to taste what you've had."
He nodded again, unable to refuse her. After finishing the bowl, Lucia took another and began eating slowly, her eyes never leaving Evan. "Love, I want to go home. I want to sleep in your bed, smell your scent, I want you to sleep with me."
Evan almost choked on her words but was thrilled, his hand caressing Lucia's cheek. "I'll arrange for your discharge."
She caught his hand, holding it to her cheek, closing her eyes. The mix of Evan's masculine scent and gunpowder, along with the sounds of gunfire and chaos, left Lucia deep in thought.
"Honey? Finish your porridge," Evan whispered, offering another spoonful.
Lucia slowly opened her eyes, "Evan, I dreamed you were holding a gun."
Crash!
The bowl of porridge fell, shattering on the floor. They both froze.
Hearing the crash, several nurses rushed in, and Evan apologized.
"It's alright, we'll move the bed to clean up," one of the nurses said, adjusting the room as Lucia continued to stare at Evan's bowed head.
Silent tears fell from Lucia's eyes. She remembered it all; she had heard it all. "DON'T TOUCH HER, YOU'LL ALL DIE!"
"LUCIAAAA, LUCIA... DON'T LEAVE ME!!"
Evan, your love is so deep that I'm drowning in it. You love me as if there's no tomorrow. I've never felt so immersed in a sea of love. I'm scared, anxious... Evan, can I live without you? Or can you live without me?
"Evan!"
"Yes! I'm here!" Your tight embrace, the tremor in your voice, and your cold touch...
"Evan..."
"Yes, darling..."
Click!
Someone entered, followed by several others.
"Lucia, I heard about what happened. Forgive me!"
Thud!
Andersen fell to his knees, crying and begging before Lucia and Evan.
"Dad?"