The familiar scent of antiseptic and the soft hum of medical machinery filled the corridors as Gray walked through Elara Memorial Hospital. After days of chaos, it was a relief to see the hallways slightly less crowded. The patients from the building collapse were stabilizing, and though some still required intensive care, the worst seemed to be over.
Gray moved from room to room, her eyes sharp and attentive as she checked on each patient's progress. She reviewed charts, adjusted medications, and offered words of comfort to those still shaken by the incident. Her calm demeanor belied the exhaustion that clung to her bones, but she couldn't afford to rest yet—not when there were lives still dependent on her.
It was noon of the following day when she turned a corner and came face-to-face with a familiar figure leaning casually against the wall. A bright smile broke across her face as she recognized Louise, her best friend and fellow doctor from Aldeburgh Main Hospital.
"Thena!" Louise greeted, pushing off the wall to envelop her in a warm hug. "You look like you haven't slept in days."
Gray laughed softly, pulling away. "I probably haven't. What are you doing here, Lou? I thought you were still in Aldeburgh."
Louise's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I was, but I decided it was time for a change. I've just submitted my application to transfer here, to Elara Memorial."
Gray's brows shot up in surprise. "You're leaving Aldeburgh Main? I thought you loved it there."
Louise shrugged, a wry smile on her lips. "I did, but after everything… I think I need a fresh start. Besides, it'll be nice to work alongside you again. We were quite the team back in the day, weren't we?"
Gray's smile widened. "You have no idea how much I've missed working with you, Lou. The doctors here are competent, but it's not the same. How have you been holding up?"
Louise chuckled as they began walking down the hallway together. "Oh, you know, the usual. Piles of paperwork, stubborn patients, and endless cups of coffee to keep me sane. But enough about me—how are *you* holding up after the incident? I heard it was brutal."
Gray's expression sobered as she recounted the events of the past few days. "It's been... intense, to say the least. Over fifty injured, some critical. We lost a few, but thankfully, most are on the road to recovery now."
Louise nodded, her face thoughtful. "I can't imagine the pressure. I heard you were practically living in the OR for eighteen hours straight."
Gray shrugged modestly. "It wasn't just me. The whole team came together. But yes, it was exhausting."
Louise tilted her head, studying her friend. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Thena. Always have been."
There was a moment of comfortable silence between them before Louise's expression turned serious. "Actually, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Do you have a picture of your mother?"
Gray blinked in surprise. "My mother? Why do you want to see her photo?"
Louise hesitated, but knowing Gray's penchant for straightforwardness, she decided to be direct. "I think I saw her... in Switzerland. During my vacation last month. There was a woman who looked exactly like her."
Gray stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat. "Louise, are you sure?"
Louise nodded slowly, her gaze unwavering. "I'm certain. I thought it was just a coincidence, but the resemblance was uncanny. I even saw her up close in a café. I wasn't able to take a photo because I didn't bring my phone that time. I didn't want to approach her, but... she looked exactly like the photos you showed me back in med school."
Gray's hands trembled slightly as she pulled out her wallet and pulled out her mother's photo. She handed it to Louise, her eyes searching her friend's face for any sign of doubt.
Louise took the phone, studying the photo intently before nodding. "Yes, that's her. I swear it, Gray. She even had the same amber eyes. If she's not your mother, then she's her twin."
Gray's mind raced, memories of her mother flooding back. Is it real? Could her mother be truly alive, living in secret? "I... I need to know more, Lou. Can you tell me exactly where you saw her?"
Louise nodded, recounting the café's location and describing the woman's demeanor. Gray listened intently, her heart torn between hope and confusion. If her mother was truly alive, then her suspicions were real and she needs to talk to her to know the truth.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, Dale and Lucian were closing in on the suspects' hideout. The address they had obtained from the interrogation led them to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Vaeloris. The area was heavily guarded, and the element of surprise was on their side.
"Move in quietly," Dale instructed his team as they surrounded the building. "We don't know how many are inside."
With practiced precision, the team breached the entrance, weapons drawn. The suspects were caught off guard, and after a brief shootout, all but one were subdued. The last suspect attempted to flee but was quickly taken down by a well-aimed shot from Rhys, Dale's second-in-command.
"Clear!" Rhys shouted, lowering his weapon as the team began sweeping the area for evidence.
Dale's eyes scanned the room, taking in the scattered documents, laptops, and other equipment. "I want everything cataloged," he ordered. "We need to know who they were working with."
As his team worked, Dale's gaze landed on a strand of hair caught on a rough wooden beam. It was a distinct shade, eerily similar to the color of one of King Theodore's associate's hair. He motioned for one of the forensic specialists to collect it.
"Get this analyzed," he said. "I want to know if it matches anyone in the royal database of Valyshire."
Rhys raised an eyebrow as he approached Dale. "You think this ties back to Valyshire?"
Dale's jaw tightened. "I don't know yet, but we can't ignore any leads. If there's even a chance this links back to King Theodore..."
Rhys nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're not getting soft, are you, Captain? I heard the wife handled herself pretty well during the hospital chaos. Must be proud of her, huh?"
Dale shot him a glare. "This isn't about her," he snapped, but there was a faint blush creeping up his neck that didn't go unnoticed.
Rhys smirked, leaning in closer. "Oh, come on, Captain. You're fooling no one. We all see the way you look at her when you think no one's watching."
"Enough," Dale barked, though his tone lacked the usual bite. "Focus on the mission."
The rest of the team exchanged amused glances but wisely kept their comments to themselves. They knew better than to push their captain too far, especially when he was already on edge.
As they finished gathering evidence, Dale's mind wandered back to Gray. Despite his attempts to keep her at arm's length, she was slowly breaking through the walls he had so carefully constructed. Damn it, why does she have to be so... infuriatingly competent? he thought.
The drive back to the station was filled with quiet discussions about the operation, but Dale's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept drifting to the image of Gray, exhausted but unwavering, as she worked tirelessly to save lives. He couldn't deny the respect he had for her—both as a doctor and as a person.
She's not like the others, he admitted silently. But that doesn't change the fact that she's tied to Valyshire's court. She's still a Montclair, still connected to Theodore.
But even as he thought it, the certainty he once held was crumbling. Gray was a puzzle, one he couldn't quite figure out, and the more he tried to distance himself, the more he found himself drawn to her.
As they head to the station, Dale found himself staring at the road. The evidence pointed to something bigger, something that tied Valyshire and Vaeloris in a web of intrigue and betrayal.
But at the center of it all was Gray. And despite his best efforts, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was more ally than enemy.
What are you hiding, Gray? he wondered, staring out into the darkening sky. And why do I feel like every answer only brings me closer to you?
The chapter ends with Dale's resolve wavering, the lines between duty and desire blurring in ways he never anticipated.