+25 BORIS


    It was Nathan!


    Nathan had returned with the car, and as soon as he saw someone aiming a knife at Wendy, he lunged forward without hesitation.


    The de pierced deep into his chest.


    "Wendy!” Nathan''s name escaped Wendy''s lips in a sharp gasp.


    Stanley, seeing the danger, rushed toward Wendy, but he was still too far away to intervene in time. After watching Nathan take the knife for Wendy, Stanley kicked down two of the ck-d men blocking his path and ran as fast as he could.


    Just then, Zayn and a group of bodyguards burst onto the scene, surrounding the


    area.


    Outnumbered, Lionel and his men were quickly captured.


    Jessica ran toward Stanley and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Stanley!"


    Stanley was forced to stop. He wanted to push her away and get to Wendy and Nathan, but Jessica clung to him desperately. "Don''t go, Stanley! I''m so scared!"


    On the ground, Nathany still, a pool of blood spreading around him. Wendy immediately knelt beside him, pressing her hands over the wound, but the blood flowed relentlessly, seeping between her fingers.


    Her hands trembled. She couldn''t understand why Nathan had taken the knife for her. She was used to people treating her badly, but when someone cared for her, it left her utterly lost.


    "Nathan, hang in there. You''ll be okay."


    Nathan''s eyes became ssy, and soon, he slipped into unconsciousness.


    The sound of sirens filled the air as an ambnce arrived. Doctors and nurses quickly loaded Nathan onto a stretcher, and Wendy climbed into the ambnce with him heading straight to the hospital.


    Stanley, unable to push Jessica away, stood helpless as she clung to him. He watched as Wendy and Nathan disappeared from his sight.


    At the hospital, Nathan was wheeled into the operating room, the red light on the door flickering on. Wendy stood outside, pacing nervously.


    Stanley arrived soon after, spotting Wendy as she anxiously walked in circles. Her face was pale, streaked with blood, and she looked utterly unsettled.


    He strode up to her, his voice low and soothing. "Don''t worry. These are the best doctors in the city. Nathan will be fine."


    Wendy nced up at Stanley, her eyes immediatelynding on his injured hand.


    It was hard not to notice. His left hand was covered in blood and the wound hadn''t been treated, so some of it already beginning to coagte. His white shirt was stained with blood, and he appeared disheveled.


    What had happened to his hand?


    Stanley noticed her staring at the wound, and his fingers slightly curled. He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over her small, pale form: "Are you..."


    "Stanley!"


    At that moment, Jessica arrived and immediately linked her arm through Stanley''s.


    The question Stanley had intended to ask whether she was hurt-remained unsaid.


    When Jessica appeared, Wendy''s gaze shifted away from Stanley''s bloodied hand. She coldly sat down on a bench in the hallway, waiting in silence.


    Stanley watched her, the distance between them growing more obvious. The faint sound of his blood dripping onto the floor from his injured hand filled the air


    Just then, Zayn arrived in a hurry, speaking in a low voice. Mr. Hawk, the situation with Lionel has been handled. We also found something else at the scene-this photo."


    What photo?


    Wendy stood up, taking the photo from Zayn''s hands.


    Her heart stopped when she saw the image of herself in the magenta bikini, her expression frozen in disbelief.


    It all made sense now. This whole mess started when she unintentionally overheard Lionel having an affair with his boss''s wife at the hot springs. Lionel had seen her and wanted to silence her.


    But there was one thing she couldn''t figure out-how had Lionel recognized her?


    The