Chapter 414 The Needle in the Shadows

Neither Paul nor Yunice responded to Owen’s weak, delusional pleas.

Paul hadn’t known where Elsie was.

And Yunice? She found it almost pitiful how Owen still clung to the hope that Elsie would save him.

Even now… he still believed she’d come.

Without a word, Yunice subtly nudged the antigen kit under Owen’s bed with her foot.

Then she straightened and said to Paul, “If you’ve got something to say, let’s talk outside.”

As they turned to leave, Owen struggled. “Paul–don’t go! I still have things to ask-!”

But his body had just endured surgery, and his limbs were restrained to prevent exactly this kind of movement. He couldn’t even sit up.

Outside the room, in a blind spot from the cameras, Paul finally spoke.

“I’m not here for Elsie,” he said. “I came to find you.”

Yunice narrowed her eyes, her guard up.

Paul gave her a look. “Do you really think I’d risk coming all the way into a sealed-off infection zone–for what, a casual visit?”

Her contempt radiated through the clear visor. Her silence told him exactly what she thought.

Paul stepped closer. “Believe it or not, when I called off our engagement, I was just mad. I didn’t think you’d actually marry Wyatt. But I never let go. I still want you. I’m not giving up.”

Yunice’s expression tightened. If not for the hazmat suit between them, she would’ve slapped him across the face.

Instead, she sneered, “You’re like a toad squatting at someone’s feet. Disgusting, not dangerous–but enough to make someone sick.”

Paul’s eyes narrowed. “You think I’m weak? That Wyatt’s better than me? You’re wrong.”

His voice dropped to a smug hush. “You want to know why Mr. Gerardo got infected? Why your Saunders Hospital, of all places, was hit?”

He didn’t even hesitate to expose himself. After all, the truth was starting to leak anyway.

Yunice’s gaze darkened, her breath catching.

Mr. Gerardo had died innocent. Taylor had lost everything. Knowing the depth of it made Yunice furious.

But she kept calm. “Your definition of power is… killing people for money?”

Paul grinned. “When I’m finished with Taylor, I’m coming for you. I don’t care what you want. I’ll lock you in a cage if I have to. You’ll be mine.”

“In your dreams,” she snapped.

He lunged, grabbing her by the shoulder and neck. “Then I’ll take you now!”

Before he could act, a sharp voice barked from the hall–Tommy.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Startled, Paul dropped his grip and bolted.

Yunice exhaled, shaken.

Tommy rushed over, eyes wide as Paul sprinted down the hallway in his disguise.

“What happened?” Tommy asked, breathless.

“He’s a black-market profiteer,” Yunice replied, “deliberately spreading the virus for personal gain. Catch him!”

Tommy’s face went grim. “Security’s already chasing him.”

He darted into Owen’s room, dragging over a stepstool to inspect the busted camera.

“How the hell did the surveillance go out?” he muttered.

Yunice followed him inside. “Probably more of his handiwork.”

As Tommy focused on the camera, Yunice turned back to Owen’s still form.

He’d likely passed out again after his earlier struggle.

She glanced at Tommy’s back–he was still busy tinkering.

If Paul was going to be her scapegoat, she’d better make use of him.

Now was the time.

Yunice knelt quickly, dragging the medicine box out from under the bed. She prepped the syringe that had already been set.

One last glance–Tommy’s back was still turned.

Then she leaned over Owen and injected the antigen into his IV line.

Done.

She cleaned up swiftly, stuffing everything back into the case and pushing it back beneath the bed.

Just as she stood up, Tommy jumped off the stool. “Huh… no issues with the wiring…”

“Maybe he used a signal jammer,” Yunice said casually. “We should check the central system.”

“Good idea.”

As they left, a new doctor entered to check on Owen’s post-surgery condition.

Tommy and Yunice, as witnesses, were asked to stay behind for questioning.

“I don’t know who those people were,” Yunice said smoothly. “They were already in my brother’s room when I got there.”

“Sir,” another doctor called. He crouched beside the bed, pulling something from beneath it. “We found this–an empty injection box and a used syringe. What is this?”