In the silent room, Nadia’s somber voice spoke again. "She always wanted to thoroughly research these viruses and create an Antidote. My father was bitten by a Zombie Beast, then he mutated, and was eventually killed."
"Driven by the desire to fulfill her last wish, I escaped that forest alone. But I was too badly injured and passed out before I got very far. When I woke up, I saw Evan Pierce. Evan is my neighbor; we were childhood friends, and he’s always been very good to . The night we left, he heard a commotion and thought my house was being robbed... He saw us leaving and felt sothing was wrong, so he followed. Who would have thought that would be the start of a three-year journey? If it weren’t for him these past three years, I probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on for so long, let alone develop a second Antidote based on that journal..."
"It’s been three years, and those people have never given up looking for us. There were even a few tis when Evan Pierce was nearly killed by them! I don’t want to keep living in the dark. I want to find out who killed my mother and what they’re really looking for! So, we ca back!"
"That... is everything."
After Nadia finished speaking, she let out a long breath. She sat there in a daze, seemingly still lost in her own thoughts, unable to break free.
But while Nadia had stopped talking, Paige Sumrs couldn’t stop thinking.
She had suspected the truth wasn’t simple, but she never expected it to be this convoluted.
’They haven’t given up for three years...’
She slowly looked up. "Besides your mother, does anyone else know you’re an expert in this field of research?"
"Huh?" Nadia seed surprised by the question but thought it over carefully. "There was my mom’s good friend, Uncle Julian Quillan. He was her colleague. I wanted to find him first when I ca back to see what he knew, but I could never get a chance to et him. He moved and changed his phone number, so I have no way of contacting him."
Paige Sumrs silently made a ntal note of the na.
Just then, an idea flashed through Nadia’s mind. "Are you saying... those people are after not because they’re looking for sothing, but because they want to research the Antidote?"
She began to consider the possibility. It was true—they never showed Evan Pierce any rcy, but they had never tried to kill her... She had always assud they were keeping her alive for interrogation, thinking there really was the "sothing" they kept ntioning. But it was also possible that what they actually wanted was her!
’No, no, I still can’t be sure!’
Paige Sumrs saw her hesitation. "It’s just one possibility. Also, you’ve encountered them many tis, right? Don’t you have any idea who’s behind them?"
This ti, Nadia shook her head without hesitation.
"They all wore very ordinary combat uniforms. Most were Natural Ability Users, and their weapons were just common knives or daggers..." She propped her head in her hands, her brow deeply furrowed. "It’s strange. I just realized I can’t recall what any of them looked like. Not even from that night three years ago. I can rember their every move, but I can’t rember their faces."
’Can’t rember?’
’Could it be ntal interference?’
Paige Sumrs rubbed her forehead and sighed inwardly. The clues were pitifully few.
However, one thing was certain. The person they were up against had a huge interest in the Antidote and had a thorough grasp of the movents of both Nadia and her mother. Their status couldn’t be low. Moreover, they were definitely connected to The Governnt! They might even be a high-ranking official!
’So what should I do?’
Deep down, she wanted to protect Nadia. If given ti, Nadia might just be able to create Antidotes for all types of the virus. Also... "How is that experint of yours to stop the reproduction of mutated plants and animals going?"
Lost in thought, Nadia heard the question and answered subconsciously, "That’s still in the research phase. I’ve made so headway, but..."
Her words stopped abruptly, annoyance flashing in her eyes. ’How could I run my mouth like that!’ But facing Paige Sumrs, she felt herself easily sinking into a warm, comforting aura that made her unconsciously lower her guard. She drooped her head, defeated. ’Oh well. She already knows anyway. A little more won’t make a difference.’
Paige Sumrs paid no mind to Nadia’s inner turmoil, her own thoughts elsewhere. ’Looks like she’s really making progress. If this experint succeeds, humanity might not be far from escaping the apocalypse.’
’I should help her.’
But at the sa ti, she knew all too well that she probably didn’t have the power to do so.
Her opponent was too powerful and too mysterious.
One wrong move, and not only would she fail to help Nadia, she could very well end up with not even her bones left to be found.
Unable to make a decision, she stood up and said, "You should go back for now. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this."
Nadia’s expression was conflicted. She was silent for a long ti before she slowly nodded and walked out.
Paige Sumrs knew that no matter how firmly she said it, or how sincere she was, those words alone wouldn’t be enough to put Nadia at ease.
But that was her burden now.
Having chosen to reveal everything instead of keeping silent, she needed to have the courage to face the consequences.
Whether they were good or bad.
The room was finally empty, save for her. Paige Sumrs sank wearily back onto the sofa. Taking in so much information at once was giving her a massive headache.
’What in the world should I do?’
Just as she was wrestling with her thoughts, in Sector One, at The Reid Estate, Wendy Lowell received a phone call that made her ecstatic.
"Mother, I’ve made the arrangents. You can go pick her up anyti. As we discussed, if she’s going to live with the Reid Family, she must change her surna."
"I understand. I’ll convince her. Reed, thank you!"
"You’re welco."
After hanging up, Wendy Lowell joyfully grabbed her bag, rushed out the door, got into her car, and gave the driver an address.
If Paige Sumrs had heard it, she would have realized the address was incredibly familiar!
Because it was the very place she was living right now!
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