Sunlight filtered through the curtains as Nora Su awoke. After a quick wash, she hurried straight to the medical room—but Adrian Fu's bed was empty.
"He left early this morning," the duty nurse explained. "He said he had urgent matters to attend."
Nora frowned. "His injuries need at least three days of bed rest!"
The nurse shrugged helplessly. "You know Fu's personality."
Indeed, Nora thought, that man was stubborn as a rock. She checked on the other patients and was about to search for him when she ran into Chen Mo in the hallway.
"Sir Fu is in the main building conference room," Chen Mo said, as if sent specifically to fetch her. "He asked me to bring you."
"How's his condition?"
"Not good," Chen Mo whispered, "but he refuses to admit it. He can barely walk, yet insists on leading the safety meeting."
In the main building conference room, Adrian stood before a holographic map, coordinating defenses. Outwardly, he looked nearly his usual self—his black suit hiding the bandages perfectly—but the pale complexion and beads of sweat at his temples betrayed the truth.
"Add two more sonic towers to the east coast," he instructed, voice steady and authoritative. "Set frequency to random mode to prevent mutants from adapting. Reinforce underwater cables with protective casing. Install biosensors at all water entrances."
Nora quietly sat in the corner, observing every movement. Though his posture remained tall and commanding, he kept one hand on the table, knuckles white from strain. When others spoke, he subtly shifted to avoid twisting his injured chest.
After the meeting, everyone left, leaving only Nora and Adrian. He finally allowed himself to lean on the table, breathing heavy.
"You should be in bed resting," Nora said, stepping forward and undoing his suit jacket. The bandages beneath were soaked with spots of blood.
Adrian did not stop her, only murmured, "No time to rest. Wang Zhiguo won't give us a moment's reprieve."
"But you'll kill yourself like this!" She carefully peeled back the bandages, revealing slight tears in the wounds. "What if you get an infection?"
Adrian suddenly grasped her wrist. "Come with me."
He led her through hidden corridors to a part of the island she had never seen. After fingerprint and iris verification, a heavy metal door silently slid open.
"This is my private study," he said. "The only place on the island without surveillance."
The study was spacious and minimalistic, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. One wall held embedded bookshelves, packed with books and files. A sturdy wooden desk held neatly arranged documents, and an old photo frame faced away from visitors.
Adrian walked to the bookshelf and retrieved a sealed archive box. Hesitating, he handed it to Nora.
"Photos and records of your mother. Once you see them, you'll understand a lot."
Nora's hands trembled. She had never seen her mother's face—her father had claimed all records were destroyed in a fire. Now, the secret was in her hands.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the box. At the top was a yellowed photograph of a young woman in a lab coat, smiling at the camera. Nora's breath caught—the eyes and smile mirrored her own, only gentler.
"She… is beautiful," Nora whispered, tracing the image with her fingers.
"Lin Xue was the smartest woman I ever met," Adrian's voice was unusually soft. "She was also one of the founders of the Prometheus Project."
Nora's head shot up. "What?"
"Keep looking."
The documents revealed shocking truths: Nora's mother, Lin Xue, was not only a top geneticist but the original discoverer of the natural antibody. Even more startling, the documents showed her connection to Adrian—photos of a young Adrian standing beside Lin Xue, eyes full of admiration.
"You and my mother… were colleagues?"
"More than that." Adrian moved to the window, back to her. "She was my mentor… and my savior."
He recounted a story Nora had never heard: twenty years ago, Adrian, a fresh military officer, was assigned to supervise the Prometheus Project. Proud and skeptical, he doubted civilian scientists' abilities—until Lin Xue proved him wrong.
"She changed me," Adrian said, voice low. "She taught me that the value of science lies not in weapons, but in saving lives."
Later, Lin Xue discovered that her young daughter—Nora—carried a rare natural antibody. To protect her child, she falsified data, but the military found out. A so-called "accident" claimed her life, and Su Mingyuan fled with his daughter, living in hiding until Adrian found them.
"Your father and I reached an agreement—I would protect you both, he would continue research," Adrian turned to face her, eyes flashing emotions she had never seen. "But I failed to protect him. His death… was no accident."
Nora's fists clenched. "Wang Zhiguo?"
"Or someone behind him," Adrian approached. "That's why I must be careful. The enemy is not only outside but possibly among us."
Nora recalled Lin Xiu's unusual behavior. "He asked a lot about my blood yesterday…"
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "When?"
"After I left the medical room. He wanted to discuss new antibody separation methods."
Adrian immediately activated his communicator. "Chen Mo, monitor Lin Xiu's activities discreetly. Don't alert him."
Turning to Nora, he said firmly, "Do not meet Lin Xiu alone from now on. His obsession with Ω-7 is too great. I suspected his intentions long ago."
Nora looked back at her mother's photograph. A thought struck her: "If my antibodies came from her… then she also…?"
"Yes," Adrian answered, anticipating the question. "Her blood was special too. That's why the military is still hunting for 'antibody carriers.'"
He retrieved the photo frame, turning it toward her. It showed young Lin Xue holding a baby, with Su Mingyuan and… casually dressed Adrian beside them. The four looked like a happy family.
"This was your first birthday," Adrian whispered. "Your father was my best friend. Your mother… my most respected person."
Tears welled in Nora's eyes. She had never imagined her life intertwined so tightly with Adrian's. No wonder her father entrusted her to him, and no wonder Adrian displayed such protective care.
"So… you've always known I existed?"
Adrian nodded. "I've secretly watched over you. After your father died, I intended to bring you to the island—but you vanished. I searched for three months."
Nora remembered those months on the run, a flood of emotions surging. She looked at Adrian, suddenly noticing sweat beading on his forehead, his face pale as paper.
"Adrian?" she hurried to steady him. "You need rest—now!"
This time, he did not resist. He let her help him into a small side bedroom in the study—his occasional resting place.
Nora helped him remove his suit and shirt, tending to the torn wounds. Adrian lay quietly, eyes following her movements.
"Why tell me now?" she asked softly, covering him with a light blanket.
He paused. "Because… I nearly died." Rare vulnerability flickered in his expression. "If I hadn't, you might never know the truth."
Nora didn't know how to respond. The man who always seemed invincible now looked so weary, so human.
"Rest," she said finally. "I'll watch over you."
Adrian nodded, eyelids heavy. Just as he was about to drift off, the communicator blared. Chen Mo's urgent voice cracked through:
"Sir Fu! Emergency! Lin Xiu has entered Laboratory B7 with two armed men! Our team is blocked outside. He said… he said if you don't hand over Dr. Su, he will destroy all Ω-7 samples!"
Adrian snapped awake, struggling to rise. "Damn traitor…"
"Don't move!" Nora pressed him down. "Your wounds will split open!"
"No time!" Adrian gritted his teeth. "Ω-7 is our only leverage, and you are…"
He stopped, but Nora understood—she was the last hope.
"I'll face him," she said firmly.
"No!" Adrian's voice was sharp. "He's coming for you!"
Nora grabbed her medical bag, readying sedatives and tourniquets. "He won't hurt me; he needs my blood. And…" she looked Adrian in the eye, "my mother taught you well, and she taught me too—sometimes you have to take risks."
Adrian's gaze darkened, conflicted. Finally, he activated the communicator. "Chen Mo, prepare Plan A7. Dr. Su will meet Lin Xiu—but follow my plan precisely."
He steadied himself and handed Nora a small, sleek pistol. "Conceal it in your sleeve. Safety is off. Just pull the trigger if necessary."
"You're… letting me kill?" she asked, startled.
"Self-defense," Adrian corrected, brushing a finger lightly across her cheek—a rare, intimate gesture. "Come back alive, Nora. For… your father."
Nora nodded, hiding the gun. As she turned to leave, Adrian pressed a small metal device into her palm.
"Emergency signal. Press it if you're in danger." His gaze was as deep as the sea. "I will come for you. No matter where."
That promise, more than any weapon, gave her comfort. She drew a deep breath, heading toward the door, glancing back—Adrian stood by the window, sunlight outlining him in gold, like a guardian statue.
"Be careful with Lin Xiu," he called finally. "He's more dangerous than you think."
Nora nodded and stepped into the unknown. Unbeknownst to her, the moment the door closed, Adrian collapsed to his knees, coughing up blood onto the pristine carpet.