BONUS CHAPTER
Across the globe, a lone figure watched a scene unfold on a glowing screen. The woman, cloaked in the shadows of a darkened room, observed the celebration with a predatory glint in her eyes.
"Interesting," she murmured, her voice a low rasp. Opportunities to observe her target were rare, and she savored every glimpse. He was a formidable opponent, one who never faltered… until her. Since their encounter, a flicker of sloppiness had entered his game. But she wouldn't be deceived. He was still a wild card, capable of unpredictable moves.
A predatory smile stretched across her lips. "Soon," she hissed. The wait had been agonizing, but the end was in sight. This time, her meticulously crafted plan would succeed. No one would stand in her way. The first set of people who stood in her way would fall soon setting a chain reaction that would crumble his defenses, and all with his unwitting cooperation.
With a flourish, the screen flickered and died, plunging the room back into darkness. Unfazed, the woman relished the shadows, a predator waiting to pounce.
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Back in the hospital room, the celebratory din gradually subsided. After a round of well-wishes and lingering goodbyes, the Alfreds' well-wishers dispersed, leaving a comfortable quiet in their wake.