As Shania did not want to be arrested again, her first reaction when she saw Winnie was to run.However, knowing that Winnie was no ordinary person, she tried her best to put up a calm front.Shania could not help but feel glad that she had contracted a cold. Otherwise, she wouldnât be wearing a mask, and her voice wouldnât have changed.Given the current circumstances, it was unlikely that those who did not know her well could recognize her.The woman quickly scrambled to her feet and left with her suitcase, but she was rather mystified that Winnie did not seem to have any suspicions at all.After walking a distance away, Shania realized that there might be something wrong with Winnieâs eyes.With that doubt in mind, Shania decided to stop in her tracks and observe Winnie openly.What she saw thereafter confirmed her doubts that Winnieâs eyes were indeed not functioning normally.Shania felt pure joy at that moment and thanked the heavens.However, her happiness did not last long. Soon, resentment started to grow within her.She hated Winnie and Xavier. They were the reason she was blacklisted everywhere. If not for the couple, she wouldnât have been arrested by the police and landed in her current miserable state, where she could not even afford a monthly rent of five hundred.Shania felt that being blind was too light of a punishment for Winnie.At the same time, she realized that Winnieâs condition could be a good opportunity for her. After all, her life had already been ruined by Winnie, and she wouldnât mind bringing Winnie down to take her place.As Winnie was missing her man and had nothing to do after visiting the elderly traditional medicine practitioner, she decided to head to Fairchild Corporation.Xavier was delighted to see Winnie. He instructed his subordinate to prepare some snacks for them.Winnie plopped herself on Xavierâs lap after tasting some of the snacks.She started teasing the man while making small talk with him. A while later, they started eating each otherâs lips instead of the snacks.Halfway through their passionate kiss, Winnie suddenly sprang away from Xavier and raised her head.She stretched out her hand at a confused-looking Xavier and said, âTissue. Grab me a piece of tissue. My nose is bleeding.âXavierâs heart skipped a beat before he handed a pack of tissues to the woman.He wanted to wipe the blood for Winnie, but his hand went limp when he saw the blood.Winnie refused to let him help and said, âItâs okay, Xavier. I can do it myself.âXavier hummed in acknowledgment and continued to stand rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do.Noticing his silence, Winnie said, âI want some water. Can you get me some warm water?âEven though there was warm water in Xavierâs office, he walked out of the room and headed to the pantry.The moment he stepped out, he called Lisanne.âHowâs the research going?â After exchanging greetings, Xavier went straight to the point. âWinnieâs nose is bleeding again. Itâs the second time today. Is there any progress on your side?ââSeems like itâs getting more frequent,â Lisanne said before letting out a sigh. âWinnieâs symptoms are more serious than mine. As for the research, letâs talk about it in person. Are you and Winnie free now?ââYeah. Come to Fairchild Corporation. Iâll send someone to get you now.ââSure. Today happens to be my only free day.âAfter fixing the meeting, Xavier poured a glass of warm water and returned to his office.When Winnie heard the manâs footsteps, she asked, âWhy did you take so long just to get a glass of water?âXavier strode toward Winnie and sat down next to her before explaining, âI gave Lisanne a call just now. She will be here shortly.â âSheâs coming?â Winnie asked, feeling slightly surprised. âHave they made any progress with the research? That would be really fast.ââIâm not sure.â Xavier frowned as he recalled Lisanneâs tone from earlier. She did not sound as though she had made any good progress.Lisanne arrived earlier than expected.Her expression was rather grim, and it was difficult to tell if she had brought them good or bad news.She said to Winnie and Xavier, âThe two countries have already concluded their discussion. Someone from Rodunst will be here tomorrow to bring Lionel back. That means the research has to be paused for now. However, Iâve already submitted a request to the higher-ups to go to Rodunst with Lionel. Also, Winnie, another reason Iâm here is that I need to take a sample of your blood.ââSure.â Providing a blood sample was not a problem for Winnie. However, she was worried that Lisanne might lose her freedom in Rodunst. âWill you be treated as a test subject when youâre over there? Itâs a foreign land and not our own country after all.ââIâll be fine. Donât forget that Iâm not just any ordinary person. Iâm a scientist who has a certain level of social status. They wouldnât dare to do anything to me. Besides, Lucas will be going with me.âWinnie was relieved to hear that. âThatâs better.
Itâs a pity that itâs not convenient for me to leave now. Otherwise, I would have gone with you.ââYou donât have to. I will be sending real-time data to my colleagues here. Lionel has been researching the Alpha element in Rodunst, so perhaps it would be easier for me to do my research there. Hopefully, we will finally be able to make some progress.ââI hope so too.â Winnie nodded.Lisanne gave a quiet hum and said, âCome, letâs take your blood now.âThe next evening, Winnie and Xavier sent Lisanne off at the airport.The couple headed outside to wait for their car after Lisanne boarded the plane.The driver had parked the car in the underground parking lot, and it would take him five minutes to drive to the pickup area.Right then, a woman, who was covered from head to foot, was moving toward Xavierâs car in the parking lot.She had a wrench hidden in her trench coat, and she was intending to tamper with Xavierâs car wheel.However, she was too careless and did not realize that Xavierâs driver had already noticed her suspicious movements.Just when she was about to reach Xavierâs car, a tall-built man suddenly appeared and put his arms around her shoulders.Dragging the woman away from the car, the man said in a raspy voice, âDarling, are you really angry with me? Stop being mad and come home with me now.âThe woman tried to struggle away from him, but to no avail.As she wasnât cooperating, the man had no choice but to lower his voice and say, âXavierâs driver has already got his eye on you. If you still insist on going over, I wonât stop you.âThe woman was shocked that the man seemed to know what she was up to.âWho are you?â she asked with a frown.Lowering his voice further, the man replied, âWho I am is not important. Whatâs important is that I know your story, Ms. Hamilton.âThat startled Shania even more. âWho are you exactly? How did you know my name? Why are you hiding behind a mask?â She reached out and yanked off the manâs mask as she spoke.When Shania saw the manâs face, her eyes went wide with shock.âXavier? No, thatâs impossible!â Shania stared at the man and gulped nervously. âYouâre not Xavier. Heâs upstairs with Winnie right now. You donât sound like him either. Who the hell are you? Why do you look exactly like him?â