Chapter 727: It was over

The saying that the first was always the hardest proved to be true.

"Goodbye, Allen." Sven looked away from the patient, inserting the needle into the injection port. His thumb settled on the end of the syringe, and he exhaled before pushing the medication inside.

It was strange how calm he felt. Considering how his anxiety had been gnawing at him for days, this calmness felt almost addictive. Even though he knew what he was doing was wrong — a crime — he didn’t care anymore.

Once the syringe was empty, Sven gazed at the IV bag. His lips quivered as they twisted into a grin, his eyes tinged red as tears of joy welled up. Looking back at Allen, he felt his eyelids droop with a heavy satisfaction.

"Haha..." he laughed quietly, shaking his head as he looked at Allen. He reached out, flicking Allen’s forehead gently. "Hey, I’m sorry, man. Now, just... rest in peace, will you?"

He squinted as relief washed over him. It was finally over. Tonight, he would finally sleep in peace—a thought that filled him with a profound relief he hadn’t realized he craved.

All he had to do now was leave without getting caught.

"Right." He breathed out, tucking the vial into his pocket, and quickly picked up the tray. Panic and nervousness started to creep back into his heart, but knowing he had gotten in without a problem gave him a small boost of confidence.

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat, turning his back on Allen. He stared at the door, taking a step, only to freeze at the sound of an emergency alarm blaring outside.

A deep furrow formed between his brows as his heart raced. Then he remembered how he’d gotten these clothes and the vial for Allen’s injection.

"Is this...?" he murmured as the door abruptly opened.

Sven tensed up, shoulders tightening.

"Are you done?" asked the bodyguard, arching a brow at him.

"Ahh..." Sven cleared his throat, nodding. "Yes."

With that, the bodyguard held the door open for him. Sven flashed a brief smile under his mask, lowering his head as he walked out. He held his breath as he crossed the threshold, glancing at the other bodyguard who watched him.

’Keep going,’

He repeated these words like a mantra, quickening his pace. Just a few steps and he’d be free. Once he passed these people, Sven would be safe.

’I’ll ditch these clothes and the evidence, then head back to my ward as a patient,’ he reassured himself. ’Once they find out he’s dead, it’ll be too late. Just a few more steps and it’ll all be over.’

His confidence swelled as he approached the sliding doors. The closer he got, the faster his heart raced, but this time it was with excitement. The job was done. The bodyguards wouldn’t suspect a thing; they’d likely watch him leave without question.

’That’s right,’ Sven thought, stopping before the sliding doors, calming his nerves. ’It’s over. Nothing will happen.’

As he reached for the door, a grin spread across his face. But when he stepped out, he noticed that the bodyguard he expected to see was nowhere to be found. Sven looked up, finding himself surrounded by people staring back at him.

"Huh?" Sven froze, his gaze darting to the crowd gathered outside the VVIP ward entrance. His body stiffened as his eyes locked onto a familiar face.

Atlas.

’What?’

"Detective," Atlas said, his cold gaze fixed on Sven. "Is what we’ve seen enough to arrest him?"

The officer beside Atlas nodded, giving Sven a hard look. "Arrest him."

"Sven Bennet, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Mr. Allen—"

"No." Sven took a step back, wide-eyed as the officer approached him. His gaze darted around, searching for an escape.

Impossible.

This couldn’t be happening. His plan was perfect. He’d gotten in without a problem. He had even administered the injection...

His thoughts trailed off as he replayed the sequence of events in his mind. From the bodyguards checking his pockets to them ignoring the medicine until now, the pieces clicked. Sven’s mind blanked before snapping into survival mode.

It was a setup.

Atlas had set him up.

"No!" Sven yelled, lunging to the side and making a run for it. ’I’m not going to prison!’

Atlas remained still, his eyes slowly blinking as Sven tried to flee. When Atlas’s gaze refocused, it was with a glint of cruel satisfaction. He looked over to where Sven was headed, watching as two bodyguards blocked Sven’s escape.

"No!" Sven shouted desperately, trying to change direction, only to be met by another pair of guards.

"No, no, no..." He shook his head, backing away. "This can’t be happening..."

"It is happening, Sven." Atlas finally spoke, meeting Sven’s panicked gaze. "It’s time for you to face the consequences of your actions."

Sven clenched his teeth, rage boiling over. "You—you set me up!" he spat, lunging toward Atlas. But this time, the officers didn’t hesitate. They swarmed him, pinning him to the floor.

"Sven Bennet, you are under arrest..." the officer recited his rights as he secured the handcuffs.

"No!" Sven struggled, but with the officer pressing him down, he couldn’t escape. All he could do was look up, locking eyes with Atlas’s cold stare. He felt his heart sink, his complexion turning pale, the tip of his fingers and toes growing cold. Yet, despite the coldness he felt, his entire body sweat profusely.

At that moment, reality finally sank into Sven. This wasn’t just a terrible nightmare or a delusion he would eventually wake up. This was the reality where he wouldn’t wake up, no matter how much he tried.

Atlas’s gaze was frigid as he repeated the words Sven had once uttered to Allen. "It’s over, Sven. I’m sorry... but you left me no choice. However, this is not goodbye. I’ll see you in court."

Those words were akin to nails being hammered on Sven’s coffin.

It was over.