In an instant, tears streamed down the woman''s face.


    Hans''s senses were on high alert. He scanned the area outside. When he felt it was safe, he released the woman, his palm damp from her tears.


    She was already weeping uncontrobly.


    Hans stared into her tear-blurred eyes and recognized her instantly. It was the woman from the hospital who had chased after him, hysterically calling him "Hubery." That meant she was Hubery Ashbourne''s mother.


    Hans stiffened, pulling away from Suri Bright Ashbourne. The blood in his veins surged, pounding silently against his chest.


    The car was as quiet as a vacuum.


    Suri, normally a calm andposed woman, had lost all herposure. All she had left were endless tears.


    Just then, the driver opened the door and got in. "Suri, I got the pastries you ordered for Mr. Cassius..."


    Hans''s reddened eyes narrowed. His muscles tensed, and he immediately moved to get out of the car.


    "Don''t go!" Suri''s wet eyes widened as she grabbed his unyielding arm. She squeezed with all her might, and even a man as tough as Hans felt a twinge of pain. She couldn''t let go. She was afraid she would never find him again.


    The driver, seeing a blood-soaked stranger in the car with Suri, immediately assumed he was a kidnapper and panicked. He was about to attack when Suri stopped him, her voice choked with tears. "Don''t worry! He would never hurt me!"


    Hans''s heart clenched. He turned slowly, his eyes filled with astonishment. He lived a life of violence, walked with wolves. His very presence was enough to make children cry. He nced at his reflection in the rearview mirror—at his bloodshot eyes, filled with a murderous, bloodthirsty rage. He was no good man. He was rotten to the core.


    Even though Suri had said that, the driver remained on edge, ready to fight at a moment''s notice.


    "Sorry about that," Hans said coldly, preparing to leave again.


    I.ne


    But Suri held on tight, her voice filled with concern. "Who were those men? Why were they chasing you? What happened? Are you hurt? Let e see


    With each question, Hans''s heart jolted, constricting a little more. Because of this face, a group of decent, upstanding people were iming him as their own, and a woman who could be his mother was showing him such tenderness and care. The feeling was strangely warm, something he found himse craving. But he knew that without this face, he would never have experienced this-the feeling of a happy life.


    "It''s none of your business." Hans didn''t dare stay any longer. He could


    allow himself to indulge in a warmth that didn''t belong to him.


    Suddenly, the world spun, and he copsed into Suri''s arms.


    "My boy, my boy! Wake up!" Suri cried, her heart racing as she saw how weak he


    was.


    The driver quickly pointed out, "Suri, look at his shoulder! It''s still bleeding... I think he''s injured!"


    Suri felt a sticky wetness on her hand. She looked down and saw a horrifying patch of crimson.


    “Quickly! To the Ashbourne family hospital, now!"


    ...


    Meanwhile, Jason drove at top speed, carrying a ck-suited, red-lipped Evadne toward the press conference in Elmsworth.