<b>Chapter </b>611
Caitlin studied Back Hawk’s face, cold and sharp as <b>a </b>de. Hisposure was terrifying–no flicker, no weakness, not even the faintest twitch. His control was wless.
“Why <b>ask </b>me?”
The realization struck him like ice water: she had begun to suspect. This woman was dangerous. She wanted to use Ida to pry open his defenses–he <b>could </b><b>not </b>afford to take the b
Caitlin’s smile faded. Her voice cut sharper. “Why do you think I asked? You really believe I came here to chat for fun? I already know the truth. Ida is your sister. You’re her brother, aren’t <b>you</b><b>?</b>”
His fingers dug into his palms, his stare fixed and hard on her.
Caitlin pulled a faded photograph from her folder, sliding it against the ss. “Your sister’s picture. She’s only a child in it, and her brother was barely a teenager, but the resemnce is there. The eyes don’t lie. Without this photograph, I wouldn’t have guessed it. Your real name is Neil.”
She produced a second document and held it up. “I had Ida’s hair taken from Sanctis Clinic in Country A. DNA analysis confirmed it–she’s your sister. The evidence is irrefutable. Still want to deny it?”
For the first time, the assassin’s mask cracked. His body stilled, and after a long breath he muttered, “Fine. She’s my sister. So what?”
“Your sister’s life hangs by a thread. Does that not worry you?” Caitlin’s eyes sharpened, her voice cool, cutting straight into his heart.
The room felt like a battlefield. It was no longer about weapons–it was about who could hold their nerve, whose hand was stronger.
Neil’s lips twisted bitterly. “If you know her condition, then you know she won’t live long. Threaten me with her all you want. If she dies… 1 die with her.”
He <b>was </b>caged, powerless to protect her. If someone struck at Ida, there was nothing he could do.
Caitlin sighed softly. “I never wanted to hurt her. At first, yes, I wanted leverage. But once I met her… she’s just a child, young, with a whole life ahead. I couldn’t look away. She told me her only wish was to see her brother again. I gave her my word I’d help. So I’m helping. And I thought you’d want to see her too. I brought something.”
She slid a tablet toward the ss and hit y.
The screen lit with Ida’s bright smile. She stumbled through a garden, fell, then picked herself up stubbornly. With one arm missing, she was still strong, still determined. A butterfly fluttered past; her gaze followed it with yearning.
The footage shifted. Ida in therapy, struggling with exercises that seemed impossible. She failed again and again, biting her lip through tears, only to try once more.
“Neil, I’m doing well. I’ll wait for you.”
16:06 <b>Tue</b>, Sep 9 <b>B </b>
“Neil<b>, </b>a <b>kind </bdy is helping me. I’m really happy.”
“Neil, look! Ida folded this paper crane–does it look right?”
Sheughed, holding up a crumpled paper charm, eager for her brother’s praise.
Theughter faded when the next clip showed her copsing mid–session. Sirens<b>, </b>rush into the ER.
Neil’s hands pressed against the ss, knuckles white. His eyes reddened.
Thest clip showed her in bed, <b>pale </b><b>and </b>frail, whispering, “Neil, I’ll be good. I’ll wait for you. Come <b>back </b>
5001.”
The video ended. Neil’s face vanished behind his hands, his shoulders shaking with the weight of grief he couldn’t contain.
Caitlin slid the tablet back into her bag, thenid down another file. “You saw it yourself. She’s getting worse. If she doesn’t receive treatment, she won’tst. A doctor I know is working with a research team–gic disorders like hers are their focus. They’re recruiting patients worldwide. This is their enrollment form. All it needs is her guardian’s consent. If you sign, we’ll get her there immediately.”
For a long while, silence. His scarlet eyes lifted, haunted. “Why? Why would you help my sister? Do you really think this will make me talk?”
Caitlin <b>shook </b>her <b>head</b>. “No. I don’t expect you to. Finding my mother is my burden, not yours. I’ll do it myself. I’m helping Ida because she deserves it, not because she’s your sister. Even if she weren’t, I’d still help. Because she crossed my path. Because she’s a child who deserves a chance.”
That was who she was–too kind, too resolute to <b>stand </b>by.
She set down the receiver, rose, and asked the guard to pass the file to him.
Neil sat with the papers in his hand, fingers trembling. For a long time he didn’t move, didn’t speak.
Her words gnawed at <b>him</b>. For years, his world had been forged of blood and iron, his faith sharpened. through death. He had ughtered, destroyed, told himself it was all for a cause.
But Caitlin’s actions screamed a different truth: that there were <b>things </b>greater <b>than </b>vengeance. Greater than hatred.
She had found his sister and could <b>have </b>crushed her <b>in </b>front of him, could <b>have </b>twisted the knife. Instead, she chose to <b>save </b>her.
Tears stung his eyes, an emotion he thought he <b>had </b>killed long ago. For the first time, the walls he had built around his heart began to crumble.