Zachary took off his jacket and gently draped it over Sarah before lifting her into his arms and carrying her out of the café.

He carefullyid her down in the backseat of his car. "Sasa," he called softly, worry etched in his voice.fn2e0f Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel/fn2e0f

Before he could shut the door, Sarah clung to him, her hands grasping his arms tightly. Even through the jacket, he could feel the intense heat radiating from her body.

"I feel... so hot," she panted.

Zachary''s fingers trembled. He gently eased her back into the seat and closed the car door with caution, then let out a long, heavy sigh before sliding into the driver''s seat and starting the engine.

He knew he couldn''t take her back to the Sanders family estate. So instead, he drove straight to his own apartment.

Once they arrived, he carried her inside again, feeling her body growing even hotter in his arms.

Heid her down on the bed, but she wouldn''t stop leaning toward him, murmuring over and over, "So hot..."

Back in the car, he had already struggled with the overwhelming urge to hold her. Now, with her flushed face pressing against his chest, it took every ounce of self- control not to do something he''d regret.

He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed. "Come to the my apartment. Now." Twenty minutester, a car pulled up outside. A middle-aged woman hurried in with a medical kit in hand. "Where''s the patient?"

"She''s in the bedroom," Zachary replied, his tone dark and tight.

Dr. Lanson, a long-time family physician, immediately stepped inside. Seeing Sarah''s erratic movements, her expression turned serious. "What''s going on with her?"

"She was drugged," Zachary said grimly.

Dr. Lanson nodded, asking no further questions. She didn''t need to-she already understood the situation.

She pulled out a portable diagnostic device and began examining Sarah. Fortunately, thanks to Mia''s health condition, Zachary had a stock of medications and equipment on hand.

Dr. Lanson injected a sedative into Sarah''s arm and ced a fever-reducing patch on her forehead.

"Do you know how much she took?" she asked, frowning.

Zachary shook his head. When he got to her, she was already in this state. But given how she had managed to stay conscious and resist, it probably wasn''t arge dose.

Dr. Lanson nced at Sarah with concern. "Drugs from H Country aren''t particrly strong, but theyst a long time. This one just

heightens sensory responses

won''t causesting harm, but there''s no antidote. I''ve given her a sedative and left some cooling patches Her body temperature will stay high for a while, but I can''t do much more. Where''s your sister? Can shee help?"  s

"Mia''s still at the hospital with Grandpa. I didn''t tell her about this. She''d worry."

"Understandable. Just make sure you help her cool down." Dr. Lanson gave a few more instructions, then looked between Zachary and Sarah, hesitating for a beat.

After a pause, she said quietly, "You two... have been on and off for so long. If you were still together, well-this would''ve been easier to handle."

She sighed. "Anyway, call me if anything changes. I''ll have someone keep an eye on your grandfather. Hisa was strange from the start.. Any progress on finding out what caused it?"  s

Dr. Lanson was in her forties and had served as the Reynolds family''s private

doctor for years, taking care of both William and Zachary himself.

Zachary shook his head. "No, nothing definitive yet. But Grandpa did meet with Mr Wilson that afternoon. There''s no way he''s not involved."

Dr. Lanson''s expression darkened. "So you really are at odds with the Wilson family now. Not just because of Mr. Wilson, but because of...

e drifted to Sarah. She didn''t

gaze

finish the sentence. ''s

Zachary''s eyes turned cold and sharp.

Of course he knew. Leon had crossed a line tonight-and Vivian wouldn''t be

walking away untouched either.