One of the soldiers shoved her forward without sympathy. “There’s no mistake. He personally decided where you’d serve your sentence.”

Brock stepped forward, his tone icy as he delivered the message. “General asked me to tell you to enjoy your life at the Obsidian Sea Prison, Miss Kirk.”

The vehicle door slammed shut, drowning out Stacey’s desperate, ear-splitting cries. “No!”

In that moment, perhaps she truly regretted scheming against Rylie, the very act that had led her to this fate. But life offered no way to turn back time, no path to undo the choices that had sealed her downfall.

Once the chaos at the hospital was finally settled, the veterans were gradually placed into positions at HaloFlow Hospital through standard hiring procedures. Their sudden reappearance in the public eye quickly drew widespread attention, stirring heated discussions about the nation’s treatment of its veterans.

Public sentiment was clear — the government’s support for these national heroes had long been inadequate, leaving many to suffer hardships in their later years. Amid this debate, HaloFlow Hospital emerged as a shining example, particularly after word spread that it was the rebirth of the once-renowned HaloFlow Pharmacy. The revelation sparked a wave of interest, with countless people voicing their intention to seek treatment there.

Rylie had no intention of appearing at the hospital’s opening ceremony. She preferred to remain in the background, sending only a few pharmacists from HaloFlow Pharmacy, along with Selah, to handle the event.

She was at home with Melany, going over possible test questions, when a message from Marsha lit up her screen.

Ronan was known for his deep suspicion, and Rylie had yet to gain access to his core operations. If she wanted to gather evidence, she needed a way to win his trust first.

After a brief moment of thought, Rylie placed a call to Marsha using an encrypted line. Once she confirmed it was safe to speak, she instructed, “The hospital’s opening ceremony is in an hour. Go there as HaloFlow Hospital’s director.”

Marsha hesitated, clearly startled. “What are you planning to do?”

“The hospital will ‘open’ ahead of schedule,” Rylie replied evenly. “Just follow my lead. This way, you’ll have a perfect cover for all the lies you’ve told them, won’t you?”

Despite the situation escalating so far, Marsha had yet to respond personally — instead, it was the Owens family and the military who intervened. Therefore, whispers questioning Marsha’s legitimacy as HaloFlow Hospital’s director had been growing louder.

Marsha finally nodded, her tone subdued. “Alright. I’ll do as you say.”

Once the call ended, Rylie wasted no time. She immediately reached out to Freddy from Aetheris Pharmacy, giving him a set of precise instructions, then dialed Selah to brief her on Marsha’s situation and what needed to be done.

The moment Selah learned that Ronan was tied to organ trafficking, her response was firm and unwavering. “Don’t worry, Rylie. I’ve dealt with rougher streets back in Crolens. I know how to handle this, and I’ll follow your lead.”

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