Lord Protector Novel

Director Kingston continued on doggedly, “Unlike other cancers, this disease is contagious. Physical touch, bodily fluids and can transmit it even through air.”

As if he finally realized what he was saying, he shrunk away from Lacey rather belatedly, as if she was already contagious.

Lost in her rising despair, Lacey put her head in her hands. The same wild thought tumbled through her head repeatedly, screaming internally that Director Kingston was lying to her about cancer.

Lacey’s voice was edged with hysteria. “I’m going to another doctor immediately. I-If you misdiagnose me, my husband will never forgive you!”

Director Kingston heaved the heaviest sigh since he had met Lacey. “I think you should stop living in denial, Ms. Hinton.”

Lacey clutched the report tightly as she ran out of the building like a madwoman.

A cold smile spread across the doctor’s face as she fled. He exited the building as well, ducking into a black sedan parked nearby.

Inside the car, smoke curled in clouds around John as he smoked cigarette after cigarette. He exhaled slowly, making another long trail of smoke drift into the cramped interior of the car.

Feeling like he would suffocate soon, Director Kingston cleared his throat. His voice was excessively deferential as he said, “John, I’ve done the job like you asked. You promised a… ah, payment?”

It was more than obvious that Director Kingston had no qualms about selling his moral integrity for other benefits.

Shrouded in clouds of smoke, John smiled contentedly. He produced a locked briefcase and tossed it over to Director Kingston. “Count it.”

The naked satisfaction on the latter’s face was palpable.

He opened the briefcase, seeing the thick and orderly stacks of money inside. Glittering eyes watching carefully, he counted each one of them.

With the money in the briefcase, he was set for life. He thought briefly about all the life savings he had worked and slaved for. All of them combined still could not hold a candle to even a tenth of the briefcase’s contents.

As Director Kingston was still losing himself in his euphoria, a hammer hit him unceremoniously in the back of his head.

His eyes rolled, and he fainted immediately.

John tossed the hammer aside casually, wiping the blood on his hands. He regarded Director Kingston’s limp form. “Sorry, old chap, but Zeke Williams has an annoying habit of finding loose ends to follow. You’re going to be taking a long nap to make sure he doesn’t find us.”

On the other hand, Lacey soon arrived at the best hospital Atheville had to offer, her health report still clutched tightly in her hand.

Not even half an hour later, she exited the hospital again, despair and helplessness written on her face.

The hospital doctor gave her the same diagnosis as Director Kingston did. She was afflicted with a form of cancer so rare that nobody else in the world currently had it.

In a short time, Lacy would age at an accelerated rate, shriveling into a withered husk that hovered somewhere between human and inhuman.

The tears flowed down her cheeks. Soon, she was going to die of old age despite her youth.

She was crumbling under the impact of this news, in a way she had never fallen apart before.

Burying her hands in her hair, she fought the urge to yank them all out. Her grip tightened. What do I do? What can I do?

Her tight grip left her staring incoherently at a bunch of hair she had inadvertently pulled from her head.

Her knees gave way, and she fell helplessly onto the ground.



If my hair is already falling out, how much longer do I have before I turn into... that?

I can’t let Mum and Dad—I can’t let Zeke see me like that—no, I have to leave them with the nicest memory of me, not what I’ll become.

I can’t risk spreading this disease to them if I go home.

I’ve got to get out of here and then wait for death to come for me. Alone.

Zeke, I just want to thank you for being by my side all along.

The days spent with you were the happiest time I can remember in my entire life.

Thank you for giving me so many treasured memories I can remember fondly. That alone makes me content for the rest of my life.

This is goodbye, I guess.

If there is a next life, I’d still want to be your wife, if you’ll have me.

No. I’d still marry you even three lifetimes later.

Lacey sent a message to Zeke before hurling the phone into a river. Waving down a taxi, she got in and left with a face full of tears.

Just as Lacey left, John appeared again.

He was holding a very familiar briefcase as he stole into the hospital.

Half a city away, Zeke was also busy with the relocation of Linton Group’s headquarters to Atheville. The hour was late when he finished working.

He was about to find Lacey to celebrate their success when he received her text.

Zeke, thank you for being by my side all along and creating so many beautiful memories with me.

But I’m tired, and I think it’s time I have some time to myself. It’s not your fault. I’m leaving. Please don’t come after me.

I love you. If there’s a life after this one, I still want to be your wife. I truly hope that you’ll still have me, even then.