Far away from Silver, in the hidden mansion where the twins had once made their switch in the past, the nearly full moon hung high above the small, disguised cottage that concealed the vast underground mansion beneath it.
From deep below the seemingly ordinary house came the sound of violent coughing, loud enough to be heard even from the front doorstep of the mansion. The cough was so dry, ragged, and heart-wrenching that hearing it alone was enough to make anyone cringe.
The cough came from a man kneeling on the floor of his bathroom, clutching his chest as he spat blood onto the white tiles beneath him. When the fit began to subside, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his handkerchief already soaked red in his trembling hand.
Alex cursed under his breath and sank onto the floor, leaning his back against the toilet as he struggled to catch his breath. He remained there for a long moment until the trembling in his body finally subsided.
