For the first time in what felt like forever, Nadia slept without flinching at every creak, without dreaming of shadows or unanswered questions. The stillness of the countryside wrapped around her like a balm. No hospital beeps, no constant buzz of city life—just the hush of the wind and the distant bleat of goats. Her body sank into the old mattress, the same one she'd used during the days she had visited with Jayson, its familiar dips and curves now a comfort rather than an annoyance.
When her eyes fluttered open, she saw sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains, dancing softly across the room. Dust motes floated lazily in the golden beams, and for a brief, disorienting moment, she could have been sixteen again—before everything changed, before her mother's illness, before Jayson's investigation. And there, sitting quietly by the bedside, was Mirian.
"You're awake," Mirian smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "How do you feel?"
Nadia sat up slowly, wincing slightly at the stiffness in her shoulders. She took inventory of herself—the sleepless nights fatigue, the bone-deep exhaustion that no amount of sleep seemed to cure. Yet something was different today.
"Peaceful," she whispered, surprised at her own answer. The weight on her chest had lifted, if only slightly. "I haven't slept like that in weeks."
Mirian nodded, pouring water from a ceramic pitcher into a glass on the nightstand. "Dad's farmhouse has that effect. It's why Jay always came here when things got too much in the city."
"How is he?" Nadia asked, accepting the water gratefully. Her throat was parched, her lips cracked.
Mirian's eyes softened with worry. "A doctor from the village clinic came earlier this morning. Dad called him in as soon as the sun rose. He's an old friend—someone we can trust." She twisted the silver bracelet on her wrist, a nervous habit Nadia remembered from the past days. "He said Jayson's stable... no internal bleeding, but it'll be a long healing process. Two broken ribs, severe concussion, that gash on his temple needed fifteen stitches."
Nadia exhaled deeply, a mix of relief and aching sadness. "Can I see him?"
"Later," Mirian said. "He's heavily sedated. The doctor left some painkillers and antibiotics." She hesitated. "Nadi, what really happened out there?".
Nadia leaned back against the headboard, unsure how much to share. Before she could decide, her hand instinctively reached for her phone. It was still switched off—she'd powered it down before they fled the city, terrified of being tracked.
"I should check if anyone's been trying to reach me," she murmured, more to herself than to Mirian.
"Is that safe?" Mirian asked, concern etched on her face.
Nadia shrugged. "Probably not. But I can't stay disconnected forever." She pressed the power button, watching as the screen flickered to life. After a moment, it buzzed repeatedly with incoming notifications—some from Zora:
"Nadi, I'm sorry a lot has happened and I couldn't see you to share with you. How's Jay? I won't ask where you are. But just know, I have left Herald. Checking out of the city for the time being. Will get back to you"
Nadia's hand slightly trembled as she dialed Zora's number, but wasn't connecting. Maybe she was out of coverage area. Nadia quickly typed:
"Where are you? What happened? Please call me." 
At the moment Nadia felt more helpless. What could have happened to make Zora quit? But just then, one message caught her attention—from an unknown number.
"Good morning, Nadia. We were impressed with your submission. Please come in for an interview today at 2PM. – Nexus TV"
She stared at the message, a cold shiver running down her spine despite the warm morning. Weeks had passed since she went for interview and they promised to reach out. But then that was the opportunity she needed. Stepping into that building and getting the story across. She has to do it. Alone.
"They want to see me," she said, her voice calm.
Mr. Stephen came into the room just as she spoke the words aloud, carrying a tray with steaming mugs of coffee and a plate of toast. His weathered face darkened as he registered her words.
"Who?", Mirian asked.
"David's TV Station. That was where we went to the day the accident happened" Nadia replied.
"No. Absolutely not," he said firmly, setting the tray down with more force than necessary. Coffee sloshed over the rim of one mug. "You're not going back there."
"Dad," Mirian started, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture.
"I've promised Jayson I'd keep her safe," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "Look what happened to him—they almost killed him. And they'll do the same to her if she walks into their trap."
Mirian sighed, standing to place a hand on her father's arm. "Dad, let's at least hear what she's thinking."
Mr. Stephen's shoulders sagged slightly. He pulled up a chair and sat heavily, looking every one of his sixty-five years. "Fine. I'm listening."
Nadia took a deep breath. "The documents we found—they prove everything. Donovan was importing ammunition in the name of renovating Portovenan children's home. Detective Cedric and Naomi Brown found out and they had to silence them. Now, I and Jayson had found out and they tried to silence him. Do you think they won't come after me? They will. It's just a matter time. But before that happens, I've got to try. I've got everything. All the evidence. All of it." She clutched the phone tightly. "Herald news will never air this, because it belongs to Donovan. I just hope Nexus TV will."
"And knowing all these you still want to go out there?" Mr. Stephen asked, his voice gentler now. "How legit is the interview? Do you really believe Nexus sent it?"
Mirian agreed, placing her hand on Nadia's. "You just got here, Nadia. It's not safe out there for you—not after everything. You know it."
But Nadia shook her head, calm but resolute."There's only one way to succeed, to make an attempt."The fear that had paralyzed her for weeks had crystallized into something harder, sharper. "If I stay here, they win. If I don't finish what Jayson started... all of this would've been for nothing." Her voice cracked slightly. "Jayson fighting for the truth until they nearly killed him... they deserve better than silence."
She looked up, meeting Mr. Stephen's concerned gaze. "We already had a plan in motion before this happened. And I still want to continue with that plan."
Mr. Stephen's eyebrows shot up. "If you insist," he muttered, a hint of pride breaking through his worry.
"I'm not naive," Nadia continued. "I know this is dangerous. But I also know that hiding here forever isn't an option. This story needs to break, and I need to be the one to break it—for Jayson, for the victims families."
Mr. Stephen paced the small bedroom, grumbling under his breath. His boots scuffed against the wooden floorboards as he turned, hands clasped behind his back. Finally, he stopped and studied Nadia intently. She met his gaze unflinchingly. He saw the fire in her eyes. She wasn't the same girl who'd come here years ago with Jayson, shy and uncertain. She was something else now.
"You're as stubborn as your mentor," he said finally, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Jay will be furious when he wakes up."
"Then we better make sure this works," Nadia replied.
"If you're going," Mirian said after a long pause, "then we need to change your look." She stood up and crossed the room to the antique dresser in the corner. "I still have that oxblood dye in my box from when I was experimenting last month. I'll tint your hair." She turned back to Nadia, assessing her with a critical eye. "Light makeup. Scarf. Glasses. Different clothes—nothing they'd expect you to wear."
Nadia grinned "Guess I can really use your skills now", she looked at Mirian.
"I had actually, waited for a day I could use my skills for such. And you'll take my car," Mirian added, already placing her car keys on the desk.
Nadia watched them, these people who'd become a second family to her over the years, now conspiring to help her walk into danger. Her throat tightened.
"You should eat something first," Mr. Stephen said, pushing the plate of toast toward her. "Can't face down corporate villains on an empty stomach."
Nadia gave a small smile, reaching for a piece. "Thank you," she said, the words inadequate for what she was feeling. "Both of you."
"Don't thank us yet," Mirian said, already pulling out bottles and brushes from her cosmetics case. "You might hate this hair color."
Mr. Stephen shook his head, but his eyes were soft with affection. "Just promise me one thing," he said, his voice suddenly serious again. "You go in, you make your point, and you get out. No heroics."
"I promise," Nadia replied, though they both knew some promises were harder to keep than others.
She took a bite of toast, tasting nothing. In a few hours, she would be walking into the headquarters of one of the most powerful media companies in the country, bargaining on how to confront the people who had tried to silence Jayson permanently. Her hands trembled slightly, but she steadied them.
Because she knew what she was about to walk into—and she was ready. Nadia picked her phone texted Orion:
Thanks for everything. Jayson's getting stable. He would wake up soon.
Shortly her phone buzzed with a message:
I got this from a nearby CCTV footage around the accident scene. Judging by the outfit and physique, they are the same person. Check if you'd recognize the face. 
Media received.
Nadia clicked on the file, and there he was --Tyrone. She zoomed it in. His face was clearly caught on the camera. Nadia clenched her fist. Of course no investigation would be done with that. And pearville station would try to cover him. 
Nadia sent a reply:
I know him. And I'm sure this clip would be discarded by the bureau but I'm going to make him pay.
Within a split of seconds, Orion replied 
What are you intending to do?
Nadia couldn't tell him. She only felt the surge of adrenaline rush through her. "Orion will discover by himself firsthand what she's capable of",she muttered to herself.
"Let's get started," Nadia said, setting aside her plate and standing up. "We've got work to do."
As Mirian led her to the bathroom where the transformation would begin, Nadia caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror—pale, determined, scared but resolute. By the time she walked into Nexus TV, she would be someone else entirely. Someone they wouldn't see coming until it was too late.