Out of Reach | Mikhaiah

Chapter 41

Disclaimer: This is pure fiction. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are purely coincidental. Read, enjoy, and don't take it too seriously!

— ✦ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 ✦ —

Arisha's POV:

"Bub..."

My wife's soft voice called out to me—Mikhazra.

"Bub, let's go home first," she said gently.

We were in the hospital. Malisse’s condition was critical; the bullet had hit close to her heart. I looked up at Azra, her shirt still stained with blood. We were outside the operating room, waiting—praying. Stazia was sobbing uncontrollably while Jhoelle tried to comfort her. Shezelle was inside, doing everything she could to save our best friend's life.

Cyrain sat on the floor, head bowed, lost in thought. Gwenora stood nearby, staring blankly at the wall. The weight of everything was crushing us.

I owed Malisse. She saved Mikhazra’s life. My best friend since childhood… I had failed her so many times, but she always understood me. She didn’t deserve this. She loved her father so much—a daddy’s girl through and through. I once thought Lauren was a good man. He ran his business well and treated Malisse like she was his world. But in the end, he was the reason for all this destruction.

And when Malisse wakes up—if she wakes up—and learns that her father took his own life, she will be shattered beyond repair.

Everything made sense now. The man we thought was a saint was actually a demon. I just never expected it to be him.

The Kamizaki family was always on top, envied by many. My family, the Yñares, was part of the elite, just like the Dravenharts, whose influence in business was undeniable. Then there were the Velasquez, Zephiron, Caldris, Sylvaraine, and the Valtherone—the latter being Lauren’s family. I had heard before that their business was failing, so I helped them, just as I had helped the Sylvaraines. And now, I found out that Lauren was the leader of the syndicate hunting me down. They wanted my blood for their underground fighters.

I had studied these kinds of operations before, but I never thought I would be one of their targets.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed when the doors swung open and Shezelle stepped out. She was drenched in sweat, her face pale.

We all stood up instantly—especially Cyrain, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying. Mikhazra stood behind me, supporting my weight.

"Shez, what’s the update? Is she okay?" Stazia asked quickly, her voice trembling.

Shezelle wiped her tears and took a shaky breath. "Ate... Dad asked me to step out. I couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Malisse’s condition is critical. The bullet is lodged near her heart, and we’re struggling to remove it."

That was it. Whatever strength I had left disappeared. I felt my knees give out, and if Mikhazra wasn’t behind me, I would’ve collapsed completely. Stazia sank to the floor, wailing, while Cyrain punched the wall in frustration.

"Fck this. Fck him. F*ck you!" Cyrain screamed, pointing a shaking finger at Mikhazra and Gwenora.

"Cy—" Jhoelle called her name softly, trying to calm her down.

"All this time… You knew!" Cyrain shouted at them, her voice raw with betrayal. "You knew this was happening, and you never told us! You left us blind! And now—now it’s all falling apart!"

"You don’t understand—" Gwenora started, but Cyrain cut her off.

"Of course, I don’t! Because you chose to keep us in the dark!" she shot back. Then she turned to Mikhazra, her eyes burning with fury. "Azra, I thought we were best friends! But look at where we are now! Malisse is fighting for her life! Your wife almost got killed! And who knows what other secrets you’re hiding?! You two are useless!"