Chapter 1657

Waking from a nightmare, he stared numbly at the ceiling. This was his routine. Day bled into night, a monotonous cycle of torment. He could no longer distinguish sleep from wakefulness; perhaps he was living his nightmare. After all, even in dreams, the hope of waking remained. But even with his eyes open, the endless torture persisted. Mike's words echoed in his mind, yet he remained uncertain of their truth.

Two days passed with no sign of her departure. Was he being manipulated again? What possible gain could Mike derive from this? Another game of cat and mouse? Lost in thought, he heard the door open—this time, the sharp click of high heels announced her arrival. His face remained impassive, but his eyes moved. This woman's voice was the most chilling.

"Dr. Fike."

Her voice was clear and melodious, yet to Austin, it sounded infernal. He remained silent.

"What? Has the medication deafened you, or are your nerves so paralyzed you can't comprehend human speech?" Rhea taunted, her gaze cold and fixed on the still figure. Austin offered no response.

"Tie him up and take him away!"

Rhea dismissed her attendants and turned away. His ears twitched—the only sign of his reaction to that command. His heart pounded. *Take me away? Is Mike telling the truth? Are they transferring me? Does this mean a chance? *

He stifled his racing heart, masking his emotions. He would rather die than endure this place. Yet, he'd survived this long; he had to escape. He refused to die here, to let them ruin his life. His parents awaited him; he would escape, punish them, and exact his revenge.

He felt himself lifted like a rag doll, remaining motionless as they bound him, dragging him through the room. His gaze was vacant. Rhea watched them, then slowly approached him.

"Dr. Fike?" Again, he ignored her.

A slow smile spread across her lips, dissolving into laughter. "Actually, you should thank me! I'm giving you a chance to become a true miracle doctor!"

She noticed his fluttering eyelids—evidence he was listening despite his silence. This intrigued her. Even those drugged retained emotion. Humans were complex; their spirits and will were unpredictable. Despite countless experiments, each result varied, the drug’s final effect unique to each individual.