Chapter 40 Living Netherbloom
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Finished
The Netherbloom cultivation trials were still going nowhere. They’d tried everything–either the seeds wouldn’t sprout, or the seedlings would wither shortly after emerging.
Without breaking through the cultivation problem, the second batch of GoldCure would be the
last.
“Mr. Zion, what do we do now?”
What could they do? This was all thanks to those stuffed–shirt superiors who’d decided to go after Team GF9 for no reason.
Had Team GF9 ever gotten in their way? Why stir up trouble and offend Serena? Look at them now–Netherbloom couldn’t be grown, critical tech had been destroyed or encrypted, and the institute’s losses were immeasurable.
Zion forced down his temper. “We wait.”
Either they’d figure out the cultivation method themselves, or they’d wait for Serena to come back.
No one spoke. The atmosphere was grim.
That was when Sean stormed in with two large crates.
“Open them!”
Zion raised a brow. “What is it?”
“Something rare!”
When the lids came off, they saw a familiar color, familiar branches.
“Netherbloom–live Netherbloom!”
Zion’s brow relaxed. “Where did you get these?”
Sean smiled. “She sent them, of course.”
Some of the heaviness in Zion’s chest eased. Serena hadn’t distanced herself from them because of the superiors‘ purge.
The researchers were overjoyed, rushing to carefully lift the plants out. One of them counted and said in surprise, “Twenty–three plants withered today. And here are twenty–three replacements, like she knew exactly how many we’d lose.”
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15:20 Wed, Oct 15
Chapter 40 Living Netherbloom
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Sean and Zion both froze. Of course she knew.
She’d probably predicted the fate of every rare herb they had–including every last Netherbloom.
The fact that she’d sent live plants surprised Sean. These were her life–saving stock, things she would have destroyed before handing over in the past. Yet now, she’d given them away.
“Sweetpea must’ve found something she wants to protect,” Zion murmured.
Sean paused for a moment. “Yeah.”
“I hear her new family’s good to her.”
“Sounds like it.”
“I’d like to see them.”
“You’ll get the chance.”
Half an hour later, Serena received Sean’s reply–he’d send the medicine in three days. That was fast enough to satisfy her.
With the matter settled, she bought herself a cup of milk tea.
On the way back, she nearly collided head–on with a man in the corridor.
Both were walking quickly, and when they stopped, they were standing very close.
The man was tall and well–built, with a rare, perfect proportion. When she looked straight ahead, her eyes only reached his chest.
Serena looked up, and their eyes met.
The air seemed to freeze.
After a moment… “Slurp-” She sipped her milk tea.
A pearl slid into her mouth–sweet. Dimples touched her cheeks, her eyes calm, as if the man before her were just a wall.
She stepped around him without hesitation.
Sebastian was left staring.
Noah said, “Mr. Hayes, she’s pretending not to know you.”
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15:21 Wed, Oct 15
Chapter 40 Living Netherbloom
Finished
Sebastian’s gaze lingered, following her path toward the inpatient wing. Someone from the Morrow family was hospitalized?
“Look into it,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
Serena stopped at a window, glancing back. The man had come from only one building—the fully sealed inpatient ward.
A nurse who liked the polite, pretty girl came over. “What are you looking at, sweetheart?”
Serena pointed. “Miss, who’s staying over there?”
“Oh, you can’t go near there. The patients are… strange. They’re not in a coma, but it’s like they are–awake, but never able to open their eyes.”
A coma meant no awareness; people could lie that way for years. But these patients had awareness–they just couldn’t see, speak, or move, trapped forever in darkness. That was far
worse.
The nurse didn’t spell it out for a young girl, but even thinking about it gave her chills. Whoever hurt those people–might as well have killed them outright.
Serena’s heart stirred. “Are there many?”
“Ten or so, I think. All from the same department, hurt on a mission. Even the doctors don’t know how.”
Serena nodded. “Thanks, Miss.”
From the window, she couldn’t see a single figure over there. So she walked over herself.
Four guards stood at the entrance. Their builds and bearing were nothing like the hospital’s other security–these men carried the air of soldiers.
Send Gifts
3/3
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.

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