Chapter 90: Coincidence? I Think Not!

Now that all of them—including Balian, somehow—were inside the room, things suddenly became awkward between them.

Ilya sat on the chair beside the bed, while Archer stood between the bed and the couch across from it. Meanwhile, Balian had made himself comfortable on the couch as if he were a guest who had come for a friendly visit rather than someone who had nearly gotten into a fight with the two men earlier.

"You should have contacted us as soon as you got hurt," Ilya said, looking at Summer with a worried expression.

Summer let out a sigh. "My hands were numb. How was I supposed to contact you?"

Ilya pressed his lips together as he realized she had a point. However, that didn’t stop him from finding someone else to blame.

"Saddie should have told me what happened," he muttered.

"The dangerous part is already over, so why are you two still so hung up on this?" Balian suddenly interrupted.

Balian tried to push Archer aside with his leg, but Archer didn’t move even an inch, as if someone had nailed his feet to the floor.

"This isn’t a simple matter," Archer said as he turned his head slightly to glare at Balian. "You don’t have a mate, so of course you wouldn’t understand."

Balian narrowed his eyes at him. "Would you die if you fell from a great height?"

Archer finally turned to face Balian fully. "Try me."

Before either of them could make a move, Summer spoke up again. "If you two want to fight, do it later, not now. I’m starting to get another headache."

Archer and Balian continued to glare at each other, but after hearing Summer’s words, they reluctantly decided to put their fight on hold.

"Then let the doctor check on you again," Ilya said. He was about to press the nurse call button when Summer reached out and stopped his hand.

"I’m fine. I just need some rest and a little peace and quiet, please," she pleaded.

To be honest, Summer couldn’t understand why the two men were being so hostile toward Balian. Was it because he was rich and had a lot of influence? Or was there some personal issue between them that she didn’t know about?

"And Balian saved me and the others earlier," she added. "That’s why, there’s no reason for you two to treat him so harshly."

Ilya tilted his head and asked, "How did he save you?"

Summer let out another tired sigh before explaining everything that had happened in the polluted zone. Archer and Ilya already knew that someone had shot her with poison, but they had no idea that the person was connected to her ex-fiancé and her family.

Archer gritted his teeth as soon as he heard that part. "Where is he now?"

"Probably in custody," Balian answered. "We’ve already informed the authorities, so there should be a trial soon. But don’t worry. I know some talented lawyers who can make sure that man receives the maximum punishment."

"What do you think, Summer?" Balian asked with a smile. "Would you let me help you?"

Summer frowned. At first, Balian helping her didn’t seem strange. After all, he had saved her and the others, so it was only natural for him to offer his help.

However, going out of his way to find talented lawyers and even offering to help her during the trial made her suspicious.

In the end, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Everything came with a price.

"I still don’t believe that your visit to Zone 33 was just a coincidence," Summer said bluntly.

The room fell silent as soon as she openly voiced her suspicions about Balian.

"Why would you say that, Summer?" Balian shifted in his seat so he could look directly at her. "Hasn’t my explanation been the same from the beginning? I will always be honest with you."

Summer chuckled softly. "Words alone aren’t enough to prove that you’re being honest."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "Yes, I believe you really came to Zone 33 to collect some samples, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t have another reason for being there."

"You said you were collecting samples when you received Saddie’s distress call, but Balian, I didn’t see any sample boxes on the helicopter." Summer gave him a quick look from head to toe. "And knowing how much of a clean freak you are, I highly doubt you’d carry those samples around yourself."

Balian remained calm as he replied, "I simply hadn’t had the chance to collect them when I received Saddie’s distress call."

"That makes sense." Summer nodded, but she wasn’t done questioning him just yet. "But there’s something else that doesn’t sit right with me."

Balian rested one arm on the couch and looked at her with a calm smile. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Summer ignored his innocent act and got straight to the point. "You came to me too quickly."

Balian looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Isn’t that a good thing?"

"It is, but your timing was just a little too perfect to be called a coincidence. Besides, you’re acting far too comfortable around me for someone I just met."

"I’m simply a friendly person, Summer," Balian replied with a chuckle.

"And my top spender suddenly stopped sending me gifts the moment you showed up." Summer let out a sigh. "He usually sends me huge gifts whenever I do something impressive, especially when I manage to survive a life-threatening situation."

But this time, there was nothing.

Her other viewers had sent plenty of gifts, but the person who usually led the way had suddenly gone quiet.

"Does that have something to do with me?" Balian asked, still wearing that harmless smile.

"Well..." Summer stared at him for a moment before continuing, "That depends. Maybe he got busy, maybe he got bored, or maybe his signal was jammed. Who knows?"

She tilted her head and gave him a sweet smile. "Why don’t you tell me yourself, my dear Baron B?"