Mitchel reached out, gently wiping her tears away, and whispered, "Please don't cry. It pains my heart when you do."

Despite her efforts to stay composed, Raegan couldn't restrain herself. With tears streaming down her face, she sobbed. "Mitchel, just hold on a little longer. We're going to the hospital soon. Once you're better, we can be a family again, just..."

Her words were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a "ding." The elevator doors opened.

Raegan's face brightened with hope at the sight.

A short distance from the elevator, at the main entrance, special security forces fully armed were making their entry. Outside, sirens wailed and ambulances cried out.

These repetitive, once monotonous sounds now struck her as the most beautiful music, heralding their safety.

Raegan supported the weakened Mitchel and managed to say, "Look, Mitchel, it's the special forces. Just a few more steps and we'll be at the hospital. Once you're better, it'll be the three of us... No..."

She paused, wiping away a tear, and corrected herself. "The five of us can be happy together..."

Suddenly, a deep, cautionary shout came from outside. "Be careful!”

Raegan looked up to see a man dressed in black, aiming a gun at her.

As the warning echoed, the man swiftly pulled the trigger. The muzzle of the gun was pointed straight at Raegan's forehead.

Illuminated by the stark, bright light outside, every detail was visible. The deep murderous intent shone in the man's deep blue eyes.

In shock, Raegan stared at the man, unable to fathom why he would want to kill her.

The bullet was just millimeters from her face.

Suddenly, a wave of confusion, fear, and panic swept over Raegan.

Sensing danger, Mitchel's eyes snapped open. With unexpected strength, he twisted his body and shoved Raegan aside.

"Bang!" Raegan watched in horror as the bullet struck Mitchel in the chest, causing bright red blood to burst forth like a grotesquely blooming dahlia.

The world seemed to halt.

After a moment of deafening silence, Raegan screamed, "Mitchel!"

Mitchel fell slowly before Raegan, his movements eerily similar to slow motion in a movie, deeply etching the scene in her memory.