Jaciee gently sat beside her, brushing snowflake's tangled hair back, voice barely above a whisper,
"Snow… you didn't sleep at all, did you?"
Snowflake didn't respond. Her lips quivered. Eyes puffy, cheeks tear-streaked, she just clutched her plushie tighter.
Jaciee's jaw tightened. She pulled the blanket off gently and helped her sit up.
"I saw the message," she finally admitted. "You should've told Adam, or at least me sooner."
Snowflake sniffled, shaking her head slowly.
"I didn't want to ruin everything. The dinner… your laughter… he smiled for the first time…" her voice broke, "I didn't want to be the reason it fades."
Jaciee exhaled sharply, then took her phone from the bedside table.
"You're not ruining anything. You're the only reason this place feels human again." She stood up, determined.
"I'm telling Lee."
Snowflake reached out, scared.
"Please… not Adam. Not yet. He'll burn the whole world down."
Jaciee paused at the door, torn.
Lee was calm, strategic, and fiercely protective—especially of Snowflake.
And if she went to him… Adam would know within minutes.
She turned back and said softly,
"Then promise me, you won't hide anything again. You're not alone here, Snow."
Snowflake nodded slowly.
As Jaciee left the room, Snowflake stared at her phone, the threat still glowing on the screen.
Her fingers hovered.
And then she deleted the message…
But the fear stayed.
Even the sunlight outside couldn't chase away the storm brewing in her chest.
Somewhere deep down, she knew—
The nightmare wasn't over yet.
The note lay on her side table, neatly folded with her name written in Adam's crisp, confident handwriting.
"See you in the evening, Snowflake…"
Just those words—but they felt warm, like sunlight peeking through a stormy sky.
But she didn't smile this time.
Not like usual.
Her fingers trembled as she traced the letters, whispering,
"Evening's too far, Adam…"
She walked to the window, watched the big black car disappear down the long driveway.
Dave glanced back once… maybe he sensed something.
But Adam was busy on the call, laughing slightly as he said something about a wine tasting in Marseille.
He had no idea.
No idea that the girl who made his fortress feel like home…
Was crumbling.
Snowflake stood there quietly for a while.
Until her vision blurred again—not from sleep this time, but from the weight she was carrying.
And far across the city…
Someone else was watching the same car leave.
Watching. Waiting.
The game had begun.
And Adam wasn't there to play it.
The silence after the gunshot was louder than the blast itself.
Her plushies had fallen, candies scattered, the glass of apple juice shattered into a thousand trembling pieces—just like her breath.
Lee's scream pierced the stillness—
"SNOWFLAKE!!"
He dropped to his knees beside her trembling body, hand pressing against her chest, trying to stop the bleeding.
But her white t-shirt was soaked.
The red dot had bloomed into a crimson flower—merciless, unforgiving.
Jaciee was shaking, tears rolling as she whispered,
"No, no no no—hold on, please… please hold on…"
Kristy burst into the room with medics following close behind.
But time was slipping away—one heartbeat at a time.
Her hand… still clutched around Adam's note.
Blood-stained, trembling fingers holding on like it was the only thing keeping her soul tied to this world.
She tried to speak—her lips parted.
Lee leaned closer.
A broken whisper escaped,
"…tell him… I waited…"
And then her eyes fluttered.
Not closed—but dimming.
The sparkle fading like dusk swallowing daylight.
The medics screamed orders.
The mansion was in chaos.
But in the middle of it all, she laid there quietly…
Waiting.
And far away in Marseille, Adam's phone lit up.
Unknown Number:
"Checkmate."
And the world around him cracked in two.
INT. PRIVATE HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
A slow beeping fills the sterile air.
Snowflake lies on the hospital bed — pale, unmoving, a stark contrast to her usual radiant self. Her chest rises and falls slowly, her wrist bandaged, IVs and machines tracking every breath, every heartbeat. Her lips are stained with dried blood. Her fingers still slightly curled around the crumpled letter from Adam.
INT. BLACK SUV – DAY
Adam grips the leather seat with white knuckles, staring blankly out the window. Dave drives in silence, his jaw clenched.
Adam's eyes are bloodshot. His phone still clenched in his hand — Lee's text glowing on the screen:
Location shared.
I'm sorry.
ADAM (low growl)
"She was laughing yesterday… eating candy like a child… and now…"
Dave's eyes flick to the rearview mirror.
DAVE (quietly)
"We're almost there, Boss."
EXT. HOSPITAL – MOMENTS LATER
Adam storms in like a hurricane. Guards clear his way. The receptionist stammers something, but Dave flashes credentials. They are let in without question.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Lee stands outside Room 103, blood on his shirt, knuckles bruised from smashing the sniper's hideout hours ago. He sees Adam.
LEE (hoarse)
"I'm sorry… I—"
Adam walks past him without a word, shoving open the door.
INT. ROOM 103 – CONTINUOUS
Adam enters.
Everything else disappears.
His heart drops.
Snowflake, unconscious, fragile, tubes and machines surrounding her. The scent of antiseptic stings his nose, but nothing burns more than the sight of her—so broken.
He drops to his knees beside her bed.
Takes her bruised hand, gently brushing his thumb over her knuckles.
ADAM (barely a whisper)
"I left you for a few hours… and the world couldn't handle that. I'm sorry, Snowflake…"
A single tear escapes his eye, falling onto her fingers.
FLASHBACK – YESTERDAY EVENING
Snowflake's laughter echoes in his ears.
Her teasing voice. Her soft fingers wrapped around his pinky.
Her voice: "Be careful, Snowflake… I'm there for you."
BACK TO PRESENT
He presses his forehead to the back of her hand.
ADAM (shattered)
"I should've been there..."
Suddenly, a faint movement—her fingers twitch.
His breath catches.
Her eyelashes flutter.
Her lips barely move...
SNOWFLAKE (whisper)
"A-Adam…?"
He jerks up. Hope exploding in his eyes.
ADAM (voice trembling)
"I'm here… I'm right here."
Her eyes blink open slowly, unfocused, but she smiles faintly when she sees him.
SNOWFLAKE
"You came back..."
Adam leans down, gently kissing her forehead.
ADAM (softly)
"Always, Snowflake. Always."
The machines beep steadily now, stronger, as if her body recognizes the one thing it needs most—him.
INT. ADAM'S MANSION – WAR ROOM – NIGHT
A long, dark mahogany table sits under a hanging chandelier. The atmosphere is tense — deadly. The top mafia heads from every region sit in place, silent. No one dares speak.
At the head of the table, Adam stands — black shirt, sleeves rolled up, veins visible from the pressure of his clenched fists. His eyes are bloodshot, jaw locked, and soul burning with rage.
Behind him, a large screen displays Snowflake's vitals, live from the hospital — heart rate low, warning signs blinking red.
ADAM (voice low, menacing)
"For three days… she hasn't moved. Every night, I sit there praying she breathes."
Silence.
ADAM (voice rises)
"And while she bleeds, the one who did this is still out there — breathing."
A loud thud — he slams his hand on the table. Some flinch. Most lower their eyes.
ADAM (sharp)
"I don't want excuses. I want the Bad Boy — breathing, broken, or buried. I don't care."
He turns slowly, locking eyes with every leader in the room.
ADAM (icy calm)
"From tonight, no territory is safe for him. Every street, dock, and sky — mine. Anyone who shelters him..."
(a pause)
"Will share his grave."
The lights flicker from his rage. His phone buzzes — Dave texts:
"Still no improvement."
Adam clenches the phone, eyes closed for a beat.
Then—
ADAM (quiet, deadly)
"You all owe me for keeping peace. Now pay your debt. Bring me his head."
He walks out.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT
Snowflake lies still. Machines beep in rhythm, but weakly. The plushie Adam gave her rests by her side. Her fingers twitch.
Just slightly.
But maybe… just maybe… it's a start.