"Ashton, whatever reason you've come here today, I hope you understand that you are no longer related to the Latham family. Don't think of involving my father to gain something from us. It's not going to happen," Gilbert said.Ashton looked at Gilbert, disbelief flooding his eyes. If it were Florence saying that, he would understand, but Gilbert? The man was speaking nonsense."Years with the Latham family, and I have not stolen even a single penny. Why does everyone think I'm plotting something?"Then Florence chimed in, her voice dripping with venom. "Oh, Gilbert, you're giving me ideas. This guy has been leeching off Dad's affections. Maybe he's hoping to speed up his demise to seal the old man's lips forever. Keep him from spilling any inconvenient truths."The words stabbed at Ashton like knives. If not for Zane lying on the operating table, he would have slammed the door and left. To hell with them."Regardless of your conspiracy theories," Ashton mumbled, "Zane is innocent.
Alora rushed to the bedside.Once a picture of cold, corporate elegance, she looked like a devastated little girl at that moment, her eyes blurry with tears. The room was heavy with her emotion as she sobbed.Florence immediately said, "Ah, a miracle doctor indeed. Cure at the touch of a hand. The money well spent, no surgeries, no meds."Morgan stood beside the bed, smug and impatient. "Time to pay up. My time is valuable, and another patient is waiting."Without a word, Alora called Miss Lowery, instructing her to wire the money immediately. She turned to Morgan and said, "Doctor Cook, can you stay a bit longer? Just until we're sure my grandfather is stable? His condition is not a minor one, and we can't know for sure if—"Fear from Ashton's previous remarks lingered in her voice, amplified by Morgan's insistence on his three million-buck fee.Morgan's face twitched. "What are you implying? You could have refused my service earlier if you did not trust my skills. Many more pre
Alora hesitated to speak for Ashton as her grandfather's breathing stabilized and his condition improved. 'Why should I?' she wondered. 'He broke the rules and disrupted the hospital. No one asked for his help. He's just asking for trouble.'Alora breathed deeply, her spirits lifted. Ashton, watched by two nurses, was not going anywhere.A few minutes later, Zane Latham woke up. Gazing around bewilderedly, he had no idea what had happened. Shortly after that, the police arrived, led by Weston Clark. A team of officers stormed into the operating room."What's got your feathers so ruffled, Mister Gibson?" Weston Clark asked, cigarette hanging from his mouth, his uniform askew."Mister Clark, I'm glad you're here. This man disrupted our work, slandered Doctor Cook, and interfered with a surgery! He even touched our patient without our permission! I want to file charges," Covance said."Is that so?" Weston eyed Ashton critically. Satisfied that he was not some privileged heir or wealt
"Good evening, everyone," Weston said as he entered the room, bowing and nodding toward the Lockwoods."Who are you?" Xavier Lockwood eyed Weston's police uniform with suspicion.The Lockwood family generally avoided mingling with officials. Trouble always seemed to follow them."I'm Police Superintendent Weston, Class III, from the Edren City District headquarters. I had the honor to meet you at the South Edren Top-Ten Companies event. I am on duty currently. I wanted to pay my respects when I learned that you are here. I hope I'm not intruding?"Weston craned his neck to peek inside and gasped when he saw Kendra lying on the hospital bed."Is that Miss Lockwood?"Spotting the injuries on Kendra's neck, rage swept across Weston's face. "Who did this? What kind of monster dares to lay a finger on Miss Lockwood? Mister Lockwood, please let me spearhead the investigation. I promise to mobilize our largest armed forces to capture the perpetrator and hand them over to you."Weston w
'What the hell just happened?' Morgan thought frantically. He had only pulled out an insignificant IV drip. Why were the machines going haywire?"Mister Gibson, maybe your machines are outdated? Perhaps that's why they're malfunctioning?" Morgan chuckled nervously.Covance wanted to slap him. What an idiotic thing to say. "These machines are top-of-the-line, especially since we're in the ICU. The issue lies with that IV drip you just removed. Didn't you say everything would be fine?"The tension skyrocketed. Relationships and mutual interests did not matter then. If anything happened to Miss Lockwood, everyone involved would have to pay.Smack!Zion slapped Morgan across the face.Zion's slap was not something easily endured. His military background and mastery of various combat skills made that attack extraordinarily powerful. Morgan toppled to the ground, losing several teeth in the process."If something happens to my daughter, your family will pay!" Zion seethed.Morgan scr
Morgan kept his cool, eyes downturned. "We have no grudge against each other, do we? We're colleagues, after all. Shouldn't we let bygones be bygones?"Smack!The moment Ashton heard Morgan speak, his stomach churned. He slapped the other man, sending him sprawling onto the floor."Let bygones be bygones?" Ashton sneered. "You're shameless.""You could have continued your deceitful ways, and I would have ignored it. But the moment you laid plans against the Latham family, plotted to harm Mister Latham for your selfish gains—there's no forgiving that."Ashton stepped closer to the fallen Morgan. No one in the room interfered; they all watched in mute fascination."What are you going to do? I warn you, I have a position in the South Edren Medical Association—""Your position means nothing," Ashton said.With a swift, ruthless stomp, Ashton shattered Morgan's arm. A spine-chilling scream reverberated through the hospital room, unsettling everyone as they watched Ashton's brutality
After getting in the car and rolling down the rear window, Ashton could see Alora struggling desperately inside the black car from afar.Ashton shut his eyes after closing the window.Before everything happened three years ago, Ashton barely interacted with women.After that, he thought he could dedicate his entire life to Alora.Alora was once gentle, considerate, tolerant, careful, and virtuous. Ashton once considered her his perfect match. Otherwise, he would not have secretly paid so much to help her achieve her dreams.When did she change into someone so unrecognizable?Career came first, the big picture came first, then money came first as well. Alora had started getting overly ambitious and thought of herself as god's favorite. She thought of herself as the shiniest star among all of South Edren and could not see past her glory.Sometimes, Ashton was puzzled and blamed himself for ruining Alora's life. He had let her catch a glimpse of the upper-class lifestyle and left h
Jose wobbled a few steps before he fell to the ground.The exchange silenced the room.Drevik looked away from Alora and stared at Ashton, dressed casually at the door.He said lightly, "Choose a way to die. I am in a good mood tonight. I will try my best to make it less painful for you." He did not ask who he was or his purpose."Let the woman go. I can pretend that what happened tonight did not happen." Ashton looked at him."What did you say?" Drevik dug his ears as if he could not believe what he heard.Someone had dared to order him to release the prey he had been searching for several years. Drevik wondered if the fool had lost his mind."Mister Galloway, that's him. He's the woman's ex-husband. He must have slept with that woman a long time ago. Damn him!" Jose got up from the ground and shouted hysterically."What?" Drevik's expression changed. He stood up from the couch, and his eyes were fixed on Ashton as if he were looking at a dead man."Damn you, bastard! How dar