Chapter 4

I turned to leave and encountered a server carrying a tray of drinks. Just as I reached for another glass of champagne, someone intercepted my hand mid-air.

Warm water was pressed into my palm. I looked up to find Maverick's reproachful face.

"No more alcohol. Drink water!"

I smiled and playfully touched his face.

"Yes, my little caretaker. Whatever you say."

A low gasp came from behind me, followed by Leona's affected voice.

"Joanna, what are you..."

I frowned and turned around. Leona was becoming insufferable, haunting me like a ghost. For once, Kieran's expression held something resembling human emotion, tinged red with anger.

"Joanna, we're not divorced yet."

"We will be soon if you're willing to sign."

I was too tired to deal with these two.

Just as I moved to leave with Maverick, Leona deliberately blocked my path. She stepped forward holding two glasses of champagne, her face full of false contrition.

"Joanna, what happened earlier was too selfish of me.

"Let me toast you. I hope you'll forgive me. As an apology, the Hostler family will concede an additional five points in the resort development deal."

Kieran also made a rare attempt at reconciliation.

"Humiliating you publicly was wrong of me. If you forgive Leona, I'll agree to a 70-30 split on the profits from your last project.

"You take 70%. I'll take 30%."

I sneered inwardly.

After weighing it for a moment, I decided not to let personal feelings interfere with business.

We were getting divorced anyway. Not extracting every advantage would be a waste.

Maverick quietly squeezed my hand, reminding me in a hushed tone, "Your injuries haven't fully healed. This small amount of money isn't worth it..."

I raised an eyebrow; surprised Maverick had such high standards. "200 million is small change?"

Before he could finish speaking, I had already politely taken a sip. The taste was unexpectedly bitter. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, I suddenly broke into violent coughing. My body shook uncontrollably.

"Ugh..."

I let out a pained sound.

The next second, bright red blood seeped from between my fingers. It dripped onto the floor in dark, vivid pools.

Every eye in the room turned to me in shock. Even Leona, who had handed me the glass, looked stunned.

"How could this..."

Kieran's voice held disbelief and shock. He instinctively reached out to catch my collapsing body. But someone was faster.

Maverick swept me up in his arms, his usual carefree smile completely gone.

"Call an ambulance! Now!"

The pain was unbearable.

It hurt so much I could not even speak. I could only curl up in Maverick's embrace as blood continued pouring from my mouth, staining his shirt and suit crimson.

My consciousness scattered completely. I fell into darkness.

Outside the emergency room, Maverick looked like an enraged beast. He grabbed Kieran by the collar and slammed him viciously against the cold wall with a heavy thud.

"Kieran Chase, what the hell did you do to her? What was in that drink!

"Do you know she almost died? How dare you go after someone with existing injuries!"

Kieran's head snapped to the side from the punch, his lip splitting and bleeding. His voice mixed shock with unprecedented panic.

"Let go! Leona arranged the drinks. I...

"Wait, what do you mean existing injuries?"

Maverick drove his fist into Kieran's abdomen. Each word came out ground between his teeth, raw and accusing.

"You don't know?

"You don't fucking know? The day you brought that bitch Leona home, Joanna's car was rear-ended on the highway and sent flying. The car rolled and crashed.

"I checked. There were 15 calls for help. You didn't answer a single one! You jerk!"

Maverick pointed at the closed emergency room door, his voice shaking with desperation.

"Do you know she nearly bled out because treatment came too late? They issued two critical condition notices!

"Her heart, lungs, liver, kidneys all ruptured and damaged. It's a miracle she's even alive!

"How dare you go after her again!"

Kieran's pupils contracted sharply. His vision blurred. Ice flooded through his veins.

"What car accident... critical condition... what are you talking about?"