Chapter 4

I turned cold in an instant and charged out of the room like a madman to get to the hospital immediately.

When I got to the gate, I found several bodyguards standing in my path, stopping me from leaving.

“Get out of the way. I need to go to the hospital!”

“Sir, I’m sorry, we cannot let you out until we receive permission from Ms. Carlsen!”

My head was throbbing. I dialed Juniper’s number with my hands shaking the entire time.

“Juniper, my mother is sick and needs emergency medical care!”

She paused briefly on the other end of the line before saying icily, “Malik, nobody is going to believe the same lie again.

“Be good, won’t you? Frederick and Jeremiah are being attended to in the hospital now. I promise you I’ll have your Madame Curie attended to once their condition stabilizes.

“Besides, haven’t I told you I already have someone attending to her in the hospital? Her condition is fine.”

My throat was turning parched. I could not hold back my tears anymore.

“Juniper, please believe me. Something is happening to her, and she needs help!”

No matter how much I pleaded, she would not budge.

As the seconds ticked by, I realized the situation was becoming increasingly dire.

I had no choice but to get on my knees and beg the bodyguards to let me pass.

“Please, let me out, please!”

My knees were getting red from scraping against the floor, and I was crying so much I could barely see.

“Sir, please... Please, we don’t have much control over the situation!”

Then, the caregiver called me again.

“Mr. Brenhart, you have to come here as soon as you can! Her oxygen level is dropping fast, and she won't last much longer!”

I frantically ran upstairs and jumped down from the balcony on the second floor.

After making my escape, I rushed to the hospital with an injured left leg.

By the time I arrived, my adoptive mother’s breathing was turning wispy.

“Where are the doctors? Where did they go?!”

The caregiver looked at me helplessly.

“After Mr. Byron and his child came in with food poisoning, all the doctors were transferred to his ward!”

A chill ran through me. I knew my only recourse was to go to Juniper for help.

Just as I turned the corner, I saw my biological mother.

“What are you doing here again? Frederick and Jeremiah are still in critical condition, so don't you go causing any trouble!”

“Mom, I need a doctor... Please... My adoptive mother… She’s not going to make it!”

My mother frowned.

“First-come, first-served, that’s how it works. We’ll arrange a doctor for her after Frederick and Jeremiah are feeling better.

“Now, quit adding to our list of troubles!”

Then, she shot a look at me and added with a spiteful hiss.

“Do you think your adoptive mother could claim the rights to a doctor over Frederick?”

Her comment crushed me.

My eyes were red.

“Mom, I'm your son. Why won’t you ever love me?”

All she did was sigh in response.

“You have the privilege of being the son of the Brenharts and marrying into a family as prominent as the Carlsens. I have given you everything; what more could you want?

“Now, go! Quit scaring Frederick and my grandson!”

I cried out, “I want to see Juniper... Let me see her!”

She slapped me across the face and sent me staggering backward.

I meekly shuffled back to the ward I came from.

My adoptive mother, Anne Curie, was lying on the bed and barely breathing at this point.

Upon hearing my voice, she strained to open her eyes.

“Malik, you don’t have to suffer for my sake anymore…

“You will always be the perfect son to me.”

I was choking on my tears. “Mom, just wait, I promise I will save you.”

She forced a smile while her arms slowly draped to her side.

“Mom…” I cried out in anguish, “You’re all I have left. Please don't leave me…”

With that, the last person tying me to the world was gone.

Handling her funeral procedures took every last ounce of energy I had left in me.

When I returned to the house that was filled with Frederick's presence, the first thing I did was grab my packed suitcase.

With that, I entered the car the Stehnbart Corporation had prepared for me.

Meanwhile, Frederick and Jeremiah turned out perfectly fine in the hospital. Their condition was hardly serious to begin with.

Then, Frederick brought up how fragile Jeremiah's future was without legal security.

With that, a relieved Juniper cradled the boy and announced brightly, “From now on, Jeremiah will be the heir of the Carlsens!”

Frederick was so elated that his eyes were brimming with pride.

Then, he suddenly grew concerned.

“What if Malik has something to say about that? He won’t hurt our son, will he?”

Juniper's expression shifted at the thought. She then assured him, “He wouldn't dare. Don't worry, I know how to get him to cave. Besides, he still needs my help to save his adoptive mother…”

That was when her assistant called her.

“Ms. Carlsen, a situation has come up! Stehnbart Corporation has recently bought up all of Mr. Brenhart’s patented technology and company shares!”

Juniper leapt to her feet, “What? Where is Malik?”

The assistant, who was almost in tears, said, “We can't find him! He’s disappeared!"