Chapter 9

Who was Tyler?

He was the chairman of the Fourwinds Consortium, the richest man in Chansear District, and a major power in the country!

Even someone that important is personally throwing a formal apology dinner to make amends to Noel?

After all these years in the underworld, David felt like everything he believed in was falling apart.

Heidi turned to David, who still looked dazed, and her smile vanished in an instant.

"Why are you just standing there? Get over here and apologize to Mr. Campbell!"

Those words snapped David back to reality.

His knees went weak, and he dropped to his knees before Noel. Before Noel could even say a word, David slapped himself twice across the face.

"I'm the fool who failed to recognize greatness. I'm sorry for offending you, Mr. Campbell. Please have mercy and spare me!"

David was fully awake now.

It didn't matter what Noel's true identity was. The fact was that Hibiscus City's underground queen showed him such respect, and the richest man in Chansear District was hosting a formal apology dinner for him.

That alone made it clear Noel was not someone to cross.

"I don't care about that. I'm here collecting a debt for Quinton Pharmaceuticals." Noel's cold eyes locked on David.

David shuddered at that.

"I'll pay it back. I swear! Ten million in principal, plus ten million in interest. I'll have someone deliver it to the Quinton family by tomorrow!

"Also, I plan to renew the contract with Quinton Pharmaceuticals' branch office for another three years as a token of goodwill toward you, Mr. Campbell."

It was hard to be mad at someone who was being polite. Since David knew how to read the room, Noel didn't bother pursuing the matter further.

"Why didn't you just behave like this earlier?" Noel said. "Make sure the money arrives on time. As for renewing the contract, that depends on my wife."

"Yes, sir. Understood!" David plastered a smile on his face.

"All right, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way." Noel patted him on the shoulder and stood up to leave.

Outside the Skyline Corp, Heidi and her crew caught up with him.

"Mr. Campbell, please wait!" she called out. "Mr. Lewis is still waiting for you!"

Noel paused, then turned back with a grin. "Tell Tyler to keep his little schemes to himself. I don't have time for him right now."

Hearing that, Heidi looked uneasy. Across all of Chansear District, plenty of people would kill to be on Tyler's good side.

And Noel just flat-out refused?

Just then, Noel's phone buzzed in his pocket.

He glanced down and saw a message from Yvette.

"Why is she heading to the hospital?"

His brow furrowed as he looked up toward the street. The area was out in the suburbs, and getting a cab back wouldn't be easy.

"Heidi, right?" Noel said. "Can you take me to Central Hospital?"

Without hesitation, Heidi nodded. "Of course. It's an honor to be of service to you, Mr. Campbell."

-

Half an hour later, a car stopped in front of Central Hospital.

"Mr. Campbell, are you really not going to the dinner at Springwind?" Heidi asked, not quite ready to give up.

After all, it was Tyler himself who had personally arranged the event. If she couldn't deliver, things would get complicated for her.

"Just tell him it's my decision," Noel said as he opened the car door and glanced at her.

"When the time is right, I'll meet him."

Before he got out, he added, "Since you gave me a ride to the hospital, here's a little tip. You have a blood mole hidden in your left eyebrow, and the edge of your eyebrow is as dark as ink. This means someone close to you might be in danger of dying."

With that, Noel stood and walked away.

Heidi was taken aback for a moment, then she chuckled softly.

"Let's head back," she said, waving a hand at the driver.

She wasn't superstitious, so she didn't dwell on Noel's warning.

Then suddenly, her phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Heidi hurried to answer. A moment later, her voice was tight with worry.

"What did you say, Dr. Carter? Wasn't Iris' condition stable? Why did it suddenly get worse?"

No amount of makeup could hide the tension and worry on her face.

Iris Sullivan was her only daughter, born seven years ago. But just three weeks after her birth, Iris was diagnosed with leukemia—specifically, congenital leukemia.

Three months ago, Iris finally underwent a successful bone marrow transplant, and her condition had finally started to stabilize.

But life rarely went according to plan.

Just when they thought the worst was over, Iris suddenly had a severe rejection reaction, and her condition took a sharp turn for the worse.

If they couldn't get it under control, her life could be at serious risk.

Heidi suddenly remembered what Noel had said.

"She's in danger of dying? Did he really call it?"

Panic rising, she shouted at the driver, "Stop the car! Now!"

Before the car fully came to a stop, she threw open the door and rushed out. However, Noel was nowhere to be seen.

Worried sick about her daughter, Heidi didn't waste time looking for him. She hurried straight into the hospital.

To her, her daughter's life was far more important than anything else.

-

Inside Central Hospital, a commotion was happening in one of the surgical wards.

"Yvette, on behalf of headquarters, I'm officially announcing that this employee has been fired. Even if he dies, it won't be on Quinton Pharmaceuticals' dime. The company won't pay a single cent for his medical bills," Lulu said with authority, standing next to a burly bodyguard in a suit.

"Don't forget, your branch is still losing money! If you can't even collect what's owed, you're dreaming if you think the company will cover his medical expenses."

Looking at her employee wrapped up in bandages on the hospital bed, Yvette angrily shot back, "Look, I know you don't like me, but this isn't about me. My employee got hurt while collecting a debt, so the company should cover his medical bills."

Yvette wanted to take responsibility, but the branch's expenses had to be approved by headquarters.

And as luck would have it, Lulu was the operations manager of headquarters. Without her sign-off, nothing would happen.

Seeing how desperate Yvette was, Lulu sneered. "You want me to agree? That will never happen."

Yvette flared up at the words. But just as quickly, all the fight drained out of her. The branch's finances were tight, and there was nothing she could do to fight Lulu on that.

"You should worry about yourself," Lulu said coldly. "Just so you know, Mr. Warren personally gave instructions to Skyline Corp. No one's getting that money back except me.

"I'll get it back when the time's right, and then I'll recommend to the board that you be removed as branch CEO.

"As for Noel..."

Lulu glanced at the injured man lying in the hospital bed with a mocking look in her eyes.

Noel's fate wouldn't be any better than that of this employee.

And Yvette?

Lulu's father was the general manager of Quinton Pharmaceuticals. Half of the company's board backed him, so removing a branch CEO was as easy as taking a breath. If Lulu played her cards right and took control of the branch, she and her father could potentially take over Quinton Pharmaceuticals completely.

"Lulu, this has nothing to do with Noel. Please leave him alone."

Yvette's face burned with anger as the truth sank in. She'd suspected Lulu was involved, but she never imagined Lulu would be so ruthless as to drag Noel into it.

"Leave him alone?"

Lulu laughed like she'd heard the funniest joke. "My dear cousin, of course I can leave him alone! If you get on your knees and beg me, I can make sure Skyline Corp spares his life."

Get on her knees and beg?

Yvette went silent at Lulu's words. Her fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms. She glanced at the employee lying in the hospital bed, and her heart softened.

She didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of her.

Maybe she'd already been destined to lose to Lulu from the start.

"Fine. I'll do it."

Her eyes welled with tears, and her defenses finally broke.

Just as she was about to kneel—

A strong hand caught her from behind and helped her to her feet.

"Honey, am I late?"