CHAPTER 131: DOCTOR ERICA

The hallway went completely silent, so quiet that the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead sounded loud in the heavy air.Julian’s sharp grey eyes darted back and forth between Shawn and the female doctor for a single second. He noticed the brief spark of recognition, but in his current state, he didn't care or bother to ask how they knew each other. His entire mind was consumed by a single priority: Valeria."How is she?" Julian demanded, his deep voice cutting through the heavy air with sharp urgency. "Is she alright?"The doctor, whose name tag read Dr. Erica Williams, immediately pulled her professional focus back to Julian. She adjusted the digital file in her hands and cleared her throat smoothly."Mr. Vane, Miss Valeria suffered a blunt force trauma to the back of her head, which caused a mild concussion and led to her immediate loss of consciousness," Dr. Erica explained clearly. "She also has a scalp laceration that required a few stitches to stop the bleeding. The pr

CHAPTER 131: JUST PULL THE PLUG

The grand black Maybach glided to a smooth halt in front of the O’Brian mansion. The driver hurried around to open the rear door, but Romanus didn't wait. His face was as hard, stiff, and unreadable as ever as he stepped out onto the driveway, using his gold headed walking stick to march toward the heavy wooden doors of his estate. Ariel jumped out right behind him, her face flushed with pure fury. She marched after her father, her high heels clicking loudly against the polished marble floor of the grand hallway. "Dad! You are going to cancel his contract, right?!" Ariel demanded, her voice echoing off the high ceilings as she followed him up the grand staircase. "Maybe that will finally break him! He thinks you are just bluffing! He thinks he can walk away from you without facing any consequences!" Romanus didn't even slow his pace. He reached his private master suite, pushing the door open. "I need to rest, Ariel," he replied flatly, his voice devoid of any warmth or anger. "Res

CHAPTER 133:THE DEBT I OWED

Night fell heavily over the city, wrapping the grand O’Brian mansion in a suffocating, pitch black darkness. Outside, a gentle wind whistled through the tall trees surrounding the estate, but inside the master suite, the silence was loud and heavy. Romanus lay flat on his back in the middle of his massive king-sized bed. The soft, expensive sheets felt cold against his skin. His dark, tired eyes were wide open, staring endlessly up at the dark ceiling. Hours had passed since he laid down, yet sleep was completely impossible. A heavy, aching restlessness settled deep within his chest. It wasn't the stress of the hockey league, the board members, or Ariel’s temper that kept him awake tonight. It was something far older, far deeper, and far more painful. As the quiet hours of the night dragged on, a soft, familiar voice began to echo in the dark corners of his mind, a voice he had not heard in five long years. It was a gentle, fading whisper, full of love, sadness, and quiet hope. “J

CHAPTER 134: INDEBTED

The night air blew cool against the balcony, making the curtains flutter softly behind them. Ariel sat on the outdoor chair, her heart pounding as she stared at her father. She had never seen Romanus O’Brian look so small, so broken, and so deeply haunted."Dad... what are you talking about?" Ariel asked, her voice trembling in the dark. "Atone for what sins? What debt? You gave Julian everything. You built his career from scratch. You took him in when he had nothing!"Romanus took a slow, heavy breath. He looked out at the distant city lights, his hand gripping the stone railing so tightly his knuckles turned white. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low, raspy whisper that carried the terrifying weight of a dark past."That's what you think Ariel? ," Romanus began, his eyes fixed on the empty darkness. "You think I took Julian in out of the kindness of my heart. But you never really knew why I took him in, did you? You knew I was never the type of man to play the savior. I was n

CHAPTER 135: 1:00AM

Outside the emergency room, the bright hospital lights hummed softly against the sterile white walls. Shawn’s face was dark, his eyes sharp and full of curiosity as he grabbed Dr. Erica firmly by the arm, dragging her down the quiet hallway into an empty consultation room. "Mr Sterling , let go of me!" Dr. Erica hissed, yanking her arm back the very moment the heavy door clicked shut behind them. "What on earth is wrong with you?!" Shawn took a deliberate step forward, towering over her with a cold, intense gaze.As he began his questioning immediately... " When did all of this happen Erica?"........ Inside the private VIP room, the world was completely still and quiet. Julian sat on a small wooden chair placed right next to the high hospital bed. The soft, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking the heavy silence of the night. Valeria lay pale against the crisp white sheets, her eyes closed, looking impossibly small and fragile under the dim room ligh

CHAPTER 136:IN FLAMES

What did you just say?" Julian asked, his voice dropping into a harsh, disbelieving whisper. He held the phone closer to his ear, his fingers gripping the device so hard his knuckles turned white. "Master Vane! The penthouse... the whole estate is on fire!" Andrew repeated, his voice desperate and laced with violent coughs as thick smoke filled his lungs. "I woke up in the staff quarters just minutes ago because of a strong, burning smell. When I looked out my window, the main building was already swallowed up in flames! I’ve already called the fire department and they are on their way, but you need to get here right now, sir!" Without asking another single question, Julian ended the call. All the sleepiness in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by pure shock and adrenaline. He looked back at Valeria one last time to make sure she was safe on the bed, and then he burst out of the private room into the bright hospital corridor. The moment his feet hit the hallway floor, Julian r