"Her daughter is so cute!"
"They look so good together, a perfect match!"
Only a few people at the hospital who knew them were aware of her relationship with Sean Donovan. Sean knew she didn’t like to be in the spotlight, so they had tried their best to keep it low-key. ’How could it have suddenly gotten out?’
She walked over and took the phone from the patient’s hand. The news report was incredibly detailed, starting from when Sean Donovan stayed at her ho last night, to the two of them appearing in front of her building this morning, then taking Joy to kindergarten together, and finally showing up at the hospital. Their faces were so clear in the photos that it would be impossible to deny it.
But the photos weren’t the most shocking part. What was truly stunning was the text that followed: Sean Donovan had personally confird that they had been secretly dating for a long ti, that she had already accepted his marriage proposal, and that their wedding would be held in the near future.
She stood there, frozen, clutching the phone. ’How could Sean have announced their relationship without her consent?’ He had asked for her opinion before, and she rembered telling him they should wait until after she t his grandfather, Charles Donovan, to make a decision.
The well-wishes of a few patients echoed in her ears.
"Nurse Quinn, congratulations!"
"Oh, what a sha. I thought you were single, Nurse Quinn. I was even thinking of setting you up with a good man!"
She handed the phone back to the patient and ran out.
She ran into a few young nurses. So of them saw her and offered their congratulations with a smile.
"Miss Anna, congrats!"
Others, however, spoke scornfully about her.
"She always looks so quiet and proper, but who knew she already has a child with the hospital director. You really can’t judge a book by its cover!"
Heartbroken, she rushed outside and didn’t stop until she reached a secluded corner of the courtyard. She loved this spot. Whenever she was tired or upset, she would co sit on the bench here alone. It was also where she and Sean Donovan had first t.
Sean’s decision to unilaterally announce their relationship hurt her deeply. She had accepted his proposal, but even if they did get married one day, she never wanted her private life to be publicized like this. Her personality was simply not suited for a life in the lilight.
"Anna..."
Sean Donovan’s apologetic voice rang out. She looked up to see him walking over. Lowering her gaze, she pressed her lips together and said nothing.
She wasn’t one for argunts or debates, so her silence told Sean that she was truly angry. He sat down beside her, turned her face toward him, and looked at her with sincere eyes.
"Anna, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong, but you have no idea how terrified I was. They said you’ve been getting close to your ex-husband these past few days. I was afraid you’d go back to him, so I rushed back from abroad and ca up with this plan!"
Sean’s honesty and frankness made Naomi Shaw feel even worse. Faced with his explanation, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words. It seed like, in the end, it was all her fault. If she hadn’t accepted Sean’s proposal, he wouldn’t be so afraid of losing her. If she hadn’t been so entangled with Julian Donovan, Sean wouldn’t be so worried about her rekindling things with him.
Seeing her remain silent, Sean continued,
"Also, I was afraid Grandpa wouldn’t approve, so I decided to act first and report later. Grandpa cares a lot about his reputation. Now that I’ve publicly announced our relationship and everyone knows about Joy, he won’t be able to refuse our marriage..."
Naomi Shaw stared at him blankly. Sean pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with helplessness.
"So Anna, please forgive ! It’s all because I’m so terrified of losing you!"
Faced with this side of Sean, Naomi couldn’t bring herself to utter a single word of accusation or bla. She just pushed him away, stood up, and said,
"I have to get back to work. I’m leaving."
Her reaction was a tacit approval of Sean’s public announcent. Behind her, the corners of Sean’s mouth curved up slightly.
"Don’t worry, I’ll warn the dia not to bother you and Joy in the future!"
She said nothing and just walked away quickly.
Naomi Shaw hadn’t even made it back to her departnt when Julian Donovan’s call ca. She steeled herself and answered. Just as she expected, his roar ca through the phone.
"Naomi Shaw, I told you to break up with him, and instead you announce your relationship to the world? Are you trying to piss off?!"
She was already fuming about Sean publicizing their relationship, and now Julian was aggressively interrogating her. She snapped back irritably,
"Julian Donovan, can you stop being so damn bossy and forcing your will on others? You tell to break up with him, so I should just break up with him? Who do you think you are?"
She could hear his breathing grow ragged with anger on the other end of the line.
"Fine, Naomi Shaw. Then don’t bla for being ruthless and stopping at nothing!"
He threw those words at her and hung up with a SLAM. She felt like she was going crazy, tornted by these two n.
That afternoon, a piece of news sent a shockwave through all of Wincastle. rcy Hospital, Donovan Hospital’s long-ti competitor, had suddenly announced its intention to acquire Donovan Hospital. What’s more, the offer was a staggering 20 tis Donovan’s stock market value. In an instant, Wincastle’s financial and dical communities were in an uproar.
Acquisitions, as you know, can be either friendly or hostile. A friendly takeover involves negotiating with the target company’s managent beforehand. However, an unannounced, unilateral declaration like rcy Hospital’s was a blatant hostile takeover. But despite its hostile nature, the price rcy Hospital offered had many of Donovan Hospital’s shareholders itching to sell. Twenty tis the market value—what did that even an? Major stockholders could make an absolute fortune.
As soon as rcy Hospital’s acquisition notice was released, the Donovan Group called for an ergency shareholders’ eting. Even Charles Donovan, the long-retired Mr. Donovan who hadn’t made a public appearance in years, personally attended, which showed just how serious the situation was. Donovan Hospital was an institution in Wincastle with a century of history. To be acquired by rcy Hospital, a rival that had only erged three years ago—Charles Donovan certainly couldn’t swallow that bitter pill.
「Donovan Hospital Conference Room.」
The white-haired Charles Donovan and a somber Sean Donovan sat at the head of the table. A few shareholders were seated around the circular table. Charles Donovan spoke, his expression grave.
"You’ve all seen the acquisition notice from rcy Hospital. Let’s hear your thoughts."
Several shareholders exchanged glances before one of them spoke up.
"Mr. Donovan, we’ve been with you for many years. We should absolutely stand united and firmly resist a hostile takeover like this. But..."
The man paused, and a cold smirk touched Sean Donovan’s lips. The man continued,
"But n die for wealth just as birds die for food. The Donovan Group’s profits have been declining noticeably these past few years, and the price rcy is offering is just too tempting. The payout from this acquisition alone would be enough for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives."
"That’s right. We’re getting old, and we no longer have the energy to worry about the hospital’s future with Sean every day!"
After he finished, the other shareholders chid in with their opinions. Charles Donovan sat there, seeming to age years in an instant. He coughed repeatedly. His health was already poor, forcing him to live in a nursing ho, but now he had personally co out to handle this crisis. Finally, he waved a dismissive hand at the shareholders.
"I understand your positions. You’re dismissed for now. I will give you all an answer."
The shareholders glanced at each other before getting up and taking their leave.
Sean Donovan watched them leave, a cold smile on his face.
"Grandpa, there’s no need to be angry. You know as well as I do that businessn prioritize profit."
Charles Donovan heaved a long sigh.
"Sean, what are your thoughts on rcy’s hostile takeover?"
"I think the key is to first find out who the director of rcy Hospital really is. Once we understand his motives, we can figure out how to respond."
Sean Donovan, for his part, was quite calm. There were many ways to counter a takeover; it wasn’t too late to find the right one.
Charles Donovan coughed a few more tis.
"This director of rcy Hospital... does no one really know who he is?"
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