Darren crumpled the soda can in his hand, his montary soft-heartedness completely extinguished.
All that remained was a bitter chill and burning rage.
For years, he had poured his heart and soul into being the benevolent patriarch, and yet, in their eyes, he was worth less than the almighty dollar and shares in the company.
His life, and the lives of his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, didn’t seem to weigh as much as those assets!
No wonder his father had gripped his hand tightly on his deathbed, urgently cautioning Darren never to let his brothers into the family business.
Even then, his father had seen their true colors, knowing their insatiable greed would one day lead to disaster.
"It’s all my fault. I was too soft then, too trusting," Darren rambled to Rosemary.
"When I first took over the company, I was swamped, working all hours. They ca begging , ti and again, wanting internships and vowing they wouldn’t take a penny—just wanted to ease my burden, saying they couldn’t bear to see so overworked. I actually believed them!"
Looking back, he felt like a fool.
"Grandpa, you trusted them, and I think that’s far more precious," Rosemary said with a wisdom beyond her years, "but they just didn’t value it."
Darren looked at his granddaughter, feeling a stinging sensation in his nose.
"They’ve lived half their lives and still aren’t as clear-sighted as a child."
After a heavy silence, Darren added,
"What was once a good ho is falling apart. I wonder if my father is turning in his grave, blaming for letting the wolves in."
"There was never a perfect ho, Grandpa," Rosemary comforted.
"You thought we were united and loving, but that might have been true only in your eyes. To them, it wasn’t about brotherly love or family warmth—it was all about the benefits in your and Uncle Bard’s hands."
Darren realized she had a point.
The happy family he thought he had was an illusion.
Sensing her grandfather’s mood, Rosemary couldn’t help but say,
"Don’t be sad, Grandpa. You’ve done everything a good man should. It’s not on you that they failed as brothers. Should we just let them keep making mistakes without any consequences?"
She analyzed further,
"An ordinary person’s mistake might be a small lie, a minor misdeed, but their mistakes are the kind that could cost lives. If you turn a blind eye, what you’ll lose won’t just be our family—and they won’t care. They’ll trample over bodies, spending money with wild abandon while evading justice."
Yes, she was right.
If he turned a blind eye, it would be like gambling with his family’s lives for a semblance of brotherly affection.
He couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow it.
"Rose, you’re a good kid. Thanks for helping see clearly."
If he had harbored any reluctance or regret before, it had now vanished.
"It’s sothing you had to realize yourself, Grandpa. No one else’s words would’ve sufficed," Rosemary said, raising her soda.
Darren couldn’t drink alcohol, so he popped open another soda and clinked cans with her.
He suddenly realized that this young girl possessed a remarkable character—her maturity and sense of the world far surpassing those of her peers.
She was indeed a promising talent.
Outside the operating room.
Eunice feigned overwhelming distress.
"Bard, Dad’s been in there so long. I’m really worried."
Before she could finish, she pretended to be overco, her body sagging as if she would collapse.
"Eunice," Bard rushed to catch her. "Don’t worry. With Rose and the doctors in there, they’ll surely pull Dad back from the brink."
Eunice feigned a faint right into his arms.
"Eunice? Eunice?"
Bard knew she was tired and ca up with this little trick.
If she fainted, she could naturally sleep in his embrace.
Bard didn’t let a smirk show on his lips. Instead, he settled on a bench outside, draping his coat over her body and her delicate face, his eyes betraying a deep sadness and concern.
anwhile, Calvin couldn’t help but ask,
"That little girl knows dicine? Can she even go in and operate on Darren?"
"Yeah, she’s just a kid. What’s the deal with that?" Arlen was also hearing this for the first ti.
Bard, holding his wife on the bench, said coldly,
"Dad’s awakening is all thanks to Rose."
Calvin and Arlen were taken aback that such a young girl could have such prowess—solving dical issues that even renowned doctors couldn’t fix.
"Is she a d student? Or did she train under so remarkable ntor? How co Louisa never ntioned it?"
Arlen was worried. If she really knew dicine and was skilled, that could spell trouble.
Thinking this, he glanced at Calvin.
Calvin’s eyes also flickered with anxiety.
In the operating room.
Rosemary looked up at Darren and said,
"Oh, there’s one more thing I haven’t told you. When I was checking your health before, I found that you are weak, not due to illness, but because soone had been drugging you for a long ti. I didn’t tell anyone at the ti because I wanted to catch the culprit quietly."
Later, she accidentally found that there was sothing off about Mr. Elliot from Bard’s house.
"My dicine was always delivered by Mr. Elliot," Darren said.
"I heard from Bard that you exposed Mr. Elliot’s plot a few days ago and saved ."
Rosemary nodded.
"I suspected it was Mr. Elliot who poisoned you, but he has no grudge against you. Yet he listens to Mafia Rock, who is Calvin and Arlen’s lapdog."
Darren gave a bitter smile, finding it hard to believe his own brother would stab him in the back.
"We’re almost out of ti," Rosemary checked the ti, then summoned a few doctors and nurses from a side door.
There was a large rest area connecting several operating rooms, where the dical staff who were in on the act waited—giving Rosemary and Darren enough ti alone.
Rosemary called them over, suited up in sterile attire, quickly tidied up the scene, and then had the operating room doors opened.
By this ti, Eunice had been asleep for half an hour.
Seeing the operating room doors open, Bard gently roused the person in his arms.
"Eunice, Dad’s out. The surgery’s done."
Eunice slowly opened her eyes, groggy.
"Dad’s out? Where is he? What did Rose say? Is everything okay?"
Calvin and Arlen rushed forward, anxiously inquiring.
"Girl, how’s your grandpa? Is his life in danger?"
"Why hasn’t he woken up yet? Is it serious?"
Calvin and Arlen also hurried over, feigning concern.
"Grandpa suffered a shock. We’ve done all we could. Whether he can wake up now is up to fate."
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