Vivi Sterling was taken aback for a mont, then she tugged at the corner of her mouth, her expression indifferent.
"Who you marry or don’t marry, what does it have to do with ?"
"This way, it’s quite good. You have your bright path, I have my single-log bridge."
She paused, raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze devoid of any warmth.
"Also, the bet we talked about before is still valid."
"When the child is born, let’s see what fate has in store."
She took a step forward, closing in on him, speaking each word clearly.
"Even if you win the bet, even if we end up together in the future, it has nothing to do with marriage."
She was truly, utterly and unapologetically harsh.
Hugh Whitman’s chest felt like it had been struck with a heavy blow, a dull ache spreading, he lowered his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and after a long while, he squeezed out a single word from his throat.
"Alright."
His gaze fell on her slightly swollen belly, his eyes softened, and his voice beca gentle.
"Can I... feel the baby?"
Instinctively, Vivi Sterling glanced around, confird no one else was nearby, then gave a barely noticeable nod.
Receiving permission, he imdiately knelt down on one knee, his actions devout as if he were a believer.
He carefully placed his ear against her belly, through the thin cashre sweater, he felt the faint movents inside.
He curled his lips, and the eyes that were always deep now brimd with tenderness.
Vivi Sterling looked down at him.
She looked at his handso profile, looked at him kneeling in front of her.
Her eyes, without warning, turned red.
If Zane Zimrman were still here...
...
The Monroe Group’s stocks were a fiery red, hitting their daily limit as soon as trading began, the rising trend unstoppable.
As long as there was any connection to God N, it was destined to soar—this was the latest ironclad rule in the capital circle.
But Ethan Monroe’s heart felt like it was being roasted over a fire.
N had not returned his ssages for several days.
Yesterday, Aiden Fordham had made such a big scene, kneeling in apology, there must be a significant problem between them.
This was his chance.
Ethan Monroe had just gotten off the plane, and the car sped down the wide coastal road of ritopia, heading towards the Sterling Family.
He now urgently wanted to see her.
Inside the hospital, the sll of disinfectant was clear and clean.
Aiden Fordham opened his eyes, the needle from the IV still in the back of his hand, the transparent fluid drip by drip falling.
He indeed had a high fever.
Standing in the pouring rain for two hours, holding her, frozen for two hours.
It was worth it.
When her hand finally tentatively, gently wrapped around his waist, he knew she still cared about him.
Only he worried about her hand getting wet in the rain, so he had to pull her hand away, instead wrapping her entire body tightly, sheltering her securely in his arms until she fell asleep from exhaustion.
Keegan Lindsey knocked and entered, carrying a lunch box.
"President Fordham, are you feeling any better?"
He placed the breakfast, item by item, on the bedside table, his face full of guilt.
"It’s all my fault, Old Zhang happened to be out of town, so I ca back late, causing you..."
Aiden Fordham lifted his eyelids, glanced at him indifferently, but said nothing.
Keegan imdiately shut up, turned to reporting serious matters.
"Ethan Monroe has already arrived in ritopia, I reckon the first thing he’ll do is look for madam."
Keegan’s worry practically overflowed.
"At this critical mont, we absolutely cannot let Ethan Monroe discover that N is a fake."
Aiden Fordham’s face showed not a hint of panic.
"Then first let him bleed a little."
"Get him to roll back."
Keegan was montarily stunned, not quite reacting to President Fordham’s aning.
Aiden Fordham spoke again.
"Close the net early."
"The officials have already taken action, they are about to distribute the newly produced reagent worldwide."
The official news should be coming out soon, this is the Monroe Group’s bombshell.
They hoarded so much dicine, made exorbitant profits, it’s ti to cough it up.
Keegan’s eyes lit up, nodding heavily.
At this mont, the ward’s door was pushed open again, Steven Fordham walked in with a cane, his face stern.
"Old Master." Keegan respectfully nodded slightly and, picking up the kettle on the table, tactfully left the room.
Only the grandfather and grandson were left in the ward.
"Grandfather." Aiden Fordham’s voice weakened, carrying the hoarseness of illness.
Steven Fordham walked to the bedside, his eyes sharply scrutinizing him up and down.
"How’s your health?"
"No major issues, the fever has subsided." Aiden Fordham propped himself up on the bed, trying to sit straighter.
Steven Fordham ignored his small action and spoke directly.
"This trip to The Imperial Capital, I personally went on your behalf to apologize to the Whitman Family and Mr. Sloan."
"It wasn’t without so gain."
Aiden Fordham’s breath paused for a mont.
"They relented."
"You can enter the Whitman Family, but whether Stella forgives you, they can’t decide."
Steven Fordham’s cane tapped gently on the ground.
"Go there on New Year’s Eve."
"Even during the New Year, no matter how angry they are, they shouldn’t make things too difficult for you."
Steven Fordham looked at him, with an expression of hating iron for not becoming steel.
"Alright, grandfather." Aiden Fordham lowered his head and agreed.
"Also."
Steven Fordham’s voice sank a few notches.
"Do not let the Monroe Family take advantage at this ti."
"If you can’t coax my granddaughter-in-law back... don’t co back yourself."
"Yes, grandfather." Aiden Fordham raised his head, his eyes were determined, and he nodded seriously.
...
The car smoothly drove along the road in ritopia, Ethan Monroe was just about to close his eyes for a rest when his phone screen suddenly lit up.
The bunny avatar sent a ssage.
She finally showed up.
N: Sorry, I just got back to ritopia not long ago.
Ethan Monroe’s heart gave a heavy thump, his fingertips even tingling, he quickly clicked open the chat box.
[You finally replied, I was worried about you.]
After sending the ssage, he realized his tone was too eager.
He stared at the screen, waiting for her reply.
He couldn’t help but send another ssage:
[I’m sorry for Mr. Young’s passing, our PR departnt happened to release a press release that day.]
Seeing this ssage, his heart settled more than half.
N: Okay.
A single word.
A single "okay," no bla, no questioning.
Ethan Monroe’s tense nerves relaxed, and he imdiately inquired further.
[I’ve already arrived in ritopia, can I see you?]
On the other side of the chat box, it showed "The other party is typing...", but there was a long pause.
Every second felt like tornt on his heart.
Finally, a new ssage popped up.
N: Alright, I’m outside now, I’ll send you an address.
Ethan Monroe’s eyes instantly sparked with intense brightness, he almost shouted.
"Turn around! We’re not going to the Sterling Family anymore!"
The driver was startled, quickly turning at the next intersection according to the new address he announced.
The scenery outside the car window rapidly retreated.
He would soon see her, the woman who occupied his every thought.
His heart was filled with uncontrollable excitent.
Ethan Monroe arrived at the address N sent, an outdoor riverside café, and waited for a full half hour.
The river breeze was a bit chilly, and the coffee he ordered had long gone cold.
Where was she?
He frowned, taking out his phone, just about to urge her, when a news push popped up, dominating the entire screen.
The headline, each word like a heavy hamr, pounding hard into his pupils.
#God N Generously Saves the World, New Detoxification Reagent Released, Free Support Worldwide#
This ssage, released by official dia, exploded across the global internet within minutes.
The color drained completely from Ethan Monroe’s face.
The antidote for the virus from Nation A had been successfully developed.
It was free.
Available worldwide.
This ant that the expensive stockpile of special dicine at Monroe Hospital, which had yet to be sold, turned into a pile of worthless garbage overnight.
All of it was scrapped.
His mind buzzed as he tried to think of a strategy when his phone rang sharply.
The mont he answered, a voice fraught with tears shouted from the other end.
"President Monroe, things are bad!"
"The officials from Nation A announced the distribution of free antidotes; the dicines we hoarded are worthless now!"
"And the families of patients who bought our dicine earlier are all storming the hospital, demanding full refunds, as if they planned it together!"
"The hospital lobby is full of people, they’re about to wreck the hospital! We can’t control the chaos, it’s a complete ss!"
Ethan Monroe clenched his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
His brow furrowed deeply, and his throat was so dry he couldn’t utter a word.
At that mont, a ssage from God N popped up on the screen.
N: Sorry, there was a little unexpected situation here, it might be a bit later before I arrive.
Ethan Monroe stared at the line of text, feeling a chill envelop his entire body.
He took a deep breath, using all his strength to steady his trembling fingers.
He replied with a ssage.
[Sorry, sothing urgent ca up at the company, I might have to return to The Imperial Capital imdiately.]
N: Then, let’s et next ti.
He gazed at the screen, his fingers hovered for a long while, but eventually, he asked the question that stopped his heart.
[Did you develop the virus antidote?]
N: Yes, it’s been successfully produced and is being distributed for free to countries in need globally.
In the mont of confirmation, all the strength left his body.
The Monroe Group was finished.
This would be complete ruin.
He could no longer think about eting up, and stood up abruptly.
"Back to The Imperial Capital!"
"Imdiately!"
Ethan Monroe’s departure was within Aiden Fordham’s expectations. In fact, every step of his plan was right on his chessboard.
In the afternoon.
Aiden Fordham prepared to be discharged from the hospital.
Just as he was about to leave, his fever flared up again.
He had to lie back on the hospital bed, take dication and receive an IV drip. The needle pricked into the back of his hand, and the cold liquid slowly trickled into his body through the IV line.
It was evening when his phone buzzed with a vibration.
He picked up the phone and opened it.
It was a video.
In the video, the luxurious private room at The Lyrewood Restaurant was brightly lit.
Mrs. Sterling was all smiles, with Stella and Claire sitting beside her.
Across from them, a graceful and elegant lady sat, accompanied by a young man.
The man wore a well-tailored suit, gold-rimd glasses, and had a refined and gentle deanor.
It was obviously a carefully arranged situation.
As the cara trembled, the man called Second Young Master Lindsey never took his eyes off Stella.
That gaze was filled with undisguised delight and blatant affection.
Shit!
Aiden Fordham cursed under his breath.
He sat up abruptly, not even glancing, as he yanked the needle out from the back of his hand.
The action was harsh and sudden.
Blood imdiately spurted from the needle hole, staining a small patch on the back of his hand.
"Hey!" A nurse just happened to push the door open and saw this scene, exclaiming in shock.
"You’re bleeding! Press on it quickly!"
She rushed over in a panic, tore open a band-aid, and pressed it firmly on the needle mark.
"You still have a fever, how could you pull out the needle?"
The nurse looked at his fever-flushed face, deeply worried.
Aiden Fordham’s eyes were cold as ice.
"I’m fine now."
"My assistant will handle the discharge paperwork in a while."
With that said, he walked straight into the restroom, changed into his clothes quickly, and strode out.
As he walked, he made a phone call.
"Damian."
"Mrs. Sterling is arranging a matchmaking for Claire at The Lyrewood, private room 301."
His voice was low and hoarse.
"If you don’t care, you can pretend you don’t know."
On the other end of the line, in a top-tier suite at the Stellario Hotel, Damian Hawthorne was entertaining clients with a glass of wine in hand.
Hearing these words, he slamd his wine glass heavily on the table.
"Sorry, there’s an ergency at ho, I must leave."
He stood up, leaving those words behind, not even glancing at the stunned guests at the table.
"Calvin, take care of the guests."
"Yes, President Hawthorne." The assistant, Calvin, stood up imdiately, responding respectfully.
The wavy-haired beauty Sumr Lindsey, who was also present at the eting, watched Damian Hawthorne’s hurried departure thoughtfully, her gaze deepening.
Damian Hawthorne raced to The Lyrewood.
He didn’t go inside, but stood under a tree not far away, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.
The glowing ash flickered in the night.
He took out his phone and sent a text.
[Claire, there’s a fish with legs at the pond outside, want to see?]
Inside the private room, Claire’s phone lit up.
She glanced at it and her eyes widened instantly.
A fish with legs?
She imdiately put down her chopsticks and gestured to Mrs. Sterling, saying she was going to the restroom, then got up and ran out.
Seeing the small figure, Damian Hawthorne extinguished the cigarette, a smile tugging at his lips.
He reached out his hand to her.
Claire ran over to him, her face excited, gesturing wildly.
[Where’s the fish with legs? Where is it?]
"I had soone catch it."
Damian Hawthorne’s voice was amused as he grabbed her soft hand, leading her away without further ado.
"I’ll take you to see it."
In the private room, Stella noticed that Claire had been gone for a long ti and felt a bit uneasy.
She inford Mrs. Sterling and then got up to leave the room.
The corridor was deserted.
She had just turned a corner.
Suddenly, a powerful force pulled her over.
"Ah!"
She was startled, the world spinning as she fell heavily into a hot embrace.
A clean yet sharp masculine scent overwheld her senses at once.
Terrified, Stella looked up.
The man’s handso, profound face was re inches away, his eyes filled with scary red veins, staring right at her.
It was Aiden Fordham.
"What are you doing here?" Stella was a bit surprised; wasn’t he supposed to be in the hospital?
"I wanted to see you, so I ca."
Aiden Fordham’s voice was so hoarse, it was like it had been scraped with sandpaper.
The temperature radiating from him was alarmingly high.
Stella imdiately reached out and touched his forehead.
The heat startled her.
The fever hadn’t subsided?
Burning since last night? Wouldn’t he have burned himself silly by now?
"I’ll take you back to the hospital." She frowned, trying to push him away.
But Aiden Fordham only held her tighter, his tall body trembling slightly as he buried his head in her neck, breathing in her scent greedily.
"I’m feeling a bit dizzy."
His muffled voice ca with a trace of grievance and dependency.
"I don’t want to stay in the hospital...take ho."
"Back to Imperial View Unit One."
Stella’s heart constricted; their first ti was at Imperial View Unit One!
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