Jas froze mid-step as he read the ssage, his eyes narrowing with a cold intensity. He had contacted Killian from the ambulance en route to the hospital, instructing his trusted secretary to contain the fallout.
The restaurant had been unusually crowded, and the incident had drawn significant attention. He couldn’t rule out the possibility that a guest had taken a video or that soone from the staff had leaked the news.
The last thing he needed was another round of salacious gossip about his family flooding the internet. This ti, with his family directly involved, the stakes were even higher.
Jas clenched his jaw. Not only did he need to suppress any rumors, but he also required irrefutable evidence to put Lila behind bars. Her family wasn’t one he could challenge recklessly. He needed leverage strong enough to silence her father completely.
As Jas prepared to respond to the ssage, another text from Killian arrived. His brows knitted in confusion—why would his secretary send a follow-up so quickly? When he opened the new ssage, Jas went silent.
[There’s sothing you need to see...]
Though he didn’t hear Killian’s voice, the urgency behind those words was palpable. For Killian to send a separate ssage ant he’d hesitated. Whatever it was, it had rattled even a man as composed as him.
Lila wasn’t the issue—Killian was too detached to be swayed by her theatrics. But there was one person who might cause him to pause: Kyra.
At the thought of her na, Jas felt a sudden pang of unease. But before he could dwell on it, Jane’s voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
"Jas, what are you doing just standing there?" The old lady’s voice echoed from the corridor as she beckoned him with a nod. "Co here. Hurry."
"I’ll be right there, Grandma," Jas replied.
Satisfied, Jane turned and disappeared around the corner, heading toward the intensive care unit. Jas, anwhile, quickly typed a response to Killian’s text. He inford him that he was still at the hospital handling matters with Kyra and asked for an update on Lila. After hitting send, he pocketed his phone and made his way to the VIP room where his family was waiting.
Inside, nurses were busy setting up the room under the doctor’s supervision. The space was spacious and well-lit, featuring an ensuite bathroom, a dining area, and a comfortable couch. The hospital director, upon learning the Synders were his guests, had ordered top-tier accommodations.
Jas’ influence as a shareholder was not to be underestimated—his investnts had funded state-of-the-art facilities and equipnt, and he’d even sponsored pharmaceutical research.
To the director, ensuring Jas’ satisfaction wasn’t just about service; it was about securing the hospital’s continued growth and demonstrating the value of his contributions.
As Jane gently held Kyra’s hand, her gaze remained fixed on the sleeping girl. Her voice trembled as she addressed the doctor. "When do you think she’ll wake up?"
Her question was laced with soft sobs, and tears welled in her eyes at the heart-wrenching sight of Kyra’s frail figure.
"That... we can’t say for certain yet," the doctor replied cautiously. "We still need to assess the full extent of her head injury. However, given her stable condition, she might wake up sooner than expected."
Despite his composed exterior, the doctor’s nerves were frayed. Years of experience had taught him that dealing with the families of wealthy patients could be as challenging as treating the patients themselves.
So had unrealistic expectations, treating doctors like miracle workers, and he’d even faced lawsuits in the past. One case, involving a powerful family, had nearly cost him his license.
Since then, he harbored a subtle wariness toward affluent patients. Yet, professionalism ca first, and he was determined to do his job regardless.
To his surprise, Jane simply nodded and offered a warm smile. "Thank you, Doctor."
"Please take good care of our child," Creighton added, extending a hand. His expression was calm and sincere.
"Of course, Mr. Synders," the doctor replied, shaking his hand.
As he exited the room, a wave of relief washed over him. But just as the door closed, it opened again, revealing a tall, handso man with a panicked expression. The family’s faces brightened imdiately upon recognizing him—Oliver.
Anthony, Oliver, Orlando, and Harvey had been Jas’ closest friends since childhood. Their families shared a deep bond, especially with Oliver, whose aunt had married the Synders’ eldest son, making him Jas’ cousin. Oliver’s frequent visits to the Synders’ mansion had only increased after Kyra joined the family.
"Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Cressida, Uncle Vincent, hello!" Oliver greeted politely, his manners impeccable as always.
Cressida’s face lit up. Among Jas’ friends, Oliver was her favorite—not just because of their familial ties but also due to his gentlemanly deanor and stellar career in real estate.
His charm and good looks made him the subject of admiration among her socialite friends, many of whom hoped to pair their daughters with him. So had even sought Cressida’s help, given her aunt-like relationship with him.
"You’re here. Did Jas tell you?" Jane asked, her eyes shifting between Oliver and Jas.
Oliver stood quietly on the opposite side of Kyra’s bed, his gaze fixed on the sleeping girl. Sothing about his deanor caught Jane’s attention. She noticed a faint tension in the air. Jas, too, seed unusually reserved, his typically warm attitude toward his best friend now replaced with an unfamiliar coldness.
"Yes, Grandma," Oliver replied, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion and urgency. His panting breaths hinted at the speed with which he must have rushed to the hospital.
’The boy must have raced through the city and sprinted in here,’ Jane thought, feeling a pang of emotion. Her gaze shifted between Kyra and Oliver.
Despite the ten-year age gap—since Oliver belonged to Jas’ generation—she couldn’t help but consider him a suitable match for Kyra. The signs were there: his constant concern for her, his imdiate response to the news, and now, his evident distress upon seeing her in this state. Perhaps Oliver’s feelings for Kyra ran deeper than re brother-sister relationship.
"H-How is she?" Oliver’s voice broke slightly as his gaze remained fixed on Kyra.
His heart felt as though it were being crushed at the sight of her, swathed in gauze from head to toe. A whirlwind of questions filled his mind, the most pressing being: How did this happen?
His eyes darted to Jas, who sat silently, holding Kyra’s hand. Oliver’s thoughts churned. He had assud Jas would take Kyra ho after the last ti he’d seen them together. But now—this? Could Jas have had anything to do with it?
The idea seed absurd. No matter how angry Jas might have been, it wasn’t in his nature to harm anyone, let alone Kyra. The Synders had always upheld a strict code of conduct: never raise a hand against won, children, the elderly, or the vulnerable.
"She’s stable for now," Creighton said, his voice trembling slightly as he fought back tears. "But the doctor ntioned she needs to stay here for further examinations, particularly concerning her head injury. We’ll need Kyra to wake up before we can understand the full extent of her condition."
Oliver clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tightening as he tried to steady himself. Finally, the question he had been holding back escaped his lips.
"What happened for her to end up like this?" Oliver’s voice trembled with anger, his tone sharp and accusatory.
Jas glanced at him, catching the mix of fury, fear, and helplessness in his words. Oliver wasn’t just angry—he was terrified. The doctor’s vague assurances provided little comfort.
’When will Kyra wake up?’ he wondered. ’What if she doesn’t wake up for a long ti?’
The dark corners of his mind conjured worst-case scenarios, and no amount of logic could silence them. Even soone as rational as Oliver couldn’t think clearly in a mont like this.
The room fell into an uneasy silence. The tension was palpable, and Oliver, already on edge, noticed it imdiately. His piercing gaze locked onto Jas, demanding answers. But Jas, refusing to et his eyes, remained silent, feigning ignorance.
Finally, Jane broke the oppressive quiet, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness. "Grandma and Grandpa decided to visit Jas and Kyra today for dinner," she began, her tone tight.
"But we ran into Lila—she ca along with your aunt and uncle. Do you know her? She’s Jas’ girlfriend."
Oliver’s lips curled into a sneer. "Yes, I know her."
"We decided to have a small welco dinner at Paradise Dynasty since it was the first ti eting her. Everything was fine at first, but during dinner, Kyra said she wanted to spend so ti on the balcony. Lila followed her shortly after..."
Jane’s voice faltered, her eyes clouding with tears. Oliver’s chest tightened. He already had an inkling of what might have happened, and the thought made him sick. Still, he forced himself to listen as Jane pushed through her emotions to finish the story.
"We don’t know exactly what happened," she said, her voice cracking. "But the next thing we knew..."
She broke into quiet sobs, unable to continue. Creighton gently rubbed her back, his own eyes reddened from the mory.
Oliver didn’t need her to say more. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. "Lila pushed Kyra over the railing," he said, his voice steady but laced with venom.
Jane nodded weakly, her sobs intensifying. Creighton sighed deeply, his grief evident.
The fire inside Oliver erupted, consuming his restraint. His teeth clenched, and his glare turned toward Jas, who had remained silent throughout. Jas, sensing the searing rage in Oliver’s eyes, finally looked up to et his gaze.
The air between them grew thick with tension, the unspoken accusations hanging heavy. It felt as though a single spark could ignite the room.
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