Liam wiped the sweat off his brow as he handed over the package to the shopkeeper. The man gave him a quick nod before sliding a few crisp bills across the counter.
"Here. Good work," the shopkeeper muttered before turning away.
Liam pocketed the money without a word and turned to leave, but the moment his feet hit the pavement outside, his mind drifted back to the unconscious stranger at the airport.
The way his body just gave out, it didn't look normal.
Liam frowned. He had seen exhaustion before—hell, he lived with it daily—but that man collapsed as if someone had sucked the life out of him.
I should just leave it alone.
But his body didn't listen. Before he even realized it, his legs carried him toward a nearby staff member, a young woman in a crisp uniform who had been directing travelers.
"Excuse me," Liam said, his voice rough.
The woman blinked at him in surprise. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"The guy who collapsed earlier," he said, trying to sound casual. "What happened to him?"
She gave him a curious look before nodding. "Oh, him? He was taken to a hospital nearby. Looked serious, but the medics responded quickly."
Liam exhaled, the tension in his chest loosening slightly. At least he's getting medical attention.
"Alright. "Thanks," he muttered before turning away.
He climbed into his truck, gripping the wheel a little tighter than usual.
Why do I feel so damn uneasy about this?
He shook his head, irritated at himself.
It's not my problem. The guy's in a hospital. He'll be fine.
Still, as he drove off, the unease lingered in his gut like a stubborn ache.
The hospital was seen as the ER doors slammed open as the medical team rushed Lucas inside. His unconscious body lay limp on the stretcher, his breathing shallow.
"BP dropping! We need to stabilize him now!"
"Prepare an IV—his vitals are unstable!"
The hospital staff moved with trained efficiency, but behind them, Miss Charlie stood frozen at the entrance, watching as Lucas disappeared behind the doors.
A nurse tried to stop her from going further. "Ma'am, you can't—"
Miss Charlie's patience snapped. Without hesitation, she grabbed the collar of the nearest doctor, yanking him forward before the nurse could finish speaking. Her grip was ironclad, her voice deadly calm.
"I don't care what it takes," she said, her fingers tightening. "Save him. If you fail, you will regret it."
The doctor swallowed hard. "Yes. Yes, ma'am. We'll do everything we can."
She released him, and he stumbled back before rushing through the ER doors.
Miss Charlie exhaled sharply, pushing a hand through her hair. Her hands were shaking.
She never panicked—never.
But this was Lucas.
And now she had to do what she dreaded most.
With a steadying breath, she pulled out her phone and dialed.
The line barely rang before a voice answered, firm and unreadable.
"Mr Nolan."
"There's a problem".
At that very moment, Madam Maeve was in the middle of a high-level executive meeting at Tianhu Group's headquarters. She sat at the head of a grand conference table, her sharp eyes scanning the room as she addressed her gathered executives.
"As you all know, my grandson, Lucas, will be joining us for next week's meeting."
A few murmurs rippled through the room as she gestured towards the screen, where a formal portrait of Jun was displayed.
"I've already sent the official announcement. By next week, everyone should be familiar with his face and prepared to welcome him accordingly."
Some of the elders nodded approvingly, while others exchanged hesitant glances.
"Is this really wise?" one of them questioned. "The boy has been hidden for years. Perhaps it's best to keep it that way."
Another executive scoffed. "Are you suggesting that our CEO's own grandson should remain a ghost? That's an insult."
Debate erupted across the table—some welcomed Lucas's return, while others worried it would invite trouble.
In the midst of the discussion, Madam Maeve's personal assistant, Mr. Nolan, discreetly stepped beside her and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"Madam Maeve, it's urgent. Young Master Lucas has collapsed."
A rare flicker of shock passed through Madam Maeve's eyes. But within seconds, her expression returned to its composed mask.
She slowly rose from her seat, silencing the room. "There is something I must attend to. This meeting is adjourned."
Without another word, she strode out, leaving the executives exchanging puzzled glances.
One elder, however, narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he watched her leave.
Outside the company, Madam Maeve is seen entering her car as the door was closed by Mr Nolan as he proceeded to the driver's seat. As Madam Maeve's car sped toward the hospital, Liam's truck passed by on the opposite side of the street.
Liam sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as he waited at a red light.
"This day just keeps getting weirder," he muttered.
The image of the unconscious man flashed in his mind again. Why the hell am I still thinking about him?
He scoffed, shaking his head. "Not my problem. He's in the hospital, end of story."
The light turned green, and he stepped on the gas, completely unaware of the storm brewing around him.
By the time Madam Maeve and Mr Nolan arrived at the hospital, Miss Charlie was already waiting outside the emergency room, her expression tight with concern.
The moment Madam Maeve stepped forward, she didn't waste time. "What happened?"
Miss Charlie took a controlled breath before answering. "I was informed by the airport staff that he had collapsed suddenly. I rushed here as soon as I heard."
Madam Maeve's eyes darkened. "Was it his condition?"
Miss Charlie hesitated. "No. He didn't show any signs of his usual attacks. He just—" she swallowed. "—collapsed."
At that moment, the ER doors opened, and the doctor stepped out.
Madam Maeve turned to him immediately. "How is my grandson?"
The doctor hesitated before saying, "We've stabilized him."
Madam Maeve's shoulders relaxed slightly, but the doctor's face remained grim.
"However," he continued, "we found something concerning in his system."
The surrounding air around them tensed.
Madam Maeve's gaze sharpened. "Speak."
The doctor took a deep breath before delivering the shocking news.
"There were traces of poison in his system."
A stunned silence fell over the hallway.
Miss Charlie's breath caught, while Mr Nolan's expression turned rigid. Madam Maeve's face remained unreadable, but a dangerous glint flickered in her eyes.
Lucas… had been poisoned.