ra listened to the usations on the phone, apologizing over and over, and then she was shocked to hear that Johnny was bedridden. No wonder Quinn had shown up today instead.


    Quinn held the partnership contract between their twopanies in her hand. If she had it right, this was the project Johnny had poured two years of effort into. But now, Ferguson Corporation was reaping all the rewards, thanks to Quinn. This move could destroy the Bradford family''s hard-earned chance to climb the corporatedder, and she wondered if Johnny even knew.


    ra couldn''t sit still any longer. She immediately asked Dn for some time off and drove straight back to the Bradford family home. The atmosphere there was grim, and everyone looked at her as if they''d seen a ghost when she walked in.


    ra went straight to Johnny''s room and headed upstairs. The room was filled with the smell of medicine. She gently pushed the door open and could hear Johnny coughing. In such a short time, his health had taken a turn for the worse.


    When Johnny saw her, he was initially taken aback, then managed a weak, bitter smile. Was he also on the brink of leaving them?


    ra sat at the bedside and pulled out the contract. "Johnny, I remember thepany had a big project in the works for two years. Is this it? Today Quinn went to Ferguson Corporation, and I found out she handed this project over to them yesterday. The contract is signed. Was this your decision?"


    As she spoke, she realized Johnny was staring intently at her. "Johnny?"


    It took him a moment to snap out of it, almost tumbling out of bed in the process. ra rushed to steady him, not expecting the sudden p that came next. Her head whipped to the side, caught off guard by the unexpected blow.


    Johnny was shaking all over, looking as though he might copse at any moment. "You used to fake death all the time. I never carde about it too much since you always showed up on your own. But this time, your brother''s been in aa for ages, and you''ve been pretending to be dead. ra, do you have no feelings for this family at all? When your grandfather died, I promised him I''d guide you, but your actions have only be more defiant."


    ra touched her cheek. She just thought no one in the Bradford family truly cared for her, which was why she hadn''t bothered to call. But her decision had clearly hurt Johnny.


    Johnny sat hunched on the bed, his fingers still trembling with anger. ra stayed silent for several minutes before finally saying, "I''m sorry."


    Johnny coughed harshly a few times, then gave a bitter smile. "I really don''t know how to deal with you. You seem caring and understanding, yet you''re so stubborn about Simon. When your grandfather passed away, you knelt outside my study for a week. I thought maybe you weren''t beyond hope, but you still chase after Simon. ra, you won''t even call me Dad now, and I don''t know where I went wrong."


    Facing ra, he felt powerless. Part of him med her for Walter''s death, but the family ties couldn''t be severed, leaving him in pain.


    ra quickly poured him a ss of water and knelt beside the bed. As Johnny spoke, she felt her heart ripping apart. She saw the helplessness of a father.


    Johnny didn''t take the water but covered his mouth, coughing hard, blood appearing in his palm. ra''s eyes widened in shock, and she quickly grabbed tissues to clean it up.


    Johnny waved her off, his eyescking any spark. ra silently set the ss down, hesitate to offerforting words but finding none.


    Johnny coughed for a full minute, his face turning red, before finally asking, "All the senior executives and I prepared that project for two years. Our family''s situation has worsened year after year, and we were counting on it to turn things around. You''re saying Quinn gave it to Ferguson Corporation?"


    raid the contract out before him. "It''s clearly written in ck and white."


    As a businessman, Johnny understood the contract immediately. It was like handing over a golden opportunity on a silver tter.