Chapter 187 Drake saw the news report of the incident and watched videos captured by bystanders online . The footage of Thalia fighting her attackers made his heart clench . Before he could process that sight , he watched as she was loaded into an ambnce . His chest tightened painfully . He tried calling Thalia several times from his assistant''s phone , but no one answered . Frantic with worry , Drake abandoned his work and rushed to the hospital .


    Not knowing which hospital Thalia had been taken to , he checked three facilities near the incident location , frantically inquiring at each until he finally spotted familiar faces outside an emergency room at thest hospital . He hurried over , hisposure shattered , and grabbed Asher''s arm . " ckwood , how is she ? How''s Thalia ? " As he gripped Asher''s arm , Drake felt something wet and sticky . Looking down , he saw his hand covered in blood and recoiled in shock .


    Asher withdrew his arm , his eyes icy as he responded coldly : " Still in surgery . " " What happened ? Witnesses online said the victim was shot - how did the attackers get a gun ? " Drake asked , then suddenly realized : " Was it Malfoy ? Has Malfoye for revenge ? " Asher''s eyes shed with dangerous intensity as he snapped : " Shut up . You''re being loud . " Drake''s temper red . " ckwood , if you can''t protect her , why do you keep pursuing her ?


    If it weren''t for you , she wouldn''t repeatedly find herself in danger ! " His voice echoed through the corridor , prompting a passing nurse to reprimand them : " This is a hospital ! Keep it down ! " Drake lowered his voice but continued to re at Asher with undisguised hatred . " Haven''t you done enough damage ? Why keep involving her ? Is the great ckwood heir so ipetent that he can''t even protect the woman he ims to love ? What good are you ?


    You once told me I wasn''t worthy of Thalia , that I had no right to love her - but what about you ? What right do you have ? " Asher''s jaw tightened as he absorbed Drake''s usations . His hands clenched into fists , but he remained silent . It was true . 98.9 % Chapter 187 He couldn''t protect the woman he loved . What right did he have to im he loved her ? His Lia had been hurt repeatedly because of him . His love had be a burden .


    A sharp , spreading pain gripped Asher''s heart , making it difficult to breathe . " That''s enough , Drake , " Victoria intervened , pulling him away . " Who are you to criticize ? Thalia suffered plenty of harm while she was with you too . Neither of you has the moral high ground here . " Drake lowered his head , falling silent . The corridorpsed back into a tense quiet , As darkness fell outside , the knot of anxiety tightened in everyone''s chest .


    Catherine and Andrew ckwood arrived after hearing about Thalia''s condition . Catherine genuinely liked Thalia as a daughter - in -w and was deeply distressed to learn of her critical injuries . When she noticed the blood on Asher''s hand , her concern intensified . " Asher , you''re injured too . Please get it treated , " she urged . Her gaze dropped to the floor , where a disturbing pattern of blood droplets had formed . Her face paled . " Asher , your wound looks serious .


    You need medical attention immediately ! " Asher had been at the hospital for over an hour , his wound bleeding steadily while he ignored itpletely . " It''s nothing - just a scratch , " he replied hoarsely . " You''ve lost far too much blood for it to be '' nothing '' ! " Catherine walked briskly toward the end of the corridor . " Nurse ! Nurse ! " Shortly after , Catherine returned with a nurse . " Please take him to treat that wound , " she requested .


    Asher remained motionless , staring at the illuminated " Surgery in Progress " sign with vacant eyes . Catherine wiped away a tear and gave Asher a gentle push . " Go and get it bandaged . You don''t want Thalia to see you like this when she wakes up . " This seemed to reach him . Chapter 187 He nodded slightly and finally followed the nurse . Victoria watched him leave and sighed deeply , What a star crossed pair they were . After Asher departed , Catherine forcefully pulled Andrew aside .


    " Come with me . Now . " Her demeanor was unyielding as she dragged her husband outside the hospital , her lips pressed tightly together , eyes zing with anger . Several medical staff and nurses gave them curious nces as they passed . " What are you doing ? Let go ! " Andrew shook off Catherine''s hand once they were outside , A sharp SLAP echoed in the air . Catherine had struck him across the face . " Have you lost your mind ? " Andrew shouted . Catherine''s anger erupted .


    " I''ve lost my mind ? If you hadn''t been so irresponsible - getting that woman pregnant and then being too soft - hearted to prevent that bastard child from being born - none of this would be happening ! Do you realize Malfoy nearly killed our son today ? " Andrew''s face darkened . " How could I have known what kind of man Malfoy would grow up to be ? ming me now is pointless ! " " Andrew ! " Catherine pointed her finger usingly . " You''re the source of all this !


    Everything stems from your actions , yet you stand there as if you bear no responsibility ! " Andrew''s eyes reddened with anger . " Fiona lied to me about having an abortion . She concealed the pregnancy and went abroad to have the child . What could I have done ? I only found out after Malfoy was born . Even tigers don''t devour their young - were you expecting me to kill my own son ? " Catherine''s tears flowed freely in her anger .


    " So instead , you''ve allowed your illegitimate son to try to kill Asher ! Isn''t Asher your son too ? You created this nightmare ! " " Ha ! " Andrewughed bitterly . " I created this ? When I begged you all to let Malfoye back to the ckwood family , to be acknowledged properly , you threatened to kill yourself ! My father threatened to disown me ! If Malfoy had grown up within the ckwood family , would he have fallen in with the Russian criminal underworld ?


    Would he harbor such hatred toward Asher ? " " Well done ! " Catherine''sugh was hysterical . " Now it''s our fault , is it ? I was blind to marry such a heartless creature ! Andrew , I want a divorce ! " " Have you gone mad ? " Andrew''s face darkened . "Malfoy has been arrested , and Asher is safe . Why are you talking about divorce now ?


    " vald Diggor is Actually A True Heiress 99.2 % Chap 127 * Because at your core , you''re a cold , unfeeling man ." Catherine''s voice had grown quieter , her anger giving way to a deeper contempt . " You''re the root cause of all this , yet you absolve yourselfpletely . Because of your past mistakes , our son nearly lost his life , and the Winters family almost lost everything . Yet here you stand , ming me for threatening suicide ? Maming your parents for not epting Malfoy ?


    Andrew , do you have any conscience left at all ? " Andrew''s face was grim as he remained silent . Catherine stared at him , her eyes cold as ice . " Andrew , " she said softly , " the person Malfoy should have sought revenge against was you . " With those words , she turned and walked away . " 1 ~ * Andrew tried to speak , but suddenly coughed up blood , his vision darkening as he copsed to the ground . C