The doctor sounded relieved. "He went into shock from blood loss, but he''s stable now. We gave him a transfusion and stitched up his wounds. He''ll need to rest and eat well to recover."


    Suri felt a wave of relief wash over her, her body going limp. "Thank God... Thank God!"


    After the doctor left, she immediately instructed her driver to buy the best blood- replenishing supplements avable, no matter the cost.


    "Suri, you truly are a living saint, helping people so selflessly," said the driver, who had only been with the Ashbourne family for a couple of years and didn''t know the full story. He assumed she was acting out of purepassion.


    Suri lowered her eyes, a bitter smile on her lips. "You don''t understand. I''m paying a debt."


    The driver, looking confused, left to buy the supplements.


    Hans was moved to the hospital''s best VIP room. Suri sat by his bed, never leaving his side.


    "Hubery... is that you?” she whispered over and over, her eyes filling with tears. "How did this happen? My child... what have you been through to end up like this?"


    The grief she had suppressed for years over the loss of her son finally poured out. In a way, Hans had be her sce, a physical embodiment of the son she missed so desperately.


    Suddenly, Hans, still unconscious, broke out in a cold sweat. His pale, dry lips parted. "Mom..."


    "My child, what did you say?!" Suri''s eyes widened, and she leaned closer.


    "Mom... Mom..."


    The sound was muffled, but to Suri, it was crystal clear. She grabbed his cold, rough hand, her eyes overflowing with tears. “I''m here..... my child, Mom is here!”


    Even if Hans only had her son''s face, in that moment, she was willing to see him as her Hubery, her son.


    Hans seemed to be trapped in a nightmare, lost in a deep sorrow. Unconsciously, his fingers curled, gently gripping Suri''s hand. "Can I... live in the light... too?"


    Suri didn''t understand what he meant, but she nodded through her tears. "Yes, of course you can! As long as... you want to!"


    Hans fell silent, drifting back into a deep sleep. But a peaceful, radiant smile touched his lips.


    ...


    The grand


    ballroom had been


    converted into a conference hall that could seat hundreds. The seats were filled with reporters from all the major media outlets in the country. Laptops were open, live streams were set, and cameras were aimed at the stage, all waiting for the new CEO of the Abernathy Group to appear.


    The doors opened, and under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Chad,


    dressed in an immacte suit, walked gracefully onto the stage.


    He stood before the microphone before


    and bowed deeply, his voice warm and humble: "Thank you all for taking


    e time out of your buset


    V


    schedules to attend this press


    conference. I sincerely apologize on behalf of the Abernathy Group for taking up public resources. The main purpose of this conference is to provide a unified response to the recent drug abuse scandal involving my brother, Thaddeus, the former CEO of the Abernathy Group. I felt it was necessary for me to step forward and give the public an


    exnation."


    A reporter called out, "Why are you the one stepping forward? As the person


    involved, shouldn''t Thaddeus be here to exin himself?"


    A murmur of disapproval for Thaddeus''s perceived cowardice spread through the


    room.


    "He is... unable to make an


    appearance at this time.


    Furthermore, he has been dismissed


    from his position. Officially, he is no longer part of the Abernathy Group, so there is no need for him to be here."


    "Who says there''s no need?!"


    A powerful voice echoed through the hall, capturing everyone''s attention. The heavy doors of the ballroom were thrown open with a resounding bang.