<h4>Chapter 393: A Perilous Strategy</h4>


    E turned her head to gaze at the vibrant city lights outside the window. If Lucas died, would she regret her stubbornness?


    But there is no remedy for regret in this world. She had been given a second chance at life and had worked hard to change her fate. If the thing she feared most came to pass at this point, it could only be called destiny.


    Countless thoughts rose and fell in E’s mind. By the time she arrived at the hospital, her legs still felt weak.


    Eric carried her to the front of the emergency room. Luke stood leaning against the hospital wall, his hands stuffed into his pockets.


    When he saw E rushing over, his eyes flickered slightly.


    Eric set E down and shot Luke a cold nce. "How is Mr. Anderson’s condition?"


    "Well...he heard you were leaving and got anxious, so he decided to drive himself to the airport. But he got into an ident on the way. The other driver fled the scene, and by the time I found him, he’d already lost a lot of blood..."


    E’s face darkened. Lucas’s blood type was rare, just like hers—panda blood. If he had lost so much blood, he would definitely need a transfusion.


    "Luckily, Father regrly stored blood at the hospital, so we don’t have to worry about a shortage. But his blood type...well, you understand. He can only rely on what he’s saved," Luke said grimly.


    E understood. People with rare blood types often had to store their blood at the hospital during healthy periods, just in case of emergencies where they might need a transfusion.


    She sat on a chair, her head lowered, lost in thought.


    Eric pulled her into his arms, silent as he waited for the surgery to end.


    Luke’s gaze fell on E’s lowered face.


    He could only see part of it, but her skin was wless, soft as silk. The tight press of her lips betrayed her troubled emotions.


    The corners of Luke’s lips lifted ever so slightly. This woman might act indifferent toward Lucas on the surface, but when it really mattered...this time, Father had gambled right.


    But the gamble was too reckless. Ending up in the emergency room like this—what if the risk cost him his life?


    E’s heart pounded with unease. If Lucas was truly injured, or worse, lost his life because he had tried to catch up with her...


    The thought alone made a fine sweat break out on her forehead, and her hands and feet went weak.


    "Don’t worry. He’ll be fine," Eric reassured her gently. E gave a small nod and said nothing more.


    With this man by her side, she felt almost fearless.


    Luke, standing off to the side, stared at Eric with confusion. He couldn’t understand why someone as remarkable as Eric—who had risen to such heights purely on his own merit—would be so devoted to E.


    Sure, E was beautiful and had a unique charm, but after two or three years, wouldn’t any man grow tired of a woman, whether emotionally or physically?


    Why was Eric still so indulgent with her?


    Luke would never understand. The man who loved E was not him.


    The doors of the operating room finally swung open, and Lucas was wheeled out by a nurse.


    E and Eric both stood. Lucas hadn’t regained consciousness. His usually rosy face was pale, devoid of any sign of life.


    "Doctor..."


    "Mr. Anderson, your father has temporarily passed out due to severe blood loss. He’s not in any life-threatening condition and should wake up in an hour or two," the doctor exined wearily, listing precautions. Luke nodded, taking note of each one.


    Eric held E close, practically acting as her physical support as they followed Lucas’s moving hospital bed into the room.


    A few nurses carefully transferred Lucas onto the hospital bed. E’s gazended on the IV drip, its contents flowing slowly.


    Lucas’s forehead and thigh were wrapped in white bandages, and the pervasive scent of disinfectant reminded E of her past visits to the hospital.


    Hospitals were ces of both life and death. Each time she set foot in one, she felt an icy chill seep into her bones.


    "Are you thirsty? Should I have Mia get some water?" Eric asked gently, smoothing out her slightly disheveled hair.


    At the mention of Mia, E suddenly looked up, surprised. "Where’s Mia? Didn’t shee with us?"


    Eric nced outside the room but didn’t see her. He stepped into the hallway for a better look, but there was no sign of Mia anywhere. He called her phone, only to find it turned off.


    Well, Mia was known for her poor sense of direction. Eric had brought her along because of her capable skills, but he hadn’t expected her to lose track of them this time.


    "Mia isn’t here, but she might be waiting outside," Eric reassured E, not wanting her to worry. "I’ll ask the bodyguards to get some water."


    E nodded but couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Mia had definitely been with them when they left the airport. She should have followed them, at the very least waiting just outside the hallway. But since Eric didn’t seem concerned, she chose not to press the issue.


    Two hourster, Lucas finally opened his eyes.


    "E..."


    During his unconsciousness, he had genuinely thought he was going to die. Though he had deliberately used a self-inflicted strategy to gain sympathy, he hadn’t anticipated how close he’de to losing his life.


    Now that he was awake, his first thought was whether E had stayed.


    "Father, E is here. You don’t need to worry," Luke’s deep voice reassured him, prompting Lucas to let out a small sigh of relief.


    Lucasboriously turned his head. E stood up, quietly observing his pale face.


    When Lucas saw her, his eyes moistened slightly. "E...I thought...you went back to Country S. Are you really so...so afraid to face me?"


    E’s lips moved, but the weight of her emotions left her unable to push the frail old man away.


    "I didn’t leave. Mr. Anderson, please rest assured. You’ve just woken up, so don’t talk too much. Focus on recovering," E said, lowering her gaze to hide the storm of emotions in her eyes.


    She didn’t want to say more. Her heart was in turmoil, uncertain whether to reconcile with her biological father.


    This kind of internal struggle was something only a child who had been abandoned by their parents could truly understand.


    Lucas smiled, relieved. Luke approached. "Father, how are you feeling?"


    "I’m fine..." Lucas murmured.


    Luke smiled faintly. "Father, focus on getting better and don’t overthink it."


    His words carried a subtle hint, a suggestion to Lucas that E was the type to appear cold but was soft-hearted.


    Though she might not recognize Lucas as her father now, it wouldn’t take long for her to change her mind.


    "I’m going out for a walk," E suddenly announced as she stood up. Eric moved to follow her, but his phone buzzed with an iing call.


    He nced at the screen. It was the secretary of Bowen, someone he didn’t expect.


    Eric smirked coldly and stepped out onto the balcony. "Hello, this is Eric."


    "Mr. Nelson, please hold for a moment. Mr. Bowen would like to speak with you. Are you avable toe to the Venice Grand Hotel right now?"


    "Sorry, I’m not free," Eric replied, his eyes dark with intensity. The Miller family had used their aristocratic status to suppress the Nelson Group and his jointly-investedpanies countless times. Enough was enough.