Chapter 2

Instead of being pushed into a ward, I was roughly shoved into a freight elevator carrying medical waste by two bodyguards, falling all the way to the cold, damp basement.

The wheels rolled over the dilapidated cement ground, and with each bump, the twisted steel bar that pierced my right chest churned mercilessly inside my lungs.

Even though I was completely out of it, I realized something was wrong; I hadn't been moved to any empty ward at all.

I reached out to grab the person next to me and ask what was going on, but I had no strength at all.

In the end, a musty, abandoned storage room in the basement became my "ward." No doctor came down with me; only a low-level caregiver, whose hands trembled like a sieve, managed to hang a bag of saline solution on the metal rack.

“I…I’m so sorry, Mr. Enzo…” The caregiver’s voice trembled with tears as he glanced outside in fear. “ The Kent family has given a strict order: apart from the security guards on the first floor, no medical personnel are allowed to leave the top floor, or their entire family will be blacklisted by the Kent Group. I…I have to go.”

He fled hastily, as if dodging a bomb that could explode at any moment, leaving me alone in this deathly silence.

I lay on the gurney, unable to turn over freely; half my body was almost numb. Black blood gushing from the wound gradually soaked through my clothes, dripping and pattering down the edge of the metal frame onto the concrete floor.

The extreme cold brought on by blood loss began to devour my limbs, and with each weak breath, blood foam surged up from my throat.

After an unknown amount of time, the sharp sound of high heels stepping on the puddle floor came from outside the corridor.

"Squeak—"

The heavy iron gate was pushed open without any mercy.

The woman who walked in was Chloe, Claire's younger sister, the spoiled third daughter of the Kent family who had always treated me like dirt.

“Enzo?” Chloe walked up to the gurney and kicked the bedpost with her expensive leather shoes.

The violent tremors aggravated the wound in my lungs, and I uncontrollably coughed up blood. The intense pain caused my vision to blur in waves.

“ Don’t wait any longer. My sister doesn’t have time for you right now. She’s waiting outside the operating room, shedding tears for Kyle .” Chloe looked down at me, her red lips curving into a smile. “As for why you were thrown into this basement, unable to wait for a doctor or for blood—don’t blame your sister for being careless. This was something I arranged specifically for you.”

I gritted my teeth, forcing back the taste of blood in my throat, and stared at her coldly.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm helping all of you get out of this mess." Chloe scoffed, as if examining a piece of equipment about to break down. "You really think my sister wants to marry you because she loves you? You're just an orphan with no connections. Claire has loved Kyle since she was little, but Kyle is our brother-in-law. Even though my sister is gone, he's still our brother-in-law. Even if Claire loves Kyle madly, she would never dare to be with him, bearing the scandal of 'coveting her brother-in-law'."

" The elders have been urging her to get married soon so she can give up on this idea . And then, you appeared . Do you really think Claire likes you? She just needs a good-for-nothing like you to distract her and shut the elders up." Chloe bent down, her voice chillingly malicious. "Now Claire controls most of the family business and doesn't need to worry about those elders. And then, a damn car accident—you died in the basement protecting her. What a touching 'accident'! That way, she can smoothly fall into Kyle 's arms without going through a complicated divorce ."

“Enzo, the Kent family doesn’t need anyone like you. You’ve been with Claire for three years, enjoying three years of wealth and luxury. You’ve already gotten your money’s worth. You’re not at a loss . You claim to love her, right? Then just die here quietly. That would be the greatest contribution you could make to my sister.”

After saying that, she turned away without looking back, even turning off the valve on the only IV bag containing saline solution. The sound of her high heels faded into the distance, followed by a loud bang as the iron gate slammed shut, completely sealing me in the darkness.

Silence , maddening silence.

I lay on the gurney, which was covered in mud and blood, staring at the dim, yellowish-white light on the ceiling, which seemed about to fall.

I thought the penetrating wound in my body had already reached its peak of pain, but at this moment, an even colder numbness completely robbed me of my last sense of feeling .

For the past three years, I have sheathed all my fangs for Claire.

Do the Kent family really think that Claire's immature business skills are enough to help her escape danger time and time again in this cutthroat business war?

When Kent Group’s overseas supply chain was cut off by local gangs, who used European dark web routes to safely deliver the goods overnight?

When Wall Street financial giants attempted to maliciously short the Kent family's stock, who completely crippled their financial resources?

It's me.

I used the immense and terrifying power and wealth of the entire Luso family to clear all obstacles for her.

I carefully protected her self-esteem and pride, making her believe that all of this was the result of her outstanding business acumen.

I thought I was protecting my wife.

"Heh...hehe..."

I laughed in my anger, for the last trace of warmth called "love" was completely extinguished by Claire's indifference and Chloe's murder.

I used the last of my remaining nerves to lift my stiff hand.

With every inch I moved, the wound in my chest was being torn apart violently, but I didn't care.

I struggled to reach the blood-soaked watch on my left wrist, and precisely located the hidden mechanism on the side of the dial. I pressed it hard , and the metal back cover popped open silently, revealing a tiny black button, no bigger than a pinhead.

This is the most crucial emergency command of the "Rousseau" family. Once pressed, it signifies that the current Godfather is facing the highest level of survival crisis . The watch will automatically send coordinates, and my people will arrive at my side as quickly as possible.

Screw the Kent family.

Without any hesitation, I pressed the black button hard with my thumb.