The noise of the hospital returned slowly, as if someone had turned the volume knob back up. Footsteps echoed across the marble floor. Nurses moved briskly from ward to ward. A trolley rattled past. Conversations overlapped. Yet in the middle of it all, the four of them stood frozen—caught between recognition, confusion, and disbelief. Ross looked like he had just seen a ghost, while Iris stood frozen, her eyes darting between the humble Elsa and the titan of industry, Levi Hale. Iris was the first to break the trance. "I’m sorry... Elsa, you actually know him?" Elsa stepped back, to Stand beside Iris, her face flushed with a warm glow as she turned to her. "Yes! Iris, this is Levi, my old friend from Northwood. And Levi, this is Iris, my sister-in-law." Levi, usually the master of stoic composure, took a second to pull himself together. He cleared his throat and extended a hand to Iris. "Ahem... hi. Nice to meet you." Iris reached out, her hand trembling as it disappeared in

A week slipped by in a blur of meetings, reports, and endless pressure. Levi barely had time to breathe, let alone call Elsa. The thought of her lingered constantly at the back of his mind—something important he kept postponing, not because he wanted to, but because time refused to cooperate.Between completing the project his father had personally assigned him and preparing for Patrick Doyle’s arrival—now only a week away—Levi was stretched thin. The recommended doctor from Sacramento was still nowhere to be found, forcing him to authorize Harley to contact the second option in New York.Meanwhile, public curiosity around Leonard Hale’s condition refused to die down. Media houses were relentless, circling like vultures. Levi, who had never hidden his disdain for the press, made a firm decision: the family would speak exclusively through their own media arm—Pacific Rim Network. As for the man who had publicly criticized the Hales weeks earlier, Levi ensured his downfall came quietly a

The remaining days unfolded like a quiet rollercoaster—different outings between Levi and Elsa, all carefully hidden from his family. Whenever they asked who he was meeting, he dodged the question with practiced ease.Even Luke hadn’t met her properly. Levi guarded her like a locked treasure chest, one he had no intention of letting anyone open.The Grand Pacific Quay“Are you sure Levi said he’d handle the inspection himself today?” Luke asked, standing in the mall’s parking lot with Teyana, Ross, and two of the mall managers.“Yes, sir,” Ross replied promptly.“Obviously, Luke,” Teyana added dryly, She gestured toward the two managers, who were visibly trembling. "If he wasn't coming, they wouldn't look like they were about to piss themselves".Luke turned to her with a curious grin. "I get why they’re here, but why are you here, Tey?"."To keep you boys company," she said with a slow, practiced smile. "Plus, as Head of HR, whatever verdict he hands down today, I’m the one who has t

The next day dawned early. The air was cool, the weather agreeable—the kind that sent a pleasant tingle through anyone awake to feel it. It was payday for most people, deal-closing day for others.And for the Hales, it was another milestone.By 10:00 AM, Levi Hale’s formidable convoy was lined up at the San Francisco seaport. As the massive cruise liner docked, passengers began to disembark, many pausing in awe to wonder which dignitary or celebrity the high-security entourage was waiting for.Levi leaned against the lead vehicle, radiating an intimidating aura of power and composed grace.He was impeccably dressed—clad in a dark, sharply tailored pinstripe three-piece suit that hugged his frame with quiet authority. A crisp white shirt peeked beneath the vest, the collar open just enough to soften the severity. Polished black leather shoes grounded his stance, while a sleek wristwatch rested against his cuff, catching the light when he moved. Dark sunglasses shielded his eyes, his ha

After the lung cancer surgery, Leonard was informed that he would typically remain in the hospital for about fourteen days for close monitoring.His post-operative care began the day after surgery. Pain management came first, followed by breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia. A chest tube was placed to drain fluids, and recovery involved gradually increasing physical activity, frequent use of an incentive spirometer, and discussions around possible adjuvant treatments—chemotherapy or radiation—to prevent recurrence. They were painful but he bore them.Throughout it all, Elsa oversaw his care, while her teacher continued pretending he wasn’t fully healed yet. Levi, meanwhile, gave Elsa time to think about his proposal. Kaitlin, on the other hand, had already begun plotting—determined to match Levi with the doctor, unaware that the two already knew each other.“Have you seen the doctor?” Kaitlin asked the moment Levi and Luke walked in. “What do you think of her? I think she’s perfec