Hoffman's Illegitimate Son

Chapter 4: Unprofessional Nurses 3

The corridor became silent. Rage exploded inside Arthur like a physical wave. His hands clenched so hard that his nails dug into his palms.

"Marcus bribed you?" Arthur asked quietly. "He paid you to let my mother die?"

"I'm sorry!" Vanessa cried. "I needed money! My rent was due, and I thought... I thought it would just be one patient, one time. I didn't think..."

"You didn't think?" Dr. Daniel's face was purple with rage. "You accepted a bribe to violate your oath? To endanger a patient's life?"

"Please don't fire me." Vanessa pleaded. "I have bills, I have family..."

"You should have thought about it before you sold your integrity for a thousand dollars!" Dr. Daniel turned to the security guards who had just arrived. "Get her out of my hospital. You're fired, Nurse Wilson. Immediately. I'll inform the state nursing board. You'll never work in healthcare again."

"No! Please!" Vanessa cried. "I'm sorry! I'll never do it again! Please, Director Daniel!"

"Security!" Dr. Daniel shouted.

Two burly guards moved toward her and each grabbed one of her hands. She struggled, still crying, still pleading, but they dragged her toward the exit. Her cries could be heard even after she was taken around the corner.

"You two." Dr. Daniel turned to Ashley and Megan, who both recoiled. "I'll check the security footage. If I find you were also complicit in this, you're next. Go back to work. Now."

They ran away without a word.

Dr. Daniel took a deep breath, obviously trying to contain his rage. Then he turned to Arthur, and his expression softened. "Mr. Arthur, I cannot apologize enough for what happened here today. This is unconscionable. Your mother will receive the very best treatment our hospital can provide, and of course, I'll return the money you sent earlier. Your mother's bills will be charged to the hospital."

"No." Arthur said.

Dr. Daniel blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Keep the money." Arthur looked at his mother, who was still unconscious on the gurney. "But I have a condition."

"Anything."

"Establish a fund. A fund for patients from poor families who can't afford treatment. Ensure that what happened to my mother today will never happen to anyone else." Arthur's voice was determined. "Ensure that no one will have to see their loved one being dragged out to die because they can't pay."

Dr. Daniel chuckled low and snapped his fingers at the nearby orderly. "Move Mrs. Hart to the Presidential Suite immediately. Call Dr. Harrison. Prepare OR 1. I want our best surgical team on this case."

"Yes, Director!" The orderly obeyed immediately.

"The Presidential Suite?" Arthur asked.

"Private room, luxury amenities, twenty four hour nursing staff." Dr. Daniel smiled. "Your mother deserves the best, Mr. Arthur."

Arthur's phone rang, interrupting the moment. Unknown number. He answered warily. "Hello?"

"Mr. Arthur? This is Marcus Sterling, the chief secretary of Mr. Hoffman."

"Okay?"

"I anticipated that concern, Mr. Arthur. Some men of mine are currently waiting at the hospital's main entrance. They'll drive you to the Hoffman's Estate. Mr. Hoffman demands a meeting with you."

A hot wave of rage flared in Arthur's chest. He clenched his fists, ready to lunge at them right then and there. But before the first curse left his lips, a familiar, cold chime cut through the noise in his head.

[New Mission Available: Impress the Tyrant.]

[Objective: Impress the ice cold tyrant Vance Hoffman.]

[Reward:

Skill: Insight. Increase host's wisdom in all fields. Only works for fields with a minimum of entry level understanding.

One Hundred Thousand Dollars in untraceable funds.]

Arthur swallowed hard, forcing the pain and anger down his throat. He unclenched his fists.

Arthur glanced at his mother, who was now carefully wheeled to the elevators by nurses. "I'll be right down."

He hung up and turned to Dr. Daniel. "I need to leave, but if anything changes with my mother..."

"I'll call you immediately." Dr. Daniel promised. "Go. She's in the best hands possible."

Arthur took the elevator down, his mind spinning. When he stepped outside, he immediately noticed the car, a shining black Mercedes Maybach, the type of car he had only seen in magazines. Beside it stood a man in a black suit and dark glasses, already waving to the open car door at the back.

"Get in."

Hoffman's Estates

Back at the sprawling estate, the heavy silence of the study was broken by the sharp ring of a private phone. The elderly man listened intently to the voice on the other end before lowering the receiver.

"Sir, we received information about the missus," his secretary reported grimly. "She is already halfway through the grave. I'm sorry, sir... we were too late."

The old man slowly removed his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose as the weight of the words settled in.

"Sigh..." Vance Hoffman muttered, a bitter shake in his voice. "Who would have thought she was still in the country, changing her name and hiding right under my nose all these years? I don't know whether to thank the gods for sparing her life or curse her for keeping my son away from me."

He let out a dry, humorless chuckle, staring out the window toward the sprawling gates. "And now that she's gone, my boy will be coming here soon. He'll probably hate the hell out of me for all of this."

"Maybe it's for the best, sir," the secretary said cautiously. "Regardless, we should keep her location buried. Make sure that old woman doesn't find out either. Even though she's been quiet lately, she certainly won't be happy when that boy crosses paths with her side of the family.”

Vance nodded slowly, sliding his glasses back onto his face. "Make it happen. Tell the hospital to keep her existence—and any connection to us—a complete secret."

"Understood, sir," the secretary said, offering a respectful bow before turning and quietly slipping out of the study.