Every single word from Aaron felt like a physical blow, piercing straight through Serena’s defenses and plunging deep into her heart. A towering tsunami of grief and guilt violently overturned everything inside her chest. She had absolutely no idea that her precious daughter had been forced to endure such unimaginable torment and degradation while she was entirely absent.
"No, I need to see her." Serena's voice broke into a desperate, choked sob, her eyes completely blurred by a thick veil of tears. She instinctively tried to push past him and rush toward the glowing doors of the operating room.
Aaron immediately shifted his imposing figure, turning his broad shoulders into an immovable wall that completely blocked her path. He stared down at her with a terrifyingly frigid glare. "Leave. Since you clearly never wanted to be a mother to this child, I will raise her myself. From this day forward, you are absolutely forbidden from ever seeing her again."
Serena was struck completely dumb by the absolute finality in his voice. Teardrops clung to her long eyelashes as she furrowed her brow, carefully studying the hardened, unfamiliar features of the man standing before her.
Her mind uncontrollably drifted back to their youth. Back then, she had been the radiant, untouchable beauty of their university, while Aaron had merely been a quiet, introverted nerd who practically lived in the library. They were supposed to be two parallel lines that would never intersect in a million years. However, a sudden, terrifying incident had completely shattered her preconceived notions about him.
Local street thugs had cornered her outside the campus gates, relentlessly harassing and threatening her. Every other student in the vicinity had cowardly kept their distance, terrified of getting involved. No one could have ever predicted that the normally invisible, unassuming Aaron would bravely step forward to shield her. He had fought them off, ultimately taking three brutal stab wounds to his own body just to ensure her safety.
Consumed by deep guilt and overflowing gratitude, she had visited him constantly to nurse him back to health. As the days slowly turned into weeks, she found herself genuinely falling in love with the seemingly dull but incredibly steadfast boy. They began dating in secret, sharing quiet, beautiful moments hidden away from the world.
But happiness was fleeting. Her powerful, wealthy family eventually discovered their secret romance. They ruthlessly intervened, forcefully tearing the young lovers apart and immediately transferring her to a different school to sever all contact.
With those vivid, painful memories flashing before her eyes, Serena felt as though her heart was being slowly ground into pieces. The two people who had once loved each other so deeply had now become nothing more than hostile strangers.
"Is this my punishment for leaving without saying goodbye all those years ago?" Serena asked, her voice trembling as she forced the words out syllable by painful syllable.
Aaron’s eyebrows twitched into a slight frown. Looking at the woman weeping so bitterly before him, he felt an inexplicable, frustrating twinge of pain in his own chest, but he stubbornly kept his mouth shut, offering absolutely no response.
Serena desperately wanted to explain herself, to tell him about the suffocating pressure and the countless nights she had spent searching for their child. However, she suddenly noticed the growing crowd of hospital staff and patients gathering around the corridor. Even though she had disguised herself carefully with a large mask and a low cap, she was still a famous public figure, and the lingering fear of being recognized by paparazzi kept her paralyzed.
"It is not safe for us to talk here. Please, just give me your address, and I will come find you later tonight..." Serena whispered, casting a nervous, vigilant glance at the whispering bystanders before looking longingly toward the surgical ward.
"Do you honestly think there is any need for that anymore?" Aaron scoffed, completely out of patience for what he saw as meaningless excuses. He casually pulled a silver lighter from his pocket, tossing it lightly in his palm as he coldly brushed past her shoulder without a second look.
"Hey, look over there. Doesn't that woman look exactly like the famous star, Serena Vale?"
"Now that you mention it, she really does look like her..."
The suspicious murmurs of the surrounding crowd finally reached a dangerous volume. Knowing she had completely run out of time, Serena shot one last, fiercely resentful glare at Aaron’s retreating back before turning on her heel and swiftly escaping down the stairwell. She had never imagined that their reunion after so many years would be so bitter, leaving her drowning in a complex, agonizing sea of conflicting emotions.
Later that afternoon, the first of the elite medical experts finally arrived at the hospital. He was an elderly man dressed in flowing, traditional Daoist robes. Ignoring the strange looks from the modern hospital staff, he marched straight up to Aaron and dropped to one knee, respectfully clasping his hands together in a deep bow.
"Lord Holmes, I, Ghost Healer, have arrived late. Please forgive my incompetence."
Aaron waved his hand dismissively, his face exhausted but fiercely focused. "As long as you are here, the formalities do not matter. Hurry up and examine my daughter. You must find a way to cure her. Several more top-tier medical experts will be arriving shortly, and I expect all of you to rapidly formulate a flawless treatment plan."
"Understood, Lord Holmes."
A short while later, Ghost Healer returned from the intensive care unit with a grave expression. "I have carefully observed the young miss's condition. It is curable. However, I strongly suggest a bone marrow transplant as the safest and most permanent solution. Specifically, the highest compatibility rate would come from a direct sibling. It would be highly beneficial if you and the young miss's mother could conceive another child."
Aaron's mind buzzed violently at the suggestion. He furrowed his brows deeply, silently studying the old doctor's firm, serious demeanor. The mere thought of being intimate with the woman he currently despised was jarring, and he finally waved his hand in irritation. "Enough. I understand the situation."
"Furthermore, there is another critical matter that I dare not conceal from you," Ghost Healer continued, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper. "While conducting my physical examination of the young miss, I discovered clear anomalies in her bloodwork. This leukemia is absolutely not a congenital illness. It was deliberately induced through a viral injection. Someone intentionally poisoned the young miss."
Upon hearing those horrific words, Aaron's entire body froze. A terrifying, murderous aura instantly erupted from his eyes, dropping the temperature in the hallway. "Is this the absolute truth?"
"This subordinate would never dare speak falsely to you!"
Aaron's jaw clenched so tightly it looked as though his teeth might shatter. A dark, swirling cloud of pure, unadulterated rage gathered between his brows. "Investigate this immediately," he roared, his voice echoing with absolute authority. "Pull every single medical record concerning my daughter, from the day she was born to the moment she entered this hospital. I do not care what it takes, but you must find out exactly who did this to her!"
The sheer magnitude of his wrath was palpable. Seeing their leader so deeply enraged, the surrounding subordinates felt their own blood boil with matching fury, and they immediately scattered to execute the command.
To facilitate better, more private medical care for Liv, Aaron ordered her to be carefully transferred to a luxurious, secluded villa in Southridge. The environment there was pristine, enveloped by lush greenery and fresh air, making it the perfect sanctuary for recovery. More importantly, it completely shielded them from the prying eyes of the media and any lurking enemies.
It did not take long for his vast intelligence network to yield results.
"We found it, sir. When the young miss was exactly one year old, there is a record of her being treated for a minor cold at a small, run-down clinic in the southern suburbs. Almost immediately after that specific visit, she developed the symptoms of leukemia."
Aaron stood up abruptly, a lethal storm brewing in his dark eyes. He did not waste a single breath on words, directly striding out of the villa and sliding into the back seat of a waiting black SUV. Reaper and several heavily armed men instantly understood the silent command. They piled into the escort vehicles, knowing full well that the small clinic was about to face absolute hell.
Half an hour later, the convoy slammed on their brakes outside the dingy clinic in the southern suburbs. The moment the tires screeched to a halt, Reaper and his men surged forward like shadows, violently kicking the doors open and swiftly clearing the premises of any irrelevant bystanders.
Aaron stepped out of the vehicle, his brows knitted slightly as he swept a cold, disdainful glance over the faded, peeling signboard above the door. He then slowly paced into the center of the cramped lobby.
"Who the hell are you people? What is the meaning of this intrusion?" The resident doctor, a scruffy man in a stained white coat, glared at the imposing men with feigned outrage. "What exactly do you think you are doing here?"
Aaron fixed the doctor with a gaze so icy it could freeze blood. He ignored the man's pathetic blustering, directly reaching into his tailored pocket to pull out a crumpled photograph. He shoved the image of the sick little girl right into the doctor's face. "Take a very close look at the child in this picture. Do you remember her? Tell me exactly what you did to her all those years ago."
Even though Liv was now five years old and her features had changed drastically due to starvation and disease, the doctor instantly recognized the distinct face. A violent flash of raw, undeniable panic darted across his greedy eyes.
"I have absolutely no idea who that is. I do not know her. I am warning you thugs, get out of my clinic right now, or I am calling the police!"
Aaron had entirely anticipated this cowardly denial. However, the momentary flicker of sheer terror in the doctor's eyes had already confirmed everything he needed to know. He calmly walked over to the medical supply cabinet, picked up a thick, empty syringe, and turned back with a chilling, demonic sneer. "She was only one year old. A helpless baby. How could you possibly have the heart to do such a monstrous thing?"
Before the doctor could reach for his phone, Reaper and another operative lunged forward, grabbing his arms and slamming him ruthlessly to his knees. He was pinned so tightly against the cold floor tiles that he could not even twitch a muscle.
From the exact second Aaron had produced that photograph, the doctor knew his dark past had finally caught up with him. He realized that denying the truth was completely futile against these terrifying, heavily armed men who had clearly come for blood.
"Please, brothers, please spare my miserable life!" The doctor suddenly wailed, abandoning all pretense. He violently slammed his forehead against the floorboards, creating loud, sickening thuds. "I was only following orders back then! They offered me fifty thousand dollars! It was fifty thousand dollars just to inject the little girl with the virus... I was greedy, I..."
"For a mere fifty thousand dollars, you intentionally destroyed an innocent life," Aaron interrupted, his voice dropping to a terrifying, absolute zero. "Do you honestly think you are worthy of wearing that white coat?"
He crouched down slightly, grabbing the doctor by the hair to force him to look up. "Tell me exactly who instructed you to do this. Give me a name, and I will grant you the mercy of a fully intact corpse."
Aaron’s tone was devoid of any human emotion. A profound sense of injustice raged within him. Why was the entire world seemingly dead set on torturing his fragile little girl? Why was her destiny so tragically cursed?
"It was the Tyler family! It was the men from the Tyler family!" the doctor shrieked, tears of terror streaming down his face. "Even though they tried to hide their identities during the transaction, I clearly recognized the man sitting in the back of their luxury car. It was the second young master of the family, Marcus Tyler! Please, I am begging you, spare me! I was just momentarily confused by the money!"
Aaron did not spare the sobbing, pathetic creature another ounce of his attention. He simply stood up, straightening his cuffs, and shot a sharp, definitive glance at Reaper.
Understanding the silent execution order perfectly, Reaper did not hesitate for a fraction of a second. He smoothly drew a vial of clear, lethal fluid from his own tactical vest, expertly drew it into the large syringe, and plunged the needle directly into the doctor's neck. They were seasoned veterans of the underworld; eliminating a piece of trash like this required no second thoughts.
The doctor convulsed violently on the floor for barely two seconds before thick white foam bubbled from his lips, his eyes rolling back into his skull. As his final breath rattled out of his lungs, his frozen expression was locked in a mixture of profound terror and absolute, agonizing regret.
"So, it is the Tyler family once again," Aaron murmured to himself, wiping his hands with a handkerchief before dropping it onto the fresh corpse. Since they had repeatedly targeted his innocent daughter with such malicious intent, he would ensure they paid the ultimate price. "Then let them face absolute destruction."
In that defining moment, an overwhelming, suffocating aura of pure killing intent radiated from Aaron, his eyes completely devoid of warmth, replaced only by the cold promise of absolute slaughter.
Latest Chapter
Chapter 219
Lord Holmes, of all people!A single word from him could send every major family and corporation in Haven into a frenzy.Yet somehow, he was sitting there while his future mother-in-law tore into him without the slightest restraint.If Maren Holt hadn't promised Aaron Holmes that she would keep his identity a secret, she would have revealed the truth long ago. Some of the things Camille said were becoming downright unbearable, even for her.The dinner was a celebration for Camille Vale, Roland Vale, and Serena alone. Aaron was practically invisible, barely more than an extra at his own table, while Maren kept her head down and ate in silence, quietly fuming on his behalf.After dinner, Camille and Roland left.Maren pulled Aaron out into the villa's courtyard, her expression thoroughly disgruntled."Aaron, my God, my Lord Holmes, I'm honestly starting to wonder if the person I saw at the Bancroft family estate that day was even you. Compared to tod
Chapter 218
"Oh, and don't worry about the money. I'll get it back for you."With that final statement, Aaron Holmes left the residential district, leaving the two of them staring at each other in bewilderment.Rosalie Chambers quickly let out a cold snort. Nine hundred million in funds? How could a man who lived off women possibly come up with that kind of money? He was just trying to save face, nothing more."What an arrogant fool," she muttered.Mr. Chambers frowned, watching Aaron's retreating figure with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he shook his head. Perhaps he was overthinking things. Aaron's background was clear enough already. He was just a worthless man with no real capabilities.As for what he'd just said, it was probably nothing more than an attempt to lose with some dignity intact."Forget it. No matter what, he did save my life. We've repaid that debt now, and that's enough. Let's hope he doesn't come looking for the Chambers family again
Chapter 217
Could it be some other junior member of the Vale family?Felix Vale dismissed the thought almost immediately. It didn't matter who it was. The crisis facing the Vale family had been completely resolved, and more importantly, the Chambers family had explicitly stated they wouldn't demand any repayment from the Vale family.The two families were even.Felix Vale wouldn't dare refuse such an arrangement. What could be better than settling accounts like this? The money was in hand, and there was no obligation to return it. It was the perfect resolution.After leaving the Vale residence, Rosalie Chambers drove directly to Vale Group. The atmosphere at the company remained lively and bustling, largely because most employees had no idea what had transpired. If they knew the truth about how close the company had come to disaster, they probably wouldn't be so relaxed. Ignorance, in this case, was bliss.Rosalie Chambers passed through the reception desk and made her
Chapter 216
Rosalie Chambers clenched her small fists tighter, her frustration mounting with every passing second. If he hadn't started that company, one person could never spend all that money in an entire lifetime. Yet somehow, Aaron Holmes, an ordinary man with no background to speak of, wasn't satisfied with any of it."The more I think about it, the angrier I get!" she burst out. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to track down Aaron Holmes and beat him senseless with her own two hands.Mr. Chambers spoke in a low, measured tone. "Enough. Getting angry won't solve anything. What matters now is finding a way to eliminate the trouble Aaron poses. If we wait until he comes knocking on our door, it won't be nearly as easy to handle."His words struck a chord. Rosalie's eyes suddenly lit up as a memory surfaced."Oh, Grandfather! Something major happened last night with the Vale family and Vale Group. The Vale family secretly transferred funds out of Vale Group's accoun
Chapter 215
Felix Vale looked like he'd aged ten years overnight. If someone, anyone, was willing to help the Vale family, he would pay any price they asked."Felix, right now we should be grateful those vultures aren't circling to pick our bones clean. Who's going to stick their neck out for the Vale family?" Brandon Vale let out a long sigh, his voice heavy with resignation."So we're supposed to just sit here and wait for the end?" Felix Vale snarled, his frustration boiling over.Serena Vale and Camille Vale stood off to the side, silent. There was nothing left to say."No need to wait for anything. Give it a little time and I'll have this sorted out."Aaron Holmes walked through the door, his tone calm and unhurried."Aaron!"Serena's eyes lit up instantly, as if she'd spotted a lifeline in a stormy sea. Relief flooded her features, softening the tension that had gripped her face moments before.Camille Vale, however, pursed her lips dismissively. "O
Chapter 214
"Felix Vale, Brandon Vale, your Vale Holdings accounts are completely empty. Where exactly did you transfer the money? I suggest you come clean now."The director of the Consumer Protection Office fixed them with a hard stare, his voice low and severe."No money?"Felix Vale and Brandon Vale both stared in disbelief, their eyes widening in shock. The statement didn't make sense. It couldn't be real."That's impossible," Felix protested."Vale Holdings still has a hundred and twenty million in the account. How could there be nothing?"The Consumer Protection Office director studied their genuinely shocked expressions, and his own confusion deepened. Something didn't add up here. These men looked truly blindsided."What's really going on here?" he muttered. "Didn't they take the investment from Vale Group? That was over seven hundred million. How can every last cent be gone?"One of the Consumer Protection Office's technical staff kept his eyes
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