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SEVENTY-THREE: THE LONG WAY HOME
HALE HOSPITALA full month had passed since William Hale had been admitted, and the change was undeniable.Strength had returned gradually—first in his eyes, then in the steadiness of his hands, and finally in the way his voice no longer sounded like it was constantly fighting exhaustion. The exclusive ward of Hale Hospital had become a controlled cocoon of care, discipline, and quiet hope. And at the center of that progress stood Doctor Elsa Snow.Patrick Doyle finally decided it was time to see the results for himself.“He’s looking far better than I expected,” Patrick said honestly, his tone edged with impressed surprise as he studied the man on the bed.Elsa stood beside him, clipboard tucked against her chest, her expression calm but proud. Kaitlin was there too, hovering near the monitors, while William sat upright on the sofa aside. Two nurses moved quietly around the room, adjusting equipment and double-checking vitals.Patrick flipped through the reports, nodding as he read.
SEVENTY-TWO: CHOOSING SIDES
Seventy-two hours.That was how long it had taken for quiet dissent to turn into open defiance.For decades, the FAMILY had operated on a single, unbreakable principle: the Hales did not answer to pressure. They answered only when it suited them. Yet now, seven days had passed since the first formal complaints were submitted, and William Hale—feared, revered, untouchable—had remained absent.No address.No explanation.No reassurance.The silence gnawed at the organisation like rot beneath polished wood—Rhys started swaying opinions, planting doubt, and positioning himself as alterthenative.By the time the council convened again, the damage had already been done.“The organisation is tired,” Rhys said coldly, standing beside William’s empty seat at the long table. “And frankly, so am I. The Hales have refused to face us. I think it’s time we move forward without them.”“Rhys, I’ll say this one last time,” James snapped from his seat. “This childish rebellion of yours has gone too fa
SEVENTY-ONE: NOT A CHOICE AT ALL
While everything appeared calm on the surface, unrest was quietly awakening in the Underground world.With Leonard weakened and William increasingly absent from FAMILY affairs, one man on the board decided it was time for the Hales to relinquish their seat—to someone whose heart and mind, he claimed, were fully devoted to the business.“He’s demanding two things,” Alex said, seated beside Leonard’s hospital bed. William and Levi sat across from them on the couch, the tension in the room sharp enough to burn.“First, he wants us to hand over the seat. Second—” Alex paused briefly, then continued, “—he says that while we’re old and influential, he knows William understands the value his connections. To solidify both families’ influence, he wants a blood tie.”Levi lifted his head slowly.“He wants Levi to marry his daughter.”“Is this a joke?” Leonard muttered, weak but unmistakably furious.“Grandpa,” Levi said, frowning, “does he really have that much influence?”William leaned forwar
SEVENTY: WALL OF JEALOUSY AND LIES
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
SIXTY-NINE: THE SURGEON’S GAMBIT
By 8 a.m. the next morning, the Exclusive Ward was busier than usual. Leonard Hales’ surgery was scheduled for that day, and every staff member was alert and on standby. The procedure was set to begin at 9 a.m., and by 8:05, Patrick Doyle was already present—examining his patient and cross-checking every instruction he had given the previous day.Nurses carried out final cleaning in the operating theatre while Patrick stood at the nurses’ station, flipping through files and test results one last time.“Everything looks in order. Well done,” he said, handing the folder back.“Thank you, sir,” the nurse replied.Patrick glanced around. “Who’s assisting me today?”“Mr. Levi said our surgeon won’t be assisting you. Instead, they found one of your students. They should be here soon,” the nurse explained.Patrick lifted his head, mildly curious as he handed over his notepad. “I wonder who it is.”“Patrick!” Levi called from behind.Patrick turned, his brows lifting slightly.“We found one,”
SIXTY-EIGHT: THE PROTEGÉ
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
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