Doctors and nurses rushed over with a gurney and wheeled Marianne into the emergency room.
The hallway fell silent.
All that remained was the glowing red “In Surgery” sign and the mess on the floor.
Damien leaned against the wall and loosened his tie.
He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, but then he saw the “No Smoking” sign on the wall and irritably shoved them back.
He walked over to Grace and knelt before her.
His tall frame blocked the harsh glare of the overhead lights.
“Does your leg hurt?”
His palm was large and warm as he gently placed it on her injured leg.
Grace flinched slightly.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
It was a lie.
But what was this pain compared to everything else?
Damien looked at her pale face, his own eyes shot through with red.
“I’m sorry.”
He was apologizing again.
He’d said those words more than any others these past few days.
“I’m pretty useless, aren’t I?”
Damien buried his head in her lap, his voice muffled.
“I promised I’d protect you, but I still let you get hurt like this.”
“Felix just called. He said Uncle Martin is using a power of attorney my dad signed a while ago to try to kick me out at the board meeting.”
“He’s telling everyone I’m putting a woman before the family’s interests and that I’m not fit to be the heir.”
Grace’s fingers gently combed through his thick, dark hair.
“Damien.”
“Hmm?”
“You need results, don't you?”
Damien looked up, his expression clouded with confusion.
“Uncle Martin has seized control of the finances. Several of my biggest projects have been shut down.”
“He’s trying to sideline me, to force me to submit.”
Grace’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“That new drug project… it’s missing the core technology, right?”
Damien was stunned. “How did you know? That’s a trade secret…”

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