Bianca’s head spun, her body feeling weightless, and then a sharp wave of pain hit her. Everything went black as she lost consciousness.
“Bianca! Bianca!” Through the haze, Bianca faintly heard her name being called. The voice, shifting between distant and near, felt both real and far away-it was probably Blake’s.
With great effort, she managed to open her eyes. She saw Blake, bloodied, desperately holding her hand, trying to pull her out of the wreckage.
Bianca’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Bianca! Stay with me. I’m getting you out of here.”
She heard him, but her body wouldn’t respond. Pain overwhelmed her. It was so intense that it felt like she was dying. Her bones felt crushed, and blood flowed from her wounds.
Her thoughts drifted to Dave.
‘Would she ever see him again? When was he coming back?’
Doubt began to creep in. She feared she might not make it until his return. And with that, darkness took over once again as she slipped into unconsciousness.
In Mubluosia, big changes were happening in the business world, and Dave’s plan was coming to an end.
He had pushed Michael to start a price war, encouraging his uncles to invest heavily in big business projects overseas. At the same time, Dave secretly arranged to buy raw materials from these projects. In truth, he was secretly controlling the supply chain for these materials.
For ten years, Dave carefully set up this plan for one big strike.
The shortage of materials caused their prices to skyrocket, making them ten times more expensive and busting the budgets. His uncles were hit hard, losing money, stopping production, and facing the real risk of going bankrupt.
Now, in his office, Dave relaxed on a couch, eyes closed, enjoying a break after days of hard work. His plan had come to a halt for the moment.
The office door swung open, and Dave’s eyes snapped open, his face showing a hint of annoyance at the interruption.
Michael quickly walked up to him, his face clearly troubled. “Dave, your Uncle Kent has… taken his own life.”
Dave paused for a moment, then asked, “What happened?”
“Kent Evans was fully invested, taking the biggest risks in the price war and landing huge projects. But he lost everything. His company had been losing money for a while, hiding it from the public. He thought he could turn things around, but he never saw the mountain of debt coming. They found him at home today. He took his life. The heavy blow was too much for him,” Michael said, his voice heavy with the news.
Dave’s face darkened, and for a brief moment, a bitter smile flickered across his lips.
Kent, Dave’s uncle and the youngest son of Lucas, had always been accustomed to wealth and confidence, protected by the family’s power. He had sailed smoothly through life, but this storm was one he couldn’t survive.
Dave lit a cigarette, the red tip glowing and casting a faint light on his face.
His voice cut through the silence as he stared at the rising smoke. “Did he sign the share transfer agreement?”
Michael nodded, confirming without hesitation. He was always on top of the details.
He pulled the share transfer document from his briefcase and placed it in front of Dave.
A stark red fingerprint smudged the document, sending a shiver through Michael as he saw it. The memory of that moment made his hands tighten into fists, his body shaking slightly.
Michael had gone to Kent’s lavish home to discuss the agreement, but what he found was a scene of despair. Kent had taken his own life.
The shock had caused Michael to step back, stumbling away from the door. Dave’s team, indifferent to the grim scene, moved with cold efficiency, removing the body as if it were just another task. In a chillingly practical gesture, they had placed Kent’s lifeless hand on the document, forcing him to leave his finger print.
As Michael glanced at Dave, who appeared relaxed and unaffected, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of respect and anxiety. Here was a man who seemed untouched by everything, his composure was firm with his clear victory.
For Michael, this moment marked his real entry into the brutal world of corporate power struggles. Though he held the title of leader in the Hayes family, his mother, Miranda, had always been the true head of the family. The battles inside their family had left scars on him-both inside and out-a truth Michael had never fully understood until now.
He had risen to his position thanks to his mother’s success, using her power as his own. He thought he was acting justly, but guilt crept in when he thought about it.
Dave’s strength was similar to Miranda’s. Both had an unbreakable will, strong and intimidating.
Dave’s response to his uncle’s death showed just how unshaken he was. He looked calm and only focused on finalizing the share transfer, with no signs of emotion.
After carefully reviewing the document and confirming it was correct, Dave asked, “What’s going on with my uncle Herbert?”
Michael replied, “I’ve got someone watching him. What’s next? Are you planning to take him down, or…?”
Dave exhaled one last puff of smoke, then stubbed out his cigarette with a careful tap on the desk, leaving a burning mark on the wood-a quiet reminder of the day’s events.
Michael understood without needing any more words. He looked up and saw Dave already standing, pulling on his coat. “I’ll handle him alone,” Dave said.
****
In a quiet hospital room, soft light gently illuminated the girl’s pale face. Her long lashes fluttered as though the light was too bright, and her eyes slowly opened a little.
Bianca felt like she had been in a coma for ages. When she finally woke up, pain shot through her body. Her joints ached as if they had been beaten, and her head throbbed with a million sharp needles. Her mind spun in confusion.
She tried to move but realized her hand was attached to an IV drip. She raised it and felt the gauze wrapped around her forehead.
Turning her head slightly, she saw Diana leaning against the bed, asleep. Though Diana seemed to be resting, her face showed signs of worry. “Diana, Diana…” Bianca whispered softly.
Diana had spent the whole day caring for Bianca and had finally fallen into a restless sleep. At the sound of Bianca’s voice, her eyes snapped open, instantly awake.
“Bianc! You’re awake!” Diana cried, her voice full of joy as she hugged Bianca tightly, tears streaming down her face.