The promise of marriage they once shared now felt like a distant dream, broken by time and the challenges they had faced. Dave couldn’t help but wonder how everything had changed so suddenly after his business trip.
Had Blake’s repeated acts of heroism, saving her repeatedly, caused Bianca to change her feelings? Or maybe Dave’s seeming indifference during the fire made her believe Blake was the one who truly loved her and deserved to be with her.
A sharp pain suddenly shot through Dave’s head, reminding him of the agony he felt the day his parents died.
When his mother passed away in an accident, his father, out of love, chose to end his own life, leaving Dave completely alone in the world.
Now, Bianca had chosen to give up her love for him and leave him for Blake.
He had always been left behind, never chosen, so he had learned not to expect love from others.
As Dave looked at his reflection in the shop window, a deep feeling of loneliness and loss overwhelmed him, drowning him in sadness.
Without warning, he burst into laughter, the sound growing louder and more unsettling, almost like a desperate cry. People walking by quickly moved away, sensing something was wrong.
Dave stumbled into a bar, drinking one shot after another, not caring about the consequences. He didn’t care about himself anymore; he only wanted to numb the pain in his heart and escape thoughts of Bianca and the day’s events.
The alcohol quickly took its toll, and Dave began to feel its effects.
Just then, his phone rang. He snapped back to reality and saw Skylar’s name on the screen. He straightened up slightly and answered, “Skylar, did my grandpa wake up?”
“Yes, he’s awake. Where are you now?” Skylar asked.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Dave replied.
With shaky hands, Dave put his glass down and struggled to stand up. He left some bills on the table and hurried to the hospital, his mind focused on his grandfather and the worry he felt.
When Dave arrived at the hospital, he opened the door to the ward and saw Lucas sitting up in bed while Skylar gently peeled fruit for him.
“Grandpa,” Dave called out, rushing to his side and taking Lucas’s weathered hands.
When Lucas saw Dave, he pretended to feel worse and started coughing.
Dave and Skylar quickly reached out to help him, their hands briefly touching before Dave pulled back, his face full of worry. “Grandpa, are you okay? I’ll call the doctor!”
“No need,” Lucas said calmly, holding Dave’s wrist. “The doctor just left. At my age, there’s not much they can do to improve things.”
Dave’s face darkened at the tired tone in Lucas’s voice.
The brief touch between him and Skylar made her cheeks flush. She stepped back, glancing at Dave. His handsome features, especially his chiseled jawline, stirred something in her. It was the first time she had felt such a strong attraction to someone.
But then, she noticed his damp shirt and messy hair.
“Dave, were you caught in the rain? You’re soaked! You should change and make sure you don’t catch a cold,” Skylar said, reaching out to touch his arm.
Before Dave could reply, Lucas frowned, clearly displeased, and looked at him. “What happened to you? You look a mess and smell like alcohol.”
Realizing his current state was less than dignified, Dave pursed his lips and muttered, “I’m fine.”
Lucas sighed heavily, showing his disappointment. “I know your company’s situation is tough, but you can’t handle it properly if you’re not sober. Only with a clear mind can you tackle these problems without feeling overwhelmed. Look at yourself now. You don’t look like the CEO of the company. You look like a drunk mess. How can I trust you with the Evans Group in this condition?”
Lucas believed Dave’s drinking was just a way to cope with his work troubles. He had always been strict with Dave, insisting he never show sadness or weakness. To lead the Evans Group, Dave had to be emotionally strong.
Lately, however, Lucas has been disappointed by Dave more often.
Not only did Dave keep defying him, but he also seemed increasingly down and unstable. It reminded Lucas of when Dave was just ten years old and had a complete breakdown after his mother’s ashes were scattered. His eyes had been bloodshot, and he had glared at everyone as though he wanted to destroy them.
Dave had destroyed everything in the room in his anger, even biting Kent. It gave Rupert the chance he needed. Saying that Dave had mental health issues, Rupert quickly sent him to a mental institution.
Thinking it as a way to toughen Dave, Lucas pretended to be sick and didn’t interfere.
Lucas couldn’t imagine how Dave had managed in the mental institution, but to his surprise, Dave didn’t disappoint him.
Within a month, he was released from the mental institution. When he returned to Lucas, he seemed like a completely different person.
After being free, Dave lost all signs of fear or panic. He became calm and cold, and when he set a goal, he pursued it in a ruthless way.
This quality reminded Lucas of his younger years, which was exactly why he admired Dave.
Because of this, Lucas decided to give Dave full control of the Evans family business.
Lucas’s strict approach to raising Dave had always been to ensure that he never lost control or became consumed by emotions-whether for his mother or even for Lucas himself.
Only by having these qualities could Dave truly lead the Evans Group. He could handle the world’s tough challenges with these traits, ensuring the Evans family’s growth and power for generations.
Anyone who tried to challenge Dave’s strength would quickly disappear without a trace.
Hearing Lucas’s words, Dave lowered his eyes and said, “I understand, Grandpa. I’ll call Zane to bring me some clothes.”
“Go change then,” Lucas said. “I can’t let you catch a cold. Skylar, why don’t you go with him?” he added, motioning to Skylar.
Skylar nodded and turned to Dave. “Dave, let’s go.”
Dave didn’t want Skylar to come with him, but he couldn’t ignore his grandpa, who was still sick in bed. He quietly left the room.
Skylar followed him. “Dave, there’s a dressing room on this floor. You should change out of your wet clothes, and I’ll have them dry-cleaned,” she suggested.
Dave went into the dressing room without saying anything and closed the door.
Skylar waited outside, and soon, Zane came running toward her, out of breath, holding a big bag of clothes.
“Hello, Miss Larson,” Zane said. “I have the boss’ clothes.”
“I’ve got this, Zane,” Skylar said, stopping him before he could knock on the door.