Chapter 16

This was an extremely ruthless move.

A strategy that would hurt the enemy a thousand but cost him eight hundred—but Lucas could afford the loss. Alan couldn't!

Angela's face turned deathly pale at his words. She was about to speak, but Edward raised a hand to stop her.

Edward looked at Lucas as if he were watching a clown perform.

He pulled out his phone and tapped open a video.

On the screen was surveillance footage from the night market.

The footage clearly showed Lucas parking his car, getting out, striding up to Alan with aggressive intent, leaning in to whisper something in Alan's ear, and finally provoking Alan into throwing a punch.

"Mr. Conway, technology is quite advanced these days. The night market may be chaotic, but right above that vendor's stall, there happens to be a high-definition security camera."

Edward pocketed his phone, his tone taking on a meaningful edge.

"If this video gets out, combined with those threatening remarks you just made at the police station..."

He paused, his eyes carrying a trace of pity.

"The Conway Group is in the middle of preparing for an overseas IPO, isn't it? If investors were to see that The Conway Group's CEO is a violent maniac who brawls with college students in the street and bullies people using his power..."

"What do you think will happen to tomorrow's stock price? Will it drop by tens of millions? Or hundreds of millions?"

"For the sake of saving face, Mr. Conway, are you really willing to sacrifice The Conway Group's entire reputation?"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured directly over Lucas's head!

Though furious, though unhinged, he was still a businessman at his core.

He understood better than anyone the relationship between public opinion and stock prices.

Especially now, when The Conway Group was at a critical juncture—absolutely no negative scandals could be tolerated!

Lucas stared daggers at Edward, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

He never imagined that someone would swoop in out of nowhere and seize him by the throat with just a few words!

Hudson, standing nearby, quickly leaned in and whispered in Lucas's ear, "Mr. Conway, Mr. Williams is right. If we pursue this case, we won't come out ahead. Mutual assault at most means administrative detention and a fine. It's not worth affecting the company's image over something like this! Besides, Edward's reputation in the industry, there's really no need to go head-to-head with him."

Lucas's chest heaved violently, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Angela and Edward.

In that moment, a sense of defeat and jealousy even more unbearable than being slapped in the face consumed his mind!

Another man!

First Alan, now Edward!

Why were there always men protecting Angela?

Lucas laughed bitterly in rage. He straightened his disheveled collar, resuming that arrogant, superior posture—though the sinister look in his eyes refused to fade.

"Mr. Williams truly lives up to his reputation. This skill of yours—twisting facts and dodging the main issue—I'm impressed."

Edward smiled faintly. "You flatter me. I'm merely stating facts."

Lucas snorted coldly. He pulled out a checkbook from his jacket, scribbled down a string of numbers, then tossed the check onto the table like garbage.

"Medical expenses. Keep the change!"

Then he shot Angela a vicious look. "Angela, don't think that because you found some wild man to back you up, you've won."

"We've got a long road ahead of us."

With that parting threat, Lucas stormed out of the mediation room with a dark expression.

Hudson hurriedly gathered up the documents and scurried after him.

Angela felt all the strength drain from her body. Her legs gave out, and she began to collapse.

"Careful!" A pair of strong arms caught her steadily.

Angela looked up and found herself staring into Edward's eyes, filled with worry and concern.

"It's over now." Edward's voice was impossibly gentle, nothing like the sharp-tongued attorney who had just verbally demolished his opponents.

"Thank you, Mr. Williams."

Angela tried to force a smile.

But just as the words left her lips, "Angela!"

In the second before her vision went dark, Angela only felt her body becoming so light, as if she were about to float away.

Could she finally rest now?

The mediation room erupted into chaos.

Edward looked down at the woman who had completely lost consciousness in his arms, panic flooding through him!

"Quick! To the hospital! Get the car!" Edward scooped Angela into his arms and rushed toward the door.

Alan, ignoring the blood covering his face and the pain wracking his body, stumbled after them.

Evergreen Hospital Emergency Center.

The hallway was silent except for Alan's suppressed sobs.

The emergency room doors swung open.

The attending physician removed his mask, his expression grim beyond words.

He looked at the two men who rushed forward and shook his head—that sigh landing heavily on everyone's hearts.

"The patient's condition has deteriorated rapidly."

"The previous chemotherapy regimen has completely failed. The leukemia cells are aggressively destroying her normal hematopoietic function. Combined with tonight's severe emotional distress and external injuries causing infection, complications have been triggered."

The doctor paused, then handed a thin sheet of paper to Alan.

It was a critical condition notice.

"There's only one option now. Bone marrow transplant."

"And it has to be fast. Her body can't hold out more than two weeks. If we can't find a compatible bone marrow match within two weeks, even a miracle worker couldn't save her."

Alan felt like he'd been struck by lightning. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the cold floor.

With trembling hands, he took the notice. Every word on it felt like a knife to his heart.

Two weeks?

Only two weeks left?

"I'm her brother! Use mine! Doctor, as long as it can save Angela!" Alan grabbed the doctor's white coat like a madman, screaming.

"Don't panic. Direct relatives have a higher success rate for matching, but it's not one hundred percent. We still need to check the specific HLA markers." The doctor tried to calm him.

This statement completely shattered Alan. Even biological siblings weren't guaranteed matches!

Let alone the fact that they weren't even blood-related!

Edward, meanwhile, was surprisingly calm.

But the eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses grew increasingly dark.

He looked at the young man sobbing on the floor, then at the tightly closed emergency room doors.

The Angela in his memory was the brilliant junior in the Computer Science department, the spirited young woman whose hacking skills were nothing short of divine.

She should have been standing at the pinnacle of technology, shining bright.

But now?

Lucas, if you knew what you'd destroyed with your own hands, would you lose your mind?

"Doctor, test me for compatibility." Edward suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse but firm.

"I'm type O. I know blood type doesn't guarantee bone marrow compatibility, but I'm healthy with no family history of disease. One more person means one more chance."

The doctor paused, then nodded. "All right. Nurse, take them for blood work and lab tests. Rush processing!"

While waiting for the blood draw, Edward walked to the stairwell with his phone.

With trembling fingers, he dialed a number.