Chapter 171 The Person Who Loves Lillian Is Him

Chapter 171 The Person Who Loves Lillian Is Him

The next morning, after seeing Silas off, Astrid took a car to Prescott Jewelers.

She wanted to know how the company planned to handle Arthur's shares and business operations after his incident.

When she arrived, Rolf was already sitting in his office. Seeing her, a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes, but in an instant, he had composed himself.

"Have you finished packing your things?" Rolf asked with a gentle warmth.

He was always so calm and refined, his gaze sincere. If Astrid hadn't just been fired from the company and nearly murdered by him not long ago, one might actually get the false impression that he cared about her.

Sensing the malice in his tone, a chill ran through Astrid's body.

"I'm here to take back my father's shares," Astrid said bluntly.

In front of someone like Rolf, she knew she was no match.

"Do you have the means to buy them now?" Rolf raised an eyebrow, questioning her.

Astrid's hands slowly clenched into fists.

Based on what she'd learned in prison, Arthur would very likely never leave prison for the rest of his life. She wasn't really here to claim the shares, but she also didn't want to watch Rolf do whatever he pleased.

Seeing her silence, Rolf changed his tone. "Of course, if you're willing to go abroad now, my promise to you still stands."

Staying away from the Prescott family disputes, studying overseas—it seemed like a free and easy life.

Astrid gripped her hands tightly, looking at Rolf. Why did he keep trying to persuade her to leave?

As they remained at a standoff, hurried footsteps came from outside.

"I'm sorry, you can't go in without Mr. Prescott's permission," someone blocked the way.

"I heard that bitch Astrid is here, and I need to see her now!" Catherine answered angrily.

Hearing the commotion, Astrid frowned slightly. They didn't really have anything to say to each other—what was Catherine trying to do, making such a scene at the company?

"Astrid, my situation today is all thanks to you! If I'm not doing well, you won't either!" Catherine's crude voice came right up to them along with the sound of the door being pushed open.

Astrid stood up in surprise, about to scold Catherine to stop shouting, when she saw Catherine suddenly pull a gleaming knife from her bag and rush toward her.

Just as the knife was about to hurt her, Astrid quickly stood up and dodged to the side. At the critical moment, a figure stepped in front of her.

Catherine looked at the scene in shock, then quickly let go of the knife and ran out in panic, only to be stopped by company employees.

The figure in front slowly fell to the side.

Astrid looked anxiously at the knife stuck in Rolf's chest, unable to describe what she was feeling, and shouted out.

"Quick! Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance now!"

Blood pooled on the floor as Rolf lay motionless.

Astrid numbly followed along in the ambulance, watching as Rolf was pushed into the emergency room.

She paced anxiously outside the room.

Why? Why did Rolf step out to help her? He'd been determined to force her away—how could he be willing to step out and save her?

In that instant, he had stepped forward almost without thinking.

Astrid's mind was in chaos. As others gradually arrived at the hospital, there was barely any room left for her to stand.

Seeing how tense she looked, Silas pulled her into his arms.

"I've already found the best doctor in Cypress Bay to perform his surgery. He'll be fine."

"There are too many people here. Go rest in the car," Silas said, trying to take her downstairs.

"No, I need to stay here and watch," Astrid shook her head repeatedly, her unfocused gaze turning toward the emergency room light.

Just then, her mind flashed to childhood scenes of Rolf playing the lifting game with her, making her even more confused.

Seeing her so distracted, Silas had no choice but to stay by her side.

Five hours later, the doctor finally emerged from the operating room, exhausted.

"The knife injured Rolf's heart. Although the surgery was successful, Rolf could be in danger at any moment and must remain in the ICU for observation."

After speaking, the doctor walked away with heavy steps without waiting for the family to ask questions.

Astrid watched helplessly as nurses wheeled Rolf from the emergency room to the ICU, with no one saying a word the entire time.

"Astrid." Christopher had arrived at the hospital at some point, looking at Astrid nestled in Silas's arms with concern, a sour feeling rising in his chest.

"What is it?" Silas's arm around Astrid unconsciously tightened.

Hearing the wariness in his words, Christopher glanced at the person beside him. Though dissatisfied, he still quietly suggested, "Could we talk somewhere else?"

"Come over here." Astrid released her arm from Silas's and walked toward an empty hospital room nearby.

Christopher followed behind her, and just as he was about to close the door, a hand blocked it.

Silas's strikingly handsome face appeared in their view.

Seeing it was him, Christopher had to wait for him to enter first before closing the door.

Astrid sensed something off between the two of them, but couldn't pinpoint what it was. Worried about Rolf's health, she didn't think further.

She looked at Christopher with confusion, her voice soft and weak. "What happened?"

Christopher took out what he'd brought from his bag, showing each item to Astrid one by one. The documents covered all aspects—it appeared that everything Rolf owned was here.

Each document was already signed and in effect.

"He left everything under his name to you. Starlight Gems is nothing compared to this."

"I never imagined Rolf had privately accumulated so many companies and so much wealth. Besides where he lives, he has two other properties in Cypress Bay."

Christopher's words were somewhat agitated.

Before today, he had been prosecuting Rolf to get justice for Astrid. Only now did he realize that Rolf had done all this to push everyone else out of Prescott Jewelers, then hand it over completely to Astrid.

For this, he hadn't hesitated to take risks and offend everyone.

Looking at what she held, Astrid's wrists couldn't help but tremble.

Rolf—how much more had he done that she didn't know about?

Why would he do this?

Astrid's mind was nearly splitting from the sudden flood of information.

"Astrid, look at this." Christopher's face darkened as he pulled out one last item from his bag—an old photo album.

Astrid had never seen this album before. When she saw the images inside, she froze completely.

The album was filled with moments from Lillian's villa residence—the same scenes she had seen in old items while cleaning the villa.

The man in the album gradually merged with the man's silhouette she had seen in those memories.

So the man who had been in love with Lillian was Rolf! Not Arthur!