Chapter 63: Go to the Hospital
James gently sat on the edge of the bed, reached out his hand, and carefully brushed away the stray hair from her forehead. His movements were incredibly tender, completely different from the murderous look he had just moments ago.
Meanwhile, Iron Wolf had already dumped Daryl, whose limbs had been crippled, at Gilbert's office door.
Gilbert was in his office scheming about how to take back the shares Caroline held.
Hearing a commotion at the door, he cursed and walked out.
When he saw Daryl on the ground, barely alive with twisted limbs, he instantly froze, his eyes wide open, his blood seeming to freeze in an instant.
"Daryl!"
Gilbert screamed and rushed to Daryl's side. Seeing his crippled limbs, his heart broke with pain.
He instantly broke down, his eyes red as he roared,
"Who did this? Who hurt you like this? I'll kill him! I'll kill him."
Iron Wolf stood nearby and said coldly,
"Daryl kidnapped Ms. Collins and sold her to human traffickers. Mr. Anderson only crippled his limbs—he's already being lenient."
Gilbert suddenly looked up at Iron Wolf, his eyes full of hatred and venom, roaring,
"James! I'll fight you to the death."
He stood up and rushed out like a madman to confront James.
But he barely took a step before a Specter Syndicate member kicked him to the ground and pinned him down hard, unable to move.
"Gilbert, you still dare to fight back? You're asking for death."
Iron Wolf's eyes turned cold,
"Mr. Anderson has ordered all Collins family assets frozen. Except for the shares under Ms. Collins's name, everything else will be taken back. The Collins Group will be directly merged into the Anderson family business."
These words hit like a thunderbolt. Gilbert collapsed on the ground, his face ashen, muttering continuously,
"It's over, the Collins family is completely finished."
The news quickly reached Landon's ears. He was at home waiting for the good news of Daryl taking over the company.
When he learned that Daryl had been crippled, all Collins family assets frozen, and the company swallowed up,
he couldn't catch his breath. His eyes rolled back, and he suffered a stroke from rage, collapsing unconscious on the ground.
The servants at home were terrified and frantically sent him to the hospital.
But the Collins family had completely fallen now, and no one wanted to curry favor with them anymore.
Even the doctors just treated him carelessly, threw him in a regular ward with no one to care for him—utterly miserable.
When Doyle and Bronte heard the news, they trembled with fear.
After much thought, they took the expensive gifts they had prepared, hoping to beg James for mercy.
Carrying valuable supplements and cash, they anxiously arrived at the private hospital, but as soon as they reached the entrance, they were stopped by Specter Syndicate members.
"Mr. Anderson has ordered that no one from the Collins family is to be seen. Take your things and get lost."
His tone was icy. He didn't even glance at what they were carrying and waved them away.
Bronte was so scared tears streamed down her face. She grabbed his arm and begged,
"Please, let us see Mr. Anderson. We know we were wrong. We'll never dare again. Please ask him to spare the Collins family."
Doyle also put on a flattering smile, bowing repeatedly.
"Yes, we know Caroline is inside. We're her parents. We want to see her and apologize to Mr. Anderson."
"Mr. Anderson doesn't want to see you. If you keep pestering, don't blame us for being rude."
The member's face darkened, radiating coldness. Doyle and Bronte were too scared to say more and could only leave dejectedly with their things.
The relatives and friends who once swarmed around the Collins family now avoided them like the plague upon hearing of their downfall.
Some even kicked them while they were down, bringing up old debts to settle.
In no time, the Collins family became the laughingstock of Silvermoon City, with everyone being thoroughly dealt with.
When James learned of the Collins family's fate, he showed no emotion. In his eyes, they completely deserved what they got.
"Tell everyone that the Collins family, for repeatedly harming Caroline, is permanently banned from Silvermoon City's business circle. All recovered assets will be used to compensate Caroline for emotional damages—not a penny left."
Iron Wolf immediately agreed and passed down James's orders.
All of Silvermoon City knew that James truly treasured Caroline above all else—for her sake, he destroyed an entire family.
In the hospital room, Caroline's fingers moved slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her consciousness was still a bit fuzzy. What met her eyes was a familiar white ceiling.
The air carried a faint smell of disinfectant.
The next second, a haggard but still handsome face appeared in her vision.
James's eyes were full of bloodshot veins, his chin covered with light stubble.
His eyes were full of exhaustion—clearly he'd been watching over her without rest.
Caroline's heart instantly tightened with concern. She opened her dry, cracked lips and spoke weakly,
"James."
James instantly snapped back to attention. Seeing she was awake, the exhaustion and coldness in his eyes vanished, replaced only by deep tenderness and concern.
He quickly leaned down, gently holding her hand, his voice incredibly soft,
"Caroline, you're awake? How do you feel? Is anything uncomfortable?"
Caroline shook her head. Looking at his haggard appearance, her eyes reddened slightly as she choked up,
"I'm fine. What happened to you? Have you not slept at all?"
"I'm fine. As long as you wake up, that's all that matters."
James gently stroked her hair,
"Don't worry. I've dealt with everyone who hurt you. I crippled Daryl's limbs."
"Gilbert has been suppressed, all Collins family assets frozen, and the company merged into the Anderson family. Landon had a stroke with no one to care for him."
"The human trafficking ring has all been caught—not one escaped. No one will dare hurt you again."
Caroline listened quietly without any emotion. Toward the Collins family, she had long been completely heartbroken, without a trace of attachment.
Looking at James's bloodshot eyes, Caroline felt incredibly sad.
While she'd been unconscious in the hospital all this time, James had kept watch, refusing even to close his eyes.
She lifted her still-weak hand, wanting to touch the stubble on his chin. Her fingertips just touched it before pulling back, afraid of hurting him.
"James, please go sleep for a while. I'm really okay. The doctor said I just need a few days of rest."
James caught her hand and pressed it against his face. The temperature was a bit hot, but his voice was incredibly soft,
"I won't sleep. I'll sleep when you're completely stable. Every time you move, I worry."
Caroline's nose stung, tears nearly falling.
She used to think she was a burden, someone who needed to be hidden away, but now she understood—in James's heart, she was never a burden. She was the person he would protect with his life.
"I'll be careful from now on. I'll never let myself be tricked again."
She promised quietly, guilt in her voice,
"This time I was too stupid. As soon as I heard my mom had fainted, I panicked and fell into Daryl's trap."