Chapter 93 Emerald City is Abuzz with Rumors that Your Father is Critically Ill
"Who's that lady?" Layla was still curious about why Thalia's diamond necklace ended up on someone else.
"Long story."
"Then make it short."
Thalia put away her phone. "I don't feel like talking."
No point in discussing insignificant people; it just ruins the mood.
Last night's dinner nearly gave her a heart attack. She came home late with indigestion and almost had to take some antacids.
...
"Do you think Marie can tell that you have feelings for Thalia? If she knows and still tries to set up Elon with Thalia, isn't she kinda disrespecting you?"
In William's office, Angelina sat in front of him, resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
William was flipping through case files and analyzing them when he heard Angelina's change of topic. He glanced at her. "I asked you to analyze the case files, not my love life."
"A murder case analysis always boils down to either homicide or suicide, but your feelings for Thalia are different."
Angelina was still puzzled. "Do you think Marie knows? Can she tell?"
"I think Thalia has some feelings for Elon; at least she doesn't dislike him."
"She looks at Elon with tenderness, at least she sees him as a person. When Thalia looks at you, it's like she's looking at a dog."
"What did you do to make her hate you so much?"
"If Elon really likes Thalia and they get together, how badly would you lose? The title of 'undefeated champion' would be gone."
"You know..."
"Angelina, shut up or go abroad. Your choice."
William's eyes were intense, giving Angelina a slightly threatening look.
Angelina muttered under her breath and obediently stopped talking.
She picked up the case file in front of her and started flipping through it, which took several hours.
At midnight, William left the law firm.
Finn saw him and quickly approached. "Mr. Brown, he's in the car."
William got into the car, and Timothy, who had been dozing off in the back seat, immediately woke up and looked at William with a slight tremble. "Mr. Brown."
William leaned back in the seat, his expression indifferent, his long fingers rubbing his knuckles. "Dr. King's medical skills are truly remarkable."
Timothy's body shook; William's words felt like a knife pressed against his throat.
"I wouldn't dare say that."
William's gaze shifted from the window back to Timothy. "So, tell me how long Hayden has left to live, okay?"
"Mr. Brown, I've done everything you asked!"
"So, Dr. King wants to discuss the process with me?" William's tone was calm, but his words carried a sense of pressure.
If they weren't in the car, Timothy might have been scared to his knees by William's aura.
From the driver's seat, Finn glanced at Timothy, who was drenched in cold sweat, and reminded him, "Dr. King, efficiency is important too."
Timothy instantly understood.
"I got it."
Others might not see it, but Finn saw it clearly. William was nervous.
Thalia was like a fish in the pond, and he was the fisherman on the shore. He thought he could just throw out the bait and wait for the fish to bite, but Thalia wasn't falling for it. When people have multiple choices, they're usually more clear-headed. If they have no other choice... that's a different story.
William wanted Thalia.
And he wanted her to come to him willingly.
Watching her fall into despair and then saving her—such a ruthless tactic.
At midnight, rain fell over Emerald City. In the rain, Timothy got out of the car and walked shakily to the nearby bus stop. Finn got out and handed him an umbrella. "Dr. King, Mr. Brown didn't mean anything else by his words. Don't misunderstand."
Timothy hesitated but didn't dare refuse the umbrella, so Finn directly put it into his hand and reminded him, "Dr. King, hurry up."
At two in the morning, Timothy returned home.
His shoulders were soaked with rain.
"Dad, did you work overtime again?" Inside the house, Timothy saw his daughter coming downstairs in her pajamas.
He closed the umbrella, shook the rainwater off his shoulders, and responded.
As he closed the umbrella, his daughter noticed the logo on it. "Dad, whose umbrella is this?"
"What about it?" Timothy hadn't realized anything was wrong.
His daughter came closer and looked carefully. "It's a Rolls-Royce umbrella."
Timothy's eyes narrowed, then he quickly composed himself. "A patient saw I didn't have an umbrella and just grabbed one from their car for me."
"Make sure to return it; it's quite valuable."
Timothy stood the umbrella by the door and, as he went upstairs, he remembered the scene of Finn handing him the umbrella.
It wasn't just grabbed; it was carefully selected and handed over.
...
"Whose call was that? Why are you rushing off?"
On set, Thalia was filming when she received a call from Grace. She didn't even have time to take off her costume or remove her makeup.
"My mom."
Layla seemed to understand. "Is your dad not doing well again?"
Thalia looked at Layla, her eyes serious. "It's not that he's not doing well again; it's that he's already not doing well."
Layla's cup fell onto the car floor with a dull thud.
"How could this be?" If Hayden didn't make it, the elite families in Emerald City would have to reshuffle.
Grace looked at Hayden lying in bed. When Thalia rushed home, Timothy was standing in the hallway, drenched in sweat, whether from exertion or nerves.
Seeing Thalia, he hurried over, his feet slightly unsteady.
"How is he?"
Timothy glanced at Thalia and shook his head. "It's not looking good. You should be prepared."
"Prepared for what? For him to be in a long-term coma or for a funeral?" Thalia demanded.
Timothy pursed his lips but didn't speak. At times like this, silence speaks volumes.
...
"Is your dad not doing well?"
Hayden's condition was bad. The house was filled with medical equipment, and Timothy hadn't left the sterile isolation room. Thalia had spent a lot of money to turn the villa into a hospital to keep Chase away from people.
When Thalia received a call from Evelyn, she hesitated. "How do you know?"
"Everyone in Emerald City is talking about it. They say your dad is critically ill, on the verge of death. Be prepared. I'm sure Chase knows too."
Thalia had a bad feeling. She looked at Grace, gave her some instructions, and walked to the Smith villa with her phone.
As soon as she entered the living room, she heard the commotion from the yard.
"Get Thalia out here."
Chase's shouting grew louder.
"Looking for me?"
"Is Hayden on the verge of death?"
"You can't just say that. If Hayden heard, wouldn't he call all twelve of his illegitimate children to line up in front of you?"