Chapter 154

Matthew's back stiffened for a moment, and a flash of complicated emotions crossed his eyes.

"Mr. Matthew Moore..." John gripped his phone tightly, "Word came in that Mr. Steven Moore saw you and your father placing kill orders on each other on the dark web. His body just collapsed—a massive heart attack. He's been issued three critical condition notices already."

"Mr. Steven Moore doesn't have much time left, but he refuses to see anyone. He keeps calling out your name." John's eyes were red, "Mr. Mathew, please... go back to the Moore Manor. Mr. Steven Moore... he's the one who has loved you most since you were little!"

"Loved me?" Matthew's lips curled into a mocking smile, "If he really loved me, where was he when Philip drove my mother to jump off that building? Where was he when Philip threw me into that snake pit?"

He stood up, his tall frame swaying slightly.

"I'm not going."

"I'm staying here with Elizabeth. No one can make me leave her."

"Mr. Matthew Moore!" John dropped to his knees again, clutching Matthew's legs desperately, crying, "I know you hate the people in the Moore family, hate Mr. Philip Moore! But Mr. Steven Moore really didn't know about those things back then!"

"Later, to protect you, he fought Mr. Philip Moore for power—that's how you got the CEO position at the Moore Group! Mr. Matthew Moore, he's the only family you have left in this world! Please go see him one last time, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Matthew's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands.

Elizabeth, floating in mid-air, watched this man quietly.

She could feel the pain he felt.

This man who seemed all-powerful to outsiders actually craved family love more than anyone, yet had been hurt by it the deepest.

"Matthew, go..." Elizabeth's soul floated in front of him, her ghostly fingers gently touching his tense jaw, "I'll wait for you here, I won't go anywhere. Go see him one last time, don't let yourself regret it."

Matthew finally gave in: "Get the car ready."

John breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got up to make arrangements.

Matthew walked into the bathroom and changed into a well-tailored black suit.

Before leaving, he walked to the hospital bed.

Matthew bent down slightly, hands on either side of the pillow, bringing his face close to Elizabeth's, their noses nearly touching.

His warm breath hit her oxygen mask, his eyes full of tenderness and longing.

"Elizabeth, I'm going to take care of something." His voice was as gentle as if coaxing a child, "You stay here and wait for me. I'll be back soon."

He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead through the cold oxygen mask.

After speaking, he straightened up, turned, and strode out of the hospital room.

After the door closed, Elizabeth discovered that her soul seemed to be pulled by an invisible thread, following Matthew out.

She floated uncontrollably through the wall, like a shadow, following closely behind him.

Suburbs, Rainbow Medical Center.

The rain came suddenly, large drops hammering against the Rolls-Royce Phantom's windows, blurring everything outside.

Outside the top floor hospital room, black-suited bodyguards stood everywhere.

When Matthew's figure appeared at the end of the corridor, all the bodyguards lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.

"Mr. Mathew." The butler approached with red-rimmed eyes, "You're finally here. Mr. Steven Moore has been waiting for you."

Matthew's face was expressionless as he pushed open the heavy wooden door of the hospital room.

Elizabeth's soul floated in after him.

Inside the room, various life-support machines beeped and hummed.

On the bed lay a frail old man—Steven, who had once been so imposing in Shadowpine, now ravaged beyond recognition by illness.

Hearing footsteps, the person on the bed's eyelids moved a few times, slowly opening cloudy eyes.

"Matthew..." Steven's lips trembled, his voice very weak, "You... came."

Matthew stood at the foot of the bed, hands in his pockets, looking down at the dying old man.

His gaze was cold, as if looking at a stranger.

"You called me here. If you just wanted me to see you like this, you got what you wanted."

Steven began coughing violently, and the monitor beside him started beeping in alarm.

"Don't look at me like that..." Steven's bony hand clutched the sheets, "I know you hate me... hate everyone in the Moore family."

"Matthew... my biggest mistake in life was having that bastard Philip... and not raising him right!" Steven's voice was full of regret, "What happened to your mother back then—I didn't notice. By the time I realized he'd become a madman over your mother... it was too late."

Matthew's pupils contracted, his hands in his pockets instantly clenching.

These old wounds from years ago, reopened, still hurt him deeply.

"Philip has gone mad." Steven gasped heavily, "All these years he's been colluding with overseas forces. He wants to push you out, even... wants you dead!"

"I know." Matthew coldly interrupted him, a cold smile playing at his lips, "Hasn't he already sent people to assassinate me many times? Too bad, the people he raised are all useless."

"You can't beat him!" Steven shouted urgently, "Matthew, the Moore Group looks like the Moore family's core, but it's actually just bait I put out! To keep Philip stable!"

At these words, both Matthew and Elizabeth floating in mid-air froze.

The Moore Group, worth trillions of dollars, was just bait?

Steven's trembling hand pressed a button at the bedside.

A hidden door opened on the side of the room, and the Moore family's lawyer walked out with two notaries.

The lawyer held a black briefcase.

"Matthew, I didn't call you here to ask for forgiveness." Steven's eyes brightened slightly, "I'm here to give you the Moore family's real trump card!"

The lawyer stepped forward, opened the briefcase, and took out a yellowed document and a black-gold ring carved with an eagle.

"Under Mr. Steven Moore's name, besides shares in the Moore Group, there are overseas bank funds, three oil fields, and the 'dark web' information system spread throughout Novaria."

The lawyer adjusted his glasses and read calmly, "According to the will, all core assets under Mr. Steven Moore's name will be inherited entirely by Mr. Matthew Moore, effective immediately."

Matthew looked at the black-gold ring symbolizing power, his expression complicated.

As soon as he put on that ring, he would become the king controlling half the world's underground forces.

"Matthew..." Steven used his last bit of strength to reach out his hand.

Matthew hesitated, but still walked over and grasped that hand.

"Son... this power can protect you, but it can also destroy you." Steven's eyes gradually lost focus, "Elizabeth is a good girl. Though there are many misunderstandings between you two, I know she truly loves you, even willing to risk her life for you."

Hearing Elizabeth's name, a crack appeared in Matthew's cold, hard expression.

"Matthew, remember what I'm saying..." Steven's voice grew fainter, "That girl... she's the only cure you'll ever have in this life. You must protect her... Whatever you do, don't become like your father... Don't go down that road of no return..."

The wave line on the heart monitor became a flat line.

The piercing continuous tone announced the end of an era.

The wind and rain outside grew stronger, as if seeing off this former powerful figure.

Matthew slowly closed his eyes, his straight back gradually bending in the dim light.

This usually tough man dropped heavily to his knees on the cold floor, burying his head deeply.

"Grandfather, rest in peace."