Chapter 207 Ryan's Ruthless Plot

Chapter 207 Ryan's Ruthless Plot

In the hospital room, sunlight streamed through the windows onto the white bed sheets.

Olivia sat beside the bed, apple in hand, carefully peeling it for Jasper. Matthew sat in the chair next to her, occasionally reaching over to brush the stray hair from her forehead, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Olivia, I'm fine now. You don't need to keep peeling apples for me," Jasper said, looking at Olivia with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"Eating more fruit is good for you. You just got injured—you need proper nutrition," Olivia replied, cutting the peeled apple into small pieces and handing them to Jasper.

Just then, the hospital room door opened, and Joan walked in with John. Joan carried a bouquet of flowers, a smile on her face.

"Mrs. Olivia Howard, we came to check on you both."

Olivia's gaze lingered on Joan for two seconds before she smiled and nodded.

Joan walked to the bedside, her eyes scanning Matthew and Olivia's clasped hands. A stab of jealousy pierced her heart, but she quickly masked her emotions, placing the bouquet on the bedside table.

John stood nearby, nodding at Matthew. "Mr. Howard, there are several urgent documents at the office that need your signature. I've left them on the table outside."

Matthew nodded, still holding Olivia close. "Alright, I'll take a look in a bit."

Joan stayed in the room for a while, watching the intimate interactions between Matthew and Olivia, growing increasingly uncomfortable. She found an excuse to leave, saying, "I'll just use the restroom. I'll be right back."

Joan left the hospital room and quickly walked to the emergency stairwell at the end of the corridor. With no one around, she pulled out her phone and dialed Ryan's number.

When the call connected, Joan's voice carried a hint of urgency.

"Ryan, I heard the police arrested many thugs. What if they're interrogated and spill everything? What if they trace it back to us?"

Ryan's laughter came through the phone, sounding relaxed.

"Don't worry. I used a middleman. Those thugs were hired temporarily—they don't know my identity. The police can't trace it back to me."

Joan breathed a sigh of relief, her anxiety finally subsiding. "Good. I was worried this plan would backfire on us."

"The kidnapping and framing didn't work out this time, which is a bit disappointing, but it doesn't matter—it won't affect the outcome," Ryan said calmly. "There's no rush now. We just need to be patient and wait. When it's Celeste's birthday, we'll give her a special gift."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Joan pocketed her phone, straightened her clothes, and put her smile back on before returning to the hospital room. She couldn't let anyone see through her facade—she had to continue playing her role perfectly.

Meanwhile, after ending the call, Ryan's expression turned sinister. He beckoned to his subordinate behind him, who immediately bowed forward to await orders.

"Which idiot found those thugs this time? They couldn't even control one half-dead boy—complete garbage. Make sure that idiot stays quiet forever."

The subordinate's heart skipped a beat, but he nodded respectfully. He understood exactly what "staying quiet forever" meant. The middleman who had contacted the thugs had to die.

Joan and John returned to the hospital room, chatted briefly with everyone, then stood to leave. "We still have company matters to handle, so we'll head back now. We'll visit again soon."

"Thank you both for coming. Drive safely," Olivia replied.

Watching Joan and John's departing figures, Matthew frowned. He felt something was off about Joan being a few minutes away from the room, but couldn't pinpoint what exactly bothered him. For now, he pushed down his suspicions.

That evening, Jasper fell asleep. Olivia sat beside the bed, gently tucking him in. Matthew approached from behind, wrapping his arms around her, his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a while?"

Olivia leaned into his embrace, shaking her head. "I'm not tired. Seeing Jasper safe gives me peace of mind."

Matthew lowered his head to kiss her forehead, his voice gentle. "I won't let you and Jasper face this kind of danger again. I've already had Red Fox strengthen our security."

Olivia turned around to look into Matthew's eyes, reaching up to caress his cheek. "Thank you, Matthew. I'm so grateful to have you."

Matthew grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "Silly girl, we're married. If I don't protect you, who will I protect?"

The two shared a tender moment in the room, the air filled with warmth and intimacy. Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, and a bodyguard entered with a somewhat hesitant expression.

"Mr. Howard, someone is here saying they want to visit Jasper."

"Who?" Matthew's brow furrowed. For the bodyguard to look hesitant, the visitor must be someone of considerable importance.

"It's Mr. Stanley Howard."

Matthew and Olivia exchanged glances, both surprised. Why would Stanley suddenly come to the hospital for a visit?

Olivia frowned, feeling resistant. Stanley had previously been suspected of kidnapping Jasper. Although he was ultimately cleared, she still didn't think highly of him.

Matthew considered for a few seconds, then told the bodyguard, "Let him in."

The bodyguard nodded and left.

Soon, Stanley followed the bodyguard over. He carried a gift bag and wore an expressionless face, lacking the hostility he'd shown before.

However, Olivia and Matthew didn't let him into the room—they met at the doorway.

"Stanley, what brings you here?" Matthew's tone was neutral, revealing no emotion.

Stanley glanced through the glass at Jasper sleeping on the bed, then looked at Olivia. "I heard you encountered danger, so I came to check on the situation."

He placed the gift bag on the table, continuing, "There are some supplements inside—they're good for wound recovery."

Olivia said nothing, merely nodding in acknowledgment. She wasn't sure if Stanley's visit was a genuine concern or if he had ulterior motives.

Stanley didn't mind her coldness, focusing his gaze on Matthew. "Have you found out who sent those thugs?"

Matthew shook his head. "Still investigating, but it definitely wasn't your people."

Stanley let out a cold laugh. "I told you it wasn't me. Someone's definitely stirring up trouble behind the scenes, trying to frame me and create internal conflict within the Howard family."

Matthew looked at him, saying calmly, "I know. I was wrong to suspect you before."

"We're all family—it's good that the misunderstanding is cleared up." Stanley's tone softened somewhat as he walked over to pat Matthew's shoulder, laughing heartily. "Your mother's birthday is coming up soon. Have you thought about what gift to get her?"

"That's not something you need to worry about, Uncle Stanley."

Matthew's attitude remained aloof. While this incident had been a misunderstanding regarding Stanley, the fact remained that he had sent people to threaten Jasper.

Stanley could sense Matthew's attitude and didn't linger. After leaving his gift, he found an excuse to leave Evergreen Hospital. But when he got into his car, his smile disappeared, replaced by a sinister expression.

"Matthew, how dare you give me attitude? If you weren't my nephew, I would have killed you long ago!"

The subordinate driving turned around with a vicious look, asking, "Boss, should we send someone to teach Olivia and Jasper another lesson?"