Chapter 203
When Jake entered the hospital room, he saw Leopold sitting on the bed, looking irritated, which reminded him of Elora's hurried departure earlier.
Jake carried in a fruit basket and placed it on the bedside table. "Didn't you used to say over and over that Elora was the only person you loved? Now that the person you love comes to see you, why aren't you happy?"
Leopold shot him a cold glance. "Can you not gloat?"
Honestly, seeing Leopold like this now, Jake felt he deserved it. Who told him not to listen to his advice back then? "Isn't this all your own choice? As a good friend, I did try to advise you. You just wouldn't listen to me. There was nothing I could do."
"If there's nothing else, you can leave." Leopold directly issued an eviction order.
Jake sighed. Not only did he not leave, but he pulled up a chair and sat by the bed. "What's the point of feeling miserable now? Lisbeth will never come back, no matter what."
"Can you shut up?" Leopold was already irritated, and hearing this made him even more annoyed. He didn't want to see him at all.
Jake said helplessly, "I know you don't want to hear it, but I still have to say it. I don't know if you've recovered your memory or what, but regret is meaningless. If you have recovered your memory, you should know that with Lisbeth's personality, she will absolutely never fall in love with you again."
"How do you know she doesn't love me anymore?"
"Are you saying you think she still has feelings for you?" Even if there were any emotions left, they would definitely be hate.
Leopold lowered his eyes. His voice was soft but carried a sickly obsession. "Love or hate, as long as there are still emotions."
Jake frowned slightly, finally realizing that Leopold seemed to have undergone some ominous change. "Don't tell me you're thinking about trying to win her back now."
Leopold said nothing. Silence meant consent.
Jake felt that, as a good friend, he needed to properly remind Leopold. "When I came to see you a couple of days ago, I noticed Lisbeth and Sebastian together. I think their relationship is progressing quite rapidly."
Sebastian had a superior family background and had never betrayed Lisbeth. Their relationship was progressing smoothly now.
He was basically saying outright that Leopold had no chance of winning.
Leopold ground his teeth slightly. "So what? If you want something, you have to fight for it yourself. I haven't even tried yet, and you want me to give up?"
Where did Leopold get such confidence? Even if he tried and ultimately failed, why bother forcing it?
Jake didn't understand and couldn't comprehend him. "Anyway, I've said my piece. As a friend, let me advise you—what should be let go must be let go. You need to look forward."
Leopold laughed coldly. "You've been unable to forget your ex-girlfriend for all these years. If she came back now, could you let it go?"
Jake suddenly stood up. No one liked having their sore spot poked. "Why are you dragging me into this? I told you very early on not to be with Elora. You were the one who insisted."
Leopold's expression was ugly.
His forehead was wrapped in gauze, his body hadn't recovered, and his face had no color. He looked pitifully pathetic.
Jake softened again. "Anyway, I just came to check on you today. You drove Elora away, so who's going to stay and take care of you?"
"I don't need anyone to take care of me."
Still being stubborn!
Jake wanted to punch him, but he was already lying in bed half-dead. He took out his phone. "I'll find you a nurse."
"Don't need one."
Jake paused. "Then what do you want?"
"I just want to be alone." Leopold turned his face toward the window.
Jake stared at him for a long time, as if understanding.
Leopold didn't not want a nurse, nor did he want to die alone in the hospital. It was just that the person he wanted wouldn't come.
Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.
A group of people didn't even knock, directly pushing the door open. They were all shareholders of the Hearst Group.
"Mr. Hearst looks quite seriously injured."
"Can Mr. Hearst still handle company matters like this? The company's public opinion has been getting worse lately. You promised us you'd resolve it within a month, and the deadline is almost up."
"Looking at Mr. Hearst's current state, I'm afraid he doesn't have the energy to handle company affairs."
Four shareholders came in total. Without a word, they surrounded Leopold's hospital bed, talking over each other, almost encircling Leopold completely.
Jake frowned, listening to them. "Could you please be mindful? The patient is resting."
The shareholders looked at him as if just noticing him.
The leader, Kian Morris, feigned surprise. "Isn't this Mr. Smith? I've long heard you and Mr. Hearst are good friends. Then please help us persuade Mr. Hearst. About the company matters—if they can be resolved, resolve them quickly. If not, step aside promptly. We can't just let the company's public opinion ferment unchecked, can we? We all depend on the company for our livelihoods."
"When Mr. Hearst took over the company, he said he would definitely lead us to prosperity and expand the company. But things have come to this point today—whose responsibility is it, I wonder?"
Leopold looked coldly at their faces. When he first joined the company, the shareholders had disagreed, claiming that his law degree made him unsuitable for finance.
It was his father who overruled their objections. Leopold himself had also worked hard, spending the past three years bringing in projects and investments for the company, step by step building it to its current state—even doubling its scale compared to when his father controlled it!
Even so, the shareholders weren't satisfied.
At the first sign of trouble, they were like mice smelling rice, following the scent over. Each one wanted to pull him down from his position as president of the Hearst Group.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm in this position, I will definitely resolve the company's problems."
The shareholders exchanged glances. Kian said with a smile, "Then we'll wait for good news from Mr. Hearst."
"Just wait and see." Leopold's voice was cold.
The shareholders probably didn't want to push too hard. After all, even cornered animals will fight back, and Leopold's methods were no less ruthless than theirs.
He was far more terrifying than an animal.
After the group left, Jake sighed aloud. "What a bunch of old foxes."
When the Hearst Group had problems, instead of thinking about solving them, they only wanted to pressure Leopold and seize power.
They didn't think about the fact that if the Hearst Group really fell into chaos, could they stay uninvolved?
"Don't worry about it. Tell me how much money you need, and I'll give it to you." Jake patted Leopold's shoulder. "We're good friends."
Leopold was astonished, then pressed his lips together. "You..."
"Don't say thank you. I don't want to hear it. Consider it my investment in your company. When there's profit later, give me ten percent." Jake didn't want to see his grateful eyes. After speaking, he prepared to leave, but reaching the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to look at Leopold.
"I think I heard Elora say just now..."