Chapter 99
Andrew's POV
The private hospital smelled of antiseptic and expensive flowers. I walked down the quiet corridor, carrying an elaborate bouquet of white lilies and roses.
Violet was lying on her side in the hospital bed, staring out the window with vacant eyes. Her left wrist was wrapped in thick white bandages, and she looked smaller somehow, more fragile than I'd ever seen her.
The Cooper family had spared no expense. Private room, round-the-clock nursing care, security guards posted discreetly outside. Mrs. Cooper had returned home to rest after ensuring everything was arranged perfectly.
"Violet," I said softly, setting the flowers on the bedside table. "How are you feeling?"
She didn't turn to look at me. "Like I want to disappear."
I noticed the other arrangements already in the room—expensive orchids from various business associates. High-end nutritional supplements and gourmet recovery foods.
"I brought you something," I said, pulling out a small box of artisanal chocolates. "From that place you mentioned once."
Violet finally turned her head, but her eyes remained dull. "I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat something," I said gently, sitting in the chair beside her bed. "Your body needs fuel to heal."
She turned back to the window. "What's the point?"
I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "A war isn't over until one side admits defeat. And you're still breathing, which means you haven't lost yet."
That got her attention. She looked at me with the first spark of interest I'd seen since I arrived.
I opened the chocolate box and placed it within her reach. "If you let yourself waste away, then this really is the end."
Violet stared at the chocolates for a long moment, then slowly reached for one. It was a small victory, but I'd take it.
"Alex didn't come," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No, he didn't." I kept my tone neutral, matter-of-fact. "But that doesn't mean he's unaffected."
I watched her carefully as I spoke. "Sometimes the biggest cracks in a dam start as tiny fissures. Alex might seem unmovable now, but even the strongest foundations can shift when the right pressure is applied."
Violet's fingers paused halfway to her mouth, chocolate forgotten.
I could see something shifting in her expression—a flicker of the determination that had made her fight for Alex all these years.
I stood up, straightening my jacket. "Rest well, Violet. And remember—sometimes the most effective battles are the ones fought with patience."
As I reached the door, I heard the rustle of her reaching for another chocolate. By the time I left the hospital, she was sitting up in bed, finally eating.
Within two days, Violet Cooper had checked herself out and was back home, much to her family's relief and concern.
The game was far from over.
---
Two Days Later
My phone buzzed with notifications as I sat in my office reviewing quarterly reports. Violet's name was trending across multiple social media platforms.
I opened Instagram to find her live stream already in progress, viewer count climbing rapidly.
Violet's Instagram Live
I watched the screen light up as Violet's face appeared, pale but determined. She'd chosen a soft filter that made her look ethereal, almost angelic against the white hospital backdrop.
"Hey everyone," she began, her voice steady despite the bandages barely visible at the edge of the frame. "I know there's been a lot of speculation about what happened to me."
The comments started flooding in immediately. We love you Violet! Stay strong! You're an inspiration!
She smiled, that practiced socialite smile I'd seen countless times at charity events. "I'm okay. More than okay, actually. What happened... it gave me clarity. I've decided to focus on what really matters."
What does that mean? someone typed.
"I'm dedicating myself to charitable work. Environmental conservation, specifically. The Cooper Family Foundation is launching several new initiatives, and I'll be leading them personally."
I had to admit, it was brilliant. Within an hour, her follower count had jumped by one hundred thousand. The comments were overwhelmingly supportive, painting her as an inspirational role model who found purpose through pain.
I leaned back in my leather chair, watching Violet's livestream on my monitor. The woman was a natural performer, I'd give her that.
"Interesting transformation," I murmured to myself, closing the laptop.
A woman who'd survived a suicide attempt and emerged with renewed purpose? The public ate that shit up.
A woman who focused on her career was always more attractive than one desperately clinging to a man. She'd earned Alex's sympathy and the public's admiration. Quite a clever strategy.
My phone buzzed. A message from Elizabeth.
"Everything handled?"
"The attacker is dead. Alex is investigating, but he won't find anything leading back to us," I replied.
The attacker really did hate Robert. He'd been investigating Robert for months after his business went bankrupt. But he'd also been one of Elizabeth's persistent admirers in the past. Such people were simple to manipulate.
And after this incident, the cooperation with Cooper Technologies would flow to our side, not Grace's.
I opened the encrypted email that had arrived an hour ago. Harrison Group's logo filled the header.
Mr. Wilson,
Thanks to Wilson Holdings' strategic investments, several of our stalled projects have been revitalized. We're prepared to transfer new projects to Wilson Holdings for deeper collaboration. Please advise on scheduling a face-to-face meeting.
Best regards,
Harrison Group Executive Team
I sent a meeting invitation. The thought of Grace's expression when Richard walked into Wilson Holdings made me grin.