The moment Emily fainted, Damian knew he had to act fast. He couldn't leave his sister alone in the hospital, but he also had to confirm if the body found was their father's. His mind raced.
Adrian was to be her man, but being wheelchair-bound, he wasn't exactly in a position to help. And honestly, he didn't seem to care.
Damian pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Hello, Adrian, this is Damian."
A pause. Then Adrian's voice came through, flat and uninterested. "What do you want?"
"Emily just fainted after hearing our dad might be dead. We're still at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital."
Another silence. Then Adrian sighed. "Oh? And what exactly is my role here?"
Damian clenched his jaw. "You know what? Never mind." He ended the call and immediately dialed another number.
"Clinton, Emily just fainted. Can you come stay with her while I go confirm if the body they found is my dad's?"
"Sure," Clinton responded instantly. "Text me her room number and bed number in case I don't get there early."
"Thanks, man. But listen, be careful around her… she's Adrian's fiancée."
"You have my word. You can count on me."
With that settled, Damian rushed to the crime scene.
The dry grass crunched under his feet as he approached. Suddenly, flashlights flickered, and multiple guns aimed in his direction.
"Hey! Don't shoot!" Damian raised his hands in surrender. "I'm the victim's son. I came to confirm if my father was the one lying there. Here's his picture, the one posted. You can check."
The lead officer stepped forward, eyes narrowing. Then, recognition flickered. "Stand down," he instructed his men.
The tension eased, and the guns lowered. Damian took a deep breath, stepping closer to the covered body.
His heart pounded.
He pulled back the sheet.
His breath hitched.
For a second, his world tilted, until relief washed over him.
"This looks like my dad… but it's not." He exhaled heavily. "Thank God."
If it had been his father, Emily wouldn't have been able to handle the news.
With confirmation that the body wasn't his dad's, he sprinted back to the hospital.
Security guards stood at every entrance. The hospital was practically in lockdown, luxury cars parked outside, and a helicopter hovered in the sky.
What the hell is going on?
Then came the press. Like vultures, they swarmed him.
"Mr. Damian! Was the dead body your father's?"
"Is Emily still alive?"
"What's her condition?"
He ignored them, shoving through the crowd. All of a sudden, everyone wanted to know about their family. The attention was suffocating.
But as he reached Emily's hospital room, his blood ran cold.
The room was empty.
"What? No! Where's Emily?" His heart pounded as he rushed to the receptionist. "My sister, she was admitted here! Where is she?"
His breathing was ragged.
"Is she okay?"
"She's safe. Follow me, I'll take you to her."
He followed the nurse, fists clenched.
The moment he entered the new room, his eyes locked onto Adrian.
The same Adrian who had sounded so indifferent earlier.
Damian rushed to Emily's bedside, gently touching her arm. "Emily, please… stay with us."
The steady beep of a monitor. The cool sensation of an IV drip.
Emily stirred, her mind foggy. Faint lights flickered before her eyes. She blinked.
The moment her vision cleared, she jolted upright.
"Where's Dad, Damian? Take me there now!"
"Emily, calm down."
She barely heard him. Her eyes darted around the room.
Clinton stood nearby, tension in his posture. Then… There was Adrian.
He sat in his wheelchair, scrolling through his phone like he couldn't care less whether she lived or died.
If he doesn't care, why is he even here?
Finally, Adrian looked up. "Oh. You're awake. Good to know."
Emily clenched the sheets beneath her fingers.
"I heard what happened to your father," Adrian continued, his voice cold. "He should be found soon. But that's not why I'm here."
He straightened slightly.
"Be ready. We're getting married in a few days."
Emily felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
Adrian signaled his bodyguards. They moved immediately, preparing to wheel him out.
But before leaving, he turned back.
"Next time, if I have to visit a hospital, make sure it meets my standards. I expect luxury. I won't tolerate this again."
With a flick of his wrist, he was wheeled out.
Clinton gave Emily a strange look before following him.
The room fell into silence.
After Everyone Left
Only Damian and Emily remained.
Her hands trembled slightly as she turned to him. "Damian, what about Dad? Was he the one found dead? Have they found him? Please… say something."
Damian sighed, rubbing his temples. "Emily, I was almost shot at the crime scene."
Emily's breath hitched. "What?"
"The search team thought I was a threat. Their leader recognized me at the last second."
"Okay… but what did they find?"
"It wasn't Dad."
Tears welled in her eyes. "So… they're still looking?"
"Yes. They won't stop until they find him."
Emily exhaled shakily. "I can't bear this, Damian."
"I know. But hold on. Everything will take shape soon."
Just then, a knock echoed through the room.
Emily and Damian exchanged a wary glance.
Who could it be?
Damian moved toward the door but hesitated. His instincts told him to be cautious. He motioned for Emily to stay put as he slowly twisted the knob and pulled the door open.
A tall man in a dark suit stood before him, his face partially shadowed by the dim lighting in the hallway.
"Mr. Damian?" the man asked, his voice calm but authoritative.
"Who's asking?" Damian folded his arms, standing firm.
The man pulled out an ID badge. "Detective Harris. I have urgent information regarding your father's disappearance. May I come in?"
Damian exchanged a look with Emily, whose wide eyes mirrored his own apprehension.
He stepped aside. "Come in."
Detective Harris entered, shutting the door behind him. He wasted no time, his eyes locking onto Emily and Damian "Miss Jackson, you a
nd your brother, I need you both to prepare yourself."
Emily's heart pounded. "For what?"
The detective hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"We found new evidence…