Chapter 122
The hustle of medical personnel reverberated through the hospital corridors as a doctor rushed out to speak.
Stepping forward, a man said. “I’m Melvin, a cardiologist. Madeline is my sister, and I can operate on her.”
This doctor knew Melvin, and it was well known that any surgery he conducted had an increased success rate from fifty to ninety percent
The attending physician nodded, “Then, please, Mr. Jimenez, take the lead.”
Melvin agreed, “Prepare the operating room immediately.”
Certainly,” replied the doctor.
Since Stephanie was not severely harmed, she was moved to a standard ward.
Vincent kept vigilant watch over her while Megan and Matthew, followed by Zane went to wait outside the operating room at Melvin’s request, ensuring that any updates would be relayed to him instantly.
Vincent looked at the girl lying still on the hospital bed. Even though the doctors had assured him there was no severe damage, Vincent’s concern had not abated. Inhalation of smoke and carbon monoxide was bound to affect the body in some ways.
“Stephie,” he whispered tenderly, his eyes red rimmed with a mixture of distress and guilt.
Outside the operating room, Matthew was standing in front of a window, smoking, his eyes filled with anger against the night sky.
Earlier, upon receiving a call from Vincent about Megan’s shooting, Matthew had been dining with her.
Only the two of them were at the Jimenez residence, as Sebastian and Selena were on vacation overseas and Malcolm was attending a competition while Melvin was finishing up a surgery that evening.
Matthew attempted to contact Melvin, and thankfully, the call went through as Melvin had just finished another procedure.
Matthew had been informed he would arrive at the hospital soon.
Throughout his hurried drive, Matthew pondered over who would want to harm Madeline.
The Jimenez family had conducted their business with honor for many years, never once creating any enemies and always leaving room for
reconciliation
Despite going over it time and again, he couldn’t think of any suspects.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
Once arrived, Vincent had recounted the events in detail.
It appeared that the real orchestrators had used someone else to harm Madeline, tricking an actor into believing they held a prop when in fact it was a
real firearm.
A slight deviation, a shot to the head or heart, and Madeline would have been instantly killed.
If hit elsewhere without immediate death, an explosion was also set, triggering a blaze and ensuing chaos. No one would have a chance to tend to the injured Madeline.
This meticulous scheme was designed to ensure Madeline’s death.
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Standing beside him, Megan, her voice nasal from distress, said, “Matthew.
Matthew cast a brief glance at her. “I’m fine.”
Megan’s eyes were red, and she sniffled, “Matthew, you have to find out who did this. I really want to beat them to a pulp.”
Matthew nodded, “Don’t worry, I will.”
“Do we tell Mom and Dad?” Megan asked.
“No, let’s not. Matthew replied, shaking his head. “They’re overseas and can’t come back right away. Knowing this would only make them anxious. Let’s see how Madeline’s doing first.”
Megan said, “I’d give half my life to ensure Madeline’s safety.”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Matthew patted her shoulder. “Sit down for a bit. I need to make a call.”
Megan nodded slightly, understanding the gravity of the man’s call. She turned and took a seat on a
bench.
As she watched Matthew’s tall silhouette, her lips pressed tightly together. Megan thought, ‘Why wasn’t Stephanie dead?”
She had taken a gamble, betting that Stephanie would attempt to save Madeline.
Megan thought, “But the attempt was futile. The hired gun was so incompetent-only striking Stephanie’s arm. Darn it.”
If Madeline had died, it wouldn’t have been too bad, except she thought about Melvin, who had just finished up. That fact left her feeling uncertain again.
She hoped for Stephanie’s demise, but now, with Madeline’s survival, her schemes would have led only to heightened vigilance and possible traces that
could lead back to her.
Though she didn’t show it, her mind was in turmoil.
Megan got up and walked to the restroom dialing a number, “Did you get it done?”
“Don’t worry, I cut the surveillance before acting, no traces left, everything was clean,” the voice on the other end assured her.
“What about Sabrina?” Megan inquired.
“I’m on my way to her place-trust me, Meg”
Megan said, “My friend would transfer 1 million dollars and instruct you to leave the Jacaster.
“I will miss you, Meg
Megan said, “Me, too.”
The man was surprised and asked, “Did Stephanie and Madeline die?”
“No. You should go as early as well,” Megan said
Clenching her phone, Megan knew she had to wait for another chance to deal with Stephanie.
Her task now was to subtly coerce Christina into fending her the robotic dog and then erase the recording
When someone entered, she exited the bathroom.
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Two hours later, the sterile OR doors swung open, and Melvin emerged, pushing Madeline out.
“How did it go?” Matthew and Megan approached anxiously.
“She’s out of danger, but she needs a good period of rest, Melvin informed them.
Matthew breathed a sigh of relief, and Megan’s tears flowed from reliel “That’s wonderful, truly wonderful,”
No one knew the extent of Megan’s rage in her heart.
Not a single conspirator had perished.
Witnessing the scene, Zane turned and left, making his way to the floor where Stephanie’s hospital room was located. He saw Vincent and Graham, presumably Joseph, standing guard outside the room.
Zane approached them, nodding respectfully at Graham and then addressing Vincent with due reverence, “Mr. Fletcher, Madeline is out of danger now.”
Vincent nodded, “Stephie will be relieved to hear that upon waking. Any leads on who did this?”
Zane shook his head, “Joseph was concerned about disturbing you while you attended to your wife, so he reported to me. Someone had cut the surveillance before the incident, leaving no traces. It was professionally done.”
“Tell him to keep digging.” Vincent instructed.
“Yes,” Zane said.
Graham looked gravely concerned, “Do you suspect there’s more to it than we know?”
Vincent nodded, “Yes, and I haven’t discussed this with Matthew. If the person’s real intent was to kill Madeline, why wait for Stephanie to arrive? They had ample time to take the shot.”
“So, you suspect the attacker gambled on Stephanie coming in to save Madeline, making Stephanie the actual target, with Madeline merely the bait?” Graham speculated.
“Exactly,” Vincent affirmed with narrowed eyes, “Having the Jimenez family on the case might only startle the snake in the grass.”
Graham had to admit Vincent’s careful considerations befitted the leader of a storm.
“Vincent, when you saved Stephanie, did anyone witness your recovery?” he inquired.
“Mr. Lynch, as for the others, I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter; such news won’t leak out,” Vincent assured.
Graham nodded and decided to double check with Gideon. At the end of the corridor, he asked his assistant to find Gideon’s number and dialed it.
Gideon was already petrified, bombarded with his third warning call
Whether it was Vincent’s assistant, Joseph, or even Graham, he couldn’t afford to offend any of them.
He cursed his luck for stumbling upon Vincent’s secret.
Guarding a secret was a tough job; spilling it meant risking a figurative beheading.
After he vehemently swore to keep his lips sealed, they finally ended the call.
Graham glanced at the man sitting in a wheelchair not far away, realizing that keeping Vincent’s recovery a secret would only work for so long.