Chapter 155 - 153: Smash His Car
The Hughes Corp, top-floor executive office.
Yates Donovan yawned, ambling slowly out of the elevator.
He’d just come from the hospital. ’That old bastard Yael Donovan sure is hard to kill.’
When Silas Grant made his move, Yael Donovan didn’t die.
He’d sent someone to finish the job, but he still didn’t die.
’He thought Yael wouldn’t even survive the trip to the hospital, but who knew? The man still hadn’t kicked the bucket.’
He’d been stopping by to check on him whenever he had time these past couple of days.
’He didn’t want to bother, really. He’d even considered secretly pulling Yael Donovan’s oxygen tube.’
But the old man got wind of it and gave a strict order: he was to take good care of Yael Donovan in Portia.
Tsk.
’The old man had heard the news much faster than he’d expected. He wondered if Yael Donovan had a contingency plan.’
’The old man probably suspects me, too. But luckily, I used Silas Grant to do it. No matter who they investigate, the trail won’t lead back to me.’
He was exhausted. He hadn’t slept well last night.
He’d even dozed off for a bit on the way over. If it weren’t for Silas Grant calling about some important business, he’d have been home in bed ages ago.
"Mr. Donovan!"
In front of the office door.
Yates Donovan was blocked. He stopped, lazily lifting his gaze to Eric.
"What is it?"
Eric lowered his hand and gave him a slight bow, his tone apologetic. "Mr. Grant is still busy. Could you please wait a moment?"
"?" The question jolted Yates Donovan half-awake. "It’s the middle of the night. He calls me over, I get here, and now he’s busy?"
"Are you sure?"
The man’s dark eyes narrowed.
Eric gave a strained laugh. "I’m terribly sorry. Something came up for Mr. Grant unexpectedly. It’ll just be ten minutes!"
Yates Donovan scoffed. Without even glancing at him, he turned and started to leave.
Stunned, Eric hurried after him. "You can wait in the reception room..."
The figure ahead paid him no mind, heading straight for the elevator.
"Mr. Donovan!" Eric couldn’t believe this guy. "Mr. Grant really does need to see you. It’s about the port trade. It’s extremely urgent."
Hands in his pockets, his eyes heavy with sleep, Yates Donovan’s voice was cold. "I don’t make a habit of waiting for people."
"Unless he’s dead and you’re inviting me to his funeral, don’t contact me again before tomorrow afternoon."
Eric: "..."
Eric opened his mouth, then closed it, at a complete loss for words.
This wasn’t his first time dealing with the man. When he spoke like that, there was definitely no changing his mind.
The elevator doors closed, and Eric let out a heavy sigh.
The underground parking garage.
For the past few days, Yates Donovan had been using the underground entrance to get in and out of the Hughes Corp. He had no choice; using the main entrance was too conspicuous and would arouse suspicion before long.
He figured he’d be heading back to Jynsia next week.
It wasn’t because he was afraid of Mr. Hughes, though. He was going back to settle a score with someone.
Mr. Payne was leaning against the car, lighting a cigarette. He hadn’t expected Yates Donovan to be out so soon.
When he caught sight of him exiting the elevator, Mr. Payne fumbled to put away his lighter and hurried over to greet him.
"You’re done with your meeting already?" ’On second thought,’ he mused, ’he must have run into some kind of trouble.’
’If it was something that could be wrapped up in a few minutes, why not just say it over the phone? Or hold an online meeting, if it came to that.’
’Why go through all this trouble?’
Coming here from the hospital wasn’t on the way back to Yates Donovan’s residence at all.
Yates Donovan, dead tired, rubbed the bridge of his nose and yawned repeatedly. "Shut up. I don’t want to hear a single sound from any human right now."
Mr. Payne immediately fell silent and stepped forward to open the rear passenger door for him.
This was not the time to be pushing his luck.
Disturbing Yates Donovan when he was trying to rest... that was a genuinely fatal mistake.
Near the entrance, a car’s high beams suddenly flashed on, sweeping across Yates Donovan.
The man froze mid-step, turning his head as his eyes were blinded by the harsh glare.
Fortunately, Mr. Payne reacted in the next instant, stepping to the side to block the light.
Mr. Payne desperately wanted to curse out the blind idiot using their high beams in a parking garage, but he didn’t dare make a sound.
Yates Donovan was sleep-deprived and in a foul mood to begin with.
Getting stood up just now, and then running into this asshole driver, the fire in his gut burned even hotter.
He planted his foot firmly on the ground, pushed the meddling Mr. Payne aside, and stared at the car opposite them.
The car opposite had stopped, and its lights switched, no longer blinding. Yates Donovan squinted at the figure getting out, as if trying to recognize them.
Simon Adler had seen Yates Donovan from the car.
That was why he’d specifically told the driver to flash the high beams.
Yes, he’d done it on purpose.
"Mr. Donovan. Heading home so late?"
Yates Donovan was already pissed off, and now his face was a mask of cold fury. "And who are you?"
"..."
Simon Adler thought he was doing it on purpose, but in reality, Yates Donovan genuinely didn’t recognize him.
There was still some distance between them, and he couldn’t be bothered to think.
Simon Adler was speechless, but this wasn’t the time to have a complete falling out with him, so he introduced himself.
"I’m the general manager of the Hughes Corp, Simon—"
Yates Donovan’s eyes were utterly impassive as he cut the other man off. "I don’t give a damn who you are."
He beckoned, and Mr. Payne immediately stepped forward. He heard the command: "Smash his car."
Yates Donovan turned and got back in his car, leaving the group outside completely bewildered.
Mr. Payne gave an apologetic smile and explained, "I’m so sorry, Mr. Adler. Our young master is extremely tired today, and your headlights just happened to flash in his eyes as you drove up. So... I’ll be sure to transfer the repair costs to your account promptly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Payne waved his hand. Seven or eight burly men carrying clubs got out of several nearby cars and quickly surrounded Simon Adler’s vehicle.
Simon Adler stood his ground, his expression unchanging, though he couldn’t stop himself from cursing ’Psycho’ in his head.
—
「The next day.」
Private hospital.
Mia Grant pressed herself against the door, peeking through its glass window to stealthily observe the activity in the hallway.
This was Hayes Hughes’s private office; no one would come by.
Hayes Hughes had told her to wait here for him, promising he’d be right back.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to check.
Simon: [You haven’t seen Kian Keller yet?]
[Not yet. Stop rushing me! I’ll have him call you back when I see him.]
They had just added each other on WeChat that morning, and the very first thing Simon Adler had asked was if she knew why Kian Keller had fallen out of contact.
She put her phone away. About ten minutes later, she finally saw Hayes Hughes return with a bag.
"Is this... a lab coat? Is it yours?"
"No." Hayes Hughes shook it out for her. "It’s new. In your size."
He put a mask on her face, explaining, "In a little while, you’ll go in with Mr. Wallace as one of his students."
"I’ll wait for you out here."
"If you can’t find a chance to speak with him, don’t do anything rash. We’ll try again later."
"Okay." Mia Grant nodded.
VIP Inpatient Wing, Fourth Floor.
Rumor had it the Keller Family had booked the entire floor.
And its only occupant was Kian Keller.
The moment she stepped out of the elevator, Mia Grant knew it was true.
Several bodyguards surrounded them, only letting them pass after a thorough check.
Inside the room, besides Kian Keller, there were a few unfamiliar faces.
Mia Grant nervously lowered her head. She stayed that way until Mr. Wallace called out to her, "Go help Mr. Keller with his IV drip."
Snapping back to attention, she nodded and walked to the bedside, feigning composure.
The girl adjusted the drip speed with a practiced air, then leaned down close to the bed. The eyes visible over her mask were dark and bright as she asked in a low voice, "Mr. Keller, how are you feeling?"