Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption

Chapter 326: What key? What Vault?....

As they approached the car to board, Davis halted in his footsteps as Ethan and Bella throttled over in the company of Becky and Alex.

Each of them wore a worried expression of concern and helplessness. The phone call had shattered everything they had planned for the past few months.

Davis felt most guilty about the situation, casting a brief glance at Jessica, who stood quietly by the side, her expression calm and collected that it was impossible to discern what she was thinking.

Davis felt hurt. He had witnessed how tirelessly she had strived to better the designs—calls at midnight demanding her attention to every little detail of the launch and the production. She had borne it tirelessly, even skipping meals.

At a certain point, he had feared she might break down. Even when it was discovered she was pregnant, she didn’t stop. She had dedicated everything and had planned ahead.

Walking down the red carpet with her, he had felt the happiness emanating from her, even from the depth of her bones. And even at the table, despite the discussion going around them, her gaze never left the stage.

The faint smile on her lips as she took in the appearance of the models the moment they stepped on that red carpet...

Though she had not known about the change before, and her inquisitiveness immediately she found out, yet she had been happy—until the call came in.

Alex stepped over and slowly patted his back. From the distance, he had felt how worried he was. His expression was quite clear and somber. There was no need to talk more.

"Brother..." Bella called as she stepped closer. Her eyes glistened, yet she stubbornly held it back. She was already hopeful of meeting a strong old man who would be much more surprised to see her.

Though she had no recollection of what he might have addressed her as, she had waited in anticipation.

Davis nodded lightly. Casting a brief glance at her, he retracted his gaze as it settled on Ethan. "Has the arrangement been made?" he asked with a calm voice.

Ethan nodded with quiet assurance. Davis took a deep breath, his voice coming almost like a whisper. "You can come over to the hospital with her," he said.

Ethan nodded and glanced briefly at Bella. Jessica’s brow furrowed with contemplation. "Davis, will this be okay?" she asked.

Initially, it had been in their plans that Bella would be introduced to Elder Allen, their grandfather, after the launch as they expected to return home for the next family dinner. But the situation at the moment wasn’t promising.

Davis lifted his gaze to meet hers. "There is no better time," he murmured.

He had given it quiet thought. He couldn’t guarantee what the situation might turn out to be. He couldn’t take chances since it might cost him a lot—and the new Davis promised himself to live without regrets.

"Can you go back and finish the show?" Davis asked more worriedly.

No matter how he looked at it, it was unfair to her. Jessica glared at him. "If you are done arranging things, get into the car," she instructed, her tone authoritative, that Davis shook his head in resignation.

Despite the tense moment, a slight smile crossed his lips. He took a deep breath, pulled her into a brief hug before he helped her into the car, and then settled down beside her.

With the decision made, the car left the launch and slowly pulled into the highway, racing toward the Central Hospital.

In the car, Jessica called Richard, who picked up on the first ring. "I am out of the hotel and have urgent matters to attend to," she said, her voice calm.

Taking a glance out the window as the car sped past the busy traffic and everything falling into the backdrop, Jessica sighed.

"Also, I noticed the arrival of Julian Anderson of Anderson Group. It must be a long trip for him to make it to the launch, but do attend to him carefully," she instructed, yet a slight regret coursed through her heart.

"Quite unfair, I couldn’t receive him by myself," she thought as she made a mental note to send an apology gift to him later.

Richard took a deep breath from his end. Jessica noticed the slight pause but kept calm.

That action she had always noticed of him whenever he had more to ask or say, but at the moment there was definitely no need to.

Richard sighed resignedly. "Alright. You take care of yourself." His voice tinged with concern.

Hospital

Davis and Jessica arrived at the hospital just in time to meet a team of nurses wheeling Elder Allen into the emergency ward.

An oxygen mask attached to him was fogged lightly with every shallow breath he took. His skin was unnaturally pale and weak, practically drained of the vitality he once carried with commanding pride.

"Grandpa!" Jessica and Davis called out instinctively, as they rushed forward to meet him. Jessica took his frail hand, which was too cold, her brow furrowed as she tried to assess the situation from his pulse.

Her heart skipped a beat. She cast a subtle glance at Davis, who caught her subtle reaction, and his heart started thumping wildly.

A nurse extended an arm. "Sir, ma’am, please you both will have to wait here," she said.

Davis clenched his jaw, torn between complying and barging through. Jessica stepped in, placing a steady hand on his arm. "Let them do their work," she said gently. "He needs the doctors now."

The rest of the group caught up with them almost breathless as they only witnessed the emergency door click closed.

Bella glanced at Ethan, her eyes sweeping over him anxiously as he took a deep breath and his mouth opened to report on the situation as the guards had reported.

"The chairman collapsed during his midday tea," he reported. "He had a loud argument with Aaron over the phone before it happened. His blood pressure spiked. Alfred had already given his drugs, but it wasn’t holding up. Then the ambulance was called."

Davis’s gaze hardened instantly. "Aaron?"

Jessica’s brows drew together. "Does he move that fast? Was he planning on having him killed?"

"No one knows yet," Ethan added. "But there’s chatter that he was demanding the attention of the old man toward the Group’s resolve."

A storm brewed in Davis’s chest. His fists clenched by his sides as he tried to suppress the urge to march back out and confront Aaron himself. If Aaron had gotten the courage and dared to push the old man into this condition just for the succession matter. "Then, I think he would have to walk with me." He mused.

A doctor in scrubs stepped into the waiting lounge. "Mr. Allen?"

"Yes," Davis and Jessica both responded simultaneously.

The doctor nodded once. "We’ve stabilized him for now. His vitals are weak but steady. However..." He paused. "There was a temporary cardiac arrest. We managed to revive him quickly, but there’s a risk of further complications, and I’m sorry to say it might result in organ failure."

Davis went still. Jessica’s face paled slightly. She had this suspicion the very moment she felt his pause.

Davis settled on her. "You noticed then, didn’t you?" he asked warily.

"Hubby, you calm down. Let’s think of a way to manage the situation," she tried to say. She dared not give him hope about the situation, but then she didn’t want to lose him too.

Bella’s gaze snapped at the doctor. "Organ what?"

Davis took a deep breath as Jessica’s hand continuously caressed his fingers to ease the moment. noveldrama

"Can I see him?" he asked, his voice low.

The doctor hesitated. "He’s not fully conscious. I think only one visitor for now."

Jessica stepped back slightly, signaling him to go. "Go ahead," she said.

Davis looked at her, grateful but torn. "You should... I know my grandfather. If there is anyone he would like to see at the moment, it had to be you," Davis said with conviction.

She shook her head. "I’ll be right here. He needs you."

With a nod, Davis followed in.

~Inside the Ward~

The beeping of machines and the gentle hiss of oxygen filled the sterile air. Elder Allen lay on the bed, frail beneath layers of clinical white. His strong features, once intimidating, now looked aged and vulnerable.

Davis approached slowly, pulling a chair close.

"Grandpa..." His voice cracked, surprising even himself. "You have to be strong, you know," he paused lightly. "To meet your great-grandchild?"

A twitch in the old man’s fingers was the only reply.

Davis took his hand gently, the callouses familiar beneath his touch. "I know they’ve been pushing you... But I’m not letting them win. Not like this."

He paused.

"I won’t let them take the company you built."

As he sat there, a faint movement drew his attention. The old man’s eyelids fluttered weakly before opening.

"Davis..." The voice was hoarse, barely audible.

Davis leaned in instantly. "I’m here."

A shaky hand reached up, barely brushing his collar. "Protect... Allen family. Don’t... trust anyone easily." His words broke into a cough.

Davis pressed the call button, panic rising again. "You don’t have to say it all. Just rest, Grandpa. When you wake up, we’ll talk about that."

But Elder Allen gripped his wrist and his grip was surprisingly firm. "If... anything goes wrong... go into my study and take a look at the old vault. Use... the key under the document safe..."

"What key? What Vault?" Davis blinked, but before he could ask again, the old man slipped back into unconsciousness, monitors beeping in steady rhythm.