Bella remained unconscious. Though Wyatt was physically and emotionally exhausted, he stayed by her side, waiting for her to wake up.

However, his heart was in turmoil, aching with pain so sharp it threatened to overwhelm him. Afraid of losing composure in front of his family, Wyatt quietly slipped onto the balcony, where the biting cold wind greeted him. Alone, he wiped away his tears.

Throughout his life, Wyatt had been a man of iron resolve. Tears were a rarity, but every time they fell, it had been for Bella or her mother.

"Chairman Thompson." A calm, pleasing voice interrupted him from behind.

Wyatt quickly hid any sign of his vulnerability and turned around. Seeing Grant, his expression cooled, a subtle distance creeping into his eyes. Nonetheless, he composed himself and nodded courteously, showing no hint of distress.

"Grant, the wind here is harsh. With your condition, you should rest early."

"Chairman Thompson, about yesterday... My younger brother handled things poorly. He went to Fogville to replace someone important to him, which caused him to miss his appointment with Ms. Thompson. I'd like to apologize on his behalf."

Grant's gaze was sincere, carrying an unprecedented intensity. "I've arranged for the country's best specialists to evaluate Ms. Thompson's condition. Whether it's frostbite or any other issues, I will do everything in my power to ensure her recovery."

"Your gesture is appreciated, but the Thompson family can afford to hire any doctor we need. There's no need to trouble you." Wyatt's refusal was immediate, accompanied by a composed smile tinged with a hint of resignation.

"I've known Justin for quite some time now. This is the first I've heard of him traveling such a distance for a girl. She must be incredibly important to him—perhaps a lifesaver, a friend bound by life and death?"

Grant hesitated, just about to respond, when Wyatt cut him off.

"For him to set aside his appointment with my daughter to see this girl shows he's a man of sincerity, someone who values meaningful relationships over fleeting sentiments. Were it me, I'd have made the same choice."

Wyatt's sharp gaze fell on Grant, his smile faint but pointed. "Besides, I heard from Steven that Justin informed Bella of his urgent matter through a message and a phone call, though she didn't receive them. As for her going up the mountain alone and getting into trouble, that was her being willful and stubborn again. Consider it a lesson to teach her some caution and maturity. After all, no one can indulge her unconditionally for her entire life." Saying this, Wyatt's eyes reddened slightly, a wave of bitterness swelling in his chest.

Once, Justin had done exactly that-loved and indulged Bella without limits, without

question.

"So, there's no need for you to apologize on behalf of your brother. I understand the kind of man he is, and I don't blame him."

Grant's smile did not reach his eyes. "Knowing you feel this way puts my mind at ease." Wyatt gave him a measured look before turning and walking away, never glancing back.

Grant's expression darkened instantly. His pitch-black eyes seemed to seethe with a destructive energy, ready to obliterate everything in their path.

He had miscalculated. Despite all his planning, he had underestimated Wyatt's unshakable trust in Justin-a trust that ran deep into his bones.

In the underground parking lot, Clarice pushed Grant's wheelchair toward a luxury van.

"Sir, Jace is waiting for you at the villa. He's been shot in the shoulder, and his injuries are severe. His car was totaled too."

She lowered her voice as she leaned closer to his ears. "From the looks of it, he and Justin genuinely fought each other to a standstill. It doesn't seem staged."

Grant's face was eerily calm, but the cold emanating from him made even Clarice uneasy. "Grant." The deep voice caught them both off guard. They turned to see Justin approaching. The two brothers locked eyes, the tension between them as sharp as drawn blades.

"I have a question for you." Justin's piercing gaze bore into Grant, every trace of fatigue replaced with steely resolve. "No one knows about the agreement between me and Ms. Thompson aside from Ian. How did you know?"

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