Chapter 48
<Chapter>Chapter 48: Flowers Are in Full Bloom </Chapter>
Gianna, catching the scent of alcohol on Felix, couldn’t help wrinkling her nose. “I came to return the shares of Sirius Trading Syndicate to you.”
Felix sneered. “Gianna, you went through all the trouble of finding Grandma just to get that divorce. Now, you want to give back the shares? Having second thoughts?”
With a cool look, Gianna answered, “No.”
“Then stop bothering me. Keep the shares, and we’ll be even.”
After a moment of silence, Gianna asked, “When do you plan on going to have the divorce agreement notarized?”
A glint of coldness flashed in Felix’s eyes. “Tomorrow morning, and don’t worry, I won’t drag my feet.”
Gianna nodded. “Fine, that’s all I needed.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Felix abruptly closed the door of the villa on her.
The following morning, as Gianna walked into MY FASHION, Aidan approached her with a contract.
“Gianna, this is the project we've been planning for the past six months. Take a look, and if everything’s all right, we can get started once you sign off on it.”
Disregarding the ingratiating smile on Aidan's face, she accepted the document with a detached demeanor, “I'll review it, Aidan. You can go back now.”
The smile on Aidan's face froze. “Gianna, aren't you going to look at it now?”
"I have other contracts to review. I'll get back to you once I'm done."
Aidan's face turned gloomy. "All right, got it."
Exiting Gianna's office, Aidan's mood quickly soured. Considering Wayne's threat, how could he ever settle his debt if he didn't seal this deal? No, he had to ensure Gianna signed this contract!
With that money in hand, he’d not only be able to pay off Wayne but also take the remainder and make a clean escape. Whatever happened to MY FASHION was none of his concern!
Once Aidan departed, Gianna felt an unexplained sense of panic creeping in. Irritably checking the clock, she realized the registry office would soon open. Felix should be calling her any moment now. As time passed slowly, she yearned for a quick resolution to her divorce.
Around ten, Gianna received a call from Sophia.
"Miss Redstone, the CEO's been in an accident, and we need your signature for his surgery. Please come right away!"
Gianna felt her heart sink. "I'll be there immediately!"
She hung up and hurried to the hospital.
Only after signing the paperwork and Felix being taken into surgery did she turn to Sophia. "How did this happen out of the blue?"
"The CEO was on his way to the registry office this morning to notarize your divorce agreement. A car had been tailing him. Our driver sensed something off and tried to shake it off, but near the GH Bridge, the other car sped up, seemingly intent on pushing the CEO's car into the river."
"The driver swerved sharply, hitting the oncoming bus instead, and the other car took the opportunity to flee."
Gianna's expression turned stern. "Did we get a lead on that car?"
"We’re still investigating, but the car had fake plates. It might take some time to get clear details."
"I understand. Let's not tell Grandma about this until after the surgery," she said coldly.
Sophia nodded. "The CEO instructed likewise before losing consciousness. His parents are abroad right now, Miss Redstone. It seems you might need to take care of things on his behalf for a while."
Gianna was about to reply when her phone buzzed inside her bag.
The ringtone was peculiar, untraceable to any known instrument, and Gianna’s face turned pale.
She stepped aside, pulling out her phone. A message flashed on the screen.
[Iris, among those we spared earlier, one was the real viper, masquerading as an underling to escape. We are exposed now, and the viper’s people are hunting me. It won’t be long before they come for you. Be careful!]
The message on the screen slowly faded to nothingness.
Gianna lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
Slipping her phone into her pocket, she turned to find Sophia watching her with a puzzled expression.
"What's up?" Gianna inquired.
"Miss Redstone, your ringtone is quite unique; it seems familiar," Sophia remarked.
A flicker of concern crossed Gianna's face. "Where have you heard it?"
The ringtone was a unique feature of an encrypted software developed by a hacker within the Mercenary Alliance, exclusively accessible on the phones owned by its members.
Sophia shook her head, "I can't quite remember, but it's so distinctive that it jogged my memory."
Gianna chose not to press further, and an uneasy silence settled between them.
After a while, Sophia turned to Gianna. "Miss Redstone, after the CEO's car collided with the bus, it quickly burst into flames. The others only had time to rescue the driver and Felix. The divorce agreement..."
Gianna had anticipated this, nodding slightly, "Yes, we'll discuss it once he's recovered."
She needed to investigate whether the Poison Scorpion was involved. Rumor had it that the Scorpion preferred to torment his prey slowly, not end them outright.
They waited outside the operating room for over eight hours before the lights finally dimmed.
Felix was wheeled out, still under anesthesia, his eyes shut, his complexion deathly pale, unrecognizable from his usual decisive self.
The doctor removed his mask with a somber look.
"Felix's injuries from the crash have aggravated an old wound in his leg. He may never stand again. You should be prepared for this," he warned them.
Gianna's complexion drained of color, but she composed herself, "Understood. Thank you for your efforts, Doctor Hao."
"He's not out of the woods yet; the next three days are critical. I'll arrange for a couple of nurses to alternate watches. It's best if you also post someone at the door of the ward."
"Will do."
After Felix was settled in the room, Sophia suddenly received a call from the head of PR at the company.
"Secretary Cole, there's a buzz online about the CEO's accident and hospitalization, and it's impacting the shares of Sirius Trading Syndicate. Can you reach him?"
Sophia's face fell, "I'll be right back at the office!"
After ending the call, Sophia glanced uneasily at Gianna, evidently about to say something, but Gianna spoke first.
"You go ahead and take care of the company matters; I'll stay here with him. If anything comes up, I'll contact you immediately."
"All right, I appreciate it, Miss Redstone."
After Sophia left, Gianna quickly messaged someone on WeChat with a blank profile picture and no name.
Gianna: [Find out who’s spreading the news about the CEO of Sirius Trading Syndicate being in a car accident!]
Unknown: [OK!]
Gianna pocketed her phone and glanced over at Felix, who lay in his hospital bed, relying on a machine for breath. Her eyes betrayed a tumult of emotions. She desperately hoped that this situation had nothing to do with the Viper.
Soon, her phone buzzed with a new message.
Unknown: [I've found out. Viper's people released the news.]
Gianna's face turned grave; it was indeed the Viper!
Gianna: [I understand.]
Unknown: [If you need help, contact me anytime.]
Gianna stayed silent, feeling a surge of irritation building inside her. She regretted not dealing with the issue when she had the opportunity; if she had, this situation might have been avoided.
Despite all efforts, Felix's car accident couldn’t be kept under wraps. The media covered it intensely, sending Sirius Trading Syndicate's stock price tumbling down a point.
Natalie, upon hearing the news, fainted from distress and hurried to the hospital once she regained consciousness.
Seeing Felix's condition, Natalie's tears fell, and her body wobbled.
Gianna quickly supported her, "Grandma, please don't be too heartbroken. Mr. Clinton will surely get through this critical period safely!"
"Gianna, if I had known something like this would happen, I would have never pushed him so hard to divorce you..."
