Chapter 118

Ping!

The phone on the desk chimed. George tore his gaze from his computer screen and picked it up. As he read Theobald's message, the handsome man's brow furrowed slightly.

A company dinner? And he wants me to pick up Marguerite?

It was obvious that Theobald's goal was to get him to the hospital. The company dinner excuse was clumsy; a CEO could easily skip such an event. And Theobald was fiercely protective of Maggie—that much was clear from everything he did, from the prayer beads he always wore to his willingness to trade a billion-dollar property for the old, rundown villa where she now lived.

So what was different today? What had happened? Even if Theobald was genuinely busy, wasn't Joshua at the hospital? Couldn't he drive her home? Why was Theobald asking him?

George's fingertips tapped lightly on the back of his phone, his deep, cool gaze fixed on the last sentence.

Please don't feel obligated to bring a gift for the patient.

The implication was clear. If he went to pick Marguerite up, he wasn't supposed to wait downstairs. He was expected to go up to the room, bringing something with him. The gift wasn't the point; visiting the room was. After all, the room number was stated explicitly.

The afternoon sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden light on his strong back. He adjusted his glasses with his slender fingers, a look of confusion in his eyes.

He couldn't refuse the request. He craved any extra time with Marguerite, even a single second. But he wouldn't walk into the situation blind.

When Marguerite first returned, he had known her every move. But after she met with Joshua again, he had forced himself to suppress his darker more obsessive tendencies.

Knowing much was just

torturing himself. Now, however, he

needed to know what was going on.

Without replying to Theobald, he exited WhatsApp. After a moment's hesitation, he made a call.

A voice answered immediately. "Hello, boss."

George swiveled in his chair to face the windows, crossing his long legs. The sunlight was still bright, and he shielded his eyes with a hand. “Tell me what's been happening today," he said, his voice flat. "Every detail."

As he spoke, his heart began to pound, and a familiar darkness clouded

his vision. For a moment, he

was back at Pinecrest High, watching from a corner of the cafeteria as the radiant, dazzling girl sat across from Joshua, laughing. Her every smile was a needle in his heart. She was so beautiful, but that smile was only for Joshua. He couldn't deny it-they were a perfect match. And he was like a creature from the gutter, consumed with a jealousy so fierce he wanted to destroy Joshua.

But what good would that do? If not Joshua, there would be someone else. Everyone is drawn to a shining star. He could never get rid of all of them.

The bodyguard reported, "Ms. Lopez arrived this morning in her guardian's assistant's car. Shortly after, a celebrity named Hannah Carter went into her room, followed by Joshua Green. Mr. Greenwas seen embracing Ms. Carter in the hallway. They're rumored to be dating, and she was in a car

accident today, breaking her arm.

Mr. Green then took her to the room

next door. Later, he and Ms. Carter

walked past Ms. Lopez's room holding hands, and Mr. Theobald Scott came out and shut the door on them."