Ella shook her head. After all, Brandon hadn’t done anything to her while she was unconscious, and her clothes were untouched. By the time she woke up, Eric and his team had already tracked her down.
Eric’s sharp eyes were filled with guilt as he gently pulled Ella into his arms. "If I had come to pick you up personally, if I had gone with you to find Benjamin..."
Leaning against his broad chest, Ella could hear his heart pounding. He must have been extremely nervous and regretful.
"I’m fine, that’s what matters..."
"But what if you weren’t?" Eric’s voice dropped with frustration. "It seems I’m still not strong enough." His mood was dark, and Ella gripped his hand tightly.
Thinking back to what Brandon had said, her heart grew heavy again. If Hannah resurfaced, would they really have to go on the offensive?
"That bastard Brandon... when I catch him, I’ll skin him alive and crush his bones," Eric said coldly, his whole presence radiating a chilling anger.
He picked her up and carried her out of the abandoned, desolate area. The narrow stairwell, weathered by time, felt ancient, with no lights except for the soft moonlight filtering through.
"At least Brandon gave us some information about Hannah," Ella said thoughtfully, realizing she needed to share it with him.
"Hannah?" Eric nearly forgot about her.
Ella recounted Brandon’s earlier words, and Eric’s face darkened with each sentence.
"I’ll come up with a plan to deal with Hannah. But for now, let’s get you to the hospital," Eric said, placing Ella in the car and fastening her seatbelt.
As Ella leaned back in her seat, images of Hannah’s beautiful face from her past life flashed before her eyes. Back then, Hannah had seemed so kind, warm, and graceful—before her true nature was exposed.
"I’ve already contacted the doctor, so if we make it in time, Benjamin should be okay," Eric said softly, noticing the worry etched on Ella’s face.
Ella nodded, her thoughts drifting to her uncle’s tragic life. Even her cousin had succumbed to the pressure and taken his own life.
Meanwhile, Frank’s family continued to live in luxury, without a care in the world, spending lavishly and never lacking for anything.
A surge of fury ignited within her.
In that moment, Ella resolved to groom Benjamin to become the future heir of the Carter Group, not herself.
She preferred a life of freedom. The role of a powerful businesswoman didn’t interest her—she had only pursued finance out of a desire for revenge.
When they arrived at the hospital, Benjamin was still in surgery. Bobby and his wife were unaware of the situation. Given that her uncle was still recovering, Ella didn’t have the heart to tell them.
In the hallway, Eric handed Ella a bottle of water. She perked up a bit, feeling weary from the ordeal with Brandon.
"How about we go and get you checked out, just to see if there’s any residue from the drugs left in your system?" Eric suggested, concerned by how pale she looked.
Ella smiled softly. "I’m fine. If the drug was that strong, I wouldn’t have woken up so soon."
Eric didn’t argue, but his worry was evident as he silently sat beside her, waiting for news.
A call from Michael came in—Brandon had escaped. They were monitoring every station, airport, and border crossing, and would update him if there were any leads.
About half an hour later, Benjamin was wheeled out of the operating room. The doctor explained that he had lost a lot of blood but was stable and out of immediate danger, though still unconscious.
Ella finally let out a sigh of relief. Her uncle’s only heir had survived.
If Benjamin had succeeded in taking his own life, she wasn’t sure how her uncle and aunt would have coped.
In the hospital room, Ella waited for about an hour before Benjamin slowly woke up.
He opened his eyes, looking around in confusion.
Benjamin remembered the last thing he did—slashing his wrist and lying calmly on the ground, waiting for death to come.
Although he was an art student, he lacked the social skills and acting talent needed for professional work. He can only play minor roles and earn a few dozen yuan a day.
In G City, a few dozen yuan is only enough for food and drink, but the tuition fee is still a long way off!
His parents had worked hard to save a few thousand dollars and sent it to him, but his girlfriend of two years had tricked him, taking the money and running off with her new lover.
As he thought about how his classmates were thriving, and how his parents had already grown old and frail from working for him, he was overwhelmed with shame for foolishly giving the money to an ungrateful girlfriend.
Benjamin suddenly felt like a burden to them.
In a moment of despair, he attempted suicide.
"You’re finally awake, cousin." A cold voice broke the silence in the room, and Benjamin looked in surprise at the couple standing before him.
The man was strikingly handsome, with an air of nobility, while the woman was exquisitely beautiful with a natural charm.
"No, you didn’t. What, are you disappointed?" Ella scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Your parents worked so hard to put you through school, and this is how you repay them? By trying to die? You’re such a dutiful son."
Benjamin stared at her in shock. "Who... are you?"
"You’re really not well," Ella sighed softly. Just half an hour earlier, she had received some background information from John and had pieced together the reasons for Benjamin’s actions.
"She’s your cousin. Your father is her uncle," Eric explained coolly.
"Money won’t be an issue from now on, cousin. But don’t ever do something so foolish again! Do you think dying would make that woman remember you? Don’t be naïve. She’ll only laugh at your stupidity, mock your weakness, and use your money to have fun with another man!"
Ella’s smile turned cruel. "If you’re a real man, then live like one!"
Her stern words made Benjamin feel a deep sense of guilt.
She was right. His parents had worked so hard for him. If he really went through with it...
It would be the ultimate act of cowardice.
Benjamin gave a bitter smile, deciding not to ask any more questions. "Thank you. I... know what to do now."
Despite his words, Ella and Eric weren’t entirely reassured, so they arranged for two private nurses to watch over him 24/7.
Once his condition improved, Ella planned to explain to him the current state of the Carter Group and the family’s long-standing feud.
Meanwhile, in Country W, it was just past 10 a.m.
Inside a mansion, sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling of the estate.
A woman lazily lounged in the living room, her arms and legs draped over four servants.
The maids, all dressed in identical uniforms and delicately beautiful, were carefully giving her a manicure, their expressions full of caution as if they feared hurting their esteemed mistress.