Ch. 156..160: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 156-160

Chapter 156: Chapter 156 – You mean Joanna is using him too?

"Colton, are you sure it’s right for me to see him? I mean, I could be investigated," Tess complained, feeling afraid and nervous but was amazed by how her brother remained steadfast.

For a moment, she thought all hope was lost, and she almost gave up, but he suddenly resurrected her hopes once more, for reasons she could not pinpoint.

"Didn’t you say that Dion promised her savior would be the one to marry Alex?" Colton asked. Tess wondered why he was going back to buried issues and not knowing where this was going.

"Yes, she did, but Alex is married now." She had given up after all the events of the wedding, until her brother brought it up again.

"I just found out that Alex would do whatever her sister wants, including divorcing Joanna if she asked. From everything I gathered from the wedding, I feel that Alex married Joanna for his inheritance and vice versa."

Tess was liking where this was going. It felt like honey on her tongue for Alex and Joanna’s marriage to not be real, the shocking part being that Joanna also had more to gain from it.

"You mean Joanna is using him too?"

"Logan mentioned that when he dated Joanna, she proposed a fake marriage to get her mother’s shares. She also confessed at the wedding to have been the one to propose to Alex, so what do you think?" Colton asked, leaving the thinking for his sister to do.

Tess was gladdened. "If that be the case, then we still stand a chance, but if Alex knows I’m your sister, he would never believe me," she said sadly, but Colton already prepared a solution to her problem.

"I know, and that is why I created a new identity for you." He gave her an ID card. "You shall be Mabel Dawson from now onwards, and you can tell him that due to the effect of the fire, you took up nursing to help the sick. As a doctor, I will be able to provide all that you need."

Tess’s heart warmed greatly. For the first time in a long time, she was certain that the man she loved was going to be hers because of how thought through her brother’s plan was.

"Thank you, Colton. Alex would be mine, and so would Joanna be yours, but do you have any idea who Alex is searching for?" she asked seriously. Colton’s lips pursed together, bitterness lacing his tone.

He didn’t want to divulge this information before, but since they were both in the same soup, he reluctantly revealed.

"Yes, I do."

Tess was nervous but also more interested in the conversation than before. "Let it out, please."

Colton did not have proof, but after connecting some dots, it was easy for him to conclude on a few things.

"I have a feeling that the woman who saved Dion is Joanna, and she can’t remember because of her memory loss. This is why you have to be there, so that Dion and Joanna never meet."

As a doctor and judging by Dion’s condition, he was certain that should the two women meet, Dion would be able to remember everything clearly and would also be able to discern she had been drugged into having those hallucinations and thinking that Tess saved her life.

Tess was saddened to hear this but was determined to ensure that Joanna never meets Dion.

From the way Dion was always upset by the mention of Alex’s wife, she knew that would be easy, but the strange bit was how Alex and Joanna’s fates had been intertwined from the onset.

Who knew that Joanna would be the woman he was searching for all this while?

If he found out it was her, he might not even allow her feet to touch the ground, judging from the way he treated her now. Tess was determined to make this work.

"Okay. I will leave now." As she reached the entrance, Colton issued a reminder.

"And remember. As soon as you get there, add a little of the drug into her water," he instructed. Tess nodded in agreement.

Arriving at Dion’s safe house and having bribed one of the caregivers already, it was very easy to see Dion with just one instruction.

"From today, you shall call me Mabel Dawson."

Finally, she was going to meet Alex as Dion’s savior and was anxious about the outcome. The caregiver nodded as Tess stuck a pile of cash into her palm. "Don’t worry. We got someone to tamper with the CCTV footage."

For as long as everything was peaceful, it was easy for attention to be shifted from the CCTV footages from time to time so as they slowly wiped out bits and pieces, it would be too late for them to find the culprit by the time everything was brought to light.

The caregiver was relieved after hearing those words, and as soon as Dion saw Tess, she called Alex on the phone, insisting that he got there on time.

Hearing from Dion that she would elope if Alex didn’t get there, warmed Tess’s heart greatly, giving her the certainty that Alex would not only be there, but would soon be hers as well.

However, she went to the next room to calm her nerves when Alex arrived, pretending to be asleep.

After all she witnessed at the wedding, she already discerned that a man like Alex was not easily fooled, and as such, the least nervousness might make him suspicious of her motives.

Yet, as much as she tried, the mere thought of Alex got her nervous, though she was secretly obsessed with him.

Hearing a knock on the door, her heart beat escalated, but not only that, a caregiver opened the door without her responding.

It was not the one she bribed, meaning that one must have completed her shift.

"Master would like to see you at the patio," the caregiver informed her. Her edginess grew. She wanted Alex to come to the room and not the other way around.

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 – The Special Song

There was a magic in being in an enclosed space because of how it could easily create intimacy.

At the patio, there would be servants and bodyguards walking around, derailing the moment from the kind of magic Tess wanted to create.

If Alex wanted to talk about marriage like his sister wanted, then why choose the patio instead of directly coming to see her in the room she was housed?

"Why the patio? It’s more comfortable to talk here," she pointed out, but the caregiver shrugged.

"No one questions sir." She was here to do a job, and that included taking instructions from her boss.

This caregiver could not be manipulated, for which reason she did not dare to bribe her.

Forcing a smile to calm her anxiety, Tess headed to the patio, seeing the elegant man seated, sipping vodka and puffing a cigar.

It was strange to see Alex like this, and as a woman, it could only mean something big laid on Alex’s heart.

Tess doubted if Alex ever smoked in front of Joanna since she looked like one who would not accept such.

However, she also convinced herself that Alex was just smoking his cigar to relieve stress.

Drawing closer, she expected him to put the cigar away, but he only puffed more, creating a thick cloud of smoke around them.

Tess coughed a few times due to the effect of the secondhand smoke on her, but Alex did not seem to care, or perhaps it was because his mind was so far away?

"Tell me what happened that day," Alex said seriously, his expression cold through the cloud of smoke.

He was trying so hard to mend his broken heart because ever since arriving, he couldn’t get Joanna off his mind.

Pain and guilt assaulted him, making him wonder how he got to this level. How did he develop feelings for Joanna without realizing it?

The fact that he had hurt her by his abrupt departure only worsened matters.

Her image was projected before him every time he thought about her. Then her confession was something he couldn’t get out of his mind.

"Can I sit?" Tess asked. Alex shrugged. He was being nonchalant and indifferent without trying. "There are two chairs."

Having been secretly in love with Alex and seeing how lovingly he treated Joanna, Tess wanted the same from him but not this cold monument before her.

Still, she sat in front of him and began to lie to blend with all that Dion told her.

"It was a long time ago, and though I can’t remember the details, I can never forget the screams of a young girl during my morning workout," Tess began, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"I wasn’t thinking when I barged in and pulled her out, but I must have passed out after that because I couldn’t remember much after waking up from the hospital. It was just her face constantly in my mind, and I had no idea what her name was and where to begin my search to just see that she was okay. Due to that, I spent the rest of my life being a nurse, hoping to see her one day."

Alex’s expression was stoic, making it difficult for her to discern whether or not he believed her. Another question followed.

"Dion mentioned that you sang a song to calm her. I would like to hear it."

Tess’s face was beaded with sweat at the question, and she cursed the fact that Dion had not mentioned it to her.

She thought she had all the information, but this eluded her. Just as she was about to say that she couldn’t remember the song and must have sung it from impulse, she recalled hearing one of the caregivers sing a song and began to hum it.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray..."

"Alright," Alex cut in. She didn’t know whether to be happy, sad, or ready to die until he added, "You can give me your address, and I will contact you at the right time."

He was not going to mention the divorce to her as that was a private matter between him and Joanna, but seeing the woman he felt nothing for, he didn’t know how marriage with her would work.

Unlike Joan, this woman did not look interesting, and her answers were very short. It wasn’t like when he met Joanna. The approach and everything made him take an instant interest in her.

Joanna was vibrant, daring, and so full of tease that even when she began to suspect him and wanted to pull out of the deal at the initial stage, he couldn’t let her.

Without another word, Alex carried his bottle of whiskey and cigar before going back to Dion’s room. There he sent a text message to Dario after taking a picture of Tess’s ID.

’I want to know everything about her.’

Tess sat down in the cloud of smoke left behind as it slowly faded from her sight. Her fate at this moment was blur.

Alex never requested another meeting with her, and as much as she tried to talk to him whenever she went to see Dion, he gave her no audience or attention.

If he had his way, he would have just rewarded her, but Dion wanted this woman in their lives forever, and that complicated matters for him.

Dario’s report was prompt but there was no suspicion in the report sent regarding the name Mabel Dawson.

A week later, Alex left for New Orleans after explaining to Dion that he needed time to end the contract with Joan but ensured to keep Mabel or whatever her name was away from Dion for reasons he could not put a finger on.

Events in New Orleans were deadlier than Alex expected. He ended up spending two and a half months and would have stayed longer if not for the gang leader committing suicide.

That brought the feud to an unexpected end with Alex gaining back everything the gang had stolen from him. During the time of the intense gunfights, Joanna had called, but he was never in the position to answer.

Even if he did, he found it disrespectful to explain things to her on the phone, and for as long as Jack informed him that Joanna was not in any form of danger, it justified his actions.

Aiden had no job in New Orleans anymore but preferred anywhere else to where he would see Violet again.

Alex intended to go see Dion since he was afraid of seeing Joanna. It was getting close to the divorce, and he feared changing his mind if he saw her again before then, due to what transpired on the night he left.

Joanna made no resistance, and Alex was certain to have gone all the way if Dion’s call had not interrupted the moment but a call from Jack changed everything.

"Sir, Madam’s father had an accident, and her sister is trying to gaslight her into donating blood." Before Alex could utter a word from the end of the line, all he heard was the emergency alarm, hinting that Jack and Joanna were in danger.

Chapter 158: Chapter 158 - Joan, you are heartless

Joan never heard from Alex since that night. She called on two occasions and did not get an answer, so she gave up, but Violet had moved in with her, making Alex’s absence less impactful.

With the two women going to work at the same time and arriving almost at the same time, life was good, and they felt like the men weren’t needed in their lives anymore.

After all, they had enough bodyguards and servants, making it look as if the only things missing from their lives were intimacy, which they were comfortable living without.

Most of the days were fun, and others tiring when office work screamed for their attention.

They had even spent a month with Joanna’s mother and a week with Violet’s parents, making it all worthwhile. But as the days turned to weeks and weeks to months, Joanna wished Alex would not return.

Though she missed him, she feared the divorce that was staring her in the face. As she surged through company matters to her marital one, she never expected to receive a call from Mia.

"Joan, dad had an accident and needs blood," Mia’s exasperated voice sounded from the end of the line. Joanna scoffed.

Mia called her because they needed something from her. How pathetic. Unfortunately, Joanna was not a saint and was not ready to give to Caesar what did not belong to Caesar.

"What has that got to do with me?" Her father was never there in their times of need, even when her mother was sick.

If not for Alex, who knows how Joanna would have taken care of her mother’s hospital bills when her father had refused to give to her, even what rightfully belonged to her mother.

He never cared to help with the hospital bills, so why should she care about him? Some people were dead to her, and her father was one of them.

At the end of the line, Mia was saddened. Her mother had left them after Joanna took over the company.

They had nothing now because the little money in their bank accounts could only afford them a small apartment and one meal a day for a few months.

Joanna had everything and yet refused to help in any way. "Joan, you are heartless. He needs blood."

Mia would have given hers, but sadly, Cole was not her real father and was not even aware of it.

After contacting her mother a few days ago, she realized the woman had been raped and abused when she tried to trade her body for money after falling into the hands of some mafia gang.

However, Mia was not as concerned for her mother as she was for her father because of how he heartlessly left them to fend for themselves, keeping all the money in her bank account for herself.

If she had as much as supported them, then she would have also not ended up in the wrong hands.

"So, give him yours or have you contracted a venereal disease or something?" Joanna mocked from the end of the line. Mia was disheartened.

"Joan!"

Joanna chuckled, feeling that Mia had forgotten the treatment she, her father, and mother meted out to Joanna and her mother.

"Shut the fuck up and stop wasting my time. Unlike you, I have work to do."

Mia could not give up so easily and confronted from the end of the line. "Joan, for the past few months that you took everything from us, have you ever thought about our living condition?"

She was so bold to think that Joanna cared or would ever care about them. This was karma, and Joanna was allowing it to take effect the way it should.

"Why should I?" she asked sarcastically. Mia felt helpless.

"Joan, you are heartless."

"Really?" Joanna had taken offense at this moment, asking from the end of the line. "Where were you when my mother needed surgery, huh? I was never a part of the family, so forget that I exist."

Mia recalled all the times they maltreated Joanna, keeping her away because of this very thing.

The fact that she might one day take everything from them. How Mia and her mother poisoned her mind against her father to have him keep her away.

But blood was thicker than water, and Cole had done something Mia came across recently, even when he had no idea Mia was not his biological child.

"Joan, you are Cole’s only child," Mia revealed. Joanna paled instantly but soon regained herself.

She recalled her mother saying some things during the wedding and had a feeling that her mother knew all these.

No wonder Rene tried as much as possible to keep her mother away. Well, that was great because Monica was now living like a queen and did not need a jerk like Cole in her life.

Since the man treated her like an outsider, Joanna cared less about anything concerning him as well.

"In that case, he should consider death because if I go to that hospital, then it would be to arrange his corpse for burial."

Mia was hit by the news like thunder, and all the time, Jack smiled, just by hearing the responses his madam gave, though he couldn’t hear the voice at the end of the line.

Ever since Joanna became the CEO, he always guarded her in her office since she was now alone in it, not trusting anyone who goes in to see her.

As Joanna had grown accustomed to his presence, it no longer disturbed her that there was always somebody in her way.

"Send the location," Jack heard Joanna say, having no idea what Mia said next to get her aggravated as she instructed him.

"Take me to this private hospital now."

Jack did not think it was a good idea. "Ma’am, I don’t think sir would agree to this," Jack expressed, but Joanna was already out of the office as he followed and opened the car door for her.

She was not listening to him, but as they reached the hospital, he felt that his boss should know. "Sir, Madam’s father had an accident, and her sister is trying to gaslight her into donating blood."

He caught up to Joanna as he spoke, but as soon as they entered, they were hit by a strange smell, and Joanna was the first to collapse to the floor. Knowing they had been tricked on something, Jack pressed the emergency alarm, signaling danger.

Alex never liked Joanna meeting her father alone, using the opportunity to return after calling back up to trace Jack and Joanna.

In his private jet, information reached him. "Sir, Don Lucas is the one behind everything, and he insists on seeing our boss before releasing her."

 

Chapter 159: Chapter 159 – At least we should save your wife first

Since Joanna refused to come see Cole to donate her blood, Mia resorted to the last option of using the life insurance policy she just found out about.

"Joan, the man you hate so much used you for his life insurance. If he dies now, you shall receive five million as compensation. Do you think he hated you that much to do this?"

Joanna was shocked but soon, her phone beeped with the document to prove as Mia continued to speak. "If you won’t save him, then have the insurance company change your name to mine."

Joanna didn’t want the money but the little bit of care Cole had shown by making her the sole benefactor of his life insurance policy caused something to move inside her.

She didn’t need the money but since Mia stood by Cole, she could have it to take care of him. That was her reason for going to see them and not to donate blood, but as soon as Mia ended the call, four men entered her father’s ward.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She asked, but the men only closed the door.

"Do you think this private facility is for free? Have you any idea who paid for it?" One of the men asked her, his countenance intimidating, as he lighted a cigar and puffed.

Mia began to piece a few things together. They couldn’t afford a hospital when she heard about Cole’s accident and was shocked to receive a call from a doctor, directing her to a private facility.

Mia was not thinking at that moment, only caring about the well-being of her father when she reached there.

"Ma’am, your father needs blood. Can we take yours?"

Mia stiffened when she heard the question, knowing Cole was not her biological father.

"No, but I can get my sister," she revealed, but was not smart enough to catch the smirk in the corner of the doctor’s lips. It was only after these men entered that she realized things were not as they seemed.

"What are you doing here? Who are you?" She asked but did not receive any answer until she saw the door open and one of the men spray something in Joanna and Jack’s face, watching in horror as Joanna fell on the ground.

"What have you done? Alex would kill us," Mia cried when she saw Joanna on the floor. "Besides, my dad needs her blood."

She had no idea who these strangers were. Since Joanna refused to come before, she only decided to use what she found out about Cole’s life insurance policy to prove that all along, the man cared for Joanna.

"Just shut up. What makes you think I care about your dad?" The man with the cigar raged, ordering one of his men.

"Take the pretty damsel to one of the wards and the bodyguard to another."

"You are dead. Alex would kill you," Mia cried, but a slap from the man sent her into a state of unconsciousness on the floor as the man loomed over her.

"I caused the accident because I needed Joanna here, but don’t worry. Your father doesn’t need blood. He will be fine."

Mia had tears in her eyes, wishing she had been good from the start. If not, this heartless man would not have taken advantage of them.

It was wrong for her to get Joan here, but how could she have known it was all a plot.

"What do you want from her?" She asked, the man taunted.

"Stop pretending that you care. I know you don’t," a cloud of smoke covered her face as she struggled to lift herself from the floor.

"Please, just let her go. I don’t want trouble," she cried. The harsh reality of life taught her a big lesson, and even if Cole was not her biological father, he was the one who took care of her.

Mia was glad there was no need for blood, and as such, Cole wouldn’t know she wasn’t his real daughter. That would be heartbreaking.

The man did not pay her attention as he called Dario on the phone. "I heard you are the one in charge of protecting Mrs. King. I have him and his bodyguard and guess who I want in exchange?"

Dario’s hand balled, knowing how his boss took matters about the Kings to heart. Salvator had even called him to go on a rescue mission, and he was close to the location when the call came through.

Dario was interested in what exactly the person wanted in exchange, as he could already discern who it was from the voice.

"Don Lucas, what do you want?"

"I want your boss, Salvador. Tell him to bring himself in or I will kill each and every member of the Kings, beginning with Alex’s wife."

Dario had just reached the car park and was giving instructions to his men with signals as he spoke on the phone.

"You misunderstand, Don Lucas. Salvador is nonexistent. It’s just a name we created to put the organization in order. Salvador is just a robot if you get what I mean."

He pointed at two of his men to go in and saw them fall flat after entering, so he beckoned for the rest to stop.

How clever of you to send your men. How did you discover my location?" Don Lucas inquired, feeling a bit apprehensive.

"We have Mrs. King, and we always keep track of her movements," Dario explained as he quickly messaged Salvador.

’It’s Don Lucas, and he’s using a gas that renders people unconscious. We don’t have any oxygen masks with us, so I’m requesting some,’ he informed.

’No, just stay put,’ came the immediate reply. ’Alex is upset and is losing faith in us. He’s on his way with a different set of bodyguards. They have oxygen masks and may be able to assist you.’

Dario felt ashamed to receive help from what he would term as an inferior team since Salvador’s men were known to be the best.

Soon, a van pulled over as three men stepped out of it with excess oxygen masks. "Mr. King?"

Alex walked over and asked in annoyance. "And who are you?"

Dario lowered his head and stretched his hand. "Dario, the leader of Salvador’s men."

A stinging slap met his face at the introduction. "Salvador or whatever said you are the best, so tell me, where is he?"

Ike was laughing internally. His boss was indeed a very good actor. "I’m sorry, but Salvador is just a robot. He doesn’t exist," Dario said. Alex loved the answer but did not show it as Dario added.

"At least we should save your wife first. Thanks for the mask."

Dario walked in with his partner but froze on the spot, dropped his weapons, and raised his hand when he saw a gun pointed at Joanna and Jack’s head.

"Don Lucas, let Mrs. King go. You can have us," he bargained but Don Lucas laughed.

"That isn’t going to happen. Bring me Salvador or she dies," he threatened. Dario was about to respond when a daring voice beat him to it.

"How dare you threaten my wife in your beef with Salvador?" Alex appeared at the entrance, and Don Lucas was confused.

Chapter 160: Chapter 160 - I put her before you

"What are you doing here?" Don Lucas asked, Alex was enraged to see a gun pointed at Joanna in her unconscious state.

She was tied to a chair, and so was Jack, but Mia sat on the floor with tears in her eyes, as Cole lay unconscious on the bed.

"You have my wife, and that brings me here," Alex said seriously, his gaze dark. Don Lucas was still confused. He heard Alexander King had been out of the city for months, so how could he appear so suddenly?

"Whatever, I would release your wife as soon as he brings out Salvador, even if it’s a robot like he claims," he pointed at Dario.

Don Lucas’s men were all armed, and so were Alex’s men. Only Dario and Salvador’s men had disarmed themselves.

"I don’t care what your beef with Salvador is, but if my wife wakes up to all these guns, I would not allow any of you to leave here alive."

"Hahahha," Don Lucas laughed. "Do you think this is a corporation? Wake up, Mr. Alexander King. I am a mafia Don, and I have the gun pointed at your wife. If I don’t see Salvador, she dies."

Alex had to think fast. With Joanna here, he couldn’t let everyone know he was the one.

She could wake up at any moment. "Alex?" Joanna murmured, Alex was about to rush to her side, but the gun was now pressed against Joanna’s head, making him stop in tracks.

"Another step, and she’s gone."

Alex’s fingers balled, pain surging through his heart, but Jack was also awake, giving Alex hope that Jack would be able to untie himself. All Alex needed was time and a distraction.

"Alex, I swear, I know nothing about this. I just wanted Joan to help dad, but they tricked me. Dad didn’t even need blood," Mia cried from where she sat.

It was clear that Alex might rescue just Joanna and leave her and her father to die.

"Mia?" Joanna asked, her voice faint as the fog began to clear from her mind. Soon she began to see things clearly, realizing a gun was pointed at her head but seeing Alex again, her heart warmed.

"You came." It’s been months since she last saw or heard from her contract husband.

Alex smiled at her. How could he tell her how much he missed her? Joanna was about to stand when she realized her body was restricted with a rope.

Looking around, it was clear to her that she had been abducted, and Alex had come to rescue her.

"Don’t worry. I will get you out of here," Alex assured her, Don Lucas laughed.

"Alex, how are you going to do that?"

Alex smiled at him. "Don Lucas, your crimes are enough to send you rotting in jail, but trust me, you won’t have the luxury of seeing another day for the fact that you dared to touch my wife. You are as good as dead."

Don Lucas laughed, and so did his men. "Not even Dario is capable of talking big, and you think you have the guts? Open your eyes, Alexander. This isn’t the Kings multinational."

"I know exactly where I am, and I’m giving you a last warning. Let my wife go or not only you and your men. Each of your families would pay for what you have done here today."

He wasn’t going to let this slide. The fact that they took the war to his doorstep and made his wife a scapegoat but a dangerous revelation was made, causing Alex’s eyes to redden instantly.

"Relax, Salvador King, I’m being funded by someone from the King’s family, so do you still think you have the guts?"

Alex’s expression changed dramatically. The only person with the guts was Logan. Yes, the temporary memory loss solution must have worn out by now.

Alex looked around, and when his gaze met with that of Mia, he grimaced.

"How the heck did you get my wife here?"

Fear shone in Mia’s eyes. After having experienced Alex’s ruthlessness firsthand, she knew that her life would not be able to pay.

"Alex, I just wanted her to come donate blood to dad, but I was tricked by them." She pointed at Don Lucas. "He confessed to being the cause of the accident."

"How is dad?" Joanna asked, Don Lucas was getting annoyed. "You don’t ask the questions here."

He grabbed Joanna by the neck, Alex was filled with fury. "Don’t you dare."

"Oh what?" Don Lucas pressed another gun against Joanna’s head in addition to the one his men had pinned at her, Jack had secretly finished untying himself, but from the closeness of the gun on Joanna’s head and for her being tied to a chair, they couldn’t comprehend the risk.

"Let my sister go," they heard from Mia, and before anyone could process her words, she was holding tightly to Don Lucas’s legs, her teeth sinking into his calf.

A scream tore from Don Lucas’s mouth, and he and his men simultaneously pointed the gun at Mia. At the same time, bullets dropped on the floor.

Don Lucas and his men had been shot from multiple angles, sending them unconscious to the floor.

Alex hastened to Joanna’s side and untied her from the chair, but that was when they realized that Mia had also been shot.

Joanna squatted by her side as Alex called for the doctor. "Mia, stay with me," Joanna echoed, her voice teary and her hands shook.

Mia had been shot in the chest and shoulder. "Joan, I’m sorry," she said before losing consciousness. The medical team carried her to another ward, the same time Cole regained consciousness.

Well, He had been conscious for a while but was afraid of making it known.

"Alex, will she be fine?" Joanna asked, Alex pressed her to his chest. "I will make sure they do all that they can to save her."

It was clear to them that the attack was against Salvador, and Mia and Cole were just victims.

However, it was also clear that Mia’s little action caused the destruction they all needed to gun down the assailants.

"Joan, are you alright?" Cole asked from the bed, Joanna walked over to him.

"I should be asking if you are okay."

"I’m sorry for everything," Cole apologized, Joanna stared at him. Being close to death and with Mia still fighting for her life, she couldn’t allow hate to have a place in her heart.

"We all make mistakes, but Mia told me what you did with your life insurance. At least you weren’t completely heartless."

"Mia? How did she know?" Cole was shocked since he had kept that away from Mia and her mother.

Joanna didn’t have an answer to that and did not want to divulge that Mia was not Cole’s daughter. "It doesn’t matter."

A tear slid down Cole’s cheek. "I heard her talking to the doctor. She’s not my biological daughter, and yet, I put her before you."

Before Joanna could utter a word, Alex heard a beeping sound and saw something. "Is that a camera?" He asked, Dario looked in the direction he gazed at and screamed, "No, it’s a bomb."