Ch. 1681..1690
Chapter 1681
Clayton’s voice was cold like it was drenched in ice. “
Chapter 1690
Roland had not yet come to his senses when he received Clayton’s call, but he remembered that there was indeed such a matter.
A few years ago, various countries attached great importance to the medical industry, and they took the lead in investing in various specialties.
That naturally included cardiology.
Roland responded blankly, “Yes, but as you know, medical research and development is slow, and profits aren’t objective. Although you’ve been throwing money into it all these years, there are only a few times they were able to recover the capital...”
Even so, they could not give up halfway. This kind of investment was good news to all of mankind. It was an opportunity to make progress for the entire human race.
Clayton interrupted his report and immediately asked. “Who spearheaded the team for cardiology research?”
Roland immediately recalled. “Professor Phillip? But he passed away a few days ago due to a car accident. The one who took over now is his apprentice, Felix Ferguson...”
He only had a simple understanding of these things.
After all, they were just investors.
They would not intervene in who was in charge of the team.
Thus, the change of power and authority within the team was managed internally.
The investors were only interested in the projects and outcomes.
Clayton’s face changed a few times, and his tone became deep and unfamiliar.
“Felix is a member of the Ferguson family? He’s Eric Ferguson’s uncle, right?”
When Clayton first got the information about this team, he had a general understanding of the team’s structure.
Felix was Phillip’s assistant and had excellent abilities.
The other assistants were also quite good, but it was because of Felix’s family background that made an impression on Clayton.
Roland paused. ‘that’s right.”
Clayton’s memory was much better than Roland’s.
However, at the mention of the Ferguson family, Roland instantly became vigilant.
Clayton said, “Go investigate something for me...”
In Floyd’s ward.
Floyd was hooked up to all kinds of tubes. In just one night, Floyd seemed to have lost a lot of hair, and he looked like he aged more than a decade.
Nicole was heartbroken at the sight and could not help but sob as she lay her head on his arm.
“Don’t cry, Lil N. Daddy’s fine.”
Floyd’s voice when he spoke was not as energetic as before. Nicole became even more heartbroken when she heard him.
She sobbed and looked up at her father with a firm gaze.
“Dad, I’ll find you the best doctor. I’ll definitely cure you.”
Floyd sighed with a look of resignation.
“I’ve already lived to this age, so it doesn’t matter. I thought that was it for me fifteen years ago, but I ended up living fifteen more years. That’s enough for me. You should try to accept that too.”
Nicole opened her mouth, but tears streamed down her face before she could speak.
Before she could say anything, the door behind opened, and Kai went over. He sat on Floyd’s hospital bed and sobbed.
“Dad... What other wishes do you have? I’ll definitely fulfill them for you. I’ll never make you angry again!”
Nicole looked at this scene and was instantly shocked speechless.
The next second, she saw Floyd’s miserably pale face tinge red as if he was furious. His lips were trembling. If Floyd was not lying on the bed with Kai pressing down on his body, he would have swung his fist at Kai the next second.
“You little sh*t. Get out of here!”
Floyd gasped in anger, gritting his teeth and glaring at Kai.
The cozy atmosphere from seeing Nicole came to an abrupt end with Kai’s presence.
Kai did not understand and looked up blankly. “Dad, at a time like this, you should stop scolding me. Lil N and I both love you the same. Even if you’re biased, I won’t get angry with you!”
You blamed everything on me and made everyone think that I pushed her down. You kept me not because I was your son, but because you needed a scapegoat to divert others’ attention and cover up this scandal, right?”
Did the Sloan family raise Clayton? Was Clayton so ungrateful to bite the hand that fed him?
What about the blood feud between them?
Did they think that it could be buried in the past forever?
Clayton already forgot what that so-called “mother” looked like, but he had dreamed of that scene more than once.
In his impression, that mother did not care much about him.
She only gave birth to him and used him so she could join the Sloan family.
However, she did not expect Clayton’s value to be so low because the Sloan family did not care about an illegitimate son at all.
Thus, Clayton was tortured by that psychotic mother for a long time without relief.
When that woman died, Clayton fell into another type of torment. What Quavon and Isaac brought him was far worse than that woman’s mental depression.
For twenty whole years, Clayton lived in self-doubt. He thought of ending his life more than once.
Why should he exist in this world?
Liam gave him hope, Michael gave him strength, and Nicole let him see the warmth and brightness of this world.
Clayton climbed out of the gloom and had no intention of going back in.
He worked hard to live like a normal person, reading countless books on treating mental illness and self- healing.
Fortunately, Nicole was satisfied with Clayton’s current self.
There was no warmth in Clayton’s eyes. Although he looked calm, it was as if a sinister devil was hidden under that tranquil face.
After hearing Clayton‘s words, Quavon’s anger faded. Then, he calmed down.
“You... How did you find out about that?”
His voice was feeble and even carried a bit of fear.
Clayton’s gaze was cold and intimidating. “When I was auditing the accounts, I happened to see your money transfer records to the psychiatrist who treated my mother.”
Quavon felt defeated at once. For so many years, he had never even thought about covering up this matter.
That was because he did not believe that Clayton would have the capability to find out about this matter back then.
Quavon was too careless.
Quavon looked at Clayton and chuckled. “So? Do you think that everything you did to the Sloan family was only natural? Don’t forget that you were only able to live because I took you from that crazy woman.
Otherwise, you would’ve starved to death!”
Raising Clayton was probably the only thing Quavon could take credit for.
Clayton looked at Quavon strangely and lowered his voice.
“You’re my biological father. In Liberty, child abandonment is a serious crime. You’re only saving yourself, so I won’t be grateful for that. The Sloan family is already doomed, and I’ll dig up the roots of the Sloan family little by little. So, you can just wait and see.”
This was his revenge.
Clayton did not do it deliberately, but if there was a chance, he would not let go of it.
Quavon suppressed the anxiousness in his tone.
“What’s in it for you? Can you really manage those people in Sloan Corporation? Without my support, even if you sit in that position, countless problems will arise. Do you have to go so far?”
Clayton chuckled. “Yeah, I do. That’s the only way I‘ll feel better. My heart will only feel a little better if the entire Sloan family falls, so you should stop trying to do something useless again. Just stay here with your beloved son and slowly live out your days...”
Chapter 1682
“Clayton Sloan—” Quavon stood up hysterically and shouted.
Quavon’s face and neck turned red in anger, and he struggled to calm his emotions and spoke to Clayton like he was striking a deal.
“I can help you sit firmly in that position, and I can help you solve the problem at hand, but you must promise never to divide the interests of the Sloan family!”
This was the final straw.
Clayton looked at him and flicked his wrist to look at his diamond watch. His cufflinks glowed with a cold light.
He stood up to straighten his jacket and said with an indifferent voice.
“You’re not qualified to negotiate with me. Before long, there will no longer be a Sloan Corporation in Liberty. It’ll be called SF Corporation, and not a single Sloan will be there.”
Quavon’s face suddenly changed, and he looked at Clayton in shock.
“W-What are you saying?”
Clayton was giving up all of Sloan Corporation’s contacts and resources to start over.
This meant going back almost ten years by cutting off all interests, involvement, and connections.
Huh, Clayton actually dared to do that? How ruthless!
Clayton gazed faintly at Quavon with a hint of a sneer on his face.
“Mr. Sloan, believe me when I say this. If you secretly contact the outside world again, I’ll immediately have someone pull the plug on Isaac.”
Quavon’s pupils shrank fiercely. He no longer had the aura he had just now. There was not even anger left.
“Are you threatening me?”
Clayton was using Isaac’s life to threaten Quavon? Clayton pursed his lips and did not conceal his disgust. “I am, so you better believe me. That’s your only son.”
After loving Isaac for more than twenty years in the name of brotherhood, Quavon would have to be obedient in the future because of Isaac.
Quavon had no choice.
His face was twisted as he looked at Clayton, unable to say a single word.
Should Quavon threaten him? Intimidate him?
Or beg for mercy?
Whatever it was, it would not have any effect on the man in front of him.
It felt as if he never knew his son. In the past, Quavon did not even want to hear Clayton’s name, let alone know anything about him.
To him, Clayton’s existence was a stain.
Not only was Clayton proof of betrayal to Isaac’s mother, but he was also a witness to how Quavon killed Clayton’s mother.
However, Clayton now became a presence that could not be ignored, and he came back with a strong vengeance.
It caused a deep sense of fear to well up in Quavon.
Clayton looked at his watch for a second time and lifted his foot to leave, not even bothering to look at Isaac in the back.
Quavon seemed to realize that this would be the last time they met.
He endured the discomfort in his heart and immediately shouted.
“C|ayton, you:.”
Quavon had a million words to say, but the moment he saw Clayton’s dark and sunken eyes, it seemed like there was nothing he could say.
His eyes were dead silent.
Clayton had long since hated the Sloan family.
“Aren’t you worried that I won’t care about him at all? Whether Isaac lives or dies isn’t that important to me.”
Quavon spoke with gritted teeth, wanting Clayton to know that he had no weaknesses.
If they were to compete in a fair situation, Quavon might not lose.
Clayton’s eyes darkened slightly, and his voice was indifferent.
“Is that so? Then pull the plug immediately. Don’t waste medical resources by keeping scum like him alive.”
That was good. He gave a reason for Isaac to die.
Quavon gasped and watched Clayton turn around indifferently and leave.
Clayton was not at all affected by Quavon’s words.
Whether or not Isaac died, Quavon would not have a chance to leave this place.
Quavon looked back at Isaac inside. He was bone thin and was just a husk of his former self. He could only rely on medicine to continue living.
Quavon sat down on the sofa in despair. Now that things had come to this point, did he still have a choice?
It seemed like it no longer mattered if Isaac was kept alive or not.
Once Clayton left, the surrounding area immediately resumed a high degree of vigilance. Even the sky outside turned gray-blue and gloomy.
Chapter 1683
Clayton did not tell anyone in advance about his return.
He planned to stay in Liberty for at least a week, but he just could not wait any longer.
After just a few days of not seeing each other, his yearning for Nicole exceeded the sum of all the emotional values in the past.
Roland thought that Clayton might become upset after meeting Quavon and even made preparations to run away.
However, the actual situation seemed to have exceeded his expectations. Not only was Clayton not upset, but he also enthusiastically complained that a certain luxury bag was too ugly, just like a certain one of Nicole’s coats.
Roland listened with his head down, somewhat dazed.
“Mr. Sloan, I remember that when Ms. Stanton wore that coat, you complimented her from the bottom of your heart that she was beautiful unlike anything else. I didn’t expect that...”
Roland hesitated. He did not expect that Clayton did not mean what he said.
Clayton froze for a moment and pursed his lips. He said frankly, “I was praising her, not her clothes.”
The reason why he was so familiar with these things that he did not know about before was simply that Nicole liked to shop when she was bored.
In addition to shopping, Nicole always insisted on hearing his opinion.
Clayton could only force himself to learn and reach her level of satisfaction.
However, he also got used to it over time. The clothes and jewelry that he could not differentiate at first actually had details in certain places and had their own highlights.
They arrived at the apartment lobby.
Clayton got out of the car and carried his stuff upstairs. Roland wanted to go over to help but was refused.
“You can have today off. Go back. Don’t bother me if there’s nothing.”
Clayton decisively took the elevator and left. Roland was speechless.
When Clayton went upstairs, Nicole’s house was quiet and peaceful. She went to work.
His heart was a little regretful, but he still placed the things in her dressing room. They were all her favorite things, so she would be overjoyed when he saw them.
Thinking about her happy face, Clayton smiled from his heart.
Clayton had really fallen hard.
He raised his brows and looked around. The surroundings were clean, but it was a little messy.
The flowers in the vase were wilted, and Nicole’s scarf was casually thrown aside.
Since Clayton started living here, no workers came to the house. She did not like to be disturbed either.
It had only been two days, but it was clear that she was not interested in tidying up the house at all.
Clayton laughed and silently bent down to pick up a magazine on the floor, then started the robot vacuum.
After everything was done, he also took a nap.
It was really true love. Otherwise, how would he come back just to clean up the house even though he was jet lagged?
9:00 pm.
Clayton finally heard the sound of someone opening the door.
Clayton‘s dishes came out just in time. Western food, candles, and a world of two.
It was a perfect evening.
Nicole pushed the door in, and the lights automatically lit up. When she saw the clean and tidy house, she momentarily froze and did not know how to react.
Then, she saw Clayton in his lounge wear with rolled-up sleeves. Clayton came out of the kitchen with a smile on his handsome and well-defined face.
Nicole froze for a moment.
“Ms. Stanton, you’ve worked so hard. I thought that
you were going to stay overnight at the office tonight!” Clayton said half-jokingly and half in heartache.
Nicole left work so late. She must have been so busy
that she did not have time to eat.
She had always been very bad at taking care of herself.
If she was still not home soon, he would have gone to the office to bring her back.
Nicole was shocked. When she saw him in front of her, she was taken aback before a surge of happiness spread to her eyes. She took a few steps forward and pounced on him, speaking excitedly.
"You’re back!”
Chapter 1684
Nicole wrapped her arms around Clayton’s neck and clung to him, nestled in his arms like a koala.
Clayton was steady and unmoving like a mountain, smiling dotingly as he looked down at her.
“Did you miss me that much?”
He stroked her head with one hand. His movements were incredibly gentle.
Nicole rubbed her chin and nodded. Her eyes were slightly sore.
Although it had only been two days, it felt like so many days had passed.
When Clayton was away, the house felt cold, and there was no one pampering her. It was not a nice feeling at all.
There was a sense of loneliness.
Subconsciously, Nicole seemed to be inseparable from Clayton. This quiet sense of dependence made her feel strange, but she did not resist it.
Clayton’s kiss landed on her lips, and the two people burned up quickly like a fire was lit between them.
However, just when it was about to get out of hand, Clayton let go and gently held her waist to keep her from falling on the ground.
Nicole was very disappointed and muttered, "You don’t want to?”
When Clayton saw her pouting, he instantly remembered her seductive appearance last night and wanted to swallow her up.
Clayton held back his racing heart, smiled, and kissed the tip of her nose. He coaxed her with a low and suppressed voice.
“Be good. I’ll give it to you later. Let’s eat something first, okay?”
Nicole frowned and lightly punched him. Why did he make it sound like she was the dissatisfied one?
It was him who kept teasing her earlier.
Nicole grunted and pushed him away to sit down at the table. When she looked at the exquisite French meal, the gloom in her heart suddenly disappeared.
It was an exquisite spread of dishes, and there was even dessert. It probably took a long time to prepare.
She looked up in shock. ‘You came back in the afternoon?”
Clayton smiled and set things up for her.
“Of course. I’ve been waiting for you all day. This surprise is getting cold...”
The corners of Nicole’s mouth curled up, and she could not conceal her happiness.
“You shouId’ve told me, then I wouldn’t have gone to work today.”
If Nicole knew that Clayton was coming back, she would not have gone to work even if she had to pretend to be sick.
Clayton raised his brows. “Would it still be a surprise if I told you?”
He sat to the side and lit the candles. The atmosphere built up, and the whole room was enveloped in warmth.
Nicole looked around. Not only had the place become tidy, but the lilies that she was too lazy to throw out were also replaced with Baby Breaths in full bloom.
She could not help but sigh. “I finally understand how important it is to have a virtuous wife.”
Clayton’s lips curled. “Don’t talk nonsense. We haven’t reached that point yet.”
It was incredibly satisfying to call her out with her attitude in the past.
Nicole was defeated and lowered her eyes, then raised her smile again.
“Is everything in Liberty settled?”
“There’s no hurry. We’ll take it slow. As long as we follow my plan, there won’t be any problems.”
Clayton smiled and cut the steak for her.
Nicole took a look, wrinkled her brows, and sighed.
“Although I really wanna eat, it’s a crime to eat at this hour!”
“Did you have dinner at the office?” “No.”
Clayton knew her habits and smiled.
“Just take a bite of each dish, then? There’s not much anyway. It’s the thought that counts.”
In order not to waste Clayton’s good intentions, she could only try a bite of each dish.
However, there were so many dishes on the table. Nicole regretted it at the end of the meal.
She was full.
This feeling was really satisfying and terrifying at the same time.
Clayton wiped the corner of her mouth and reminded her with a smile.
“Your gift is in the dressing room and hasn’t been opened yet. Do you want to go check it out?”
Nicole froze, grinned, and immediately ran to the dressing room.
Only presents could make Nicole forget about all those calories she just ate.
Chapter 1685
Clayton also did not have an appetite. He put down the cutlery, slowly wiped his mouth, and cleaned up while she opened her gifts.
What Nicole enjoyed was obviously the process of opening presents.
As soon as she took them out, Clayton knew that a large portion of these things would be put away.
Nicole came out of the dressing room happily. The smile on her face still had not faded.
Clayton walked over and hugged her. The implication in his eyes was clear.
“Let’s go take a shower?”
Nicole froze and blushed slightly.
Of course, she knew what was going to happen next. There was even vague anticipation in her heart.
She nodded and ran to the bathroom. Just as she was about to close the door, a hand stopped her.
Her heart jumped as she watched Clayton come in from the doorway. His dark eyes shone with a meaningful light as he looked at her like she was his prey.
“It’s already so late. Let’s shower together?”
His reason was high-sounding, making her unable to refuse.
Nicole looked at him with her hazy eyes that flickered. “ We can’t...”
“We can...”
Clayton did not give her the opportunity to refuse. He lowered his head and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her while bringing her inside. He turned o n the shower along the way, and the two people were instantly drenched together.
The two of them were entangled for an unknown amount of time. Nicole did not even have the strength to lift her fingers. She lay on the bed unmoving like a puddle of water.
Behind her, Clayton gently covered her with the quilt and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
Nicole thought he still wanted more and suddenly panicked, then pushed his arm away.
“No more...”
Her voice was soft and charming.
Clayton still had energy for another round, but his heart broke when he saw her looking so tired.
He answered with a hoarse and soothing voice. “Okay, go to sleep.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. His heart, which had been drained for several days, gradually settled down.
Nicole relaxed and she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
She felt that Clayton seemed like a different man after coming back from Liberty.
Although he was still as thoughtful as before, when he looked at her, he no longer deliberately hid his emotions. When he looked at her, the undisguised emotions in his dark eyes were like the sea that could swallow her up.
The next day.
Nicole was woken by the incessant sound of her phone ringing before dawn.
She did not want to answer the phone at all.
To the other side, Clayton looked at the caller ID, glanced at Nicole, and nudged her, but she did not move.
After thinking about it, he picked up the phone himself. “Kai?”
The caller was Kai.
Kai froze for a second but did not think much about it now.
“Tell Lil N to come to the hospital. Dad’s heart condition acted up again. The situation isn’t good.”
It was rare to hear Kai sounding so serious.
Clayton’s sleepiness instantly disappeared. “Okay. We’ll be right there.”
He immediately hung up the phone and picked Nicole up.
“Babe, wake up. Your dad is in the hospital...”
He felt regretful when he saw how sleepy she was, but now was not the time to dally. They could not delay even a single minute.
Nicole heard those words and instantly woke up. She looked at him blankly.
“What?”
Clayton’s tone was solemn. “Kai called, and I answered the phone. Your father’s heart condition acted up again. Kai said that the situation doesn’t look good.”
Nicole’s heart was pounding way too quickly like a drum.
She finally reacted. Not caring about anything else, Nicole immediately turned around and went down to wash up before going out.
Clayton’s reaction was much faster than hers. He had already called the driver to wait downstairs.
Nicole was extremely anxious. Her face was pale, and her body was cold, as if she was the one who fell sick.
Clayton frowned slightly. His arm around her shoulder tightened, and his voice was firm and low.
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
Clayton did not forget to take Nicole’s phone before they left. He had never seen her so frazzled before. Her eyes were blank, which made his heart tighten.
Nicole’s body was stiff and trembling. She really hoped that it was a false alarm.
However, she also knew that Kai would never joke about Floyd’s health.
Nicole trembled and wanted to call Kai to ask about the specifics, but Kai was also in a hurry. There was a lot of background noise, so she simply could not hear him clearly.
Clayton comforted her with his deep voice. “Don’t be scared, Nicole. We’ll be there soon.”
He noticed her subconsciously tightened hands and immediately held them.
The driver drove very fast, and they arrived at the hospital in just ten minutes.
Grant’s people were downstairs to pick them up.
Nicole followed with an unpleasant expression and saw Grant and Kai standing there, talking to Director Sven with a glum expression on their faces. Aida also looked sorrowful.
Floyd was still hale and hearty when Nicole last saw him. He even wanted to go fishing every day.
Nicole quickly ran over. “Uncle Sven, how’s my dad?”
She was in a trance, but she could feel the bad premonition in her heart.
Director Sven sighed, looked at Grant, and then at Nicole.
“Ms. Stanton, you should be mentally prepared. Your father’s heart surgery fifteen years ago was successful, but recently, his health has been deteriorating day by day. Last night, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated. When he was taken to the hospital, he had another cardiac arrest. That’s not a good sign. All of his vitals are within the normal range, but heart problems aren’t a minor issue.”
Nicole pursed her lips. Her face was completely pale.
For so many years, Floyd had been living so simply and easily that she forgot that he had only come off the operating table after a narrow escape from death.
She stammered, “Then what do we do? What are we supposed to do now?”
Nicole was genuinely panicked. She could only put all her hopes on the doctor.
Grant spoke up calmly from the side.
“Let’s wait for the results to come out first. A comprehensive examination is being conducted right now. There was just a preliminary feeling that
something wrong was happening. I’ve already asked the team of experts from Liberty to rush over. They’ll arrive in the afternoon at the earliest.”
Director Sven nodded and hesitated. “That’s great, but...”
He paused and looked at Grant. “I don’t know if you remember, but the person who operated on your father fifteen years ago is the person who understands
your father’s physical condition the best. If we can get him to come over personally, it would be the best.”
The surgery back then was considered very difficult in Mediania.
With the reputation and prestige of Stanton Corporation, it was not difficult to invite one of the world’s top experts to come for a consultation.
Thus, Stanton Corporation spent a lot of money to hire a team with a lot of experience in heart diseases to save the dying Floyd. Since then, they have been at ease for fifteen years.
Now, they almost forgot about the forces they mobilized in the past.
Kai and Nicole’s eyes lit up. Nicole then looked at Grant.
“Big Brother, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and contact the people from fifteen years ago...”
Grant frowned, and his deep and gloomy gaze darkened.
He pursed his lips and did not speak for a while.
To the side, Aida covered her slightly bulging belly. She walked over and could not help but speak up.
“Lil N, don’t be anxious. Your brother contacted them immediately, but...”
Aida gritted her teeth and told Nicole the harsh truth. “But not long ago, that doctor died in a car accident.”
After those words were said, the surroundings were plunged into silence. Even Director Sven’s eyes were clouded with a layer of gloom.
There was a moment of silence.
Kai held his head in his hands, and there was some impatience in his tone. “Isn’t there anyone else?”
Grant glanced at him, suppressing the panic and helplessness in his gaze. He looked restrained and serious.
“Let’s wait for the results first. If it’s just a simple surgery, the current medical team I contacted should be able to handle it. It’s not a big problem.”
Director Sven nodded. “That’s right. We still have forty minutes. I’ll go and rush them.”
Then, he turned around and went inside.
The rest of the people seemed to have stopped breathing. There was not the slightest sound in the entire room.
Clayton walked over and hugged Nicole, making her sit on the sofa. She looked like she could faint at any moment.
Kai could not help but pace back and forth and could not calm down at all.
On a rare occasion, Kai went home last night. Floyd came back after fishing as usual and scolded him. Kai even retorted loudly and went to bed.
When it was almost dawn, Kai heard the butler’s panicked shout at home.
This was the time when the butler would wake Floyd up from bed. However, in the large mansion, only the butler’s loud screams could be heard.
Kai ran over when he heard the sound and saw the butler fumbling for his phone.
When Mr. Anderson saw Kai, his eyes reddened. Even at this moment, it felt so unreal.
How could the person who was scolding Kai just a few hours ago be hospitalized in the blink of an eye?
The rest of the time was spent waiting, and every second felt like torture.
Nicole could not sit still and stood by Floyd’s door, watching. It was as if she could see through the thick wall and see her father’s suffering.
At that thought, she wanted to cry even more.
Clayton stood by and watched. Forty minutes later, the results came out.
The best advice given by Director Sven’s team was to re-operate.
However, considering Floyd’s current physical condition, the risk of surgery was several times higher than that of fifteen years ago, so it was extremely risky.
If they did not opt for surgery, then Floyd would be in danger of cardiac arrest at any moment.
For a while, everyone was immersed in this sorrowful atmosphere again.
Aida stayed in the hospital for too long and felt a little unwell, so Grant arranged for her to rest in another room.
The remaining four people sat together and discussed.
Nicole’s heart was in turmoil. She naturally supported the surgery, but the risks of the surgery could not be ignored.
Grant came back after answering a call, sighed in relief, and comforted Kai and Nicole.
“Don’t worry. The experts’ arrival went well. We’ll listen to their professional advice.”
Nicole nodded with red eyes.
Kai paused. “I just called Maverick. He’s on an expedition to the Antarctic and won’t be back for a while, but he has applied to come back.”
Grant looked at him and frowned. “His situation is special. You...”
The words of blame that were about to be spoken were held back. Kai did not do anything wrong.
What if Maverick lost this opportunity and there was no next time?
Their family should be together at a time like this.
Nicole smiled. “We haven’t seen Maverick in a long time anyway. Dad misses him too...”
Kai shrugged nonchalantly.
It was obvious that everyone was pretending to be relaxed.
Clayton sighed and silently went out to make a phone call. No one noticed him.
In the afternoon, the expert team came over.
Floyd was fully examined for the second time. This time, not even a single detail was missed.
Chapter 1688
However, when they came out, their expressions were solemn and not very pleasant.
“Mr. Sloan, the chairman’s health isn’t good. Although the surgery fifteen years ago was successful, the valves of his heart have been damaged and are blocking the blood vessels, so the risk is extremely high. The best recommendation now is to operate.”
Grant pursed his lips. His gaze was sunken and cold. “ What‘s the success rate if you handle the surgery?”
The expert held his forehead and shrugged very honestly. “400a. This isn’t an ordinary heart bypass surgery. It isn’t even a simple surgery. It involves various aspects of linking and connecting vessels, and we can’t cut open his heart to study the surgical procedure fifteen years ago, so we can’t rule out any unexpected risks when conducting the surgery.”
Plus, if it were an ordinary person, the success rate they gave might be a little higher.
However, faced with the pressure from the Stanton family, they did not have that confidence.
The air froze for a moment.
Nicole looked up at that expert. “Then what if someone else did this surgery? Who would you recommend?”
There would always be experts and top talents in various fields that were well-respected, right?
That expert glanced at Nicole approvingly and smiled.
“Felix Ferguson. He’s currently the top talent in the world for cardiology. The most important thing is that he’s the apprentice of the attending physician who performed the surgery for Chairman Stanton fifteen years ago.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at once.
The expert continued, “He studied this heart condition relapsing with his mentor more than once in the past. He’s very experienced and well-read. If he performs the surgery, I think the possibility of the surgery being successful will be very high.”
All they heard was that Felix Ferguson was the apprentice of the attending surgeon who operated on Floyd fifteen years ago.
This meant that they were one step closer to success.
Nicole looked at Grant excitedly. Kai also looked at Grant.
“What are we waiting for? Hurry up and contact that person...”
Grant paused before nodding hesitantly and looking at the expert.
“How is your relationship with Felix Ferguson? Can you introduce us?”
If they could be introduced through someone Felix knew well, the result would be better.
The expert readily agreed.
“Of course. I have a good relationship with him. I’ll call him now.”
Everyone sighed in relief.
To the side, Clayton frowned."That person’s name sounds a little familiar...”
He spoke so softly that Nicole did not catch what he said. “What?”
“Nothing.”
Clayton shook his head with a smile. It was best if they could find a doctor.
He hoped that he was just overthinking.
Before long, the expert came in with a blank and bewildered face.
“I’m sorry, but he refused me. He declined to come to Mediania to operate on Chairman Stanton.”
Grant’s eyes instantly became cold and stern.
Nicole was stunned. “What? He can state any condition he wants. We’ll agree to them.”
The expert was also confused.
“I already told him the situation, but he still refused me very decisively. No matter what conditions I put out, he said that he would not operate on anyone from the Stanton family.”
Grant’s expression was very glum.
Nicole was also pale. She frowned slightly. “Why?”
The expert shook his head. He also did not know why. I n his impression, Felix was a professional who also loved fame and fortune.
If Felix could operate on Floyd, the benefits he could get might be higher than his remuneration.
Grant’s gaze flashed. He frowned and immediately took out his phone. “I’ll have someone investigate it.”
Clayton suddenly spoke from the side. “No need. I know this person.”
Chapter 1690
Roland had not yet come to his senses when he received Clayton’s call, but he remembered that there was indeed such a matter.
A few years ago, various countries attached great importance to the medical industry, and they took the lead in investing in various specialties.
That naturally included cardiology.
Roland responded blankly, “Yes, but as you know, medical research and development is slow, and profits aren’t objective. Although you’ve been throwing money into it all these years, there are only a few times they were able to recover the capital...”
Even so, they could not give up halfway. This kind of investment was good news to all of mankind. It was an opportunity to make progress for the entire human race.
Clayton interrupted his report and immediately asked. “Who spearheaded the team for cardiology research?”
Roland immediately recalled. “Professor Phillip? But he passed away a few days ago due to a car accident. The one who took over now is his apprentice, Felix Ferguson...”
He only had a simple understanding of these things.
After all, they were just investors.
They would not intervene in who was in charge of the team.
Thus, the change of power and authority within the team was managed internally.
The investors were only interested in the projects and outcomes.
Clayton’s face changed a few times, and his tone became deep and unfamiliar.
“Felix is a member of the Ferguson family? He’s Eric Ferguson’s uncle, right?”
When Clayton first got the information about this team, he had a general understanding of the team’s structure.
Felix was Phillip’s assistant and had excellent abilities.
The other assistants were also quite good, but it was because of Felix’s family background that made an impression on Clayton.
Roland paused. ‘that’s right.”
Clayton’s memory was much better than Roland’s.
However, at the mention of the Ferguson family, Roland instantly became vigilant.
Clayton said, “Go investigate something for me...”
In Floyd’s ward.
Floyd was hooked up to all kinds of tubes. In just one night, Floyd seemed to have lost a lot of hair, and he looked like he aged more than a decade.
Nicole was heartbroken at the sight and could not help but sob as she lay her head on his arm.
“Don’t cry, Lil N. Daddy’s fine.”
Floyd’s voice when he spoke was not as energetic as before. Nicole became even more heartbroken when she heard him.
She sobbed and looked up at her father with a firm gaze.
“Dad, I’ll find you the best doctor. I’ll definitely cure you.”
Floyd sighed with a look of resignation.
“I’ve already lived to this age, so it doesn’t matter. I thought that was it for me fifteen years ago, but I ended up living fifteen more years. That’s enough for me. You should try to accept that too.”
Nicole opened her mouth, but tears streamed down her face before she could speak.
Before she could say anything, the door behind opened, and Kai went over. He sat on Floyd’s hospital bed and sobbed.
“Dad... What other wishes do you have? I’ll definitely fulfill them for you. I’ll never make you angry again!”
Nicole looked at this scene and was instantly shocked speechless.
The next second, she saw Floyd’s miserably pale face tinge red as if he was furious. His lips were trembling. If Floyd was not lying on the bed with Kai pressing down on his body, he would have swung his fist at Kai the next second.
“You little sh*t. Get out of here!”
Floyd gasped in anger, gritting his teeth and glaring at Kai.
The cozy atmosphere from seeing Nicole came to an abrupt end with Kai’s presence.
Kai did not understand and looked up blankly. “Dad, at a time like this, you should stop scolding me. Lil N and I both love you the same. Even if you’re biased, I won’t get angry with you!”
Chapter 1689
Everyone looked at Clayton.
Clayton’s face was grave. “Felix is Eric Ferguson’s uncle, Charles Ferguson’s cousin. He’s a member of the Ferguson family.”
The sentence was like a boulder that crumbled and shattered on them.
The relationship between the Stantons and Fergusons was stiff, so there was no way Felix Ferguson would treat Floyd.
When met with hope, despair lurked around the corner.
Kai suddenly stood up. “I’ll go and drag him here! Even if I have to force him, I’ll make him come over!”
There was no time to worry about anything else now. Nothing was as important as Floyd’s life.
Grant frowned and looked at him in dissatisfaction.
“Even if you tie him to the operating table, will he be obedient? Don’t forget that he’s the main surgeon. Any little accident during the operation can easily be fatal.”
Therefore, not only did they have to make Felix come willingly, but they also have to make him come without any mental burden.
That was too difficult.
Grant glanced at Nicole and hesitated. In the end, despite Clayton’s presence, Grant still calmly spoke.
“Eric might have a way.”
Right now, using Eric’s guilt to get Felix to operate on Floyd was the best option.
However, they clearly wanted to draw a clear line with the Ferguson family and did not want to deal with them anymore.
Putting aside Nicole’s good relationship with Clayton, even if it were someone else, they would never give even the slightest chance to Eric ever again.
However, if they took the initiative to contact Eric, he would definitely have something over them.
If Eric took the opportunity to mention any conditions, would they agree or refuse?
Clayton was silent with a grim expression, as if deep in
thought.
Nicole’s heart sank. When she heard that name, she subconsciously felt disgusted.
It was an uncomfortable feeling.
Grant sighed. “I’ll contact him. If he wants to make conditions, I’ll see to it as long as they’re not too excessive.”
After he finished, Grant pushed the door open and walked out.
Only if he stepped in would Eric feel like negotiating.
Kai looked at Nicole and Clayton, then lowered his head without saying anything.
After a while, the doctor came to say that Floyd had woken up, so Nicole hurriedly went over.
Claytons sat there, unmoving.
Kai also wanted to go over, but he thought about how rough Nicole’s relationship was. It had not been easy to find someone who listened. If Clayton broke up with her because of this matter, it would be a pity.
Thinking that way, Kai resisted his footsteps of going to see Floyd and went to Clayton instead.
“Brother-in-law...”
Clayton’s eyelids twitched, and he subconsciously raised his head.
Kai patted his shoulder. Before he thought out his script, his mouth had already spoken all the words he wanted to say.
“Don’t fight with my sister because of this matter. This is all for my dad, and we’re doing this out of convenience. Nothing’s more important than my dad’s life, right?”
A few seconds later, Clayton’s frown loosened. He understood what Kai meant.
“Of course, I understand. Nothing else is important now. If Eric can really persuade Felix to operate on Uncle Floyd, Nicole will be happy, and so will I.”
Kai sighed in relief. He could not help but sigh when he looked at Clayton, who was still so understanding.
“That’s good. In my heart, you’re my one and only
brother-in-law!”
Clayton smiled warmly and nodded. “Thank you.”
Kai turned around reassuringly and went to look for Nicole.
Nicole would be so touched if she knew that Kai was so worried about her relationship.
Clayton sat alone in the room, and silence gradually engulfed him.
Suddenly, he thought of something and took out his phone to call Roland.
“I remember investing in an R&D patent for a medical team researching heart diseases a few years ago...”