Zoe Riveron paused mid-step, her insulated lunchbox swaying slightly in hand.

She arched an eyebrow at the man in the hospital bed. "Mr. Sullivan, have I done something wrong?"

Ethan Sullivan's gaze swept over her with icy detachment. "Business partnerships require professional boundaries."

Zoe suddenly laughed, slamming the lunchbox onto the bedside table.

"I understand Uncle Victor's intentions," she crossed her arms, "but I never make losing investments. Emotions are the most volatile assets—I only care about profits."

Ethan closed his eyes briefly. "Leave."

Noticing fresh blood seeping through his bandage, Zoe softened her tone. "Your wound—"

"It's fine."

"Stubborn." She scoffed and turned, her stilettos clicking sharply against the floor.

Outside, Zoe yanked a bodyguard aside.

"What happened?"

The guard lowered his voice. "Miss Laurent came by."

Zoe's pupils contracted. "Did they meet?"

"She was turned away."

Her gaze flickered to the sliver of light beneath the hospital door. "The photo under his pillow—"

"A shirtless man," the guard confirmed. "Chairman Sullivan had it delivered this morning."

A cold smile curled Zoe's lips.

The old fox always played dirty.

Inside the room, Ethan dialed his assistant. "Summon the He brothers."

The assistant's voice trembled. "They... resigned this morning."

Ethan's fingers stilled.

"Investigate."

An hour later, the assistant's hands shook as he held a tablet.

The surveillance footage showed Sophia Laurent being carried into a villa by Kyle Grant. Under infrared lighting, her flushed cheeks and dazed expression burned into the screen.

Crash!

The tablet shattered against the wall.

Ethan suddenly coughed violently, crimson seeping between his fingers.

"Doctor! Get a doctor now!"

At the end of the hallway, the assistant's palm slicked with sweat around his phone.

"Chairman, the young master is coughing blood."

A derisive snort came through the receiver. "Pathetic! When his elder brother—"

The assistant interrupted abruptly. "Chairman, he demands to see Kyle Grant."

After a long silence, the line crackled with ominous laughter. "Let him."

Hanging up, the assistant stared at his reflection in the hospital window.

Now he understood why veteran employees whispered that Sullivan men were all mad.