Excelsior Private Hospital.

Howard Rhodes hurried inside. His gaze fell upon Master Lockwood, who was now awake in his hospital bed. After a moment’s hesitation, he approached Archie Lockwood, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.

Upon hearing Howard’s words, Archie Lockwood tightened his grip on the apple in his hand, his expression turning dangerously grim.

"What happened?" Master Lockwood asked, his voice weak.

At the sound of his father’s voice, Archie Lockwood struggled to keep his composure and said in a low tone, "It’s just a small matter at the company."

"Archie, I’m awake now. You should go back and take care of things at work."

"It’s fine. Nothing major for now. And even if it were, it could never be more important than you," Archie Lockwood said coolly, his hand still gripping the apple.

Master Lockwood was left speechless. It would have been a lie to say he wasn’t moved by his son’s words.

Thinking of how he had treated his son in the past, he wanted nothing more than to slap himself across the face.

Archie Lockwood picked up the knife on the table, peeled an apple for Master Lockwood, and handed it to him.

He then stood up and returned to the sofa.

It was as if he hadn’t heard a word Howard Rhodes had said.

Seeing his boss acting as if nothing was amiss, Howard Rhodes let out a faint sigh and left the room.

Archie Lockwood sat on the sofa, his hands clenched into tight fists, never relaxing for a moment.

’That woman... After all her lies and betrayals, how could he dare to trust anything again?’

’Perhaps this was just another one of her schemes with Jason Lockwood...’

’He knew just how insidious and treacherous Jason Lockwood could be. It was entirely possible they had teamed up again to trick him.’

***

「Jazz Dynasty – Basement」

After the man brought Eleanor Bishop back to their hideout, he received a call from Jason Lockwood.

He’d originally thought he and the guys could finally have some fun, but who knew this woman would be such a buzzkill...

Infuriated, Leon Warren slapped Eleanor Bishop across the face.

"What a fucking buzzkill!"

Seeing how furious Leon Warren was, Gia Miller sneered, "The Baron is already going easy on you by not punishing you for sneaking off. You should quit throwing a fit like you’re the boss."

Leon Warren got up in a huff and sat back down on the bed.

Gia Miller glanced at the woman cowering in the corner, trembling from head to toe. Her brow furrowed for a moment before she picked up a packet of powder from the table and walked toward her.

Eleanor Bishop looked at Gia Miller and said through her sobs, "Please, I’m begging you, let me go. I... I have a daughter, a family I need to take care of."

"You look familiar," Gia Miller said in a low, cold voice, studying the woman.

Eleanor Bishop didn’t answer. Instead, she hugged herself tightly, a fierce look flashing in her eyes as she cried out, "Did Jason Lockwood send you to get me? That despicable, shameless bastard! How could he do this!"

Gia Miller said nothing more. Clutching the packet of powder, she dangled it in front of Eleanor’s face. "Know what this is?"

Terrified, Eleanor Bishop stared at Gia Miller and shook her head.

A wicked smile played on Gia Miller’s lips. "This is something that can make a person... happy."

’Something to make a person happy?’ At those words, panic began to spread across Eleanor Bishop’s face.

Gia Miller drew her hand back and unfolded the paper packet, her eyes fixed on Eleanor as she asked with a smile, "Do you want to be happy?"

"I don’t want it! Stay away!" Eleanor Bishop cried, shaking her head in terror.