SWNOVELS Chapter 9
Chapter 9 The Hospital’s Head
Gordon insisted on accompanying Charlotte to the hospital. The morning’s events had put him on edge, and he didn’t want her out of his sight. To reassure him, Charlotte said, “Gordon, relax. Annie is okay, and Zachary won’t randomly show up to draw my blood again.”
“Charlotte, you can’t take this lightly,” Gordon snapped. The very thought of Zachary’s cold-heartedness made him worry about Charlotte. “I’ll look into your grandma’s death. You should head home early.”
His advice seemed sound, but it just made Charlotte unhappy. After a tense silence, she fired back, “Take care of what you need to, Gordon, but I have to look into this issue myself.”
Gordon hadn’t realized just how close Charlotte and her grandma Nell Moore had been. When Nell was alive, she reserved all her love for Charlotte and even facilitated Charlotte’s marriage to Zachary so that Charlotte would be well-provided for after Nell was gone. But no one had known the drama that would follow.
*****
Inside the hospital director’s office, Adam Hood looked like he expected Charlotte’s visit. “I’m sorry, Charlotte, but we need Mr. Zachary Sullivan’s approval on this case,” he said.
Charlotte and Gordon shared a confused look. Charlotte turned to Adam and asked, “Why’s that?”
Adam apologetically clarified, “Mr. Sullivan is the hospital’s director now, so…”
Charlotte’s brows furrowed. She distinctly remembered the Sullivan family didn’t own it when her grandmother was a patient here. She wondered how Zachary had risen to power.
On their way out, Gordon suggested, “Charlotte, I think you should go back to Snowe City. It’s safer there.”
“Do you feel like something’s off, too?” Charlotte said in a low voice.
As the CEO of the Wright Group, Gordon had developed a sixth sense for oddities. There’s no denying that Zachary knew about Nell’s importance in Charlotte’s life. In the past two years, nothing in Liene City—even Zachary’s engagement to Annie—made Charlotte want to leave. Yet, only half a month later, news broke about Nell’s death possibly being more than an accident. This couldn’t be a mere coincidence.
Gordon’s expression darkened. “If Zachary has set this all up on purpose…”
His thought was interrupted by the buzz of his smartphone. His initial annoyance turned into alertness at the sight of the caller ID. Snapping to attention, he answered, “Yeah?”
Charlotte had to guess who was on the line, drawn from the obvious shift in Gordon’s entire aura. He responded in an icy tone, “Got it. I’m on my way.”
He hung up without another word and turned to Charlotte. “There’s trouble at the office. Go back to Maple Estate and wait for me. I’ll catch up.”
She gave a nod of agreement. Shooting her a final look, he stepped out of the luxurious car, handing her the keys as he left.
But Charlotte had other plans. Instead of returning to Maple Estate, she steered the sleek Mercedes-Benz in the direction of Supreme International Group.
Her entrance caused a ripple of attention among the staff, given yesterday’s drama. Catching sight of her outside the Chairman’s office, Leo approached with a stern face. “Hi, Mrs. Sullivan.”
Charlotte gave him a fleeting look and announced sharply, “I need to see Zachary, now.”
“Just a minute,” he said, quickly going into the office.
Not even sixty seconds had passed before he reappeared, closely followed by Annie, whose bloodshot eyes gave away that she’d been crying. As she brushed past Charlotte, she shot her a vindictive look. “You should stop feeling so smug.”
Puzzled by Annie’s hostility, Charlotte merely answered with a dazzling smile. “Well, unlike you, I am proud of myself.”
Even without any makeup, her stunning smile filled the room. The employees all got caught in the magnetism of her presence, an aura that was even more fascinating than her televised appearances. Annie had no other choice but to withdraw in frustration.