Chapter 14
“Go home? Uncle Robert, I’m not going back, but I won’t forget how you raised me. When I have the means, I’ll repay your kindness.”
Lena’s tone was resolute, instantly extinguishing the small hope that had risen in Robert’s heart.
“Uncle Robert, unless it’s something truly important, please don’t disturb me again. I’m very busy with my studies!”
After hanging up, Lena let out a long sigh.
She used to think Robert was different from other men–calm, decisive, and thoughtful.
But now she realized all men were the same.
Robert had once been captivated by Colette, and in the future, he would be captivated by other women.
Lena was still young with endless possibilities ahead. She didn’t want to be held back by romantic entanglements.
She couldn’t understand why she had been so foolish before, placing all her hopes on one man.
She could live a fulfilling life on her own.
Chapter 14
Lana soundly felt grateful that she had awakened after her rebirth and then the wedding never happened.
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Otherwise, she would have bbecome another foolish woman who lost herself, peabously fighting over a man and only focused on raising childrem
At that moment, Robert finally understood dearly that Lena would never come back.
He couldn’t accept this cruel truth. His heart contracted sharply with pain, and he collapsed to the floor, clutching his chest.
But he refused to give up and decided to go to her city to find hert
Robert continued searching for Lena, but she seemed to be deliberately avoiding him, making herself impossible to find.
Just then, Ethan delivered even worse news–Zachary had fallen
ill!
Robert had been so focused on finding Lena that he’d completely neglected the company’s business.
So Zachary had temporarily taken over the company. But after just a few days, he couldn’t handle it. Given his already poor health, he quickly fell ill from exhaustion.
Ethan stammered, “Mr. Ashford, during your absence, Ms. Wilson has been coming to the company every day demanding explanations from Sir Ashford. She’s even brought media
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pressure on him. Plus, there were too many company matters, and Sir Ashford’s condition is very serious this time…”
Robert rushed back to the country overnight.
When he saw Zachary lying in the hospital bed with tubes all over his body, tears immediately fell from his eyes.
“Grandpa, I’m so sorry! This is all my fault! You have to get better, please don’t leave me!”
Robert frantically approached Zachary’s bedside. Just like when he was a child, he called out to Zachary over and over again.
Sensing Robert’s return, Zachary struggled to open his eyes.
“You fool, so you finally decided to come back! Because of you, the Ashford Group was almost destroyed by your hands! Don’t you feel you’ve failed your deceased parents?”
Zachary grew increasingly angry, tearing the tubes from his body.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I remain the head of the Ashford family! From today on, you are forbidden to leave the Ashford Manor. Reflect on your actions!
“If you truly want to be the death of me, then you can run away!”
After forcing out these words, Zachary lost consciousness again.
Chapter 14
Robert slumped by the bedside, overwhelmed with grief. He never imagined Zachary could be so fragile.
He regretted his recent actions. He had nearly destroyed the Ashford Group and almost killed Zachary,
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This was the first crisis the group had faced since he took over, and it was nearly fatal.
Business was like warfare–a battle without gunpowder.
Robert couldn’t let the Ashford Group be ruined by his hands; it represented three generations of the Ashford family’s hard work.
He temporarily abandoned his search for Lena and focused all his energy on recovering the company’s losses.
Fortunately, the Ashford Group’s performance over the years had been among the best in the industry. It wasn’t so easily destroyed by others.
The Ashford Group resumed normal operations. After reorganizing the company internally, Robert wanted to leave again.
He didn’t dare tell Zachary, who was still in the hospital, but Zachary’s condition suddenly became critical again.
Robert rushed to the hospital. Hearing Robert’s voice, the dying Zachary suddenly became alert.
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Chapter 14
This made Robert feel even worse, knowing this was just the temporary lucidity that sometimes comes before death.
Zachary called him close, gripping his hands tightly.
“Robert, I can’t stay with you any longer. There are only two things I worry about as I dic: the company and you.
“You and Lena can no longer be together. Don’t be stubborn. Promise me you won’t look for her again. Your responsibility is to protect the Ashford Group.”
Zachary held on with his last breath, waiting for Robert to nod in agreement.
With tears in his eyes, Robert promised to fulfill his dying wish. Shortly after, Zachary closed his eyes forever.
Robert wept uncontrollably.
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He had lost the two people he loved most in this world–Zachary and Lena.
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