"I'm not worried you'll get lost, I'm worried Sienna will wake up and need you," Karla lied smoothly.
Karla obviously didn't care if those two old fools got lost.
She just didn't want them wandering around and running into reporters, spinning lies that would cause a PR nightmare.
Sienna Darwin was still unconscious. Karla wanted to control her family so they wouldn't drag her down in front of the media.
But this time, Beatrice and her husband seemed to have been coached, stubbornly refusing to listen to a word Karla said.
Karla tried to reason with them. "Taking a cab isn't just a hassle, it costs money. If you get scammed, you'll lose everything."
"Let me send a car. It'll save you time and money."
"Think it over."
Even knowing their true colors, Karla's heart still ached for Sienna.
The girl was fighting for her life in surgery, and her parents were already plotting how to steal her money.
She had heard them whispering on the phone. Hunter, their barely-legal son, clearly viewed his sister's earnings as his own personal piggy bank.
Karla had even heard him whining about wanting a brand-new motorcycle.
Beatrice and Thomas had eagerly agreed, promising to buy it as soon as they saw Sienna―or rather, as soon as they got their hands on her money.
They were even talking about buying him a house.
Karla couldn't stomach another second of it.
"Beatrice, think it over. Do you want me to arrange a ride, or are you coming on your own?"
"If you come on your own, I won't have time to meet you. Sienna is at a critical stage, and I can't leave the hospital."
"The place is on lockdown anyway. You won't even be able to get past security."
Wait, why wouldn't they be able to get in?
That wasn't what Beatrice had anticipated.
"We'll discuss it and call you back."
Beatrice hung up to scheme with her husband and son.
Karla immediately arranged for someone to intercept them.
Even if they missed them, she
needed eyes on that family to keret
them from talking to too many people. FindNovel.net
OM
The last thing she needed was them feeding a false narrative to the media.
By the time Karla finished her calls, Claire had fallen asleep on Dane's shoulder.
Seeing the girl sleeping so peacefully, Karla naturally didn't go over to disturb them.
It was just a lucky break for Dane.
To Karla, her niece was innocent and straightforward.
Dane was a different story. He had
been navigating the cutthroat
corporate world alongside his
grandfather since he was a
teenager. Anyone who
thought a
titanike him didn't have a ruthless
edge was a fool.
If Claire really fell for him, Karla wouldn't be surprised.
He was undeniably charismatic.
If she had met a man like him twenty years ago, she might have been captivated too.
Dane had no idea what Karla was thinking. He remained perfectly still, terrified of waking Claire.
Claire thrived on a strict schedule. Pulling all-nighters wasn't her strong suit.
Unless, of course, a critical surgery required her attention.
Dane and Karla, on the other hand, were textbook workaholics.
Earlier, Karla had suggested Dane take Claire to a hotel, but he had flatly refused.
She had wanted to stay here. Waking her up wouldn't guarantee she'd actually leave.
It wasn't until dawn broke that the
light above the operating room. flicked off and the doors finally swung open
Trixie and Karla, their eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, rushed forward to check on Sienna.
"Doctor, how is she?"
Karla asked frantically.
Trixie burst into tears at the sight of her.
Seeing her boss like this, she knew Sienna had been through hell.
Dr. Duncan pulled off his surgical mask, looking dead on his feet.