fragile threads of threat

That evening, as Mr. Caldwell settled on his bed, preparing to sleep, he sighed deeply.

"At least Greyson's threat feels a bit further from me for now. I can figure out how to get John's equipment. He might consider the help I once gave him, which made him wealthy today. Though it's no excuse to delay the contract… I'll try my best," Mr. Caldwell muttered as sleep began to overtake him.

Just as his eyes started to close, the sharp ringing of his phone jolted him awake. At first, he thought it was part of a dream, but when the phone rang again, he realized it was real.

Glancing at the screen, he froze. It was Greyson.

His heart skipped a beat as he quickly sat up. What could he possibly want now? I hope he doesn't still expect us to be friends after trying to force my daughter to marry his unstable son, Alex. He's probably why Sophia ran away.

Taking a deep breath, Mr. Caldwell answered.

"Hello?" His voice was cautious.

"Caldwell, you're not done paying the debt you owe me," Greyson said, his tone cold and steady.

"What? What are you talking about?" Mr. Caldwell's tone sharpened.

Greyson's laugh was chilling, his voice filled with malice. "Do you think six billion dollars is enough to pay back years of favors? That's just a fraction of what you owe me."

Mr. Caldwell whispered to himself, barely audible, "What is he talking about? This is madness."

Greyson's tone grew darker. "You think you're clever, don't you? But I'll teach you and your family a lesson you'll never forget. You're the reason my son is dead. If Sophia had married him, he wouldn't have died so soon!"

Mr. Caldwell's breath hitched. "Alex is dead?"

"Yes, and don't you dare pretend to care," Greyson spat. "If your daughter had stayed with him, at least he could have died happy. His last words haunt me—he asked why I didn't fulfill my promise to him. Why I didn't give him Sophia."

"Greyson," Mr. Caldwell said, his voice firm, "this isn't my fault, or even your fault. We can't force things to happen. You have to let this go. My daughter is missing, and I'm doing everything I can to find her. On top of that, I'm struggling to save the company. I have no money to solve all these problems."

"You think I care about your excuses?" Greyson shouted. "You'll pay for this. Just wait until I get to you." He hung up abruptly.

Mr. Caldwell's heart raced. I need to find Sophia before he does something drastic, he thought.

As he attempted to get out of bed, a sharp pain shot through his chest. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the floor.

At that moment, Olivia, his wife, entered the room and saw him fall. "David! Help!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the house. "Lila, call the ambulance!"

David, who had just returned home, rushed upstairs. "What happened?" he asked as he lifted his father. Without waiting for an answer, he shouted, "Get the car keys!"

Olivia grabbed the keys, and they sped to the hospital, Olivia cradling Mr. Caldwell in the backseat as he gasped for air.

When they arrived, David yelled for help. Nurses and doctors quickly rushed to them, placing Mr. Caldwell on a stretcher and wheeling him into the emergency room.

David approached one of the doctors. "Please save him," he pleaded, his voice trembling.

"We'll do everything we can," the doctor assured him before disappearing into the emergency room.

At the Hotel

Ethan stepped out of the shower, drying his hair with a towel when he heard a knock at the door.

"Who's there?" he called out, moving toward the door.

"It's Kane, sir. I'd like to speak with you."

Ethan opened the door, finding Kane standing there, his posture tense.

"I'm sorry for earlier," Kane began, his voice unsteady. "I hope I didn't cause any problems. I see you're trying to keep your identity private."

"Don't worry about it," Ethan replied calmly. "I'm here on a mission, so just call me by my name."

"Thank you for understanding. If there's anything you need, I'm at your service," Kane said respectfully before walking away.

Ethan closed the door, his thoughts churning. I wonder if Kane knows who I really am. Dad introduced me to a few people discreetly—Kane might have been one of them.

Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number appeared: Hello, Ethan.

His heart raced. Could it be James? He steadied himself and replied: Who's this?

The response came almost immediately: It's Elisabeth.

Ethan sighed and tossed the phone aside, lying on the bed.

Just then, Ethan's attention was caught by the television. James had appeared on the screen once again, addressing the public.

"This time, I want to speak directly about Mr. Caldwell," James began, his voice steady and commanding. "He has claimed that the robbery his family suffered is the reason the company hasn't been stable. I gave him extra time, as he assured us he'd fix things. But what has he done since then? Absolutely nothing.

"Even before the robbery, Caldwell Enterprises was already falling apart, and he made no real effort to stop it. So I'm asking all of you to support me in taking over this company. I promise to restore its former glory, ensure every hard-working employee is treated with dignity, and pay them what they deserve.

"This isn't about personal gain for me. It's about doing what's right for the people. We can't let someone who hides their evil deeds behind a mask of innocence continue to lead."

Ethan sat up straight, his jaw tightening. "So James actually believes Mr. Caldwell is responsible for his father's death," he muttered.

He leaned back, exhaling sharply. "With moves like this, he'll easily win people over to his side. They don't know the truth."

Ethan paused, his thoughts swirling. Even I'm not completely sure of the truth yet. I've never asked Mr. Caldwell directly about Mr. Reynolds' death. Could he really be involved?

Ethan rubbed his temples, his mind racing. I'll have to approach the topic carefully. If I'm too blunt, he might get defensive. But I have to act quickly—James isn't going to slow down.

He sighed, letting his head rest against the back of the chair, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.