Chapter 189 Critical Condition
Calista didn’t stay put for long before the manager of the Luminary Lounge rushed out to meet her,
his expression urgent
“Mrs Northwood, please come with me quickly Mr. Northwood is in critical condition.”
She was puzzled and instinctively asked, “Is he dying?”
The manager was left speechless. It wasn’t until she entered the private room that she understood
the manager’s urgency.
Lucian was sprawled across a table littered with empty liquor bottles, and alcohol had spilled all
over the table. He showed no sign of disqust despite the mess.
His coat was tossed on the sofa, leaving him with just a shirt. The shirt’s sleeves were carelessly
rolled up to his elbows, and several buttons on the collar had come undone, exposing a large
expanse of his chest.
Lucian held a glass with a blank expression, his gaze dazed. The last vestiges of his sobriety kept
him from succumbing to a drunken slumber.
Calista rarely drank so she couldn’t discern anything wrong with Lucian’s condition. He appeared
relatively normal compared to the other person in the room.
Calista turned her gaze toward the other man.
Hector was also holding a glass, but he wasn’t seated. Instead, he had one leg propped up on the
table, his chest nearly touching his knee as he leaned in to converse with Lucian.
“If I can’t make you kneel and call me Master tonight, you’ll regret challenging me. You’re pushing
your luck. How dare you turn me in!”
“Speak up! Do you think I’ll let you off the hook if you stay silent? Back when I was running solo missions in the military, you probably didn’t even know how to play with mud! Tell me, are you the mastermind behind the scheme?”
Hector’s voice was sharp as he interrogated Lucian
With extensive experience at the establishment, the manager attempted to explain to Calista, ” Look at how pale is Mr. Northwood’s complexion. The lights casting onto his face match the shade he’s become. If he continues drinking at this pace, it might result in acute pancreatitis, a
Calista glanced at Hector.
The manager continued, “Mr. Calloway seems fine. Alcohol tends to make him a bit eccentric …”
Calista frowned, walked over, and snatched the glass Lucian was about to drink from. She poured its contents into an ice bucket nearby, lifted it, and splashed the liquid on Lucian’s and Hector’s
faces.
Lucian remained expressionless, his quiet demeanor unchanged. On the other hand, Hector froze
on the spot. After a brief pause, he erupted like a startled firework.
“What the hell, who just splashed water on me?”
An ice cube had slipped through the gap in his open collar, sending a shiver down his spine as it
traveled, causing the wet section of his T–shirt to take on a pale pink hue as it mixed with the
blood coagulated around his injury.
However, the dim lighting prevented Calista from noticing it. Suddenly, Hector turned to face
Calista. His annoyance immediately transformed into a smile.
“Calista, what brings you here?”
Then, he shot a threatening gaze at the manager behind her.
Calista coldly replied, “Sober now? What are you guys doing?”
“Drinking. Mr. Northwood and I share common interests and have much to discuss,” Hector
replied, raising his hand to rest on Lucian’s shoulder.
Lucian, showing no courtesy, shrugged off Hector’s hand.
“Get lost.”
Calista fixed her gaze on Hector and demanded, “Tell me the truth.”
She wanted nothing more than to avoid being dragged into such a situation again. Since they were
all here, she reluctantly played the role of a peacemaker, acting as a mediator to resolve the conflicts.
Hector reluctantly switched his friendly banter and confronted.
“This fella, green with envy because I outshine him in the woman–chasing department, thought
my mother.”
“What did he do?” Calista inquired.
Hector hesitated, deciding not to spill the beans about his feelings for Calista, which had caused
Patricia to blow her top
Calista had not agreed to be Hector’s girlfriend. It would be game over for him if she found out his
mother wasn’t on board.
Damn it, he had bitten off more than he could chew! Hector muttered curses at Lucian under his
breath once more.
“Calista, how could you conspire with your boyfriend to cause Mr. Northwood in such a condition?”
Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out behind them.
Calista and Hector furrowed their brows as they saw Charlotte approaching with a group of young
people in tow.
Charlotte had heard a rumor from a friend that Lucian might be in this private room, so she
decided to investigate and overheard their conversations.
“Ms. Turner,” Calista addressed Charlotte with a lack of enthusiasm, her dislike for Charlotte’s
character unrelated to her pursuit of Lucian, “do you remember how you advised me at the
hospital last time? You knew Lucian lacked character, yet now you seem eager to stick with him?”
Fascinated by Lucian, Charlotte responded, “I didn’t understand Mr. Northwood back then. I didn’t
realize he comes off as aloof but has a kind heart, unlike someone who puts on a friendly facade
but is quite nasty in reality.”
Calista, growing frustrated, glanced over at Lucian, only to discover that he had quietly drifted into unconsciousness with his eyes closed. Charlotte raised her chin disdainfully and stared at Calista.
“I’ve heard your family’s gone broke. You’re clearly in dire straits. How much money will it take to make you stop bothering Mr. Northwood?”
Calista replied casually, “If you insist on giving, just throw in a few cents, whatever suits your peace of mind.”
Infuriated, Charlotte shot back.
“You’ve insulted me! It’s clear you never wanted to divorce Mr. Northwood!”
Calista had no patience to continue the conversation any longer
She turned to Hector and inquired, “Can you stand?”
Hector’s legs weakened, and he sank onto the couch.
“No, I need help,” he admitted.
Calista replied. “Then you should get a room upstairs to sleep in
Without waiting for Hector’s response, she walked away She had played her part, and Cade couldn’t possibly keep his bodyguards from letting her leave Hector hurried to catch up with her
“Why are you so ruthless, young lady?”
Behind them, Charlotte appeared concerned and said, “Mr Northwood, let me take you back
Once they exited the private room, the bright corridor lights immediately exposed the faint red
stains and bruises on Hector’s white T–shirt Calista furrowed her brows
“Have you been injured? Your clothes
The Calloway family had a strict upbringing, with several generations having a military
background Consequently, their methods of child discipline were notably rigorous.
Calista asked, “Did your father hit you?”
Hector replied, “Oh, he certainly did. It was all because of the rumors Lucian spread I nearly got
beaten to death, and I have no unbruised spot left on my body.”
Calista had witnessed Hector being beaten during their school days.
In the past, Hector took action and confronted the troublemakers who were harassing their female classmates, ultimately resulting in the troublemakers ending up in the hospital.
Hector’s father, Hunter Calloway, administered a severe beating to Hector in front of their parents as a gesture of apology. Each strike left bruises and red marks on Hector’s body.
Just as the troublemakers‘ parents felt triumphant, Hunter reported their sons to the police for harassing female students
They were charged with the offense, resulting in criminal records, even though they didn’t receive prison sentences Calista still remembered the injuries Hector had sustained from that
