- il y a 5 minutes
Catégorie
✨
PersonnesTranscription
00:00I had just donated a $20 million medical research center to Valerius Memorial Hospital when I received an email from
00:06my brother's advisor, Ms. Alera.
00:09Your brother Leo is exceptionally outstanding and has secured our hospital's only attending physician residency spot this year.
00:16A smile crossed my face.
00:17It seemed this donation hadn't been in vain, but the next second, I received a call from my brother.
00:23Sis, my spot was taken by someone else.
00:26Hearing the suppressed sobs on the other end of the line, I immediately postponed the board meeting and rushed to
00:31the hospital.
00:32Just as I reached the door of the cardiac surgery director's office, I saw a young man dressed head-to
00:37-toe in designer brands pointing at my brother's nose, his face full of contempt.
00:42Compete with me?
00:43My father is the CEO of Vance Group.
00:47He just donated an entire building to this hospital.
00:52What the hell are you?
00:54I pushed open the door.
00:56A young man with slicked-back hair, wearing a royal blue bespoke suit covered in embossed logos.
01:02You actually have the nerve to show up at the director's office competing with me for the spot?
01:10Why don't you take a piece and look at your own pathetic face?
01:14My brother was wearing a white coat wash so many times the cuffs had turned pale and the fabric had
01:19yellowed.
01:20His shoulder blades protruded through the thin fabric.
01:22His entire body cornered with nowhere left to retreat.
01:25Fluids swirled in his eye sockets.
01:27Leo, what young Master Julian says isn't entirely without merit.
01:33Think about it.
01:34Our hospital has exactly one residency spot this year, no more, no less.
01:38The hospital leadership must take a comprehensive view of all factors.
01:43All factors?
01:43My icy voice squeezed itself out of my throat.
01:47All three turned their heads simultaneously to stare at me.
01:50The second Leo recognized my face, his thin shoulders, which had been tensed for so long, suddenly collapsed.
01:56The moisture welling in his eyes finally broke free, spilling silently down his pale cheeks.
02:01Yet he still made no sound of sobbing, only clenching his hands into such tight fists that the veins on
02:06the backs of his hands bulged one by one,
02:09and his knuckles turned so white from the pressure that they looked nearly blue.
02:14Yo, the bookworm actually learned to call for backup?
02:19This is your sister?
02:21She's not bad looking.
02:22A waste like you, who only knows how to bury your head in books, and can't even afford a decent
02:28pair of shoes?
02:29You think you deserve to compete with me?
02:33My father is Arthur Thorne, the current CEO of Vance Group.
02:37He deliberately dragged out the final syllable, tilting his chin high and looking down at Leo from the corner of
02:43his eye.
02:43He just donated an entire top-tier medical research center to this crappy hospital.
02:49What the hell are you?
02:51Arthur Thorne, the current CEO of Vance Group?
02:54I found it utterly laughable.
02:56Arthur Thorne was clearly the vice president under my father, Richard Vance.
03:01Since when had he become the CEO?
03:02This Julian actually dared to tell such an outrageous lie in public.
03:09My brother Leo turned his head and looked at me from a few steps away.
03:13He didn't speak, but I read the question in his gaze, sis, what the hell is this guy talking about?
03:18I didn't explode immediately.
03:20I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the cold air laced with disinfectant,
03:24forcibly suppressing the absurdity surging in my chest.
03:28Then I slowly retrieved my phone from my trouser pocket.
03:31On the first page of my contacts, my father Richard Vance's private number was prominently pinned at the very top.
03:38The monotonous dial tone echoed through the office, so silent you could hear a pin drop ringing five full times.
03:44A voice prompt came through on the other end.
03:46The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable.
03:49Richard's private number was always on, 24 hours a day year-round.
03:53This was the first time in my memory that I couldn't immediately hear his voice.
04:01Pretend! Keep pretending!
04:05You dare to put on an act as a wealthy Amrass here?
04:11Madam, since you can't reach your so-called father, the nature of this matter becomes quite simple.
04:16He pulled open a drawer, took out a document, and slapped it open on the desk.
04:20Leo's residue application materials are still sitting on my desk, awaiting final review.
04:25Young Master Julian's father, Mr. Arthur Thorne, as the current CEO of Vance Group,
04:32has already conveyed a clear preference to the dean's office.
04:36Current CEO?
04:38Who told you Arthur Thorne is the CEO?
04:42Who the hell are you to question whether my dad is the CEO?
04:48Fine. Since you love making phone calls so much, I'll call my dad right now.
04:53Let him tear that filthy mouth of yours apart in person!
04:57He pressed the speakerphone button, the dial tone sounded, and the call was picked up after just one ring.
05:03Julian?
05:05Daddy's in a meeting. What's going on?
05:08I recognized that voice. It was Arthur Thorne, the usually obsequious vice president who worked under my father.
05:15Dad! Someone's bullying me! Right here in the hospital office!
05:19Two broke losers are pretending to be from the Vance family! Get over here and back me up!
05:27I understand. Daddy will be right there.
05:35Once my dad gets here, let's see if you still dare to run your mouth.
05:44The call ended and silence settled over the office.
05:47Leo walked over to me and asked in a lowered voice,
05:50Sis, isn't Arthur Thorne?
05:52I pressed down on the back of his hand and stopped the rest of his sentence with a look.
05:57Dr. Sterling picked up his coffee again, his expression returning to one of ease.
06:02In his view, since Julian's father was about to arrive, this farce would soon be crushed.
06:08In less than 10 minutes, the sound of chaotic, heavy leather shoes echoed from the hallway.
06:13The noise didn't sound like one person.
06:15It was more like an entire squad barreling recklessly down the corridor.
06:19The heavy mahogany door of the cardiac surgery director's office was roughly shoved open from outside.
06:24Two bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses stepped over the threshold first.
06:29They positioned themselves on either side of the door, hands clasped in front of them,
06:33striking a posture that screamed, keep your distance.
06:37Right after, a middle-aged man in an impeccable suit strode in with a swaggering gait.
06:42This was Arthur Thorne.
06:44Behind him trailed a nervous young secretary, holding a freshly purchased Starbucks.
06:54Dr. Sterling, the disinfectant smell in your office is way too harsh.
07:00I donate so much money to this hospital every year.
07:03Can't you at least upgrade to a better ventilation system?
07:06Dr. Sterling instantly sprang up from behind his desk, his face plastered with an obsequious smile.
07:12CEO Arthur, you're absolutely right.
07:16I'll submit a request to the hospital administration tomorrow to replace the equipment.
07:21Dad!
07:25It's these two broke losers who crawled out of God knows which slum.
07:30Not only are they trying to steal my spot,
07:32but they also had the audacity to pretend to call Richard Vance just now!
07:38Arthur followed his son's pointing finger and shifted his gaze toward us.
07:42His eyes first landed on my brother Leo, his gaze filled with undisguised disgust.
07:47Then, his eyes slowly shifted until they finally rested on my face.
07:55I met his gaze, spined straight as a rod, staring at him coldly.
07:59Over the past three years as the de facto manager of Vance Group,
08:02I had seen countless faces, but I was certain,
08:05I had never seen this face at the core executive meeting table,
08:09and the way he looked at me was as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
08:12He didn't recognize me at all.
08:14This wasn't surprising.
08:16Vance Group had over a hundred subsidiaries and tens of thousands of employees.
08:20A marginal figure who had crawled to the position of deputy director of logistics through bootlicking,
08:25had no qualifications to enter the top floor boardroom.
08:28He didn't even have the clearance to catch a distant glimpse of me.
08:31Arthur looked me up and down, a contemptuous sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth.
08:36He took the coffee from his secretary and took a casual sip.
08:43Young people these days really dare to put on any kind of absurd act.
08:51Impersonating members of the Vance family?
08:54You've got a lot of nerve.
08:56Do you have any idea what the Vance family represents in the business world?
09:01It's an entry ticket that low lids like you couldn't lay a finger on in several lifetimes.
09:08Look at this shabby appearance of yours.
09:11Does everything on your body add up to more than $50?
09:15With your sorry caliber?
09:17You dare to compete with my son for a cardiac surgery spot?
09:20Leo's body instantly tensed beside me, like a bowstring drawn taut.
09:25His chest heaved violently, his hands clenched into such tight fists at his sides that the knuckles went white.
09:31I said nothing, simply standing quietly at Leo's side.
09:34I wanted to see just how arrogant this vice president, who scraped for a living under my father, could truly
09:40become.
09:43Seeing us remain silent, Arthur assumed we were intimidated by his presence.
09:48He adjusted his suit tie with even more smugness and lifted his chin.
09:52Julian, tell daddy.
09:55What did they say just now?
09:56Dad, that woman threatened me just now.
10:00She said she'd call the old CEO to come deal with you.
10:04She also said you're not the group's CEO at all, just a vice president.
10:11Hearing this, Arthur froze for a moment, then burst into an exaggerated, maniacal laugh.
10:18Vice president, your imagination is truly pitifully implorished.
10:26Since you're so eager to know who I am, I'll mercifully tell you.
10:32I, Arthur Thorne, am not only the current CEO of Vance Group,
10:36but also, the actual controlling authority of the entire board of directors.
10:45That Richard Vance you keep mentioning is nothing more than a washed-up old has-e with one foot in
10:50the grave.
10:51He hasn't even had the strength to sign documents for ages.
10:54Every flow of funds throughout the entire group depends entirely on a single word from me.
11:00He walked over to Dr. Sterling's desk, his gaze falling on Leo's thick stack of application materials.
11:06Leo's name was printed on them, the edges neatly bound with staples.
11:10Arthur extended two fingers and picked up the document as if he were pinching a tissue.
11:15This is the bargaining chip you're using to compete with my son for the spot?
11:19He flipped open the first page and casually skimmed the clinical data summary on it.
11:44Leo's breathing instantly turned ragged.
11:47He took half a step forward, but I stopped him with an outstretched hand.
11:51I could feel his arm trembling violently.
11:53Arthur circled around the desk and walked up to Leo until the distance between them was less than half a
11:58meter.
11:58Do you know what I've sacrificed so Julian could stay in cardiac surgery?
12:02He extended his index finger and jabbed it heavily into Leo's chest.
12:06I donated an entire $20 million medical research center to this crappy hospital!
12:13$20 million? Have you ever seen that many zeros in your life?
12:17You think medicine is a noble cause of saving lives and helping the injured?
12:23Don't be so naive.
12:24Medicine is a game of resources, a tool for capital to cash in.
12:28A poor student like you who can barely afford to eat,
12:32keeping you here would just be a waste of the hospital's payroll.
12:39Director, wouldn't you say I'm right?
13:02Dr. Sterling glanced at Leo from the corner of his eye and snorted coldly.
13:07They're only fit to take blood pressure readings for the homeless at some community clinic.
13:12Hearing the director chime in, Julian laughed even more wantonly.
13:16You hear that?
13:18Low flutes like you don't even deserve to stand here breathing the same air.
13:23One word from my dad,
13:25and you can forget about ever making it in the medical field for the rest of your life.
13:30Weren't you pretty good at putting on an act?
13:34Where's that fake CEO daddy of yours?
13:38Why hasn't he shown up to save the day?
13:47Watching these three people making utter fools of themselves,
13:51the sense of absurdity in my heart had reached its peak.
13:55Arthur Thorne,
13:58You just said you donated $20 million to the hospital.
14:03As far as I know,
14:04any external donation from Vance Group exceeding $5 million
14:09requires the joint signatures of three or more core board members.
14:13And your signing authority doesn't seem to be enough
14:15to approve even a reimbursement form for fixing a Lockie Company restroom.
14:20Arthur's face visibly stiffened for an instant.
14:23The flesh on his face twitched slightly.
14:25He clearly hadn't expected me to be able to cite the group's internal approval procedures.
14:33But he quickly covered it up with a cold laugh.
14:35You think just because you looked up a few Vance Group press reports online,
14:39you can stand here pretending to be an insider?
14:42The stiffness on Arthur's face vanished in a flash,
14:45replaced by an even more exaggerated arrogance.
14:48He strode over to the sofa,
14:50sat down with his legs wide apart,
14:52and crossed one leg over the other.
14:54Board of directors?
14:56Signatures of core members?
14:57As if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world,
15:00he turned to Dr. Sterling and shook his head.
15:02Look at this little girl.
15:04She really thinks she's some kind of corporate spy
15:06even memorizing all those PR talking points
15:08they use online to fool retail investors.
15:11Exactly, CEO.
15:12These lower class types nowadays
15:14will do any kind of homework to climb the social ladder.
15:17Let me tell you the truth today.
15:20Rules are made for those useless wage slaves to see.
15:24In this group, I am the rule.
15:27When I say allocate 20 million,
15:29those spinless cowards in the finance department
15:32don't dare let out a single buff.
15:34They obediently transfer the money into the hospital's account.
15:38As for Richard Vance,
15:40as long as I'm willing,
15:41I can kick him out of the board of directors anytime,
15:43and he won't even think about
15:45getting a single cent of his pension.
15:49I listened quietly to his wild ravings,
15:52the anger in my heart instead suppressed by reason.
15:55Just how stupid does a person have to be
15:57to fabricate such a whole riddled lie right
15:59in front of the group's true air?
16:01I tilted my head slightly
16:02and looked at his insufferably arrogant face.
16:05So, that 20 million dollar donation
16:07was transferred directly from the group's account by you?
16:10Bypassing the board of directors?
16:12What the hell are you?
16:14You think you're qualified to question
16:16the direction of my funds?
16:18I'm warning you, little girl.
16:21You've picked on the wrong person today.
16:23I don't care what your name is,
16:25and I don't care where you dug up
16:26that jumbled mess of internal information.
16:28Today, you and your worthless brother
16:31must pay the price for your arrogance.
16:33He raised his hand and pointed at the office door,
16:36bellowing harshly.
16:37Right now!
16:38Get down on your knees,
16:39cow-co three times to Julian,
16:41and beg for his forgiveness for your insolence!
16:44Otherwise, not only will I strip this kid
16:47of his internship qualification...
16:49He slowly advanced toward me,
16:51his tone filled with naked threats.
16:53I'll make sure you can't take a single step in this city.
16:57You won't even be able to scavenge leftovers
16:59from the trash cans on the street!
17:01Leo could no longer endure this humiliation.
17:06If you've got something, come at me!
17:12Leo's voice turned hoarse,
17:14his eyes bloodshot as he glared daggers at Arthur.
17:16My spot.
17:17I earned it fair and square through my own ability,
17:20and I completed every step of the process honorably.
17:23A position bought with your dirty money!
17:26I don't want it!
17:27But don't you ever think I'll bow my head
17:30and don't even dream
17:31of laying a single finger on my sister!
17:34Seeing this,
17:35Julian immediately jumped forward
17:37and shoved Leo hard on the shoulder.
17:38You still dare to talk back?
17:40A beggar like you?
17:43What right do you have to shout at my dad here?
17:46Leo didn't retreat.
17:47He grabbed Julian's wrist with a backhand grip
17:50and flung it away forcefully.
17:51Julian stumbled and nearly fell to the floor.
17:54He's attacking me!
17:55Security!
17:56Security!
17:57Call security!
17:58Julian let out a pig-slaughtering shriek
18:00and scrambled frantically to hide behind Arthur.
18:03Fine!
18:04Just fine!
18:07Refusing a toast only to drink a formid, huh?
18:10If I don't break every bone
18:12in you two wretched bastards today,
18:14my name's not Arthur Thorne!
18:17Are you two dead?
18:18Didn't you see the young master was assaulted?
18:21Pin this reckless bat to the ground right now!
18:24I want him to lick the dust off the floor clean with his own tongue!
18:28The two burly bodyguards immediately lunged forward like hunting dogs.
18:32One of them stretched out a palm as large as a cattail leaf fan,
18:36reaching straight for Leo's collar.
18:38Although Leo was young and full of spirit,
18:40his physical disadvantage was fully exposed
18:42in front of these professionally trained thugs.
18:44There was no way I could stand by
18:46and watch my brother be humiliated.
18:48At this critical moment,
18:49I swiftly reached into my trouser pocket.
18:52Stop!
18:56I shouted sternly,
18:57simultaneously pulling out a pure black encrypted phone
19:00from my trouser pocket.
19:02The two bodyguards instinctively paused for half a second.
19:05Vice President Arthur,
19:06I suggest you call off your dogs.
19:08I deliberately emphasized the words Vice President.
19:12If you stop now,
19:13all you'll face are criminal charges
19:16for embezzlement and misappropriation of company funds.
19:21But if you dare touch a single hair on my brother's head today,
19:26I guarantee
19:27that you and your son
19:28will not only rot in prison for the rest of your lives,
19:32but also be utterly disgraced,
19:34left with nothing at all.
19:35Arthur was momentarily stunned
19:38by my sudden commanding presence.
19:39The corner of his eye twitched violently,
19:42his gaze locked tightly onto the phone in my hand.
19:44In that split second,
19:46I saw a flicker of panic flash through his eyes,
19:48barely perceptible,
19:50but it was quickly buried again
19:51by his own arrogance and vanity.
19:53Trying to scare me?
19:55You think you can intimidate me with a crappy phone?
19:58He let out a smile through gritted teeth,
20:00the flesh on his face squeezing into a lump.
20:03Embezzlement?
20:04Misappropriation of funds?
20:08Look at this little lunatic!
20:10She really thinks she's an investigator
20:12from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
20:14Let me tell you,
20:16even if I did touch the group's money,
20:19so what?
20:20Who the hell are you to discipline me?
20:23Honestly,
20:24even if I emptied out the entire group,
20:27that old fossil could only sit there
20:30and glare helplessly!
20:35I watched the audio waveform pulsing on the phone screen,
20:38a cold arc curving at the corner of my lips.
20:41Every single word he had just spoken
20:43had already become evidence for the court.
20:46Very good, Arthur.
20:48You just personally admitted
20:50to cooking the books
20:51and misappropriating group fines.
20:55This recording is more than enough
20:56for Headquarters Audit Committee
20:58to open a formal investigation into you.
21:00Arthur's face drained of color in an instant.
21:03He suddenly realized he had let his mouth run loose.
21:06Grab her phone.
21:07Now!
21:08He pointed at me
21:09and shrieked hysterically at the bodyguards.
21:12Smash the phone!
21:14I'll personally reward
21:16whoever smashes it with $100,000.
21:20Hearing the massive reward,
21:22the two bodyguards' eyes instantly lit up with greed
21:25and they lunged at me once again.
21:28Don't touch my sister!
21:30Leo let out an enraged roar
21:32and rushed forward recklessly,
21:33trying to block the bodyguard reaching for me.
21:36But how could his slender frame
21:37possibly withstand two burly men?
21:39One bodyguard grabbed Leo by the collar
21:42and violently flung him to the side.
21:44Leo's body lost balance
21:45and crashed heavily
21:46into a nearby medical equipment cart.
21:48Stainless steel trays clattered to the floor,
21:51the sharp crash of metal piercing my eardrums.
21:55At Leo!
21:59My heart lurched violently.
22:01I could see the other bodyguard's hand
22:03was about to grab my wrist.
22:05I didn't dodge.
22:06Instead,
22:06I quickly threw the phone behind Dr. Sterling's desk.
22:09The phone slid across the smooth wooden floor
22:11into an extremely hidden corner.
22:13The bodyguard grasped at empty air,
22:15turned around in irritation,
22:17and roughly seized my shoulder.
22:19His grip was strong,
22:20squeezing my shoulder blade with a dull ache.
22:22I didn't struggle.
22:23I simply watched coldly
22:25as Arthur approached step by step.
22:27CEO,
22:27the phone fell under the desk.
22:29Arthur strode over quickly,
22:31dropped to the floor without hesitation,
22:33and stretched out awkwardly
22:34to reach for the phone.
22:35His expensive bespoke suit
22:37was covered in dust from the floor.
22:39He stared viciously at the screen
22:41and pressed his thumb heavily
22:42on the stop recording button.
22:43Then,
22:44he raised the phone high
22:45and hurled it violently
22:46onto the hard tile floor.
22:48With a loud crash,
22:49the screen shattered into pieces,
22:50black glass shards scattering everywhere.
22:52Only when he was absolutely certain
22:54the phone had been reduced
22:55to a pile of scrap metal
22:57did he straighten up,
22:58panting heavily.
23:07He walked up to me
23:08and stretched out a rough finger,
23:10intending to tilt my chin up.
23:11I jerked my head aside
23:13and evaded his touch.
23:14He snorted coldly,
23:15withdrew his hand,
23:16and wiped it on his own suit trousers.
23:18Little girl,
23:20in the face of absolute power,
23:23your petty tricks
23:24aren't even worth a fart.
23:28He turned to look at Leo,
23:30who was pinned against the equipment cart
23:32by the other bodyguard.
23:33A bruise had formed on Leo's forehead,
23:35with traces of blood seeping out,
23:37but he still stared fixedly at Arthur.
23:39Earlier,
23:39this kid said he didn't care
23:40about the spot I bought.
23:41Director,
23:42bring me his application materials.
23:44Dr. Sterling immediately,
23:46like an obedient dog,
23:47picked up the thick stack of materials
23:49with both hands
23:50and handed them over.
23:51Arthur took the materials
23:52and weighed them in his hand.
23:54Since you don't care about it,
23:56then these worthless papers
23:57have no reason to exist anymore.
23:59He walked over
24:00to the large commercial shredder
24:01in the corner of the office.
24:03He pressed the switch.
24:04The shredder let out
24:05a low dull hum
24:06as its sharp steel gears
24:07began spinning at high speed.
24:09Don't!
24:10That's two months
24:11of my blood, sweat, and tears!
24:12Watching Leo struggle in agony,
24:14Arthur's smile grew even more cruel.
24:17Heart and soul?
24:18Let me show you right now
24:19just how ite-iterly worthless
24:21a poor man's efforts truly are.
24:23He gripped the edges
24:24of the materials
24:25with both hands
24:26and slowly fed the first portion
24:28of pages
24:28into the shredder's intake slot.
24:30Stop, you bastard!
24:34Leo's eyes were completely bloodshot,
24:37his voice turning hoarse.
24:38He twisted his body desperately,
24:40but it was useless.
24:41The two bodyguards
24:42pinned him firmly in place,
24:44unable to move.
24:45Arthur seemed to take
24:46immense pleasure
24:46in the thrill of trampling
24:48someone else's dignity underfoot.
24:50He didn't shove
24:50all the materials in at once.
24:52Instead,
24:53he deliberately slowed
24:54his movements.
24:55One page,
24:55two pages,
24:57three pages.
24:58As he fed them in,
24:59he savored Leo's
25:00crumbling expression
25:01with an unbelievably
25:02sadistic gaze.
25:03See?
25:05When this data gets shred,
25:06the sound is so satisfying.
25:09Isn't it?
25:10You need to learn
25:11to accept reality.
25:14Watching the strips
25:15of shredded paper
25:16piling up inside the machine,
25:17watching the blood
25:18seeping from my brother's forehead,
25:20the fury in my chest
25:21had burned to its absolute limit.
25:23All right,
25:24now your bargaining clip is gone.
25:27Your phone is smashed too.
25:28Whatever tricks you still have,
25:30go ahead and try them.
25:32I watched him coldly.
25:33Amid the bewildered
25:34and uncertain gazes
25:36of everyone present,
25:37I pulled out a second phone.
25:38It was a silver satellite
25:40communication phone,
25:41a model owned by fewer
25:42than 50 people
25:43in the entire world.
25:44There was only one number
25:45stored in it.
25:46Watching Arthur's expression
25:48freeze instantly,
25:49I pressed the speakerphone button
25:50and dialed that single number.
25:55A deep, steady,
25:56middle-aged male voice,
25:57imbued with innate authority,
25:59came through the speaker.
26:00Hey, Laura.
26:01The voice wasn't loud,
26:03yet it carried an irresistible pressure
26:04that no one could defy.
26:06I was on the plane just now
26:07and had my phone turned off.
26:09What's wrong?
26:10The air in the office
26:11completely froze
26:11in that single second.
26:13Dr. Sterling's hand
26:14holding the coffee cup
26:15jerked violently,
26:16spilling brown liquid
26:17onto his white coat.
26:18The bodyguards exchanged glances.
26:20Only Arthur,
26:22after a brief moment of shock,
26:24erupted into an even more
26:25maniacal fit of mocking laughter.
26:27What an absolutely
26:29brilliant performance.
26:30He pointed at the
26:31satellite phone in my hand.
26:33You smashed one phone
26:34and then pulled out another?
26:35Still laughing,
26:36Arthur strode toward me.
26:38You randomly find
26:39some voice changer software
26:41or hire a deep-voiced voice actor
26:43and think you can pretend
26:44to be the old C-Earve
26:45to scare me?
26:46He pointed at the
26:46silver satellite phone
26:47and shouted rudely
26:48at the speaker.
26:49I don't care which extra
26:51you've got on the other end.
26:52You'd better hang up
26:53this instant.
26:54Otherwise,
26:55when I trace your IP address,
26:57I'll throw you in jail
26:58to rot right along with them.
27:03The other end of the line
27:05fell into a brief silence.
27:06The coldness contained
27:07within that silence
27:08was enough to make
27:09even the bodyguard
27:10standing nearby
27:11shiver involuntarily.
27:13But Arthur clearly
27:14didn't sense
27:14the looming danger.
27:15Instead,
27:16he thought his intimidation
27:17had worked
27:18and became even more smug
27:19and carried away.
27:21What's the matter?
27:22Afraid to speak now?
27:23He lunged forward
27:24trying to bring his head
27:25closer to the speaker.
27:26Who are you?
27:28Arthur snorted coldly,
27:29raising his chin high.
27:30You don't even know
27:31who I am.
27:32Seems like your homework
27:33as a voice actor
27:34isn't up to much.
27:35He tugged at his suit collar
27:37and declared into the receiver,
27:39word by word.
27:40Listen up, old man.
27:42I'm Arthur Thorne,
27:43the true person in power
27:45at Vance Group,
27:46the current CEO.
27:47I stood to the side,
27:49watching this man,
27:50like a clown
27:51frantically courting death
27:52and only pity
27:53remained in my eyes.
27:57This phone call
27:58not only failed
27:59to make him restrain himself,
28:00but instead led him
28:01to lay all his
28:02incriminating cards
28:03completely on the table.
28:04On the other end of the line,
28:06my father's breathing
28:07remained steady,
28:08with no sign of fury whatsoever.
28:10Those who knew him
28:11well understood that
28:12when Richard Vance
28:13started raging,
28:14there was still room
28:15for things to turn around.
28:16But when he fell
28:17completely silent
28:18and spoke in this
28:19utterly emotionless tone,
28:20it meant that destruction
28:21was already inevitable.
28:23Arthur Thone.
28:25Yeah, what of it?
28:26If you really have any guts,
28:28fly over here right now
28:29and bite me.
28:29Arthur froze for a moment,
28:31then burst into manic laughter.
28:34Eloda.
28:34My father's voice
28:35sounded again.
28:36I'm listening, father.
28:38The helicopter just landed.
28:40I'll be there in ten minutes.
28:42Before I arrive,
28:44protect your brother.
28:45Don't let anyone
28:46leave this room.
28:47The words had barely finished
28:49when the call
28:50was unilaterally cut off.
28:51Arthur stood rooted
28:52to the spot,
28:53the smile on his face
28:54gradually stiffening.
28:56He finally caught a whiff
28:57of something wrong
28:58from the words,
28:59the helicopter just landed.
29:05The instinctive fear
29:06cultivated from years
29:07of obsequious servitude
29:09under Richard
29:09quietly crept up Arthur's spine.
29:11Helicopter?
29:12He repeated the word
29:13neurotically,
29:14then vigorously shook his head.
29:16Playing tricks.
29:18They must be playing tricks!
29:20He turned his head
29:21and bellowed
29:21at the security guards.
29:23What are you still
29:23standing there for?
29:25Block the door completely!
29:28Nobody is leaving
29:29this room today!
29:31Seeing this,
29:31the several hospital
29:32security guards
29:33immediately pulled out
29:34their batons
29:35and blocked
29:35the office door completely.
29:37You pair of frauds
29:39think you can scare me off
29:40by randomly finding someone
29:42to make up a few lines?
29:44I'm gonna stand right here
29:46and watch what the hell
29:47actually flies in here
29:48in ten minutes.
29:49He walked back
29:50to the sofa
29:50and plopped down,
29:51but his legs began
29:52shaking involuntarily.
29:54Julian might have been arrogant,
29:56but he wasn't
29:57entirely brainless.
29:59Dad,
30:02that voice on the phone,
30:05doesn't it sound
30:06a bit like
30:06or the one
30:08who spoke
30:08at last year's
30:09annual meeting?
30:11Shut up!
30:17That was a fraud!
30:19An actor
30:20they paid to hire!
30:22What the hell
30:23are you afraid of?
30:24Arthur suddenly
30:25whipped out
30:25his own phone
30:26and began
30:26dialing numbers frantically.
30:28Hello?
30:28Is this President Smith
30:30of the Medical Association?
30:31This is Arthur!
30:33Yes.
30:34I've run into
30:35a bit of trouble
30:36at Valerius Hospital.
30:37There's an intern
30:38named Leo
30:38suspected of fabricating
30:40academic data
30:41and maliciously attacking
30:42a senior executive
30:43of Vance Group.
30:44As he spoke,
30:45he stared venomously
30:46at Leo,
30:47who was still pinned down
30:48by the bodyguards.
30:49I demand that you
30:50immediately revoke
30:51his medical license.
30:52Any hospital
30:53in all of the Americas
30:55that dares to hire him
30:56is making an enemy
30:57of me!
30:58After hanging up,
30:59he dialed another number.
31:22After finishing this call,
31:24Arthur seemed to regain
31:25a sliver of security.
31:26Did you hear that?
31:27I'm not only
31:28going to completely
31:30destroy your future,
31:31I'm going to make sure
31:33you rot in prison
31:35until you grow mold!
31:37Leo's forehead
31:37was still bleeding.
31:38Blood slid down
31:39along his brow bone
31:40and dripped onto the floor.
31:42But he didn't look
31:42at Arthur.
31:43He turned his head
31:44and looked at me
31:45from a few steps away.
31:46Across the crowd,
31:47I gave him a slight nod.
31:49Just then,
31:49a deep rumbling roar
31:51suddenly came from the sky
31:52outside the window.
31:53The roar grew louder
31:54and closer
31:55until the office's
31:56glass windows
31:57began to tremble slightly.
31:58The powerful airflow
31:59even swept up
32:00the fallen leaves outside
32:01and hurled them fiercely
32:03against the glass.
32:04The sound ultimately
32:05hovered directly
32:06above the hospital's
32:07rooftop helipad,
32:08slowed down,
32:09and then landed steadily.
32:11Arthur's face
32:11turned deathly pale
32:12in that instant.
32:17There,
32:17there,
32:18there really is
32:19a helicopter?
32:20Julian was so frightened
32:21that he directly hid
32:22behind the sofa.
32:23Dad,
32:24is it really
32:25the old CEO?
32:26Have we gotten ourselves
32:28into huge trouble?
32:29Impossible!
32:32Absolutely impossible!
32:34He's on a business trip
32:35to Australia.
32:36He can't be back.
32:37He frantically
32:38straightened his crooked tie,
32:39trying to maintain
32:40the last shred
32:41of his dignity.
32:42This must be
32:43other hospital executives.
32:45Yes,
32:46definitely some big shot
32:47called in by the dean.
32:48He forced himself
32:49to squeeze out
32:50a smile uglier
32:51than a grimace
32:52and strode
32:52quickly toward the door.
32:53There was a deafening boom.
32:55The heavy mahogany door
32:56was kicked open
32:57from the outside
32:58with an unbelievably
32:59brutal force.
33:00The several security guards
33:01blocking the doorway
33:02didn't even have time
33:03to react before
33:04they were knocked
33:05staggering by
33:05the tremendous impact.
33:07Immediately after,
33:08the sound of
33:08synchronized,
33:09military-like,
33:10steady and powerful
33:11footsteps marched
33:12into the office.
33:13They weren't wearing
33:14sunglasses,
33:15but their cold
33:15and merciless gazes
33:17instantly made
33:17the two thugs
33:18previously restraining
33:19Leo let go
33:20in fright
33:20and stumble backward
33:21repeatedly.
33:22Through the center
33:23of the channel
33:23created by the bodyguards,
33:25a silver-haired woman
33:26carrying a briefcase
33:27entered first.
33:32She was Elena,
33:33the chief legal officer
33:34of Vance Group.
33:35Her sharp eyes
33:36swept across the room,
33:37finally resting
33:38on the trembling Arthur,
33:39a mocking sneer
33:40curling at the corner
33:41of her lips.
33:42Then everyone's breath
33:43stopped.
33:44Richard Vance,
33:45the true powerholder
33:46who had built
33:46a hundred-billion-dollar
33:47business empire
33:48descended with a murderous
33:49aura so potent
33:50it could freeze
33:51the surrounding air solid.
33:53His gaze first fell
33:54upon the thick layer
33:55of shredded paper
33:56covering the floor.
33:57That was Leo's
33:58painstaking effort,
33:59ruthlessly crushed
34:00into pieces.
34:01Then,
34:02his gaze slowly shifted
34:03and saw Leo.
34:05Finally,
34:05his eyes locked on to me.
34:07Father.
34:09That single word
34:09of address was like
34:10the final death warrant,
34:11thoroughly shattering
34:13any remaining sliver
34:14of hope Arthur still clung to.
34:15Arthur's knees
34:16buckled violently.
34:17With a loud thud,
34:18he dropped straight
34:19onto his knees
34:20on the cold tile floor.
34:22His mouth hung open,
34:23strange gurgling sounds
34:24coming from his throat,
34:25yet he couldn't force out
34:26even half a syllable.
34:28My father paid no attention
34:29to Arthur kneeling
34:30on the floor.
34:31With steady steps,
34:32he walked across the floor
34:33covered in shredded paper
34:35and came to stand
34:35before Arthur,
34:36looking down from a great height
34:38at this former subordinate.
34:39Arthur.
34:44You said you used
34:45the group's money
34:46to buy a spot
34:47and I didn't even know
34:48a damn thing about it?
34:50Arthur's entire body
34:51shook violently,
34:52cold sweat cascading
34:53down his forehead
34:54like a waterfall
34:55and instantly soaking
34:56his collar.
34:57He desperately
34:58kowtowed on the floor.
35:00Mr. Richard!
35:01A misunderstanding!
35:03This is all
35:04a huge misunderstanding!
35:06I didn't know
35:07they were the young miss
35:08and young master!
35:09I really didn't know!
35:10I was blind!
35:12I was blinded by greed!
35:15Please,
35:15just let me go
35:17like a worthless fart!
35:21Didn't know.
35:22My father let out
35:23a cold laugh.
35:24You didn't know
35:25it was my daughter
35:27and son standing
35:29in front of you?
35:30Or didn't you know
35:31that you're just
35:32a logistics fursant
35:33who only gets thanked
35:34the jeep we knock
35:35of heinous?
35:36He turned around,
35:37his gaze piercing
35:38like a sharp sword
35:39toward Julian,
35:40who was hiding
35:40behind the sofa.
35:48You said my daughter
35:49and my son
35:50are broke losers,
35:52lowlifes?
35:55Not only did you
35:56father and son
35:57go around
35:58swindling and scamming
36:00under my name,
36:01but you even dared
36:02to shove Leo's lifeblood
36:04into the shredder
36:05right in front of me?
36:07Julian was so terrified
36:08he wet his pants
36:09on the spot.
36:10He crawled out,
36:10stumbling and scrambling,
36:12and knelt beside Arthur.
36:13I'm sorry,
36:14old CEO,
36:15I'm sorry.
36:16It was all my dad
36:17who taught me.
36:18He said you no longer
36:19had any real power
36:20in the company.
36:21He said he was
36:22the real CEO.
36:24The money was all
36:26taken by him.
36:27It's none of my business.
36:29He suddenly erupted
36:30and slapped Julian hard
36:32across the face.
36:33You unfoolful brat!
36:35What the hell
36:36are you spouting?
36:38If it weren't
36:39for a waste like you,
36:40why would I have ever
36:41touched the company's accounts?
36:43Watching this father
36:44and son tear into each other
36:45like two rabbit dogs,
36:47everyone in the office
36:48didn't even dare
36:48to breathe loudly.
36:49Dr. Sterling had long
36:51since collapsed
36:51limply in his chair,
36:53without even the strength
36:54to stand up.
36:55My father had no interest
36:56in enjoying
36:57this dog-eat-dog farce.
36:58He raised his hand
36:59and signaled for
37:00attorney Elena
37:01to step forward.
37:05Elena expressionlessly
37:06opened her briefcase
37:07and pulled out
37:08a thick document.
37:09Arthur Thorne,
37:10according to the
37:11preliminary audit,
37:13over the past five years,
37:14you exploited your position
37:15to fabricate
37:16overseas procurement projects,
37:18cumulatively misappropriating
37:20group funds
37:21totaling
37:21$4,200,000
37:23She hurled the document
37:25heavily onto
37:26Arthur's face.
37:27You used this money
37:28to my your urs
37:29a sports car,
37:30rent a villa,
37:31and today,
37:32to bribele EUN's
37:33guanlidation.
37:34The amount involved
37:35is particularly enormous
37:36and the evidence
37:37is irresputable.
37:38For the rest of your life,
37:40you can savor the taste
37:42of being a CEO
37:43from inside
37:44a federal prison.
37:45Hearing the words
37:46federal prison,
37:47Arthur completely
37:48broke down.
37:49He collapsed
37:50onto the floor,
37:51his eyes rolling back,
37:52as if all the life
37:53had been drained
37:54out of him
37:54in an instant.
37:56My father turned around
37:57and walked over
37:58to Leo.
37:59He looked at the wound
38:00on Leo's forehead,
38:01a flicker of imperceptible
38:02heartache passing
38:03through his eyes,
38:04but he didn't offer
38:05words of comfort.
38:06Instead,
38:07he pointed at the
38:08shredded paper
38:08on the floor.
38:09Leo.
38:10My father said
38:11in a deep voice,
38:12Pick up what belongs
38:13to you,
38:14piece by piece.
38:15You will let
38:16these people see
38:17that a member
38:18of the Vance family,
38:19even when trampled
38:21into the mud,
38:23can still stand
38:24back up.
38:25Leo took a deep breath.
38:26He didn't hesitate.
38:28He crouched down
38:28and in the deathly silence,
38:30began to silently
38:31pick up those
38:32shredded fragments
38:32of paper.
38:33Watching his bloodstained
38:34yet still resolute silhouette,
38:36I knew,
38:37this farce
38:37had finally come
38:38to an end.
38:39of the Vance family.
38:41Come on,
38:41Come on,
38:43Come on.
38:43Go.
Commentaires