Chapter 260: Blew My Mind
Gemma looked completely stunned.
The rest of the staff had the same “just saw a ghost” expression.
“This makes me feel like all that effort to start the machine was just a hallucination.”
“I literally slapped myself just now–definitely not a hallucination.”
*Is it normal for first–time use to come with paranormal activity?”
“Should we, I don’t know, make an offering? Some ceremony before starting the machine?”
Gemma sighed. “Look, you can have a wild imagination, but let’s not take it straight to the sci–fiction, okay?”
The group looked sheepish.
“Gemma, listen, we’re not superstitious, but this is seriously making a believer out of us.”
She waved them off.
“Maybe the machine just has a delayed startup?”
The older professors exchanged glances.
They actually bought it.
“That… kinda makes sense.”
“Yeah, I mean, this is our first time using these machines. It’s normal not to know everything about them.”
Seeing them finally stop overthinking, Gemma exhaled in relief.
“Alright, let’s prep for the surgery. We’ve got an hour to go.”
The professors didn’t dare waste another second and quickly got back to work.
The hospital was a mess.
Doctors and nurses were running through the halls, panicked murmurs filling the air.
Something about the hospital’s system crashing.
Kaiya frowned, stopping a nurse who was rushing by with a tray of meds.
“Hacker attack?”
She actually chuckled.
“Man, this hospital’s firewall must be made of paper.”
Yvonne leaned back against the couch, speaking lazily.
“Guess you didn’t know—the hospital was hacked once before.”
“Got lucky, though. There just so happened to be a hacker already admitted as a patient.”
“My guess? The old hacker’s back for round two. Revenge.”
Sitting on the sofa, Ashton glanced at the code running on his laptop and smirked.
Well, wasn’t that convenient? A scapegoat ready and waiting.
Fine by him. He’d clean up the mess and pin everything on the last guy.
That way, he’d stay untouchable.
Checking the time, he fired off a message to Gemma.
If she didn’t play by his rules, the entire hospital–ORS, ICUs, everything–would be paralyzed.
Gemma was a doctor.
And doctors were bound by their conscience.
Even if it meant being guilt–tripped, plenty of people would pressure her into handing over the special drug just to keep the peace.
All he had to do was sit back and wait for Gemma to come begging.
“Uncle Ash, you know tech better than anyone. Can’t you help them out?”
Kaiya was always soft–hearted. Perfect chance to play the hero.
Before, Ashton would’ve just sighed, told her not to be so naive.. and then spoiled her even more.
Because she was too pure. Someone had to protect her.
But this time, his brows furrowed, irritation flashing across his face.
Setting
10:17
Chapter 260: Blew My Mind
Kaiya’s heart skipped a beat.
She hadn’t said anything wrong…
Ashton was acting weird today. Really weird.
“Uncle, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this mess.”
She quickly backtracked, realizing she might’ve overstepped.
Ashton waved her off.
“It’s not that. Hospital systems are complicated. They have designated IT staff.”
“If I step in, it’d look like I was trying to steal confidential data.”
Kaiya knew that made sense.
She just wanted to score some points with him.
After all, Ashton didn’t have a wife or kids. Someone had to stay on his good side if they wanted to inherit his wealth.
“Then definitely don’t go! If something happens to you, I’d be devastated.”
“Relax, I know what I’m doing.” Ashton glanced at his screen, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Yvonne watched him closely. Something was off.
But since Doltons was a tricky family to dig into, she couldn’t investigate them herself.
Kaiya would have to figure it out on her own.
Ashton checked his watch.
Twenty minutes had passed.
His contact had sent an update–the Chavez kid was in an ambulance, heading straight for the hospital.
ETA: ten minutes.
Which meant, in at most twenty minutes, Gemma would come looking for him.
And his own kid was landing soon. Perfect timing.
Outside, the noise grew louder.
The hospital was in complete chaos.
“Yve, maybe we should just… go?”
Kaiya’s last plan didn’t work, so she tried playing the delicate damsel.
“Uncle, you said hospitals are trouble. Shouldn’t we, I don’t know, avoid getting caught up in this mess?”
Ashton’s voice was cold. “You can leave. I’m staying.”
Kaiya froze.
Uncle Ash was seriously off today!
“Aren’t you worried the hospital’s problems will drag us down with it?”
Ashton finally looked up.
Something flickered in his eyes.
“You have a point. No need to get you involved. I’ll have my bodyguards take you back to the villa.”
“What?!” Kaiya was dumbfounded.
She was trying to earn favor, not get kicked out.
1
How did things turn out like this?!
Yvonne caught on quick and threw her a lifeline,
‘She’s right. Look at how chaotic things are. It’s safer with bodyguards.”
Kaiya got the hint. She and Yvonne grabbed their stuff and quickly left the hospital.
Once outside, Yvonne lowered her voice.
“Something’s up with your Uncle Ash. I bet this hospital mess is his doing.”
“You should get your mom to look into him.”
Kaiya wasn’t really interested in meddling with her uncles‘ business.
She only cared about one thing–securing her inheritance,
But if Uncle Ash got himself into trouble and it affected her future payday…That was a problem.
Yeah. Ill text my mom now.”
10.18
Chapter 260: Blew My Mind
Gemma was reviewing a machine’s operation with a professor when her phone buzzed.
The professor marveled at the technology.
“Living long enough to witness this level of advancement… incredible.”
Gemma was about to discuss some of the country’s latest research when she noticed the sender of the message.
An unknown number.
The text was long. Like, ridiculously long.
She skimmed it. Her brows lifted in surprise.
Ashton had always been careful.
And now he was just… exposing himself?
She’d been wondering how to work with Cassius to track this hacker down.
And here he was, serving himself up on a silver platter.
Perfect. She snapped a screenshot and sent it straight to Robin.
[Free win. And u don’t even have to pay me.]
Robin didn’t reply. But the message was marked as read.
He was already on it,
Ashton wanted that drug? Ha. He could keep dreaming.
Setting
