Chapter 7 Collision

"Dr. Watson, I'm sorry to take up your time."

From her hospital bed, silver-haired Celeste leaned against the bedside, offering a weak smile.

"My test results are in, aren't they? They're not good, are they?"

Celeste had deliberately timed calling Daniel Watson over, and her weak words immediately made Daniel's expression darken.

"Mrs. Young, your condition..."

Discussing this topic made Daniel's face equally grim.

"I know exactly what shape my body is in. Everyone has to face this step eventually. The only reason I'm being so cooperative with treatment is that I can't bear to leave Charles behind."

Celeste gazed out the window with a touch of melancholy.

"He's not happy. I know that."

"I just want to spend more time with him, hoping he can learn how to love someone. Someday, I hope there will be someone who can love him unconditionally and stay by his side."

It was a fact acknowledged throughout their social circle that the internal power struggles within the Windsor family were notoriously vicious.

Initially, Celeste had been reluctant to let her daughter marry into the Windsor family, and she hadn't even liked Charles, who shared her daughter's bloodline.

That changed after Charles's mother died...

The bright window cast dazzling light, yet it couldn't dispel the moisture gathering in Celeste's eyes.

Charles had secured his position as head of the Windsor family.

Celeste had witnessed what he'd sacrificed to achieve it.

"Don't tell him the truth about my medical report. Help me deceive him—just this once. The Windsor Group has been in turmoil lately, and I don't want to distract him. Even when he's exhausted, he never says a word. Keeping everything bottled up will destroy him."

Celeste shifted her gaze back to Daniel. "Help me deceive him, just this once."

She didn't need to read the report to know her condition was deteriorating rapidly.

"If you're worried he'll see something wrong with me, you can increase my medication dosage. I can handle it."

Even the standard dose of targeted therapy posed significant challenges for the body's tolerance.

"Mrs. Young, you..."

"Don't try to dissuade me, Dr. Watson. I know my body's condition. I'm counting on you to handle Charles. Don't give him additional worries during this time."

"I can hold on for now, at least for a while."

Though Celeste spoke softly, Daniel caught the resolute determination in her words.

He frowned, ultimately letting out a sigh.

"Alright, I'll be careful with my wording."

Daniel's shoulders sagged helplessly as he left the room with heavy steps.

Just outside the hospital room, Daniel froze.

Nathan stood directly in front of him.

"Dr. Watson, Mr. Windsor is waiting for you in his office."

"Mr. Windsor already has the test report and now needs to hear your medical recommendations."

Nathan's tone remained steady as always.

Yet it made Daniel smile bitterly.

Daniel glanced back at the door he'd just closed, sighed, then followed Nathan's lead.

"Mrs. Young's condition can't be delayed any longer. If we wait, she'll..."

Daniel didn't finish, but everyone understood.

"Surgery for Mrs. Young is urgent—we're currently in the final window when surgery is still possible. If we miss this opportunity, Mrs. Young will only be able to..."

Wait to die.

The office atmosphere instantly grew suffocating.

Daniel sighed countless times internally.

He never expected Charles to get his hands on the medical report in the office first.

Regarding Celeste's condition, Daniel knew he couldn't hide anything, so he laid out the truth.

"Are there no other options? Other surgeons? Anyone else capable of performing this operation?"

Charles's expression was cold.

His hand gripping the medical report unconsciously tightened.

Daniel shook his head gravely. "This surgery's difficulty level exceeds most people's capabilities. Currently, only three people worldwide have the matching skills."

"One is Aaron Smith, but he was in a car accident years ago—his hands can no longer hold a scalpel."

"The second is a doctor named Patrick Anderson in Lumaria. Lumaria's medical community is full of legends about him, but more mysterious than these rumors is his whereabouts. Almost no one can pinpoint his location."

"The third is Dr. Green, who's currently making international headlines—she's here in Emerald City right now."

At this point, Daniel glanced at Charles.

He'd attended that awards ceremony and naturally saw Charles at the venue.

Charles had sought out Dr. Green, but to no avail.

Daniel sighed quietly. "We should try reaching out to Dr. Green again."

After leaving Daniel's office, Charles walked directly toward Celeste's hospital room, but he stopped at the door.

Daniel's words echoed in his mind as he picked up his old smoking habit again.

After finishing one cigarette, Charles stood by the door for a long time until the smoke smell dissipated from his clothes. Only then did he adjust his expression and push the door open.

Since Celeste didn't want him to know, he'd pretend ignorance.

But once outside the room, Charles's gentle demeanor vanished completely.

"Mr. Windsor, they've located Dr. Green's address. She lives in Emerald Bay Villas."

Emerald Bay Villas was a Windsor Group investment project—one of the premier communities where the elite gathered.

"To Emerald Bay Villas."

Charles wanted to see Zoey immediately.

They drove at breakneck speed.

As soon as the car stopped, the Emerald Bay Villas manager approached them.

The group walked inside while talking.

On another path through Emerald Bay Villas, Diana carried grocery bags from the supermarket while carefully instructing Daisy and Jason over the phone.

The two little chatterboxes were as talkative as ever around Diana, babbling nonstop.

Diana listened with a smile, paying little attention to her surroundings.

Rounding a corner, she collided head-on with Charles, her phone clattering to the ground.

Diana couldn't help but let out a startled cry as she bent to retrieve it.

Charles frowned slightly, about to step away, when he suddenly grabbed the bending figure and yanked her upright.

His eyes narrowed as his voice turned cold.

"Diana," Charles pronounced each syllable deliberately.

Diana's entire body trembled. She tried to flee, but her wrist was gripped tightly.

"So you are indeed still alive."

Sensing Diana's struggle, Charles's expression darkened drastically.

"Disappeared for all these years, and now where do you think you're going?"

For a moment, Charles forgot his purpose for coming here.

Inexplicable fury filled his entire chest.

His gaze toward Diana held not only rage and shock, but also a joy he hadn't even recognized in himself.

"Let go of me, Charles!"

Diana couldn't sort through her own emotions either. Forgetting to deny anything, she only wanted to escape.

"We have nothing to do with each other anymore. Let me go!"

"Nothing to do with each other?" Charles laughed coldly. "We're still legally married!"