Chapter 7

Just then, a familiar figure rushed out quickly—it was none other than Von!

He practically shoved several bodyguards aside, his expression so agitated it was almost out of control.

"Get out of my way, all of you! Who do you think you are, daring to lay hands on Mr. Sterling? This is an insult to him!"

Everyone froze instantly, including Catherine and Chloe—they all stood there stunned.

"Dr. Krey, why are you stopping us?"

"Exactly! He made that promise himself, and now that my father is dying, he should pay the price!"

Von roared directly, his sharp gaze sweeping over Chloe, "Shut up! Do you even know what you're saying? Mr. Sterling just saved Mr. Senna with his own own hands! He's the savior of the Senna family, and you still dare to touch him? Aren't you afraid of God's punishment?"

"What?"

That statement hit everyone like a sledgehammer.

"That's impossible. He's just a criminal fresh out of prison. How could he do something like that? Better than you even?"

"Dr. Krey, are you mistaken?"

Von snorted coldly, "You can go in and see the results for yourselves. And one more thing I need to make clear—my so-called medical skills don't even qualify as beginner level compared to Mr. Sterling. So you'd better show some respect, or face the consequences."

With that, he walked straight up to Ethan and knelt down again without hesitation.

Ethan's tone was calm, "You already knelt once."

Von swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Mr. Sterling, if you were willing to enter the medical field, you would shake the entire world! I'm willing to be your assistant, to follow you for the rest of my life—I'd do it gladly!"

This scene left everyone completely speechless.

A top doctor from Braun Hospital was actually kneeling down to ask to be a student—this was beyond everyone's understanding.

But Ethan just glanced at him casually, "I'm not interested."

One simple sentence, yet it shocked everyone even more.

Von's invitation was certainly surprising.

But Ethan's casual rejection was even more incredible.

Catherine couldn't care about being shocked anymore and immediately rushed into the hospital room to check.

Soon, she ran out with a drastically changed expression and grabbed Ethan's hand, "He really woke up. You really saved Arthur! Ethan, I'm sorry. We shouldn't have treated you that way before, and we shouldn't have forced you and Aria apart. Please forgive us!"

Ethan gently pulled his hand back, "I'm tired. I want to go home and rest."

"Of course!"

Catherine immediately turned to Aria and said, "Take him home quickly, take good care of him, and arrange the best food and living conditions right away!"

Aria nodded gently, "I understand, Mother."

Just like that, the two left the hospital.

Meanwhile, Chloe and Jack had just walked out of the building, their faces dark as storm clouds.

"Jack, what the hell are you doing?"

Jack looked innocent, "What are you freaking out about?"

"Stop pretending. Don't think I can't see it—the way you look at Aria. Too bad she doesn't belong to you!"

Jack's expression changed slightly, "Chloe, you're misunderstanding me."

Chloe laughed coldly, "Let me tell you something—Aria has recovered, and Ethan saved Father. Before long, all the family power will return to their hands, and by then, there'll be no chance for us."

"So what?"

"Recently, I've been building up my own forces within the company."

"Next, as long as the two of us work together, we can find a way to kick Aria and Ethan out!"

"When that happens, Father and Mother won't be able to stop me. I'm going to take firm control of the Senna family!"

Chloe's eyes were ice-cold.

"Once they lose the family's support, you can deal with them however you want."

Jack was silent for a few seconds, then showed a slight smile, "Sounds good."

The two exchanged glances, reaching an understanding.

...

On the other side, Aria drove Ethan back to Seine Manor.

The Senna family was a well-known family throughout California, and on top of that, Aria had inherited assets from the Rockefeller family.

Although most of the inheritance was still in her hands, she had definitely taken out some of it before to help the Senna family.

So the place still looked quite impressive.

Aria said softly, "I'll have someone prepare dinner."

But Ethan shook his head, "No rush. I want to talk to you."

"Okay."

A few minutes later, they sat in a room.

Aria said softly, "Mr. Sterling, thank you for saving my father. I just don't know what you want to talk to me about?"

Ethan was silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "Do you remember me?"

Aria was slightly stunned.

A few seconds later, she nodded gently, "I remember. Seven years ago, in a park in the poor district, I saved a young man who was almost beaten to death by a homeless person. It's just that back then, you were much more miserable than you are now."

Ethan couldn't help but smile, "So you haven't forgotten."

Aria said softly, "Because at that time, your eyes left a deep impression on me. You were almost desperate, but you still refused to give up."

She paused.

"And later, I even had someone secretly investigate you."

This time it was Ethan who was somewhat surprised.

But Aria looked away, her tone calm, "It's just that later, you suddenly disappeared because of that case, and I didn't follow up anymore."

The air was quiet for a few seconds.

Ethan spoke slowly, "Since you remember me, you should be even clearer that you couldn't have suddenly decided to marry me just because I saved your father, right?"

Aria fell silent.

After a moment, she sighed softly, "You really are very smart."

She got up and walked to a cabinet, took out a bank card, and handed it to Ethan, "There's one million dollars here, consider it a down payment. I hope you'll pretend to be my husband and help me stabilize the current situation. After I regain control of the family, we'll divorce, and I'll give you the rest of the money all at once."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, "You want to fight for power?"

Aria shook her head with a bitter smile, "I just want to survive. Actually, I hope more than anyone that Chloe can manage the entire family. But once she truly takes power, I won't have a way to survive anymore."

She slowly clenched her fingers.

"All these years, she's always seen me as a thorn in her side. Before, when I was unconscious, she could still tolerate it. But now, I'm awake. She will never allow me to continue existing."

Aria looked up at Ethan, her eyes showing a trace of weariness for the first time, "So, Mr. Sterling, I need you. Only this way will they not dare to touch me easily. Otherwise, Chloe will definitely use the family's interests to marry me off to some man who disgusts me, and then gradually take away everything that belongs to me."

Ethan looked down at the bank card but didn't reach out to take it, "I don't want the money."

Aria was clearly stunned, "Then you..."

Before she could finish, Ethan calmly interrupted her, "But I'll help you with this."