A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 267

Chapter 267

While Cora was in the hospital, Joseph was also there keeping watch over her. When she got the call about the fire in the early hours of the morning, Joseph obviously overheard and knew what was going down.

Unable to sit around for another second, Cora bolted out of there still in her hospital gown. Joseph wanted to see the scene for himself, so he tagged along.

The Lowell Group headquarters was already engulfed in flames by then. Even from a distance, the acrid smell was overwhelming. A constant shower of burning embers and other dangerous debris made it impossible for anyone to get close.

Even Cora, the wealthiest person in Jenton, found herself powerless in the face of such a disaster. She could only hope the firefighters would get the blaze under control as quickly as possible.

After she lingered for a few more minutes, it became clear to her that the building was beyond saving. Figuring out a damage-control plan and hunting down the arsonist were what mattered now. This was no time to panic.

“Go back to the hospital. I’m heading home,” she said to Joseph before leaving with her entourage.

Joseph didn’t go back, though. He wanted to stay on-site to see just how long the fire would rage and whether there had been any fatalities inside.

His one rule for Belinda had been no casualties. But honestly, she was acting so ruthless and unpredictable lately that he wasn’t even sure if she’d listened to him anymore.

Besides, he was a doctor, and the Jenton University Hospital emergency response team was also on site. He had every legitimate reason to stay.

Watching the flames roar, Joseph knew that years of Cora’s hard work were being reduced to ashes. Yet instead of feeling any sense of triumph or satisfaction, he felt only a hollow sense of mutual destruction.

If Cora ever learned he had played a part in this fire, she would never forgive him.

“Cora, if you’d been honest from the very beginning, we could have parted peacefully, and none of this would have happened. But now, there’s no turning back for either of us…”

Just before dawn, Belinda called. Joseph didn’t answer until he had gotten into his car, since police officers and firefighters were all around him.

“Well, Dr. Hart? I kept my promise, didn’t I?” Belinda asked.

She was currently warming up on a treadmill. If Joseph had been there in person, he would’ve seen her killer figure. But of course, even if she had stood before him completely exposed, Joseph wouldn’t have felt a thing.

After all, he still remembered the horrible state she had once been in.

“You’ve truly surprised me, and you’ve also proven yourself worthy of my trust. Since you held up your end of the bargain, I’ll hold up mine. Like we discussed yesterday, get the guy to the hospital, and I’ll take it from there.”

“Got it. Wait for my good news.”

Belinda said nothing more and hung up.

Joseph confirmed there were no casualties at the scene. The on-duty security guard was found in a dumpster three blocks away by a sanitation worker who had just started his shift. He had only been knocked unconscious and was not in danger of losing his life.

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+15 Bonus

After returning to the hospital, Joseph noticed that the Lowell Group fire hadn’t made it onto a single news broadcast. Even online, the chatter was being aggressively scrubbed. It was proof that Cora’s damage control teamn was working at lightning speed.

Joseph chose not to follow the developments. When one did something bad, lying low was the best way to protect oneself. He absolutely couldn’t afford to draw attention to himself.

After the morning meeting, Joseph received word from the police that Kyle had died after taking an unidentified drug.

The authorities were currently discussing the procedures for a forensic autopsy. They requested that Jenton University Hospital preserve all relevant treatment records, medical plans, and any relevant surveillance footage.

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