My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 293

Chapter 293: Need To Earn It

Gustav couldn’t stop Ashley from leaving, and now he was left dwelling on the conversation they had in the lift.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he realized he was already on the intensive care unit floor.

Gustav stopped, staring at the door where Lucian was at the moment. He stared at it for a second before letting out a deep exhale. Dragging his feet, he sat down on the steel bench along the hallway. Resting his arms on his legs, he clasped his hands together, deep in thought.

"That woman..." he trailed off, thinking about Ashley.

He had noticed it today when she walked into Doctor Wesley’s office. There was just something about the air around her that felt different from what he was used to.

The Ashley he knew was childish, petty, and irritating. She was someone who knew how to get on people’s nerves, and she had never done anything to win people over.

Though even if she tried and begged them, people’s opinions of her would not change. Gustav knew that because, as he had said, their opinions would not change so easily. If anything, they would just think she was desperate.

But today, she was different. Not just the words coming out of her mouth, but the way she thought and the air around her. For once, Gustav could not recognize her. Especially in the lift.

For a moment, Gustav truly felt like he was talking to someone who knew the value of her position—someone who stood above him.

It was as though she truly was the Madam of Dominion.

"Triple the security in here, and transfer Lucian."

The orders she gave without missing a beat echoed in his head. Gustav lowered his gaze, staring at the floor between his feet.

If I do that, even if someone attacks the master, he won’t be here anymore, he thought. While he’s down, people will try to make sure he doesn’t wake up. Moving him to a different place is the best precaution we can take right now.

And Gustav moving around the hospital would also give the illusion that he was here protecting Lucian.

Gustav clasped his hands tighter as her words echoed in his mind once more.

"It’s easier to doubt those four than the members of Dominion, with whom you already have relationships and history. I’m not making the same mistake—you shouldn’t either."

He closed his eyes and massaged his brows, easing the faint throb in his head. Gustav remained silent for only a minute, but it felt like the longest minute of his life.

He stepped into the lift with her, telling himself he would decide afterward, even though she had said otherwise. He simply wanted to hear what she had to say. Now that he did, he had to make a decision.

Would he listen to her orders?

Or would he let his personal opinions get in the way?

At this point, what mattered most?

Gustav snapped his eyes open and nodded to himself. Then he shifted his gaze to Lucian’s door.

What mattered most was not his opinion of Ashley, her sudden change, or trust. What mattered most right now was making sure Lucian remained safe while he was defenseless.

"Just this once," he whispered to himself, keeping his eyes on the ICU door. "I’ll trust someone else other than you."

With that thought in mind, Gustav pulled his phone out of his suit pocket. He scrolled to the bottom of his contacts because one of the names saved there belonged to someone he had never thought he would call in his life.

As he pressed the call button, Gustav rose to his feet and walked away with the phone pressed against his ear. He listened to the ringing with each step until the line finally connected.

"I’ll arrange it tonight," he said as soon as the call connected. "Send me someone I should coordinate with."

*****

Meanwhile, Ashley sat in the back of the car when her phone started vibrating. When she saw the name on the screen, the corners of her lips curled upward.

Gustav.

Seeing his name on this phone was something she never thought she would see. After all, aside from Lucian, there were numbers on this phone that she hadn’t saved herself. One of them belonged to that man.

Once she answered, Gustav’s resolve was the first thing she noticed in his voice.

"I’ll arrange it tonight. Send me someone I should coordinate with."

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