The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 266

The CEO’s Midnight Remedy

Chapter 266

Anay POV

1 pressed my palm against my forearm, feeling the warm blood seep between my fingers. The cut stung, but beneath the physical pain lay a deeper ache–watching my closest friend unravel before my eyes. My throat tightened as I fought to keep my voice steady.

“It’s fine, I’m not dying. But you need to calm down, Sophia. My words came out firmer than I felt. Inside, my mind raced with fear–not

for my arm, but for what Sophia might do next.

The commotion attracted attention. Footsteps hurried toward the room, and a nurse appeared at the doorway, eyes widening at the scene

-the knife on the floor, the blood on my arm.

“What happened here?” she demanded, rushing toward me.

“Just an accident,” I said quickly, my eyes never leaving Sophia’s. I could see the shame and panic swirling in her gaze. Before leaving with the nurse, I fixed Sophia with a hard stare, my eyes conveying what my words couldn’t fully express. “If you do something stupid now, our friendship is over. Remember that.”

In the emergency room, a doctor in blue scrubs cleaned my wound. Each swipe of the antiseptic made me wince internally, though I kept my face neutral. As he examined the cut more closely, his brow furrowed.

“That’s a pretty deep laceration. What happened exactly?‘ He looked up at me with professional suspicion.

“Kitchen accident,‘ I lied smoothly, though guilt flickered through me at protecting someone who had just hurt me. “I was helping a friend

cook,”

He nodded, not entirely convinced, but proceeded to prepare for stitches. As the needle pierced my skin, I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting the metallic tang of blood. My fingers gripped the edge of the examination table, knuckles whitening.

“Most people would be wincing by now,” he remarked, glancing up at my face. “You’re surprisingly tough for someone who looks so

delicate.”

I offered a small smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. My thoughts drifted to Sophia–her tear–stained face, the wild desperation in her eyes. This physical pain seemed insignificant compared to the hollowness of losing a parent. I knew that emptiness intimately. If bearing this wound kept Sophia from making an irreversible mistake, I’d endure it a hundred times over.

When the doctor finished, he covered the stitches with a clean bandage. “Keep it dry for 24 hours. Come back in a week to have the

stitches removed.”

I thanked him, my voice softer now, fatigue beginning to settle in my bones. I made my way back to Sophia’s room, rehearsing words of comfort that felt inadequate even in my head. But when I arrived, the bed was empty, the sheets neatly arranged My stomach dropped.

She was gone,

9:28 Tue, Jan 6

Chapter 256

six plans vibrated in is parket. A text from Banduas head spark tont try in the FA Y

i typeal back quickly, my fingers trendding slightly. Take care fim here when we need mar

Standing alone in that emply Hospital room, I felt emnern give way to send anger. My bustling naked theme of how b her thes had pushed Sophia’s mother over the edge, how the had sat wil this in motion. My fingers tigesed and my phone wat wy hurt, and I whispered her name, my voice low and hard: “Chine Parker/

Outside the hospital, the bright afternoon sun feit jarring against my darkened mood. I squinted ezainst the liga, suddenly aware of how exhausted i feit. I was about to call an Uber when my phone tang.

“Miss Harper, where are you?‘ Anna & voice was tight with urgency. You used to visit Mr. Beed at New York General within the how. The board thinks it’s crucial for securing the contract.

Reality crashed back, I closed my eyes briefly, drawing in a deep breath. The real world didn’t stop for personal crises.

‘T’ll head to New York General right away, I replied, my voice shifting to professional coolness, though my heart wasn’t in it. “Bring the

contract and meet me there.”

After hanging up, I glanced down at my arm. A small spot of blood had seeped through the bandage. I stared at it, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. There were bloodstains on my clothes from the injury I had just sustained and blood that had seeped through the gauze. 1 definitely couldn’t wear this outfit to meet Mr. Reed. 1 needed to go home first and change into a different set of clothes,

The moment I stepped into my father’s study at the Harper mansion, the air felt thick with tension. William Harper stood by the window, his normally pristine appearance disheveled. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and his eyes were bloodshot. The sight of him–so uncharacteristically undone–momentarily stunned me.

“What the hell did you do at Reed’s party?‘ he demanded without preamble, his voice sharp enough to cut. “You’ve completely destroyed

our chancest

I carefully closed the door behind me, taking a moment to compose myself. The emotional whiplash of the day was taking its toll. “Hello to you too, Father

“Don’t get smart with me,‘ he snapped, his face reddening. “Calvin Reed called. He said you attacked him.”

He tried to assault me, I countered, my voice even though my pulse quickened with remembered fear. “I defended myself.”

He ran a hand through his silver hair, a gesture that reminded me painfully of my mother. “Do you have any idea what this means for Harper Group? That contract was our last chance to–

Maybe Reed just didn’t want to deal with you in the first place?” I interrupted, old resentments rising to the surface. “Or is it because Victoria isn’t here to charm him?”

2/

0:20 Tue, Jan 6

Chapter 200

94

The mention of my stepmothers name was like lighting a match in a gas filled room. My father’s face flushed with rage. He swept his arm acres his desk, sending a crystal tumbler crashing to the Boor, I flinched at the sudden noise, but held my ground.

You watch your mouth! he shouted, pointing a finger at me.

1 felt something hard and cold settle in my chest. “Victoria and Scarlett have been embezzling company funds for months. I have proof.”

“That’s absund, he sputtered, but his eyes flickered with uncertainty. I saw it–that moment of doubt–and knew I’d struck a nerve.

Find Victoria,” I said, moving toward the door, my voice steadier than I felt, “or I’ll have their embezzlement reported to the SEC.”

Comments