"You bastard! I'm your father! I don't understand why I raised such a coward child like you. Can't you be any more ambitious? Look at your cousin!"
Derrick's voice blared in the entire room. He was so furious that his veins on the neck almost popped while his blood rose to his face.
Just as he furiously shouted at his son, Charles and Hardy walked to the door and prepared to barge in uninvited
Suddenly, Charles frowned and halted on his tracks upon hearing a faint sound.
"Why are you stopping? Let's go!" his father asked in confusion, furrowing his brows tightly.
However, the young man placed his index finger on his lips, shushing, and merely narrowing his eyes.
But to the least of their knowledge, Joseph had already heard Hardy's voice. So, he hurriedly put the oxygen mask on Derrick and warned, "Dad, don't say anything. Here comes Charles."
Immediately, Derrick shut his eyes and pretended to still be unconscious.
At the same time, Joseph jumped in on the pretense and burst into tears. "Father, you have been so wronged. It's all because of that bastard Hiram! Don't worry! I will avenge you right now!" he blurted out before storming out of the ward in staggering steps.
However, before he could completely leave, Charles had already pushed the door open and walked in with his father, Hardy.
"Charles, it's you who hurt my father! You should pay the price with your life!" As Joseph mournfully yelled at his cousin, he overlooked the fact that it was Derrick—his father—who caused the car incident. And every word he uttered pierced through Charles like a sharp knife.
On the other side of the ward was Derrick, who broke into a cold sweat while listening to his son's sentiments.
"Joseph, stop it. I didn't hurt Derrick. The car accident was a farce schemed by your father himself. It has nothing to do with me! You're lucky that he is still alive. I don't think anyone should be responsible for it but himself!" Charles took out his phone, aiming to show the evidence he gathered to back his claim.
However, Joseph didn't even look or glance at it. Instead, he pushed Charles away and cursed, "You are a liar! You have always been one! Do you think you deserve to be my brother? I have done nothing but give in and yield to you! I have even given up the TS Group for you! What else do you want?"
As Joseph poured out his sentiments, tears began rolling down his cheeks.
"I didn't ask you to do that for me, Joseph. How about I ask grandpa to hand over the TS Group to you now?" A little pang of hurt and disappointment rose in Charles. Although he had always been so cold and distant to his cousin, the latter was still his family. But even with this, he couldn't just forget the betrayal of his uncle.
Before Joseph could even refuse, a faint cough sounded, causing Charles and Hardy to be stunned.
With eyes on stalks, both of them gazed at Derrick, who was lying on the bed.
"Is your father awake?" Hardy asked happily.
"Dad, are you awake?" Joseph asked, pretending to be surprised.
Still determined to continue with their deceit, Derrick closed his eyes tightly, wary that Charles would find out the truth.
He merely coughed just to remind his coward of a son to quickly grab Charles' offer of handing the company over to him.
As long as he owned the TS Group, he would have countless wealth, power and influence.
What the hell was Joseph still hesitating about?
So, to urge his son, Derrick decided to warn him with a cough.
In fact, Joseph was not stupid at all. He just got used to being idle these past few years that being in the limelight of things didn't interest him anymore.
But he knew that he couldn't let Charles know that his father had already woken up. So instead, he uttered, "He probably just have a lump in his throat. If you don't believe me, take a closer look. He doesn't seem like he's going to wake up any time soon."
Then, he purposely cried, "Dad! Dad! Please wake up now! Tell me how Hiram hurt you! I'll find him and avenge you!"
"I told you, your father's car accident has nothing to do with Hiram. Why don't you believe me?" Charles said coldly. His face now turned grim, and his jaw hardened.
"You are such a hypocrite, aren't you? You want me to take over the TS Group, right? Well, since you said that yourself, don't you dare go back on your word!" This time, Joseph's voice had become so firm—much different from how a coward would sound amidst an adversity. And as he wiped his tears, his sharp gaze locked at his cousin.
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