Charles didn't even think-his body had already turned and bolted upstairs before his mind caught up.

When he burst into Ashley's room, Kevin was already examining her. Ashley's eyes were shut tight, her forehead soaked with beads of sweat, and her face twisted like she was fighting something in a nightmare.

"Why didn't you report this to me?" Charles spun around, his voice sharp as a blade, aimed straight at George.

"I'm sorry, sir," George explained quickly, "I knew you had a really important meeting today. I didn't want you to be distracted."

"You think a damn meeting matters more to me than her?" Charles snapped, his eyes narrowing.

"That was my mistake. I wasn't thinking straight," George said, lowering his head.

But Charles didn't have time to argue. He turned back toward Kevin. "What's the situation?"

"She's running a high fever and she's unresponsive," Kevin said, looking puzzled. "It's strange, though. I managed to bring her fever down yesterday. No clue why it suddenly spiked again."

Wait-she was already sick last night? It hit Charles then-he remembered George trying to tell him something, but he'd cut him off.

"Charles," Kevin said seriously, "Her condition's critical. I suspect acute pneumonia with respiratory failure. If we don't act fast-"

Before he could finish, Charles was already moving, scooping Ashley into his arms and heading straight for the door.

The car tore through traffic and screeched to a halt at the hospital.

A whole team of doctors and nurses were already waiting by the entrance.

Ashley was quickly transferred to a stretcher and rushed into the ER.

They worked nonstop the whole morning-antipyretics, physical cooling, all of it. But nothing helped. Her temperature wouldn't budge.

"Do none of you know what you're doing? You can't even bring down a damn fever!" Charles exploded, glaring at the room full of stunned medical staff.

No one dared make a sound. Each person stood frozen, staring at the floor.

Ashley lay motionless on the bed, her body jerking spasmodically, still deep in a coma.Seeing how miserable she looked, Charles felt like he'd take the pain for her if he could.

"Get me a tub of crushed ice water, now!" When nothing else seemed to work, he decided to try his own method.

Soon enough, the tub was ready just as he'd ordered.

Everyone else backed out of the room, leaving only two female nurses behind.

Charles gently lifted Ashley from the bed and slowly placed her into the ice-filled tub.

After making sure she was settled, he straightened up.

Ashley's lips were trembling nonstop, sweat beading on her pale forehead, yet her whole body was freezing cold from the ice water.

Charles stared at her, his lips pressed into a tight line.

"Cancel everything on today's schedule," he said as he pulled out his phone and called his assistant, Aaron Moore.

"Everything? But sir, you have a meeting at eleven with the chairman of Sterling Valor Group. It's the biggest financing project this quarter," Aaron reminded him.

"Did I stutter? I said cancel it. All of it." His tone was sharp and final before he ended the call.

His eyes went back to Ashley. Her face was paper-white, completely drained of color.

Honestly, even Charles didn't know what else he could do. He'd tried everything he could. Now, it was all up to her-she had to pull through.

Around four in the afternoon, a nurse checked her temperature-finally down to 39°C.

Afraid her body might not hold up if she stayed in the cold water too long, Charles picked her back up and carefully laid her on the soft hospital bed.

"Lucas... Lucas... don't go..." Ashley murmured in her sleep. Tears streaked down from the corners of her closed eyes, soaking into her hair.

Was that guy really that great? Even now, in this state, she kept calling his name. Hearing it drove a sharp chill into Charles's chest.

"I miss you... Lucas..." she breathed out again.

"Ashley, say his name one more time. I dare you," Charles muttered, on the verge of losing it.

"Lucas... Lucas... it hurts so much... help me..." Ashley kept murmuring in a low voice.

Honestly, he had to be out of his mind to leave such an important meeting just to come here and torture himself like this.

Charles stepped out of the hospital room, not wanting to hear her calling another man's name again. If he stayed any longer, he couldn't guarantee what he might do.

"Sir, your assistant just called. Sterling Valor Group is pretty upset about you bailing on the meeting last minute. The funding plan might be called off. Also, there's a situation with Steelcore-needs your decision. Should I tell them you'll handle it tomorrow?" George asked, walking up to him.

"No need. I'll head over now," Charles said, waving it off and striding toward the elevator.

"Lucas, don't!" Ashley suddenly screamed and shot up in bed, jolted awake by a nightmare.

"Miss Carter, you're awake!" a nurse sitting nearby quickly walked over.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Ashley asked groggily, pressing her head with a confused, dazed look.

"You're in the hospital, of course. Miss Carter, your fever shot up to 41, and you passed out. It was scary. Lucky thing Mr. Blackwood put you in ice water to bring your temperature down-it's now back to around 38," the nurse explained, her cheeks turning pink as soon as she mentioned Charles.

"I passed out?" Ashley frowned, trying to remember, but her memory was fuzzy.

"Yep. You're honestly the most intense fever case I've ever seen," the nurse said, eyes sparkling like she was still starstruck. "You should've seen how worried Mr. Blackwood was about you."

"Heh," Ashley gave a polite laugh, not quite knowing how to respond.

"Miss Carter, I'm so jealous. Having someone like Mr. Blackwood look after you? It's unreal," the nurse said enviously.

This was Charles they were talking about-the man's worth billions, but even without that, just his looks alone could break the internet. His smile alone could leave half the girls in town breathless.

"You know him?" Ashley asked, raising an eyebrow at the way she was glorifying him.

"Of course!" The nurse looked like she could go on for hours. "He's the fourth-generation heir of the Blackwood Consortium. Their businesses are all over six continents-oil, tech, pharma, you name it. Ever since he took over, the group's wealth has skyrocketed. Media overseas even called him the most bold and visionary leader out there. I mean, honestly, there aren't many people who don't know who he is."

But the sad part? He didn't even glance her way once. Just thinking about it made the nurse's heart ache again.

So, that man had such an insane background? Ashley was stunned. She'd always suspected he was powerful-but this powerful? That was on another level.

Wait a second... did she just say this place was... a hospital?

"Did you say I'm in a hospital?" she asked, just now piecing it together.

"Yeah!" the nurse nodded eagerly. Oh no, she was totally falling for Charles...

Ashley's eyes widened. So, she really was in a hospital! Emotion surged through her all over again.

Staring at the unfamiliar nurse in front of her, Ashley hesitated for a moment before taking a chance. "Could I borrow your phone to make a call?"

"Sure!" The nurse agreed without a second thought and handed her the phone.

"Thanks!" Ashley clutched the phone gratefully, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Lucas's number.

Thank goodness she still remembered it. As she hit the call button, she silently hoped.

Lucas, please pick up...

"The number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later," came the automated voice after a brief pause.

Why is it off? Could he be out looking for her and his phone died? Unwilling to give up, she redialed his number.

But all five attempts came back with the same cold message: the user is currently unavailable.

"Miss Carter, you don't have to call Mr. Blackwood. He'll be here soon," the nurse offered helpfully, thinking Ashley was trying to reach Charles.

"When is he coming?" Ashley tensed at that.

"Your fever's down now, and the doctor advised rest at home. After informing Mr. Blackwood, we've arranged for your discharge. He said he'd come pick you up by 6:30 at the latest," the nurse explained.

6:30 at the latest? Ashley glanced at the phone-it was already 6:15. That meant he could show up any minute now.

Idiot! Why did she end up like this? She finally made it into a hospital, and what did she do? Slept like a log! She couldn't believe she'd wasted so much time.

She wanted to smack herself.

No way-if he showed up, she wouldn't get another shot at calling Lucas!

"Can I ask what hospital this is?" She tried to sound casual, hiding her growing anxiety.

"This is Concordia Medical Center," the nurse replied, puzzled but honest.

"Thank you!" Ashley quickly opened the text message screen and began typing to Lucas: "Lucas, it's Ashley. I'm stuck in Concordia Medical Center. Come quickly..."

Just as she was about to type "Help me," the door creaked open. Startled, her hand shook, and the phone slipped from her grip, crashing on the floor.

"Miss Carter, are you feeling any discomfort right now?" asked the doctor as he walked in and looked at her with concern."Feeling much better." Ashley had thought it was Charles walking in, so when she saw it was just the doctor, she finally let out a breath.

"You're in the clear now. Just running a slight fever, so make sure you stay hydrated and get some rest. You'll be back to normal in a few days," the doctor said after wrapping up a set of checkups.

"Thanks," Ashley mumbled absentmindedly, eyes fixed on the phone being casually taken back and slipped into its owner's pocket.

As soon as the doctor left, she turned eagerly to the nurse. "Sorry, could I borrow your phone again for a sec?"

"Of course, go ahead!" the nurse said, handing it over once more.

"Thank you!" Ashley said quickly, her hands trembling as she punched in "911." Since she couldn't get ahold of Lucas, she had no time to lose. Maybe calling the police would work-someone had to pick up, right?

"Miss Carter, you really don't have to be so polite to me," the nurse said cheerfully. "Technically, this whole hospital belongs to you!"

"Mine?" Ashley stared at her, confused.

"Totally. Mr. Blackwood's family owns this hospital. Given how close you and he are... what's his is pretty much yours, right?"

"You're telling me he owns this hospital too?" Her fingers froze on the screen mid-dial.

"Yeah! Over half of everything in Impervale is either owned or somehow linked to the Blackwood group. Honestly, I'd say you must've saved the entire galaxy in your last life to land a guy like Mr. Blackwood-he's rich, powerful, and completely smitten with you."

Half the city... Ashley felt like the sky was falling.

"Aren't you making a call?" the nurse nudged, seeing her freeze up.

Was there even a point anymore? She'd barely get through before someone on the other end ratted her out to Charles.

"No, it's fine. Thanks anyway." She forced a smile and handed the phone back.

"Alright." The nurse took it back without sensing the shift in Ashley's mood.

"I'm feeling a bit hungry. Would you mind grabbing me something to eat?" Ashley asked, hoping to get her out of the room.

"Sure thing! I'll be right back." The nurse gave her a nod and walked out.

The moment she stepped out, Ashley pushed herself to the edge of the bed. But she had moved too quickly-her weak body gave out, and she collapsed hard onto the floor.

Ignoring the pain shooting through her limbs, she forced herself up, staggering straight to the door and pushing it open.