Chapter 198
Chapter 198:
Something detonated in Cole’s chest. He saw his wife in another man’s clothing, visibly compromised, in the passenger seat of his greatest rival’s car.
He threw the umbrella into the street and charged forward. He seized Crawford by the collar and drove him back against the car.
“What did you do to her?” Cole roared over the rain.
Crawford knocked his hands away with a sharp, violent motion. His voice was absolute zero.
𝗗𝗈𝗐𝘯l𝗈а𝖽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘗𝘋𝗙𝘴 𝘰n 𝗴а𝗅ոov𝗲𝗅ѕ.𝗰𝗼m
“She was drugged at the gala. I pulled her out of danger. I am taking her to the hospital. Get out of my way p>
The word drugged struck Cole like a sledgehammer — but the flash of genuine panic was swallowed almost instantly by something darker and more consuming.
“She is my wife,” Cole snarled. “You don’t take her anywhere p>
He shouldered past Crawford and reached for the passenger door.
Crawford grabbed his shoulder, grip like a steel vice. “Taking her right now will only endanger her. She needs medical attention, not your ego p>
“I am her legal husband!” Cole said, turning on him. “If you try to stop me from taking my wife, I will have the SEC freeze every asset the Love Group owns by tomorrow morning p>
Julian leaped out of the Maybach and ran over, grabbing Crawford’s arm. “Crawford, stop! She’s his legal wife — taking her now is kidnapping. The police will arrest you p>
The law pressed down like a physical weight. Crawford stepped back, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white and bleeding.
Cole wrenched the passenger door open, unclipped the seatbelt, and pulled June out of the seat. She stirred and pushed weakly against his chest, but his strength overwhelmed her completely.
His eyes dropped to the suit jacket around her shoulders. The scent of Crawford’s cedarwood cologne rose from the fabric and turned his stomach.
He tore it off her and threw it into the nearest puddle. Then he stripped off his own heavy overcoat and wrapped it around her, pulling it tight.
He carried her to the Maybach and settled her into the back seat, slamming the door behind him. The car pulled away and disappeared into the rain.
Crawford stood motionless in the wet street, watching the taillights fade.
“If you can’t protect her, Cole,” he said quietly to the empty intersection, his eyes burning with cold, absolute resolve, “I will take her from you permanently p>
The Maybach screeched to a stop in the emergency drop-off lane of Manhattan Private Hospital.
Cole kicked the door open and ran through the automatic glass doors with June in his arms. “Get the head of toxicology down here right now!” His voice tore through the sterile lobby, sending the triage nurses scrambling.
A team of doctors rushed out with a gurney and wheeled June directly into the VIP trauma bay.
For thirty agonizing minutes, Cole paced the hallway, his chest locked tight, unable to draw a full breath.
The lead doctor finally emerged, tablet in hand, his expression grave.
“Mr. Compton,” he said carefully. “Your wife has ingested a highly synthesized black-market hallucinogen. There is no chemical antidote for this specific compound p>