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Chapter 434
Chapter 434:
The force of the impact, combined with the wind cutting through the open door, was just enough. The single crumpled sheet slipped free from the heavy folders, caught a sharp gust, and fluttered out into the night air. It danced over the dark asphalt before settling into a puddle of dirty water in the gutter near the curb.
Cole slammed the door shut. He didn’t notice a thing.
He walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and sped away into the night — carrying his guilt with him, but leaving his greatest sin behind on the pavement.
Ten minutes later, a sleek silver Aston Martin pulled up to the exact same curb.
Julian stepped out of the driver’s seat. He had just left a private club a few blocks away and was heading up to see Crawford.
As he closed his door, the orange glow of the streetlamp caught a flash of white paper lying in the gutter.
Julian paused and looked down. Curiosity got the better of him. He crouched, picked up the paper, and brushed a smudge of dirt from the corner.
His eyes moved to the top of the page. He saw the red confidential stamp. He saw the New York-Presbyterian logo.
Then his eyes locked onto the patient name.
June Erickson.
Julian’s brow furrowed. He opened the folded page and read the short, brutal diagnostic conclusion.
T𝗿en𝗱іn𝘨 ոо𝘃е𝗅s 𝘰𝗻
His breath caught. He went completely still, staring at the paper as though it had burst into flames in his hands.
He finally understood. He understood the permanent, shattered quality in June’s eyes. He understood why she was so fiercely guarded, so completely sealed off from the world.
Julian rose slowly. He looked down the empty avenue where Cole’s car had vanished into the dark.
His grip on the paper tightened.
The entire dynamic of the war had just shifted.
The top-floor office of the Love Group headquarters was bathed in harsh, artificial light.
Crawford sat behind his massive mahogany desk, reviewing a follow-up investigation report on the Boston fake drug ring. His face was a mask of cold, predatory focus. But beneath the surface, his blood was still boiling — he hadn’t recovered from the suffocating jealousy of watching June and Brogan work so closely together at Apex Bio.
A sharp knock at the heavy oak door broke his concentration.
His secretary’s voice came through the intercom. “Mr. Love, Julian is here p>
Crawford frowned slightly and pressed the button. “Send him in p>
The door opened. Julian walked in without his usual arrogant smirk. His face was grim. He crossed directly to the desk without a word and slammed a dirty, crumpled piece of paper onto the polished wood.
Crawford leaned back in his chair. He looked at the paper, then up at Julian, his gray eyes narrowing with irritation.
“What is this?” Crawford demanded.
“Read it,” Julian said. His voice sounded exhausted. “And when you’re done, I want you to understand what you’re really fighting. Cole is past the point of reason. You need to know what you’re fighting for — and what you’ll never get p>
Crawford’s irritation sharpened into genuine confusion. He leaned forward and picked up the paper.
He saw the name. June Erickson.
His heart struck one hard beat.