Chapter 158: Murder Attempt

Words : 1514 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 158: Murder Attempt "Doctor Finn, what is this?" Athena started when Finn entered the ward, pointing at the drip she had deftly stopped administering to Ewan. "Why is there an overdose of digoxin administered to Mr. Ewan? And why are there traces of succinycholine in the drip?" Finn looked as confused as the other males in the room, who didn’t know the drugs Athena was talking about but realized from the scowl on her face that a mixture of the two was not exactly good news. Yet Finn was now the center of attention because he recognized the drugs Athena referred to. "That cannot be possible," He uttered vehemently, walking up to the bed and picking up the drip bag positioned near Ewan, who was oblivious to his surroundings. Athena waited, though impatient, her face still scowling, as Finn’s eyes scanned the drip bag slowly. Meanwhile, Finn couldn’t fathom how Athena had discovered that there was succinycholine in the drip. The liquid was colorless, for goodness’ sake! Just who was this woman? "I don’t know how this happened. I was sure I only put digoxin as medicine. I honestly can’t tell how this mistake occurred. Maybe it’s from the company in charge?" Athena pressed her lips together as she observed the earnestness in Finn’s face. He didn’t seem to be lying, but it didn’t ease her unease; she knew the company was trustworthy. She had also seen the needle scar on the drip bag. Someone had injected succinycholine into the standard drip to either paralyze or kill Ewan. But why? Who was after Ewan’s life? She looked at the male on the bed, who appeared near death, and inhaled deeply. It seemed he had become a target as well. This meant she had to manage his treatment alone; she couldn’t trust anyone. "You can go, Finn. It’s okay. Hopefully, we can salvage the situation." But Finn hesitated. "I’m truly sorry, ma’am. I really am. I could have killed a patient..." His face contorted with pain, and his familiar eyes brimmed with tears. Although Athena knew of Finn’s innocent demeanor, she didn’t quite know how to handle an overemotional man, so she remained professional. "It’s okay, Doctor Finn. Have you gotten the results?" Finn immediately backtracked on his feelings before giving Athena the file in his hands. He had assumed she was seeking him for the test results at first. Athena took the test results and bid him goodbye. "Thank you, Finn. About the company, I will send a letter of complaint to them. You can take care of the other patients on your list. I will take care of Mr. Ewan." Finn nodded, tilted his head in a curt bow, and left the ward. "Do you think he is telling the truth?" Sandro asked, speaking up for the first time since Athena walked into the ward. Athena paused, then shrugged her shoulders."To be honest, I am not sure. I don’t know why he would give Ewan a higher dosage and a strange drug altogether. It doesn’t make sense; it doesn’t add up. He is the most competent hire that Herbert sent for me." She darted a glance at Zane as she mentioned his father. Sandro exhaled harshly and returned to his seat, bowing his head into his hands thereafter. "So what are we going to do? Since this place isn’t safe?" He continued after a few beats. "I will treat him at a secure location. I just have to get in touch with Aiden." As Athena spoke, she typed a message and sent it to Aiden, resolving to show her appreciation for troubling him so much since his return. "Thank you for this, Athena. I really appreciate it. I’m sure Ewan would feel the same." Athena waved away Sandro’s appreciation. "It was part of the deal too, remember? Don’t worry; he will survive." She would make sure of it. Athena vowed silently. How dare they try to poison her patient? Did they not have regard for her practice? She deftly opened the file in her hand and pulled out the test results. Her eyebrows furrowed again as she tried to make sense of the findings. What is this? She wondered, reading over the file once more. Just a mere food poisoning? Was Finn’s head not in his work today? Did something happen that was messing with his mind? How could he run a test on Ewan’s blood and only conclude with a mere food poisoning diagnosis, recommending a drug that would worsen Ewan’s situation? She thought about calling Finn again, this time with the lab scientist, but changed her mind. If she kept asking, it would give a heads-up to whoever was playing this dangerous game. It was better to stay quiet for now. "The result is wrong too?" Athena looked at Antonio’s deep-set, beautiful eyes, which were intensely focused on her. Of course he would notice, even when she tried to keep a neutral expression. "Yeah. But it’s okay. It’s probably a reaction to the drug. Aiden will soon be here. We will be transporting Ewan to a safe location." This time, she was looking at Zane and Sandro. "Where is that?" Sandro asked, getting to his feet. Athena shook her head. "I can’t say, but I can assure you he will be adequately taken care of. You just have to trust me, Sandro." "I trust you, Athena. I have always trusted you, despite everything," Sandro declared without the slightest hesitation. Athena nodded, pleased with this. "But you all have to wait until Aiden is here. Aiden might be strong, but he is no commando..." Her effort to lighten the atmosphere worked as the males in the room chuckled, even though the tension still lingered in the air. Fifteen minutes later, Ewan was well secured in the back of a black van. Athena didn’t know where Aiden had gotten the vehicle in such short notice, but she was very grateful. "Thanks, Aiden..." Aiden’s response was to ruffle her hair. This time, Athena made no attempt to push it away; she allowed the calming effect of such an act to wash over her, soothing the panic that threatened to build up within her when she glanced at Ewan. "So, I will see you guys later?" She spoke to Zane and Sandro thereafter. "Sure. Send us word when you are ready to accept visitors," Zane said, waving to her before they got into Sandro’s car. When they zoomed off, Athena turned to Antonio. "Don’t tell me to leave. As I said before, I will follow you anywhere. I would be like your shadow now." Once again, Athena had no comeback. Instead, she turned aside and entered the van. Antonio joined her immediately, ignoring Aiden’s short, questioning glance at Athena when he shut the door after him. Meanwhile, at the cottage where Old Mr. Thorne’s men had kept Alfonso and Fiona in, Alfonso was conflicted—confused and, at times, surprised by their circumstances. He had expected a dirty cottage, a torture chamber disguised as a cottage, or a place where he would be locked in without food and water, but the opposite was true. The cottage was surprisingly neat, even resembling a vacation home. There was enough food and freedom to move around the house. The only downside was the many guards stationed outside and the cameras located in almost every area of the house, creating a sense of discomfort that pervaded the space. It was as if they were prepared not to be outwitted by either him or his daughter, or even Morgan, if the kind of weapons he had seen in a van outside was any indication. It was safe to say they were trapped until the shareholders’ meeting. "Dad, what do you think about this reception? They even let us keep our phones. They are not afraid of me contacting Morgan or what..." Fiona started, her surprise evident as she watched a maid roll a trolley filled with food, snacks, and drinks into the center room where they were currently situated. Alfonso didn’t say a word until the maid left the room, keeping his guard up. "I don’t know, Fiona. It’s possible that this room is wired too, so they can hear us speak." Fiona exhaled harshly. "So, we are in a beautiful prison?" Alfonso clicked his tongue, frustration creeping into his voice. "At least it’s better than the dark cells, or the hot cell Thorne wanted to put you in." Fiona nodded in agreement, catching the somber reality of their situation. Since the room might be wired, she picked up her phone and sent a text to her father. "How are we escaping this hole in front of us? As much as I had wanted the psychiatric sentence, it’s no longer appealing. I need freedom. How do we get it?" Alfonso replied in his text with one word after carefully checking the message: "Morgan." __________________ A/N: 1. Digoxin—a drug used to treat heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Controls heart rate. 2. succinycholine—a skeletal muscle relaxant. Can cause paralysis when abused.

Chapter 158: Murder Attempt

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