Save Myself from Desperation

Ashley noticed that Joseph and Jaden never seemed to get along. Seeing a chance to mend things, she decided to ask Joseph to pick up Jaden at the airport.

However, Joseph, with his usual calm demeanor, seated with crossed legs.

"What? Pick him up? He's not that important. I'm not going."

Sighing, Ashley conceded, "Alright, then I'll go." She stood up, ready to leave.

Joseph, however, hastily got up and grabbed her. "Well, I can go. You stay here with Valentin, please."

With a satisfied expression, Ashley patted his shoulder. "Good. That's what I want."

Joseph was speechless, feeling like he had fallen into a trap.

Joseph drove to the airport to fetch Jaden, while Ashley waited in the ward.

Glancing at the watch, she found it time to change the dressing on Valentin's wound.

Ashley called the doctor. After the dressing change, the doctor reassured her, "The wound is recovering well with no signs of inflammation. It seems you've been careful when cleaning it. The wound hasn't touched water."

Ashley nodded. "Yes."

The doctor checked Valentin's body and provided some instructions before leaving the room.

Seated beside the bed, Ashley held Valentin's pale, bony hand. She sighed gently, intertwining her pinky with his, expressing tenderness and affection.

After about half an hour, Jaden hadn't shown up at the ward, but the voices of him and Joseph arguing in the corridor could be heard.

Luckily, they were in the hospital corridor, and with the entire eighth floor devoid of other patients, their voices weren't too loud.

Jaden entered the ward, finding Valentin lying unconscious on the bed.

His deep blue eyes widened in shock. "What's going on?"

He now understood why Joseph brought him straight to the hospital from the airport without wasting a second.

'Thought he had some trick up his sleeve, worried he brought me here to steal my kidneys. Turns out, there's a real patient in the hospital,' he thought.

Ashley briefly explained the incident with the falling chandelier.

Jaden, upon listening, immediately looked around nervously to check if

Ashley was injured. 'Good. She seems all right,' he thought.

Jaden then observed Valentin who was still unconscious. He commented in a casual tone, "This guy really cares about you. He'd rather get hurt than see you suffer."

Ashley was silent.

Joseph said, "Can't you use another term? Like your husband or something.

Isn't it much better than 'this guy'?"

Jaden coolly waved his hand. "Used to it. So when will he wake up? Did the doctor say anything?"

Ashley shook her head. "The doctor can't confirm."

Furrowing his brows, Jaden acknowledged the severity of a heavy object hitting the back of the head.

Seeing Ashley's worried expression, he guessed that the most agonizing part was her constant worry, considering Valentin had been unconscious.

They chatted for a while, and Ashley pointed to a nearby chair, suggesting Jaden sit down. "You mentioned on the phone that Jessica wants to sell the shares of the Ramos Group. Is this information reliable?"

'Jessica has used all sorts of schemes to drive me out. Would she be willing to sell the shares? And more importantly...' she pondered.

"Even if Jessica wants to sell secretly, how many shares does she have?" she then asked.

Although Ashley hadn't worked in the company, she knew that the majority of the shares were always held by Evan.

With a brooding look, Jaden patted his chest. "Chill, this info is legit!

"Remember the Ramos Group's clothing brand? Since Jessica snagged some designs, the brand is tanking. She is making moves, trying to offload the brand to a foreign company, way outside Zyrrinthia."

He sipped water and said, "I go by Jaden Walter, but my real last name is Casbutt. I have worked with the acquisition company that Jessica is looking for. The CEO of that company is aware of the family issues. He knows there's tension between the family and Attelia. Oh, and Jessica isn't just selling the clothing brand. She's also secretly selling the Ramos Group shares."

Ashley tuned in. "Oh, got it."

Joseph got all serious, breaking it down. "Jaden, you said Jessica's been doing some sneaky share-selling behind Evan's back. Looks like she is out to grab whatever's left of the Ramos family and leave. She is done with the Ramos family?"

Jaden squinted. "Given Jessica's nasty style, it is totally possible."

Joseph laughed. "It is a real mess between Jessica and the Ramos family.

Evan and Bertha's darling daughter is stabbing them in the back? Do they have any clue? Well, so interesting."

Ashley thought for a bit, then turned to Jaden. "Is Jessica still on the down-low looking for buyers?"

"Yeah, she is keeping it hush-hush, not going public with it." Jaden thought a second and suggested, "Should we get the Zenith Group to hit up Jessica?"NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

"The Zenith Group?" Joseph said.

His eyes popped a bit. "Isn't that a big-shot investment company worldwide?"

The Zenith Group was involved in intricate business operations, primarily focusing on investments. Most folks just saw the Zenith Group as a heavy weight in the investment game.

Jaden glanced at him. "Yep, started the Zenith Group when I was 16. What is the fuss?"

Joseph was shocked.

'What? 16? Wait,' he thought.

Joseph's eyes shifted a bit. "No, my family's branch in Takydo worked with the Zenith Group. I managed that collab myself. I remembered the Zenith Group's rep isn't Jaden. Or are you the puppet master behind the scenes?"

"Of course, I am pulling the strings. I was just 16 back then, and couldn't legally run the show." Jaden pointed at Ashley. "The Zenith

Group almost tanked once, and she tossed in some cash, pulled an all- nighter, and came up with a comeback plan. She ended up being a major shareholder behind the scenes, too."

Joseph couldn't resist teasing, "See, I told you, you are incapable.

Needed her to save the day!"

Jaden retorted, "What are you saying?"

Joseph finally caught on. "Wait. Ashley, you are some secret shareholder in the Zenith Group too?"

Jaden was still stuck on the earlier topic. "Seriously. Am I incapable?

Why?"

Ashley, a bit helpless, touched her forehead. "Alright, you two, cut it out. Jaden, have the company reach out to Jessica."

Since Jessica was plotting to secretly dump the Ramos Group's shares and go head-to-head with the Ramos family, it was a golden opportunity.

'Imagine if Evan and Bertha find out their sweet daughter's plan. Gunning for the family's fortune, huh? Well, their faces would be priceless,' she thought.

This time, Jaden was sticking around Zyrrinthia for a bit, crashing at an apartment Ashley had set up for him.

Two more days ticked by, making it five days since Valentin took that dive into a coma, and he was still out cold.

Ashley was getting more and more on edge. If he didn't wake up in the next couple of days, that was a solid week of deep sleep. And that was gonna be a whole lot of trouble.