Back in his office, Robert was ecstatic. He slammed his fist onto the desk. "Steven, take this blank cheque! Go find Levis and make him agree to this event. He must handle the catering for our royalty celebration this Sunday!"
"Yes, Prince. It will be done," Steven confirmed, taking the signed, open cheque.
In the stark white halls of the hospital, Levis was consumed by financial dread, his mother's critical condition overshadowing all other fears. Suddenly, the corridor filled with the imposing presence of Steven and his ten bodyguards.
"Ah, Mr. Levis Heart," Steven greeted, his voice low and professional.
Levis's heart hammered. What now?
"Please, we are dealing with a personal emergency. We don't have time to speak with you. You must leave us," Stofia said, stepping forward boldly.
Steven gave her a cold, unsettling stare. Nora immediately pulled Stofia back, fear radiating from her.
"Please, Mr. I have nothing to discuss with you. You must leave us alone," Levis said, trying to appear firm.
"I am here on business," Steven stated, producing the chequebook. "You handle catering. Take this blank cheque."
Nora and Stofia gasped.
A blank cheque. Levis's mind raced, a terrifying internal monologue taking over. If I take this business, Bright will definitely find out that Robert love proposal. He'll try to challenge the Mafia Prince, and Robert will hurt Bright. I cannot allow that.
"No! No," Levis said, forcing the words out. I don't want your business and."I don't want your boss's ring! I'll give it back to you. I'll go to the shop and get it now."
"Sir, even if you brought the ring, we cannot accept it," Steven replied, his voice chillingly formal.
"Why not?" Stofia demanded.
"Do you believe that is just a normal piece of jewelry?" Steven asked, his eyes conveying the Stuar family's absolute power. "It is the legacy of the Stuar Family. Only the bearer—the Prince's intended—has the right to touch it. If any of us touched it, the King would execute us. It belongs to you."
Levis was stunned into silence. This is far more serious than a simple proposal.
At that moment, the doctor returned. "Mr. Levis, have you settled the remaining bill for the emergency ward?"
Levis was jolted back to reality. His mother. What choice do I have?
He made his decision instantly, compartmentalizing the danger. This is just business. I will take the money, save my mother, and keep the secret. I won't get involved personally.
"I don't need your blank cheque," Levis announced, regaining his professional composure. "I need the order details: the type of food, the scale, the number of employees required, and the total cost. I will give you a final quote. If you settle the hospital bills now, I will deduct that amount from the total catering fee. If the bill exceeds the quote, I will treat it as a loan and promise to repay you within the month."
"Levis..." Nora began, utterly worried.
"It's alright, Aunt. I have to take this business," Levis insisted.
Steven smiled, a look of grim satisfaction crossing his face. "A fair deal, Mr. Levis Heart. I will settle all bills immediately. I will give you the contract details tomorrow morning." He handed Levis a business card.
Levis stared at the embossed card: Stuar World Group, CEO, Prince Robert Stuar.
"Thank you," Levis whispered.
"The bill is settled," Steven confirmed. "Be ready tomorrow. I need you at the Stuar Group office." Steven left with his bodyguards.
"Are you truly going to handle this?" Stofia asked, her voice full of dread.
"Yes. I have to. My mother's health is the only thing that matters. She is all I have left," Levis said, his eyes tearing up.
"Don't worry. We'll be with you," Nora promised, pulling him into a hug.
"Aunt, please stay here tonight. Stofia, you stay with her. I need to go home, get ready for tomorrow, and clear my head. We will all go to the shop tomorrow after that meeting together," Levis decided. They reluctantly agreed.
The next morning, Nova was in Robert's luxurious dressing room, utterly exhausted from trying to find the perfect outfit for his food review meeting.
"This is the eighty-seventh outfit! My hands are numb!" Nova groaned. "It's just a food review meeting, not a date! Pick something!"
"Mom, I need to look perfect in front of him," Robert said, his tone serious.
"Fine. Wear this one. It's the last choice!" Nova dressed him in rich, dark formal pants and a silk shirt. "Oh, my God! You are breathtaking!"
Robert reached for his suit coat. "The coat, Mom."
"No!" Nova stepped forward and quickly unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
"Mom! What are you doing?" Robert protested.
"Perfect," she declared, stepping back. "Now, your tiger tattoo on your chest is visible. He will be unable to look away! I bet he'll only stare at your chest."
"Mom, I'm shy," Robert mumbled, a rare hint of bashfulness in his eyes.
"Shy? You are my son! Go! Hunt him, chase him, until he falls for you! That is all that matters!" Nova commanded and swept out.
Robert, impeccably dressed and dangerously handsome, headed straight to the Stuar World Group headquarters.
Back at the hospital, Nora was sitting by Stella's bedside. Stofia was cutting fruit nearby.
"Momma, how are you? Look who's here—your son-in-law!" Bright Aro announced, entering cheerfully.
Nora and Stofia gasped.
Bright went straight to Stella, taking her hand gently. "I'm sorry, Momma. I was too busy yesterday. Levis messaged me this morning that you were in the hospital. Where is he now?" Bright asked Nora and Stofia.
Stofia, distracted and worried, slipped up. "Oh, he's already at the Stuar World Group CEO's office."
Nora's eyes widened in horror.
"What?! He's where?! Why?!" Bright shouted, immediately worried.
Stofia stumbled over her words. Nora quickly intervened. "Bright, calm down. Levis is facing a terrible financial crisis for Stella hospitalized. He got a huge catering deal from the Stuar Group, and he went there this morning..."
"No! No, no, no!" Bright was furious. "Why didn't you call me? Am I nothing? Everything I earn is for our future! Can I not even pay my mother-in-law's hospital bill? Am I such an outsider?"
"Bright, stop," Nora pleaded. "Calm down. This is a hospital. You know Levis. He is too self thinking. He has to handle everything himself; he won't drag others into his burden. That is why he takes that business."
"So, I'm just an 'other' to him, then?" Bright snapped, his voice cracking with hurt. "No, no. If he's already at that office, I'm afraid that Mafia Prince will hurt him. I'm going to bring him back!"
Without another word, Bright spun around and charged out of the hospital, heading straight for Robert's office. The race to Levis had begun.