CHAPTER 514: CHAPTER 514: EXPLANATION

"Grandmother, I’m fine."

Leon Keane reassured the elderly lady while glancing at Derrick Stern as if to ask him how the news had reached the Dowager Kane abroad.

Derrick shook his head rapidly; he didn’t know about this!

He swore, besides Secretary Sullivan, no one else had been told about President Kane’s injury.

Su... Secretary.

Could it be her...?

Derrick’s emotions became complicated, and he looked at the girl beside him, whispering, "Was it you who spread the news about President Kane being in the hospital?"

"I didn’t."

After Derrick called her and asked her not to tell anyone, she hadn’t said a word to anybody.

Secretary Sullivan glanced anxiously at Derrick, knowing she hadn’t revealed anything, yet it was a hard fact that Julia Sinclair and the Dowager Kane had arrived at the hospital, making it difficult for anyone to believe her?

Secretary Sullivan was so anxious that tears nearly spilled from her eyes, yearning for Derrick not to misunderstand her.

Derrick held her hand, and with a heart aching for her, he said, "If you say you didn’t, then you definitely didn’t. Don’t worry, I believe you."

"Hmph."

Julia Sinclair had somehow fixed her gaze on Derrick and Secretary Sullivan. With such a big incident occurring to Leon, Derrick had actually instructed the secretary to keep it from her? What use was someone like that by Leon’s side?

Secretary Sullivan was startled by Julia’s stern glare, quickly withdrawing her hand and lowering her head like a child who had done something wrong.

"Fine?" The Dowager Kane’s trembling fingers gently rested beside Leon’s burnt cheek, "With such a large burn on your face, you call that fine?"

"Really, it’s nothing, Grandma. During military training in the past, the sun was so harsh that my whole face was nearly peeling off, and didn’t it recover after summer?"

"Besides, right now it’s just a bit of peeling on my face. After the scab falls off, it’ll be back to its handsome self."

The Dowager Kane cried and laughed, feeling very distressed, "You child, always trying to make Grandma happy."

"Grandma, I’m not making you happy. I’m telling the truth," Leon continued, "Actually, this time I encountered danger because someone was deliberately targeting me, and I nearly lost my life..."

"Don’t talk nonsense."

The Dowager Kane’s expression hardened, interrupting him sternly.

"Grandma, don’t worry, didn’t I come out fine?" Leon smiled and said, "All thanks to Ivana. When the guns were blazing at me, it was Ivana who pushed me aside, and she diverted the assailants, allowing Derrick to drive us away."

"Is that so?"

"Grandmother can ask Derrick, just how dangerous the situation was back then?"

"Yes, Dowager. It was really dangerous at that moment. My leg was shot, and I thought my life was about to end. It was the young madam who thought quickly and risked her life to save us. That’s why President Keane and I got a chance to survive."

Derrick wiped away a couple of tears with his hand, looking gratefully at Ivana, "Young madam, your immense kindness will forever be remembered by Derrick. I owe you, and in the next life, I will repay by being at your service."

Leon gave Derrick a look of appreciation, indicating a well-done performance, almost guaranteeing a raise next month.

Secretary Sullivan listened, frightened. Upon arriving at the hospital and seeing Derrick’s injured leg, she was worried, but she hadn’t known the situation was so severe. Derrick had downplayed it, saying he was fine without revealing the truth.

Secretary Sullivan’s eyes reddened, overwhelmed with gratitude for Ivana, "Young madam, thank you for saving Derrick."

Derrick was too insincere; she’d be dedicated to serving the young madam in this life.

Secretary Sullivan decided, after leaving President Keane’s ward, she’d tell Derrick that he too must be devoted to the young madam for life, as the young madam had saved his life.

"No," Julia Sinclair was agitated, "That’s not how it is. The village chief already told me that Leon was severely burned all over because he went to save Ivana."

"Mom, look at Leon’s body under the blanket. Isn’t it pitiful and unbearable? All thanks to Ivana."

"Derrick, if I tell the truth, don’t force me to call the village chief right now to confront you."

Julia Sinclair was about to explode with anger.

How much did Ivana bribe Derrick? He dared to swallow his conscience and help cover for Ivana?

The Dowager Kane’s cloudy eyes suddenly flashed a sharp light, sweeping over Ivana and fixing on Derrick.

Leon frowned, saying nothing.

Derrick was taken aback. Mrs. Sinclair was truly resourceful, contacting the village chief—who was it who informed her?

Derrick suddenly remembered something: Before going there, President Keane had asked him to book flight tickets, and several senior executives in the company knew about it; they even asked where specifically President Keane was going.

Although Derrick hadn’t mentioned it, he’d leaked that it was to send a child home.

If Mrs. Sinclair wanted to investigate, she would easily find out.

Derrick was filled with regret and anger, berating himself for mentioning anything, knowing full well those senior executives were just sycophants of Mrs. Sinclair.

"That’s right, President Keane saved the young madam, but we can’t say President Keane was burned all over solely because of saving her?" Derrick said, "Back then, the house President Keane and the young madam were staying in caught fire, and the wooden door was burning red too. President Keane had to break through the door to save himself; otherwise, both would have perished inside!"

"Later, President Keane collapsed on the ground like a fireman, and everyone was astonished. It was only when the young madam rushed out and shouted that the village chief and villagers threw water over President Keane."

"From then on, the young madam held the barely-conscious President Keane in her arms in the car, instructing me to go to the nearest hospital, encouraging President Keane along the way, helping him endure."

"Unexpectedly, halfway there, we encountered assailants who hadn’t given up. Bullets pierced the car tires, and while I was changing the tire, the assailants shot me in the leg. It was because the young madam bravely disregarded the danger, using her intelligence and courage, that she saved me and President Keane!"

Julia Sinclair glared at Derrick, who had wanted him to narrate every detail so clearly?

Besides, everything was Ivana’s doing. If it weren’t for Ivana meddling by saving those kids, acting all righteous by sending them home, her son wouldn’t have been targeted by assailants, would he? Would he be in this miserable state?

This was all Ivana’s fault.

"Derrick, how much did Ivana give you? That you’d defend her like this? Leon was fine in Ravenswood, and if it weren’t for Ivana’s meddling, he wouldn’t have gone to such a remote place, wouldn’t have been so severely injured."

"This isn’t Ivana’s fault; what’s meant to happen will happen. You can escape for a while, but not forever."

Leon’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint.

Julia Sinclair, if you dare to harm my wife, I will no longer hold back against you.

Ivana calmly stood there, having said nothing from beginning to end. Julia had a prejudice against her; anything she said would be wrong, so it was better to say nothing at all.

"Leon, even if you protect her this time, it’s no use. This meddlesome woman is of no help to your career; she’ll only continuously cause trouble, threatening your life. I want her permanently out of the Kane family."