CHAPTER 314: CHAOS AT THE OFFICE

At the hospital...

Anne sat close to the bed, her fingers laced tightly around Augustine’s, her eyes firmly set on his face.

"It’s been a week," she whispered. "How long are you planning to sleep like this? Wake up... talk to me, please."

She searched his face, desperate for any sign—a twitch in his eyebrows, a shift in his breathing, anything. But he lay perfectly still, which made her ache. The tears she had been holding back spilled over, streaking down her cheeks.

"The company is in chaos," she added, forcing the words out between shaky breaths. "The board is already planning to appoint a new president. They are voting next week."

She choked with emotion. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she continued, "You have to wake up before then."

Her gaze stayed fixed on him, waiting, hoping. But he remained still.

"Are you even hearing me?" she exclaimed in desperation, her voice trembling as fresh tears welled up. "Do you know what the Beaumonts are doing? They are trying to take over Starlite Corp., and they are even going after the Sphere Group’s branch office."

Her grip on his hand tightened. "I’m trying to fight them. But I can’t do this without you. I need you. Please..." Her voice cracked completely. "Please wake up."

The fear, frustration, and helplessness broke her composure. She lowered her head, her shoulders shaking as she wept.

Augustine’s jaw tightened and then released, but Anne didn’t notice. "Last night... I felt the baby move for the first time." She tried to smile through her tears. "It was... incredible. But you weren’t there with me."

Beneath the thin hospital blanket, his back went rigid for a moment.

"Don’t you miss the baby? Don’t you want to feel him?" She took his limp hand and guided it over the gentle swell of her stomach. "The baby needs you. I need you. Please... wake up."

His fingers moved just for a fraction of a moment. But it was enough for her to feel. She froze, her eyes widening.

"You moved," she cried, hope sparking in her eyes. "You heard me, didn’t you? You can hear me."

Wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, she stood quickly and leaned over him, tapping his cheek. "Wake up, Augustine." Her voice was urgent now. "Please... look at me."

But nothing happened. He lay there exactly as before, his face still. It was as if he hadn’t moved his fingers just a while ago.

Her chest tightened. The flicker of hope she had felt only seconds ago dimmed. The heavy ache of disappointment returned. She pressed the call bell with a shaky hand.

A nurse came in a moment later.

"Call the doctor," Anne said quickly. "He moved his hand just now."

"Oh—yes, I’ll get the doctor," the nurse replied before hurrying out.

Anne turned back to Augustine. He hadn’t moved again. The hope drained from her completely, leaving her feeling cold and small. Tears blurred her vision.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she complained. "Don’t you love me anymore? How can you leave me alone now... when I need you the most?"

She sank back into the chair, her body curling in on itself as sobs shook her.

The door clicked open, and the doctor stepped in.

Anne’s head snapped up at him. "Doctor, he just moved his fingers." She rose to her feet, giving him room.

The doctor leaned over Augustine, his expression unreadable as he checked his vitals and examined him. Finally, he turned to her with a grim face. "Mrs. Bennet, could you wait outside? I need to examine him properly."

The seriousness in his voice made her chest tighten. "Why? What’s wrong? Is he—" Her words tumbled over each other. "Is he waking up?"

"Please," he said, gesturing toward the door. "Let me do my job."

Anne hesitated, then nodded. With one last look at Augustine, she stepped out.

As the door closed behind her, the doctor exhaled and shook his head, his shoulders easing. "You can open your eyes now."

Augustine lifted his eyelids slowly. He turned his head toward the closed door. A shadow passed over his face.

He had wanted nothing more than to pull Anne into his arms, to tell her he had heard every word. But he had forced himself to stay still, to let her believe he was still in the coma.

He had been unconscious for over forty-eight hours following the surgery. When he finally woke, he learned his enemies were after his life. Some had even managed to get into the hospital, waiting for the right moment to strike. Fortunately, his guards had stayed alert and uncovered the plot before it could be carried out.

To keep them from making another attempt to kill him, he devised a plan. He would continue to feign being in a coma for the time being, to flush out the threat before it could strike again.

But when he heard Anne speak about feeling the baby move for the first time, something inside him had cracked, and his composure slipped.

He had felt the pull, the need to reach for her, to share that moment. His fingers had moved instinctively, and she had noticed instantly.

Now, she was probably standing outside with hope in her heart. And he... he wasn’t ready yet to reveal the truth, not before he eliminated the threats.

"Don’t give her false hope," Augustine said sternly. "I still have things to take care of. It’s not the time for her to know the truth."

The doctor studied him for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "Understood." With that, he turned and left the room.

Augustine’s gaze stayed on the door. He strained his ears, listening for Anne’s voice.

"How is he? Is he waking up?" Anne asked with curiosity.

"Sometimes, coma patients will move a finger or flutter their eyelids. It doesn’t always mean they are waking up. But... you don’t need to lose hope. We’ll take him for some tests. Once I have the results, I’ll be able to give you a clearer answer. For now, you’ll need to be patient."

Anne felt the words hit her like a weight. The little strength she had been holding on to seemed to drain away all at once. Her knees went weak, and she sank heavily into the nearest chair.

"Mrs. Bennet," the doctor said gently, "he can still hear you. Talking to him might help. Your voice might be what brings him back."

Her head snapped up. The memory came rushing back. Her father’s doctor had once told her the same thing. She had spoken to her father every day while he had been in a coma, and in time, he had opened his eyes.

"Thank you," she said, a flicker of gratitude and determination returning to her voice.

The doctor gave her a half smile. "The nurses will be here shortly to take him for the tests."

As the doctor’s footsteps faded down the hallway, Anne slipped back into the room. Augustine lay where she had left him—still, silent, his chest rising and falling steadily. She quickly brushed away the damp streaks on her cheeks, forcing a smile as she moved to his side.

She took his hand in hers. "The doctor told me to talk to you... said you can hear me." She nodded. "Alright, I’ll talk. But you have to promise me you’ll wake up soon."

Her lips quivered. "I miss you so much," she whispered, the words catching on the edge of her breath.

Augustine’s heart ached. Every instinct screamed at him to open his eyes, to sit up and gather her into his arms, but he forced himself to stay still. His enemies hadn’t just come for him. They had set their sights on Anne as well.

She couldn’t know. Not yet. Keeping her in the dark was the only way to keep her safe.

’It will be over soon,’ he told himself. ’We’ll be together again. Just a little more patience.’

Two nurses entered in the meantime. "We need to take him for the tests," one of them said briskly.

Within minutes, they wheeled him out.

Anne lowered herself onto the sofa, her shoulders sagging. "I wish you’d wake up soon."

The door swung open again, pulling her gaze upward. Dimitri stepped inside.

"Grandpa!" Anne was on her feet in an instant, surprised, hurrying toward him.

Dimitri looked as though the last few days had aged him by years. He looked weaker. His cane trembled in his grip, his back bowed. Seeing him like that sent a pang of worry through her chest.

"Why did you come all the way here?" She slipped her arm under his to steady him and guided him to the sofa, lowering him down with care. "You are getting weaker—you should be resting, not exhausting yourself like this."

"I wanted to see Augustine," he murmured. "Where is he?"

"The doctor has taken him for some more tests," she replied, forcing a small smile to her lips. "The good thing is... he moved his hand today. The doctor says he can hear us. Talking to him might help bring him back."

"Really?" Dimitri asked hopefully, a faint smile breaking through the weariness on his face. It was as if the strength seeped back into him.

"Yes, Grandpa." Anne squeezed his hands reassuringly. "He is going to wake up soon. I know it."

Jeanne’s voice cut into the moment. "What are you talking about? Is Augustine waking up?"

Anne opened her mouth, but Dimitri spoke first.

"No. He is still in a coma. No sign of waking up," he said flatly.

Anne blinked at him, startled by the sudden shift. Her gaze flicked between his grim expression and Jeanne’s curious face.

Why was he lying? The suspicion settled heavily in her chest.

It was obvious he didn’t want Jeanne to know about Augustine’s improvement. But why? Did he suspect Gabriel and Denis were involved in the accident? Could they really have been behind it?

Anne’s eyes moved up to Jeanne, searching her expression for answers.