Chapter 133: This isn’t just an eye injury.
Later that night...
Ian spent the entire night reviewing Evelyn’s MRI scans again and again.
Hours slipped by unnoticed. At nearly three in the morning, his eyes suddenly narrowed. His breathing stopped for a moment.
"No..."
He enlarged one of the scans and stared at it. "This isn’t just an eye injury."
His fingers traced the image on the screen. The optic nerve wasn’t irreversibly damaged. It was being compressed.
Swelling around the optic canal was putting pressure on the nerve.
His pulse quickened. "If we relieve the pressure, her chances will be much higher."
A smile slowly spread across his face. Relief flooded through him.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"Eve..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "All these years, I chose my career over you. I won’t make the same mistake again."
His fingers tightened around the MRI film. "I’ll help you see the world again."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Ian went straight to the ophthalmologist’s office the moment he arrived at the hospital.
"I reviewed Evelyn’s scans," he said without bothering with pleasantries.
He laid the MRI films across the desk and pointed to a specific area. "Look here."
The ophthalmologist leaned closer.
Ian circled the optic canal with a marker. "The swelling is compressing the optic nerve. The nerve itself hasn’t suffered irreversible damage."
The doctor’s brows furrowed as he studied the images.
Ian continued calmly, "If we perform optic nerve decompression and relieve the pressure, her prognosis improves dramatically."
"How much?" the doctor asked.
"I’d estimate her chances of meaningful visual recovery could increase from around fifty percent to eighty or even ninety percent."
The room fell silent.
The ophthalmologist stared at the scans for a long moment before slowly shaking his head.
"How did we overlook this?"
He looked up at Ian, guilt flashing in his eyes.
Ian gave a faint smile. "Everyone was focused on the eye." He tapped the MRI. "But the real problem is here."
The doctor nodded slowly, his eyes filled with admiration.
Ian met his gaze. "I want to join the surgical team."
The doctor remained silent for several seconds before replying, "That decision will require the director’s approval."
Ian nodded. "I’ll speak with him immediately and discuss the case."
The doctor hesitated. "There is something else."
Ian looked at him.
"As you know, surgeons generally avoid operating on close family members. Emotional involvement can affect judgment."
He paused before continuing. "I have complete confidence in your surgical skills. But I still have to ask... Are you certain you want to do this?"
Ian lowered his gaze to Evelyn’s scans. For a long moment, he said nothing.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but unwavering. "I’ve spent years saving strangers while neglecting the person who needed me most."
He gently closed the file. "I won’t abandon her again."
The ophthalmologist smiled warmly. "I’ll recommend you as co-lead surgeon for the procedure."
Ian let out a sigh of relief.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Noah sat inside Orion Holdings’ luxurious conference room, waiting for the company’s CEO. He glanced at his watch for what felt like the tenth time.
Thirty minutes had already passed. No one had shown up.
His patience was wearing thin. He loosened his tie with an irritated sigh.
"Keeping a guest waiting for half an hour," he muttered. "This is beyond disrespectful."
His assistant lowered his voice. "Please be patient, sir. This partnership is extremely important. Mr. Kane will be here shortly."
Noah inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.
His father had entrusted him with this deal. He couldn’t afford to lose another opportunity.
"Fine." He leaned back. "I’ll wait another fifteen minutes."
A few minutes later, the conference room door finally opened.
A middle-aged man walked in with measured steps. His neatly combed salt-and-pepper hair and composed smile gave him the appearance of a refined gentleman.
It was Victor Kane.
Noah and his assistant rose to greet him.
"Mr. Sinclair," Victor smiled apologetically. "My sincerest apologies for keeping you waiting. Another meeting ran longer than expected."
Of course, that wasn’t the truth. He had deliberately arrived late. He wanted to see just how desperate Noah had become.
Noah offered a polite smile. "At least I discovered how much patience I still have."
Victor chuckled. "I appreciate your understanding."
Everyone took their seats.
Victor opened an elegant cigar case and offered one across the table.
Noah declined with a slight shake of his head. "Let’s get straight to business."
Victor nodded. "I prefer that as well."
Noah folded his hands on the table. "There is something I don’t understand."
He looked directly into Victor’s eyes. "Most companies have cut ties with Sinclair Group. Yet Orion Holdings wants to work with us."
His gaze sharpened. "What exactly do you want?"
Victor slowly lit a cigar. He inhaled before releasing a thin stream of smoke into the air. His narrowed eyes studied Noah carefully.
"My reason is simple." He smiled faintly. "I need an ally against Elias Rowan."
Silence filled the room.
Noah’s expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
Victor calmly rested his elbow on the armrest. "The Rowans have been my enemies for years." His voice was quiet, yet filled with unmistakable hostility. "I intend to bring them down."
His gaze locked onto Noah. "And you are the perfect partner. You hate Elias. You also want the same."
Victor leaned forward slowly. "Once he is destroyed, you’ll have Elena back."
Noah’s assistant was tense in his seat. He glanced at his boss, visibly flustered.
Noah’s expression remained unreadable. "What exactly do you expect me to do?"
Victor smiled. "Simple. Start targeting Novacrest Global. I’ll provide everything you need – Novacrest Global’s suppliers, major clients, logistics partners, and several key business relationships. Whatever resources you require, I will provide them."
His gaze darkened as his voice became colder. "Together we’ll destroy the Rowan business empire."
Noah quietly studied Victor. He immediately realized what the man was doing.
Victor wanted him to stand at the front while Orion Holdings remained hidden in the shadows. If anything went wrong, Sinclair Group would become the first target.
"Why should I go after Novacrest Global?" Noah asked calmly. "The Rowans are one of the most powerful families in the country. If I challenge them openly, Sinclair Group will be crushed."
His voice remained steady. "What possible benefit would I gain?"
Victor’s smile faded for a brief second. He hadn’t expected Noah to stay so composed. He stubbed out the cigar and folded his hands.
"You are right. The Rowans are powerful. But you won’t be fighting them alone."
He smiled again. "I already have another partner. We’ve worked together for years."
His eyes gleamed with confidence. "We won’t wage war openly. We’ll dismantle them piece by piece, quietly from the shadows."
Noah narrowed his eyes. "Who is your other partner?"
Victor didn’t reveal the name yet. "You’ll know after you agree to work with me."
Noah remained silent.
Victor seized the opportunity to press further. "Elias Rowan isn’t invincible. If we join forces, we can surpass the Rowans. Once they are gone, we will dominate the business world."
He leaned back comfortably. "And you’ll finally get the woman you love."
Those last words lingered in Noah’s mind.
Elena.
His heart tightened. His company was already facing losses. One wrong decision could destroy everything. Yet, the possibility of getting Elena back was incredibly tempting.
After a long silence, Noah finally spoke, "I need time."
Victor smiled knowingly. "Of course. I’ll be waiting for your answer."
He slowly stood up. "I expect your call tomorrow."
He stretched his hand toward him.
Noah didn’t reply. He simply gave a curt nod before standing up and shaking hands with him.