Chapter 382

A sudden thought struck him. After his hospital discharge, he’d been on medication and recovering. But since Joshua assumed his treatment, his health had deteriorated. Panic flushed his face; cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His voice trembled as he pleaded, “Caden, the pills… are they real? They must be! Give me the real pills now!”

Caden sneered down at Jerald. “I gave you a chance, but you took it for granted.”

Jerald’s body, weakened by years of abuse and despair, couldn’t withstand the pain. The realization that his medication was fake sent a sharp headache lancing through him. Fear overwhelmed him, draining his remaining strength. He collapsed, seemingly kneeling before Caden. “Caden… please, give me the pills…” he begged.

Caden remained unmoved. Jerald’s face turned a dark purple as he clutched his chest, his body trembling violently. Through clenched teeth, he spat, “You brat! I said, give me the damn pills! Didn’t you hear me?”

Caden kicked him aside, his shoe scraping Jerald’s face as he walked away. “Take it easy, old man. This won’t kill you.” To Caden, this was merely a minor setback. Living in pain was Jerald’s deserved fate.

A chilling wind swept away the last warmth. Caden turned and left. Jerald howled, “Caden, you bastard!” But realizing threats were futile, fear consumed him. His pride shattered, he began crawling. “Caden, my dear son… Please… Just give me the pills. You have to save me. I’m still your father! I’m begging you… Please…”

Despite his desperate pleas, Caden didn’t look back. Bodyguards stepped forward, seizing Jerald and tossing him onto the pavement. Caden continued walking, disappearing beyond the gate.

Jerald refused to surrender. He wouldn’t die there. Not like this. Despite his battered, weak body, he forced himself to crawl towards the road. He needed a cab, to get to the hospital. A doctor, he believed, could save him. His money could buy anything—even his life.

But the pain distorted his vision, blurring reality. He mistook the busy street for an empty space and staggered forward. A speeding car appeared, striking him with a sickening thud. The sound of metal on flesh filled the air as his body was flung like a ragdoll.

News of the accident reached Caden quickly. Without emotion, he asked, “Is he dead?”

“Probably not. The ambulance took him to the hospital,” came the reply.

Jerald’s luck hadn’t entirely run out. His spine was shattered, but he clung to life. After a grueling night of emergency surgery, he survived, though paralyzed and with half his brain damaged—a hollow shell of his former self.