Chapter 4 His Grandfather Fainted

With the support of his daughter-in-law, Jarrod Hayes, the patriarch of the family, limped over with a cane. He fixed his eyes on Brennan and said resolutely, “You can’t do that to Freya.”

“A shameless woman like her will only bring us shame. Why should I keep her in this family?” Brennan was adamant.

"You misunderstood her. I was the one who spiked her drink, hoping she could have your child. She had no idea about it." Jarrod hurriedly explained.

"I don't care what deal you made with her. I won't be with a woman of unknown origin," Brennan said nonchalantly.

His words made Jarrod seethe. "You are always being so stubborn; that's why you've offended countless people. You don't even know who caused this accident. You're really..."

He coughed, realizing he was close to losing his temper as well.

Sylvie Haye, Brennan’s stepmother strode up to Jarrod's side, her hand grasping his arm in an attempt to ease his labored breathing.

Jarrod's face turned a deep shade of crimson, his breaths becoming ragged until he passed out.

Sylvie's fury surged. She turned to Brennan and scolded, "Stop being so stubborn! You know his blood pressure is dangerously high. You can't keep acting like this around him."

Brennan didn't budge. Instead, he gestured to the butler and ordered in a commanding tone, "Summon the doctor!"

His word was law in this family, and the servants scurried to obey his orders.

Sylvie's eyes glinted with animosity as if she were trying to incinerate Brennan with the intensity of her gaze. She had been his stepmother for years, but she never expected him to still hold such a contemptuous attitude towards her.

As Jarrod struggled for breath, the tension in the room rose to a fever pitch. Everyone present was on edge, unsure of what to do and afraid of making things worse.

Freya, however, was not one to stand by helplessly. She furrowed her brows and asked urgently, "How long until the doctor arrives?"

The butler hesitated for a moment before answering, "Around seven minutes by car."

Freya shook her head in frustration. "That's too slow. We can't wait that long!"

With that, she marched forward and reached for Jarrod's body.

But Brennan intercepted her, grabbing her wrist with a tight grip. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Treat him." Though Freya was afraid of Brennan, she didn't back down. "It's not just high blood pressure. He's suffocating like there's something blocking his trachea. He needs immediate attention."

Brennan was still skeptical. "The private doctor will determine the true cause," he insisted.

"He's in a critical state now. If we wait for the doctor, it might be too late. We need to act fast!"

With her eyes icy and her voice exuding confidence, Freya remained calm and collected.

After a tense silence, Brennan finally released his grip, allowing Freya to check Jarrod's pupils.

To her dismay, she noticed a slight dilation, confirming her suspicions.

Conducting a brief examination, Freya soon discovered that Jarrod's trachea was obstructed by a wad of phlegm. With a sense of urgency, she gave orders to the panicked onlookers.

"Leave him on the couch. Is there anyone with strong hands? Press firmly from his abdomen up to his chest. Get the blood pressure monitor ready and bring a glass of warm water immediately!"

Her cool demeanor and quick thinking instilled a sense of hope in those around her, who began to follow her instructions to the letter.

Brennan watched as Freya remained squatting, her focus unwavering, as the minutes ticked by.

He struggled to sort through the complex emotions stirring in him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jarrod's eyes flickered open, and he coughed up a gob of phlegm.

Brennan let out a long breath and signaled to the butler to cancel the doctor's visit.

"What happened just now?" Jarrod croaked, taking a few sips of water.

Sylvie answered, "You passed out. It was Freya who saved you, working tirelessly to revive you."

Surprised by Sylvie's unexpected praise, Freya quickly demurred, "I just performed some basic first aid. But to be safe, I suggest you go to the hospital for a check-up."

As Jarrod gazed at her, his fondness for her grew. "You're a good girl. Thank you for your help tonight. You'll always be part of the Hayes family. No one can ever drive you away."

With a fierce look, Jarrod fixed his gaze on Brennan, who remained silent and his expression unreadable.

He knew better than to argue with his grandfather when he was in such a state of mind.

Maybe having Freya around could potentially bring a chance to investigate her true intentions. If she was a spy, this would be the perfect opportunity to figure out who sent her and why she was so keen on marrying him.

Jarrod's voice grew more earnest as he addressed Brennan. "We have worked hard to get to where the Hayes family is today, and as the leader of Asiope Group, you need to be careful in all aspects. Especially when it comes to marriage, you can't take it lightly."

"I understand." Brennan gave a curt nod, his tone icy as he responded.

Hearing this, Jarrod felt relieved and said, "You two should get to know more about each other. We're leaving now."

Freya flashed a smile, keen to prove herself. "Don't worry. I'll do my best to get along well with Brennan."

As soon as Jarrod and the others left, Freya let out a long breath, feeling the tension in her body slowly dissipating.

She walked back to the room on the second floor. Before she could enjoy a moment of peace, she turned around to find Brennan standing by the door, arms folded and a mocking look on his face. "Aren't you a good actress?"

"What?" Freya asked, her confusion evident.

"You're such a fake. Pretending to care about my grandpa like that. It's disgusting." Brennan stepped closer, blocking her way and staring down at her with cold, ruthless eyes. "I'm starting to get curious about why you're so desperate to stay. What are you after?"