Chapter 5 New Hope Clinic

After three long hours, Doctor Matthew emerged from the operating room. Liam stood up nervously.

"The procedure was a success," Doctor Matthew said, pride evident in his tone. "Both your fiancée and her mother are doing well. We'll be moving them to a private room where they'll receive daily care and medication."

Liam breathed a sigh of relief. "Can I see them?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not, young master." Doctor Matthew let out slowly. "They are both unconscious and need adequate rest, but in the next few hours you will be able to."

"Thank you, Doctor Matthew," Liam expressed as the doctor took a bow and turned to leave.

The tension was palpable. Liam's eyes were narrowed, and his tone was low and dangerous. "The bruises," he said slowly, stopping Doctor Matthew in his tracks. "Make sure no one hears about the bruises, and keep your employees in line."

Doctor Matthew turned to face Liam before he spoke.

"I don't know what you are talking about, young master." Doctor Matthew said. "The bruises? What bruises? We never saw anything. Just your fiancée and mother-in-law being treated for high body temperature, nothing else."

"Good." Liam said, a smirk of satisfaction played on both their lips.

Doctor Matthew was always ahead, knowing exactly what needed to be done. After a bow, he turned to leave, but a nurse burst in, out of breath.

"Doctor Matthew," she gasped, "there's a group of reporters outside, trying to force their way in!"

The doctor's eyes widened, then flicked to Liam, who stood still, unfazed.

"What's happening with security?" Doctor Matthew asked, his voice tight with worry.

"They're trying to keep them out, but the reporters won't back off," the nurse replied, trembling.

Liam remained outwardly calm, feigning ignorance. "Do you know why they're here?" he asked.

"I think they found out about the patients you brought in," the nurse said nervously.

Liam's eyes flashed with anger. "But how?" he snapped. "I thought I told you to keep it a secret!"

"I don't know how they found out," Doctor Matthew stammered, his face pale. "But I'll figure it out. Stay here." He and the nurse rushed out.

"Let's go!" he called to the nurse, heading for the entrance.

Liam smirked, then took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the entrance.

"Mister Anderson! Mister Anderson!" the reporters shouted as Doctor Matthew and the nurse neared.

"This isn't Mister Anderson," Doctor Matthew said, stepping in front of the crowd, cameras flashing. "He's not here."

The reporters pushed forward. "Then where is he?"

"Excuse me, may I have your attention?" Doctor Matthew's voice cut through the noise. The reporters fell silent. "I'm Doctor Matthew Paul, head doctor of The New Hope Clinic. I need you to leave. You're disturbing the patients. We have patients here that need adequate rest and total silence. If you don't leave within the next two minutes, we'll take legal action."

"But we have information that Mister Anderson is in the building!" a reporter protested. "We have the right to speak to him!"

Doctor Matthew raised his voice. "I've already told you, Mister Anderson is not here!"

Another reporter stepped forward. "We were informed he arrived with two women hours ago. Where are they?"

"They're not here. Leave now, or we'll be forced to involve the authorities," Doctor Matthew said firmly, but the reporters ignored him, their questions growing louder, cameras flashing wildly.

"Mister Anderson! Over here! Can we have a word?!" The crowd erupted.

Liam stepped into view, his expression cold and composed. The chaos quieted for a brief moment as cameras clicked in rapid succession.

Doctor Matthew's face drained of color. He leaned in close to Liam and whispered urgently, "Young master, what are you doing? I told you I'd take care of this!"

Liam stood tall, his gaze locked on the swarm of reporters. The flashes of their cameras lit up his face, but he remained unshaken, radiating authority.

"I thought I'd lend you a hand," he said smoothly, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Doctor Matthew gave a brief nod and stepped aside, leaving Liam to face the chaos.

"Mister Anderson," a reporter shouted, "is it true you arrived with two women earlier today?"

"Who are they?" another demanded. "What's your relationship with them?"

"We've heard they had bruises," a voice called out sharply. "Did you do that to them?"

"Say something, Mister Anderson!"

The questions came rapid-fire, the crowd buzzing with accusations. Liam's eyes swept over them, calm and calculating. He paused, letting the noise settle just enough, then cleared his throat, ready to take control of the narrative.

Liam stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise with commanding clarity. "Good morning," he began, calm but firm. "I understand you're doing your job, but let's keep it civil. Lower your voices."

The crowd stilled instantly, the frantic clicks of cameras the only sound left.

"Thank you," Liam said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Now, let's get to it. I'll answer your questions."

The reporters leaned closer, microphones raised, their anticipation palpable.

"Yes," Liam began smoothly, "I did arrive with two women. To clarify, they are my fiancée and her mother. They've just returned to the country."

There was a collective gasp from the crowd as the cameras clicked even faster, and the reporters leaned forward, their mics poised for his next words. The tension was overwhelming, his presence magnetic.

Liam's voice remained steady, commanding the reporters' attention. "To address your last question," he said, "my fiancée and her mother weren't injured. They had high fevers after arriving this morning, so I brought them here immediately."

"Why has no one ever heard about your fiancée, Mister Anderson?" a reporter pressed. "You're a public figure-how did you keep this hidden?"

Liam's expression softened, his tone calculated. "I value my privacy and that of those I care about," he replied. "Keeping this private wasn't easy, but it was necessary. My fiancée, Aurora Brookes, and I have been together for two years. We intended to announce our engagement soon, but plans changed."

He paused, letting a trace of regret creep into his voice. "I proposed over the phone recently, and she said yes. I immediately arranged for her and her mother to come here so we could plan the wedding together. Unfortunately, when they arrived, Aurora wasn't feeling well. That's why we're here."

Liam glanced at the reporters, his fabricated sincerity disarming. "She's recovering now, and I'm relieved we can finally move forward with our plans." His tone left no room for doubt, his lies woven seamlessly into his calm demeanor.

The cameras clicked furiously, capturing every word.

"Mister Anderson, why push the date forward?" a reporter pressed.

"That's private," Liam replied sharply, his cold stare silencing further probing.

The reporter shifted uneasily before trying again. "When's the wedding, then?"

Liam's lips curved into a dazzling smile. "Next week! The exact date isn't set yet, but consider yourselves all invited."

The reporters gasped, cameras flashing even faster. For a moment, they were stunned into silence before erupting into a storm of questions.

Liam raised a hand, his expression commanding quiet. "I've answered enough. Now, I must ask you all to leave. The hospital needs peace for its patients, and I trust you'll respect that. Thank you for your cooperation."

With a brief bow, he turned on his heel and walked back into the hospital, ignoring the reporters still shouting his name. Their voices faded as he disappeared inside, leaving behind a buzz of excitement and unanswered questions.

....

Dominica shuffled into the living room, still in her nightwear, and settled into her usual spot. The maids had left her coffee steaming on the table. She sipped it absently, reaching for the remote to turn on the television.

The headline on the screen made her freeze mid-sip.

"BREAKING NEWS: LIAM ANDERSON, YOUNGEST SON OF THE ANDERSON FAMILY, SET TO MARRY HIS FIANCÉE NEXT WEEK!"

The cup slipped from her hands, clinking onto the tray. "What?" she muttered, a sharp scoff escaping her lips. "Liam has a fiancée?!"

Dominica's eyes widened, and she immediately turned up the volume of the television. She sat frozen, gripping the remote tightly as the news anchor's voice filled the room, her back up against the sofa.

"Breaking news: Liam Anderson, youngest son of the Anderson family, has announced his upcoming marriage to Miss Aurora Brookes next week. Speaking to reporters outside New Hope Clinic earlier this morning, Mister Anderson revealed plans that had been kept private until now."

The anchor summarized Liam's statements-plans to wed, the rushed arrival of his fiancée and her mother, and their hospitalization due to illness. Dominica's jaw clenched as the details unfolded, her rage simmering with every word.

"Mister Anderson debunked rumors of injuries and extended a public invitation to the wedding, though no specific date was given. We'll keep you updated as we learn more. And that's the morning news, brought to you by MBC Media. I remain Chelsea Green, and thanks for watching." the anchor concluded.

Dominica's knuckles turned white as she gripped the remote, her blood boiling at the audacity of it all.

Dominica rose to her feet in rage as she gritted her teeth and threw the remote at the TV screen.

"Liam, you cheater!" she yelled, cackling with laughter. She clapped her hands and continued to laugh maniacally, her eyes wild and her heart racing.

She stopped laughing and let out a scoff, a sly smile on her lips. "You there!" She yelled at a bodyguard standing in the corner of the room. "Call Ken and tell him to find me a husband this instance!"

....

Henry's jaw clenched as he glared at the morning news, still dressed in his pajamas. His fists were clenched at his sides.

"So, this is how you want to play, brother," he muttered to himself. "Game on!" His eyes were wild with rage, and a shiver ran through him. It was as if he had turned into a different person.

The game had begun, and there was no going back.

Henry snatched up his phone, his eyes never leaving the television screen. His thumb hovered over a familiar number, and then he pressed call. The phone rang in his ear, and he could hear it picking up at the other end.

As soon as the other end picked up, Henry uttered.

"Stacy, let's get married!"

The addressed shrieked out in excitement as the call came to an end abruptly, while he let out a sinister grin.

....

Austin sat calmly in front of the television, his eyes darting between the headline and the reporter. Dressed in a tailored suit and designer shoes, he looked every inch the successful businessman he was. But there was something unsettling about his expression, a coldness in his eyes as he watched the news unfold.

"Well played, brother!" he said, his voice soft and low. "It's good to see that the baby of the house is finally catching up. As your older brother, it's only fair that I give you a head start!"

But there was something about the way he said it, a sinister edge to his words, that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

He seemed almost... pleased. "Now, the real game begins!" Austin's eyes glinted as he stood, a slow smile spreading across his face.

He exited the living room, heading for the door outside.