Chapter 336: The Call at 2:15

2:15 AM. The shrill ringtone shattered the silence.

Victor Hale rubbed his throbbing temples, tearing his gaze away from the mountain of paperwork. A glance at his wristwatch made his brows knot instantly.

"Who is it?"

"Boss! It's about Nolan!" The bodyguard's panicked voice crackled through the phone. "He's in critical condition at Harmony Hospital. The doctors said... he might not make it—"

Victor shot to his feet, his suit jacket tumbling to the floor. "Spare no expense! I'm on my way."

He stormed into the master bedroom in three strides. Julia Hale slept peacefully, her well-maintained complexion glowing like pearls under the nightlight. Even now, the grace of her former days as a prima ballerina lingered in her posture.

"Julia! Wake up!"

She jolted awake, fury igniting in her eyes.

"Nolan's in the hospital." Victor's voice was ice.

The silk sheets flew back. Julia's bare feet hit the carpet, her nails nearly tearing through the delicate nightgown. "He said he was just going out for drinks!"

After the incident in the city last month, Nolan had been grounded for weeks. Tonight was his first night out, and she'd explicitly ordered the bodyguards to keep a close watch.

"Details are still unclear." Victor already had the car keys in hand.

The black executive sedan sped through the night. Julia clenched the seatbelt, her knuckles white. "It must be those troublemaking friends of his again..."

The ER's red light burned their eyes. Two bodyguards cowered on the bench like beaten dogs, scrambling to their feet at their approach.

"Boss! The doctors are still working on him—"

Julia's slap cut through the air. "Useless!" Her pearl necklace swayed violently with her heaving chest. "If anything happens to my son—"

"Ma'am!" The older bodyguard interrupted reluctantly. "This time, it really wasn't our fault..."

Victor suddenly gripped his wife's shoulder. His sharp eyes caught the suspicious dark stains on the younger guard's pant leg—and the few drops of fresh blood glistening ominously on the ER floor.