He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 30: Seizing Power

Michelle Quinn ran into the hospital, catching up to the gurney being rushed to the emergency room, and finally got a clear look at the man’s face.

She strode over, her expression cold, and blocked his way. "Who are you? Stay away from my friend."

Aiden Sinclair ignored her completely, continuing to push the gurney swiftly toward the emergency room.

Michelle Quinn grabbed him forcefully. "Nina Walsh ended up like this all thanks to you and your woman. How dare you show your face here? Get out of here now!"

Just then, Jay Keane ran over. "Mr. Sinclair, your mother wants you at the family estate as soon as possible. The lawyer has arrived."

Aiden Sinclair stole a glance at the unconscious woman on the gurney, then turned and left the hospital without a word.

As his figure disappeared, Michelle Quinn immediately turned to an emergency room doctor. "Doctor, she’s pregnant. Nine weeks."

...

「The Sinclair Family Estate.」

Inside the slightly dated, traditional Chinese-style building, several of the home’s occupants were enjoying their dinner.

"Here, Dad, have some shrimp. Your son peeled them just for you."

Julian Sinclair peeled a shrimp and placed it in his father Russell Sinclair’s bowl. The two were seated side-by-side. Visibly pleased by his son’s filial gesture, Russell returned the favor, placing a piece of meat in Julian’s bowl.

"I had the kitchen make it specially for you."

Julian played the part of the doting son. "Nothing beats a home-cooked meal."

Russell raised an eyebrow, feigning annoyance, but his tone was indulgent. "If it’s so delicious, why don’t I see you home more often?"

Julian complained, "I don’t want to come back. When I do, you just nag me endlessly, trying to teach me this and that. I don’t want to learn anymore."

There’s a saying that grandparents dote on their grandchildren, but that simply didn’t hold true for Russell Sinclair.

Sophia Sawyer, sitting at the other end of the dining table, had a grim expression on her face. "Butler, go see if Aiden has arrived."

A moment after the butler left, Aiden Sinclair walked in from outside and greeted Russell Sinclair.

"Grandfather."

Russell Sinclair grunted an expressionless "mm."

Aiden Sinclair sat down opposite Sophia Sawyer. A servant brought him utensils and a bowl of shark fin soup.

Aiden Sinclair pushed the soup aside and glanced at the dishes on the table—all of them were Julian Sinclair’s favorites.

As always, Russell Sinclair only had eyes for Julian.

Russell Sinclair put down his chopsticks. "I heard you’re sick. Is it true?"

He asked, his tone devoid of concern, like a manager making a routine check-in with an employee.

Sophia Sawyer was taken aback and turned to look at Aiden Sinclair.

Aiden Sinclair said, "I have been feeling a bit unwell."

Russell asked, "Can it be cured within three months?"

Aiden Sinclair did not answer.

Russell Sinclair took his silence as confirmation that it couldn’t. He set down his chopsticks and said sternly, "Since you’re unwell, you should spend more time recuperating. I’ve already drawn up my will. Aethel will be yours. All other Sinclair Group assets, including the inheritance left by your father, will be handed over to Julian to manage. Tomorrow, you will hand over all your duties to Julian."

"Father!"

Sophia Sawyer immediately protested before Russell Sinclair had even finished speaking.

His father, Jonathan Sinclair, had died in a car crash while Aiden was still in the womb, and Aiden had been managing his father’s assets ever since.

"Father, this is unfair! You can’t be this biased. Julian is your son, but Aiden is the Sinclair family’s eldest grandson. He has inheritance rights! You can’t give the entire Sinclair Group to Julian, and you certainly can’t take away what belonged to Aiden’s father!"

Sophia Sawyer was about to complain more, but Russell Sinclair shot a sharp glance her way. Though old, he had fought in the business world for decades, and his authority was not to be underestimated.

Russell Sinclair said coldly, "I call the shots in the Sinclair family. It’s not a woman’s place to interfere."

Russell then looked at Aiden Sinclair. "If he wants inheritance rights, he can talk about it after he’s cured. If he can’t even get well, does he want to take the Sinclair Group’s assets to the grave with him?"

Sophia Sawyer opened her mouth to speak but stopped. In the end, she gave Aiden Sinclair a resentful look.

Aiden Sinclair set down his chopsticks, his voice firm. "I’m afraid Uncle won’t have time to manage my affairs for me."

"Bribery and corruption are no small matters. Now that you’re full, Uncle, you should probably hurry back and figure out how to get yourself out of this mess. You’re a grown man now; you shouldn’t always have your esteemed father cleaning up after you."

Russell Sinclair’s expression faltered, and he looked worriedly at Julian. Though Julian was annoyed, he wasn’t panicking yet.

"The Sherman Group won the Breyven project. What does that have to do with me?"

Julian Sinclair wasn’t so stupid as to leave a trail of evidence.

Aiden Sinclair continued, "Grandfather, I’ve secured the development rights for Selene Isle. I plan to consolidate the companies under my father’s name and invest in the project under the Aethel banner."

The implication was clear: he would not hand over his father’s assets. In fact, he was going to make them his own.

Just as Russell was about to rebut him, Aiden stood up and added, "The Selene Isle project is too large, and it’s a bit of a strain for Aethel to handle alone. I’d like to invite the Sinclair Group to partner in its development. I hope you will support this, Grandfather."

Selene Isle was a huge prize that everyone in Crestfall had their eyes on. And yet, Aiden Sinclair had quietly snatched it away.

But this prize was indeed too big for Aiden to handle alone. If he wasn’t careful, others would interfere. In the end, not only would he lose the prize, but he’d be torn apart and devoured himself.

But if the Sinclair Group partnered with him, it would be a sure thing.

Aiden Sinclair was trading a share of the Selene Isle profits for control of his father’s companies.

In just a few seconds, Russell Sinclair had weighed the pros and cons. This was a deal worth making.

So, he dropped the subject of revoking management rights and turned to Julian. "I’ve already put Julian in charge of company matters. Take it up with him."

The corner of Julian Sinclair’s mouth twitched. He smiled and said, "You want The Sinclair Group to join in? Sure, but we’ll split the profits seventy-thirty. We get seventy, you get thirty..."

"Don’t push your luck," Sophia Sawyer glared at Julian.

Aiden Sinclair said, "Sixty-forty. Take it or leave it."

Seeing the look of reluctant concession on Aiden’s face, Julian felt on top of the world.

"Fine, my dear nephew. Uncle will take pity on you and grant you that extra share."

Aiden Sinclair turned and left the family estate. Sophia Sawyer chased after him. "The Selene Isle project is so valuable! Why did you agree to split the profits with Julian?"

"Shouldn’t you be asking what illness I have, Mother?"

Aiden Sinclair stared at Sophia Sawyer, biting down on that final word.

Sophia Sawyer’s expression froze. By the time she came to her senses, Aiden Sinclair had already driven away.

Aiden Sinclair drove away from the Sinclair family estate without any destination in mind. Before he knew it, he found himself near the hospital again.

...

"Nina!"

Declan Grant burst into the hospital room. Michelle Quinn stood up. "Dr. Grant, you’re here! Lemon isn’t awake yet."

She hadn’t been able to get through to Declan’s phone. When Nina had been rushed into the ER earlier, Michelle had been terrified something would happen to her, so she had quickly sent Declan a text.

"How did this happen?" Declan Grant asked, heartbroken, as he looked at Nina’s pale face on the hospital bed.

Michelle Quinn quickly recounted what had happened.

Declan’s face was livid, and his hands were clenched into tight fists.

Only then did Michelle notice two bloody gashes on the back of his hand, the blood smeared across his skin.

"Dr. Grant, how did you hurt your hand?"

Declan lifted the back of his hand, his expression as if he were just noticing the injury himself.

Yesterday morning, he had returned to the Grant family home, intending to raise three million for Nina. But as soon as he walked through the door, Mrs. Grant had forcibly locked him in his room.

He was locked up for a day and a night. An hour ago, after receiving the message that Nina was unconscious, he threw caution to the wind and made a risky escape, climbing down a drainpipe from the third-floor balcony.

He had scraped his hand during his ’escape’.

Declan was filled with immense self-blame. If only he had been able to get the money, Nina wouldn’t have had to suffer such an ordeal today.

"Dr. Grant, the doctors said Lemon is out of danger. It’s been several hours, so why hasn’t she woken up?"

Seeing Nina remain unconscious, Michelle’s heart was in her throat. The shock and humiliation she had suffered today were too much.

"I’ve heard that some people, when they don’t want to face a painful reality, choose to shut down and retreat into sleep. Dr. Grant, do you think Lemon might be doing that?"

"No, she won’t. Nina is the strongest girl I’ve ever met. She can get through a setback like this."

Declan Grant held Nina’s hand, telling himself over and over that she would wake up soon.

As if in response to his plea, Nina’s hand moved slightly, and her thick, curled eyelashes trembled.

It was as if Nina had just awoken from a long nightmare. She opened her eyes, but it took several minutes for her vision to focus.

"Nina, you’re finally awake! Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Declan asked joyfully.

Nina Walsh opened her mouth, but Declan Grant couldn’t hear her and leaned in closer.

She spoke, her voice clear and deliberate. "I don’t want the baby anymore..."