Chapter 377: Bird!!
The hospital had grown unusually quiet.
Most of the corridors were empty.
Only the occasional footsteps of nurses and the soft hum of medical equipment disturbed the silence.
Outside the large glass windows, the city lights shimmered peacefully beneath the night sky.
Miles sat alone in the hospital lounge.
A paper cup of coffee rested untouched beside him.
His eyes remained fixed on the floor.
His grandfather had opened his eyes.
Only for a few moments.
But those few moments had changed everything.
The sound of approaching footsteps slowly echoed through the hallway.
Miles looked up.
A familiar face appeared.
His tense expression finally relaxed.
"Doc."
Dr. Reyes smiled warmly as he walked over.
"Hello, Boss."
Miles stood up.
"You being here makes my heart feel a lot lighter."
Reyes chuckled.
"I came as soon as I finished reviewing his medical files."
"I checked everything on the way."
He confidently adjusted his glasses.
"He is definitely going to wake up."
Miles let out a slow breath.
"I believe that, Doc."
He looked toward Timothy’s room.
"But..."
"My biggest fear isn’t whether he wakes up."
"It is his memories."
His voice became much quieter.
"I don’t want to tell him..."
"About Dad , again."
"About everything that happened during these seventeen years."
"He’ll be heartbroken."
Reyes understood immediately.
He placed a reassuring hand on Miles’ shoulder.
"It’ll be alright, Boss."
"I didn’t come alone."
"I brought one of my closest friends."
"He is one of the best neurologists I know."
"We’ll examine every part of his recovery carefully."
He smiled.
"And Miss Monica already informed the hospital."
"We have complete access to every resource available."
"The best equipment."
"The best specialists."
He looked directly into Miles’ eyes.
"I’ll always be here."
"For you."
"And for your family."
Miles smiled gratefully.
"Thank you."
After a brief silence, he asked quietly,
"Can I see him now?"
"Of course."
The two of them walked toward Timothy’s room.
...
The room remained peaceful.
Timothy lay quietly on the bed.
The soft rhythm of the heart monitor filled the room.
Reyes carefully examined every monitor before nodding with satisfaction.
"His vitals look excellent."
"Nothing is being artificially supported anymore."
"His body has regained its natural rhythm."
Miles looked at his grandfather.
"So..."
"He really will wake up?"
Reyes smiled.
"Certainly."
"And probably very soon."
"When he wakes again, we’ll begin neurological examinations."
"Only then can we understand how much of his memory has returned."
Miles slowly pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down.
He gently held Timothy’s hand once more.
His voice became soft.
"We’re all waiting for you, Grandpa."
He smiled faintly.
"I still want you to attend my wedding."
"I want your blessings."
For a few moments...
Nobody spoke.
Then Miles’ phone vibrated inside his pocket.
He quietly stood up.
"I’ll be outside for a moment."
Reyes nodded.
"I’ll stay here."
Miles stepped into the hallway before answering the call.
"Grandmaster."
A familiar chuckle came from the other side.
"Call me Great Uncle."
"Or Grandpa."
Miles smiled.
"Grandpa Lucian."
"That’s better."
Lucian’s voice immediately became serious.
"How is he doing?"
Miles leaned against the corridor wall.
"He’ll wake up."
"The doctors are confident."
For several seconds, Lucian remained silent.
When he finally spoke again...
There was unmistakable relief in his voice.
"I am very happy."
"I always knew Timothy was stronger than anyone gave him credit for."
He sighed quietly.
"It seems bringing him to you after all those years ago..."
"Was the right decision."
Miles smiled slightly.
"Why do I feel like there’s something else you want to say?"
Lucian laughed softly.
"Nothing."
"I simply..."
"I want to speak with your grandfather again."
"Like the old days."
"I’ll personally come after my current work is finished."
Miles understood.
"You don’t have to hide it from me."
"If you need my help..."
"You can ask."
Lucian remained silent.
Miles continued.
"I know this fight is personal."
"You’ve prepared for it for decades."
"But they’re not standing still either."
"They’ll recognize you now that you’ve shown your face."
He paused.
"Those burn scars..."
"They’re difficult to hide."
The other side of the call became completely silent.
Several long seconds passed.
Finally...
Lucian spoke.
"How..."
"How did you figure that out?"
Miles smiled to himself.
"Your burn marks tell quite a story."
"They answer questions most people never think to ask."
Lucian laughed quietly.
"Well..."
"I’m not surprised anymore."
"But I still didn’t expect you to discover that."
Miles looked through the hospital window toward the distant city lights.
"Grandmaster."
"I mean..."
"Grandpa."
"If you ever need me..."
"Call me."
"I’ll come."
Lucian’s voice became much gentler.
"I’ll remember that."
"Take care of Timothy."
"You’ll need him."
"I know."
The call ended.
Miles quietly lowered his phone.
For a moment, he simply stood there, thinking about everything that was beginning to move once again.
The door behind him opened gently.
Reyes stepped into the hallway.
"You should get some sleep."
Miles turned.
Reyes smiled.
"We’ve already arranged a private resting room for you."
"If you’d like to stay here tonight..."
"You can."
Miles looked once toward Timothy’s room before nodding.
"Thanks, Doc."
He smiled tiredly.
"Just let me know the moment Grandpa wakes up."
"I don’t want to miss it."
Reyes nodded without hesitation.
"You have my word."
"I’ll come and wake you first."
Miles finally allow himself to breathe a little easier as he slowly walked toward the retiring room, carrying both exhaustion and hope in equal measure.
New York.
Horizon Biotech Headquarters.
Far beneath the spotless laboratories and luxurious executive offices, there existed another section of the building.
Few employees even knew it existed.
The lights were intentionally dim.
The hallways were silent.
Security cameras watched every corner, while heavily armed guards stood outside reinforced steel doors.
One particular room remained under constant surveillance.
Unlike a prison cell, it was spacious.
There was a comfortable bed, a sofa, a bookshelf, a work desk, and even fresh flowers placed near the window that overlooked nothing more than another concrete wall.
Everything looked luxurious.
Everything except one thing.
The door remained locked from the outside.
Inside the room...
Thea sat quietly on a couch near the corner.
One leg rested over the other.
Her posture remained elegant despite the obvious irritation on her face.
She had already stopped counting how many days she had been confined inside this room.
A faint metallic sound echoed outside.
The lock clicked.
The heavy door slowly opened.
A man carefully pushed a food trolley into the room.
He stopped several steps away before lowering his head respectfully.
"Princess..."
"Your meal is here."
Thea looked toward the neatly arranged dishes.
Soup.
Bread.
Roasted meat.
Fresh vegetables.
Everything looked expensive.
Yet her expression became colder.
"So..."
"You’ve decided to treat me like a prisoner now?"
The servant immediately lowered his head further.
"My apologies, Princess."
"If today’s menu is not to your liking..."
"I can bring something else."
Thea remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she sighed.
"Forget it."
"I don’t like wasting food."
The servant nodded gratefully.
"Understood."
Just as he was about to leave...
Thea looked back at the trolley.
"Where is my dessert?"
The servant froze.
"I..."
"I’ll bring it immediately, Princess."
Without waiting another second, he hurried out of the room.
The heavy door closed once again.
Silence returned.
Thea leaned back against the sofa and folded her arms.
"What exactly do they think of me..."
"Even if the old man grounded me here..."
"A Princess is still a Princess."
A small smirk slowly appeared on her face.
"Old man..."
"I’ll show you what a terrible mistake you’re making."
Only a minute later...
The door opened once again.
Another employee entered while carrying a leather folder.
He respectfully bowed.
"Princess."
"We require your approval."
"The manager asked for your signature."
Thea slowly looked at him.
"Are you serious?"
The employee blinked.
"Yes, Princess."
"This document can only be approved by a member of the family."
Thea narrowed her eyes.
"What do you think I’m doing right now?"
The employee immediately realized his mistake.
"I..."
"I apologize, Princess."
"I didn’t realize you were having your meal."
Thea slowly stood.
Her calm voice somehow sounded even more frightening.
"You know..."
"If you behaved like this in Norway..."
"You would’ve received the death penalty for your manners."
The young man’s face instantly turned pale.
"I..."
"I..."
"I apologize, Princess."
Thea pointed toward the door.
"I want your manager here."
"And take this food away."
"My appetite has disappeared."
The terrified employee immediately pushed the trolley back toward the exit.
"I apologize."
"I’ll send him here immediately."
Within seconds, he disappeared.
The room became quiet once more.
A few minutes later...
The door opened again.
Another servant cautiously entered while holding a silver tray.
On it rested a beautifully decorated dessert.
He smiled nervously.
"Princess."
"Here is your dessert."
Thea slowly turned her head toward him.
Her cold eyes alone made the poor servant regret entering.
"Get..."
"The hell..."
"Out."
The smile instantly vanished.
The servant almost stumbled while rushing back outside.
The door slammed shut.
Only a few moments later...
Three gentle knocks echoed through the room.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Thea’s expression finally softened slightly.
"Come in."
The manager entered respectfully.
He immediately bowed.
"Good afternoon, Princess."
Thea gestured toward the chair but never invited him to sit.
"Manager."
"What did you do before entering?"
The manager blinked.
"You mean..."
"The knock?"
Thea nodded.
"Exactly."
She folded her arms.
"So tell me."
"Why don’t your people possess something as basic as common sense?"
"Where exactly did you recruit those country bumpkins from?"
The manager’s face immediately became serious.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
He lowered his head even further.
"Princess..."
"I sincerely apologize for their behavior."
"I’ll dismiss them from headquarters immediately."
Thea quietly walked toward the window.
Without looking back, she spoke.
"Believe me."
"In Norway..."
"People who disrespect members of the family..."
"Usually don’t remain alive."
The manager swallowed nervously.
"It won’t happen again."
"I promise."
Only then did Thea turn around.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"So..."
"Tell me."
"Why exactly am I not allowed outside?"
The manager hesitated.
"I’m sorry, Princess."
"But those are Boss’s direct orders."
"We don’t have the authority to change them."
"We were instructed not to let you leave this floor."
"He said..."
"There is something important he wants you to do."
Thea raised an eyebrow.
"So..."
"I’m simply grounded."
"I believe..."
"He has his reasons."
Thea laughed quietly.
A laugh completely devoid of amusement.
"Interesting."
She glanced toward the folder still resting in the manager’s hands.
"Then I suppose I can’t sign anything."
"I’m grounded."
She shrugged casually.
"Ask Father to sign it himself."
The manager looked troubled.
"This..."
Thea interrupted him.
"We’ll continue this conversation after you replace every incompetent servant outside my room."
She looked toward the untouched meal.
"And while you’re at it..."
"Bring me something decent to eat."
"I’m tired of eating the same meals every single day."
The manager bowed once more.
"Understood."
"I personally promise..."
"You won’t experience anything like this again."
Thea smiled.
It was the kind of smile that made experienced men nervous.
"You’d better keep that promise."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Next time..."
"I’ll have your head."
The manager’s heartbeat nearly stopped.
He lowered his head until it almost reached his knees.
"Understood, Princess."
Without wasting another second...
He quietly backed out of the room.
The heavy door closed once again.
The electronic lock clicked.
The room returned to silence.
Thea slowly walked back toward the sofa before looking at the locked door.
Then she smiled to herself.
"Ground me all you want..."
"You still haven’t realized..."
"A cage only works when the bird wants to stay inside."