Chapter 298: Poisoning, Utterly Deranged
A private hospital in Aethelgard.
Quentin Blackwood rushed over immediately after getting off the plane.
The hospital was a subsidiary of the Blackwood Group. While not particularly large, its medical technology was exceptionally advanced. Its primary focus was research—tackling the most complex and difficult diseases. They didn’t admit many patients, but they did take on rare cases.
Every doctor here was top-notch; any single one of them was considered the best in their field.
By the time Quentin Blackwood arrived at the hospital, night had fallen.
The hospital director was waiting for him personally at the entrance. "President Blackwood."
"What’s the situation?" Quentin Blackwood’s expression was cold, but his anxiety was genuine.
"Old Master Sheridan’s condition was caused by poisoning. We’ve already pumped his stomach, but he’s elderly and his heart isn’t strong. He can’t handle this kind of ordeal well. There are other complications, so the situation is quite serious."
"What’s the current treatment plan? When will he be out of danger? When will he wake up?" No matter what he faced, Quentin Blackwood was always perfectly rational.
The director spoke as he led Quentin Blackwood toward the ward upstairs.
The moment Quentin Blackwood stepped out of the elevator, Joy Sheridan, who was waiting by the ward door, immediately rushed toward him.
"Quentin, you’re finally here! I... I don’t know what to do. Grandpa, he..." Joy Sheridan sobbed, her eyes swollen from crying.
Quentin Blackwood shifted his body slightly, sidestepping Joy Sheridan’s embrace.
Joy Sheridan froze for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.
Tears streamed down her face. "Quentin, I’m so scared. My parents passed away a long time ago, and Grandpa was the one who raised me. He’s the only family I have left. If anything happens to him, I’ll be all alone... I won’t want to live anymore."
She cried sorrowfully, looking at him with her swollen eyes, the picture of pitiable grief.
"He’ll be fine. He has the best doctors here."
Seeing Quentin Blackwood remain so cold, Joy Sheridan’s heart trembled. "Quentin, can you just hold me? I’m really so scared..."
Quentin Blackwood looked at her. He knew she needed someone to lean on, someone to comfort her, but he shouldn’t be that person.
"I’m sorry. The doctors say Elder Sheridan will wake up soon. You don’t need to worry so much. He’ll be fine."
Quentin Blackwood had rushed back the moment he heard Old Master Sheridan had been poisoned.
He was genuinely worried about Old Master Sheridan’s health. After all, the man was his benefactor. Without Old Master Sheridan, he wouldn’t be where he was today.
"But how can I not worry? He’s the only grandfather I have!" Joy Sheridan was still crying, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She didn’t wipe them away. ’Under normal circumstances,’ she thought, ’no matter how heartless Quentin is, he should at least offer some comfort, maybe even wipe my tears away.’
’I had no other choice. I missed him too much. Since I couldn’t go to Lustre, this was the only way to make Quentin come back to Aethelgard.’
In fact, her gamble had paid off. Quentin wouldn’t ignore her. Her grandfather held a very important place in Quentin’s heart.
"What happened with the poisoning?" Quentin Blackwood asked.
How could a perfectly healthy person suddenly be poisoned?
Joy Sheridan said, "I’m not really sure. Grandpa suddenly collapsed today, so I had no choice but to call you. I only found out it was poisoning after he was brought to the hospital. But we all ate the same food."
"I’ll handle the poisoning."
With Old Master Sheridan’s collapse, many things were now in motion.
The poisoner had to be someone within the Sheridan Family. The Sheridan Company was massive, and for years, people had been eyeing it covetously. Old Master Sheridan’s son and daughter-in-law had passed away long ago, leaving his granddaughter as the sole heir.
Joy Sheridan rarely handled company affairs. She had no interest in such things; her mind was entirely focused on Quentin Blackwood.
Naturally, there were others who were constantly plotting to take over the Sheridan Company.
"Has the Old Master said anything recently? And has anything happened at the company?"
Joy Sheridan shook her head. "No. But some of the shareholders have been pressuring Grandpa, wanting more power."
"I see." Quentin Blackwood only glanced at the old master in the ward before preparing to leave.
Joy Sheridan suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm. "You’re leaving already? But Grandpa isn’t even awake yet. Can’t you stay a little longer with me... with Grandpa?"
Joy knew that if she asked him to stay for her, Quentin would definitely refuse.
’We haven’t seen each other in so long. Doesn’t he miss me at all?’
’But the moment I see his face, I feel like I’m going crazy.’
’I want him. I want to marry him!’
’Quentin should be mine. We’ve known each other for so many years! I’m beautiful and rich. What does that Ivy Sherwood have? She can’t hold a candle to me.’
’I don’t know what tricks Ivy Sherwood used to bewitch Quentin. If I speak ill of her, he definitely won’t believe or listen to me. I have to find a way to separate them first.’
"I’ve already blocked the news of Elder Sheridan’s hospitalization, so no one at the Sheridan Group will know. But if Old Master Sheridan doesn’t show up, they’ll definitely get suspicious. I need to go handle that first. And the poisoner must be found."
After speaking, Quentin Blackwood pulled his hand back.
He even glanced at the spot Joy had touched and frowned.
He disliked being touched; it was a psychological discomfort.
Since Quentin Blackwood had put it that way, Joy Sheridan couldn’t stop him. "Alright, you go. I’ll call you when Grandpa wakes up."
Quentin Blackwood left without a backward glance. He took the elevator downstairs and happened to see the restroom nearby.
He went in and washed his hands.
Upstairs, Joy Sheridan wiped away her tears, her swollen, red eyes filled with malice.
She had forced herself to cry for real to make her eyes red and swollen. But when the tears wouldn’t come, she had resorted to pinching her thigh until it was black and blue.
’Even if Quentin investigates, he’ll never trace this back to me.’
’I know many shareholders want something to happen to Grandpa. That way, they could logically take over the Sheridan Company.’
’This way, I can pin all the blame on them. They’ll be my scapegoats.’
’My plan was foolproof. I simply used another identity to give a few ’suggestions’ to those who wanted the Sheridan Company for themselves.’
’Even if he investigates, the trail will only lead to those people at the company, because they were the ones who bribed the household staff to administer the poison.’
’Grandpa is my only relative, and I do love him, but he forced my hand. If he hadn’t stopped me from going to Lustre, none of this would have happened.’
’The dose of poison wasn’t large. Grandpa will be fine.’
’Grandpa, don’t blame me for this.’
After drying her tears, Joy Sheridan picked up her phone and sent a message.
"Have you seen her? Quentin isn’t in Lustre. Now is the best time to make a move."
The reply came back quickly: "What’s the rush."
’How could I not be in a rush? Every single day that Ivy Sherwood exists is a threat to me. I want her to disappear forever.’
That was why she had chosen to work with Elijah Hawthorne.