Ethan turned his attention to Samuel, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of surprise and unease. "Come on, Samuel," Ethan said, his tone still gentle but leaving no room for argument. "Let's give Emma some space to rest. We'll talk outside."
Without waiting for a response, Ethan grabbed Samuel by the arm and began to pull him toward the door. Samuel's assistant, who was still trembling after witnessing Ethan's outburst, hesitated, unsure whether to follow or stay put.
Ethan paused and gave her a cold look, his earlier warmth gone. "You too," he said curtly. "Out. Now."
The assistant quickly nodded, her fear palpable as she hurried to follow them out of the room. She dared not protest or even look back at Emma, still reeling from the shock of what she had just experienced.
As they reached the door, Ethan glanced back at Emma one last time, offering her a reassuring smile. "Get some rest, Emma," he repeated, his voice soft once more. "We'll talk later."
With that, he led Samuel and his assistant out of the room, not giving them a chance to object. The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts. The room felt different now, quieter, but still heavy with the weight of what had just transpired.
In the dimly lit hospital hallway, Ethan Hamilton leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowed in thought as he spoke to his older brother, Samuel. "There's something off about this whole situation," Ethan said quietly, his voice laced with suspicion. "I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I'm not letting this slide."
Samuel, who had initially intended to dismiss his brother's concerns as an overreaction, felt a chill run down his spine at Ethan's tone. Before he could voice his thoughts, Ethan continued, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Samuel.
"Do you even know," Ethan began, his voice steady but dangerous, "that just a few days before this accident, Emma had another close call? She was nearly hit by a falling pane of glass on her way to work. What are the odds of two 'accidents' happening so close together?"
Samuel's expression shifted from dismissive to alarmed. The thought that someone might be targeting Emma hadn't crossed his mind until now, but the evidence was becoming too much to ignore. He clenched his fists, the realization hitting him hard. "You're right," he admitted, his voice low. "This can't just be a coincidence. Someone is definitely behind this."
Samuel had been about to offer to leave some of his own bodyguards with Emma, thinking it was the least he could do. But before he could speak, Ethan cut him off with a derisive snort. "Your useless bodyguards? Save it," Ethan scoffed. "They wouldn't last a minute if things got serious."
Samuel's brow furrowed in confusion and a touch of indignation. "What do you mean by that? They're trained professionals."
Ethan waved off his brother's concern with a dismissive hand. "I'm leaving someone far more capable to watch over Emma. Someone who will stay in the shadows, keeping an eye on things without interfering with her recovery."
Samuel was about to question who this mysterious protector was when Ethan casually mentioned, "I'll leave Black Phoenix to handle it."
Samuel's eyes widened in shock, his hand instinctively grabbing Ethan's arm in alarm. "Black Phoenix? When did she start working for you? Do you even understand how dangerous she is?"
Samuel's voice was filled with genuine concern, recalling the terrifying reputation of Black Phoenix. She was a legend in the underworld, known for her ability to carry out assassinations under the most impossible circumstances. Even with an entire military force guarding her target, she had completed her missions flawlessly. The fact that she had earned the name Black Phoenix was no small feat—she had survived countless ambushes and attempts on her life, always emerging unscathed, as if rising from the ashes.
Ethan, growing impatient, shook off Samuel's grip, his expression hardening. "There's a lot you don't know, Samuel," he replied coldly. "Black Phoenix is under my command now. She'll do what needs to be done without question. And trust me, she won't disrupt Emma's recovery. She'll be in the shadows, making sure no one gets close to her."
Samuel was about to press further, but Ethan cut him off, a shadow of a smirk playing on his lips. "And one more thing," he added, his voice dropping lower, "I'm starting to suspect that the Emma we welcomed back might not be the real one. There's something off... but I'm not going to spell it out for you. Just keep that in mind."
The cryptic remark made Samuel's blood run cold. "What are you saying? That... that she might be an impostor?" he stammered, trying to process the implications.
Ethan's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "I'm saying that you should pray Logan doesn't catch wind of any of this," he warned. "You know how he is. If he even suspects someone's messing with Emma, he won't stop at an investigation. He'll unleash hell on anyone remotely involved. He's not the type to think things through like I do. He'll mobilize every gang, every resource, and he won't care about collateral damage. Anyone connected to this—guilty or innocent—won't stand a chance."
Samuel rubbed his temples, feeling a headache forming. The mention of their younger brother, Logan, only added to his stress. Logan Hamilton was a force of nature, notorious for his explosive temper and ruthless approach. He was fiercely protective of Emma, a trait that stemmed from a childhood incident that had bonded him to her in an unbreakable way. Samuel knew that if Logan got involved, there would be no reasoning with him—only destruction.
"I get it, Ethan," Samuel finally sighed, his tone weary. "I'll keep Logan in the dark for now. But we need to solve this quickly before things spiral out of control."
Ethan gave a curt nod, satisfied that Samuel understood the gravity of the situation. "Good. Now let's focus on keeping Emma safe and finding out who's behind all this. I'll take care of Black Phoenix, and you—just make sure no one else catches on to what we're doing."
With that, Ethan turned on his heel, leaving Samuel standing in the hallway, deep in thought. As Ethan walked away, the weight of their conversation settled heavily on Samuel's shoulders. He knew they were on the brink of something dangerous—something that could tear their family apart if they weren't careful.
But for now, all that mattered was protecting Emma. And with Ethan and Black Phoenix involved, he knew they had a fighting chance.