Later that day in the Tian Mansion.
Lucas' room was eerily silent, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the monitors connected to Lucas's unconscious body. The once-powerful heir of the Tianhu Group now lay motionless, his usually sharp features pale and weak. The air was thick with the scent of disinfectants and medicine.
Mr Nolan stood by the window, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his mind heavy with worry. The stillness of the room was only disturbed when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He barely glanced at the caller ID before answering.
"What is it?" His voice was clipped, impatient.
The employee at the other end of the line hesitated before speaking.
"Sir, we just wanted to inform you that the CEO personally visited the company earlier today… disguised as a delivery person."
Mr Nolan froze.
His fingers gripped the phone tighter as he slowly turned his head to look at the real Lucas—lying unconscious in bed.
"Say that again?" His voice lowered dangerously.
"The CEO visited today… but he was dressed as a delivery man."
Mr Nolan's expression darkened, his grip on the phone tightening as though it were the employee's neck instead.
Madam Maeve, noticing his sudden stiffness, narrowed her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Mr Nolan hesitated for a brief moment before sighing and passing her the phone.
"Here. You'll want to hear this."
Madam Maeve, with a brow raised in intrigue, took the phone and pressed it against her ear. "Repeat that."
The employee on the other line hesitated before rephrasing, "Madam Maeve, the CEO, came to the company today, disguised as a delivery man."
For a long moment, there was silence.
Then—
Madam Maeve burst into laughter.
Not a soft chuckle. Not an amused hum. But a full-bodied, elegant laugh that had the employees on the other end shifting nervously.
Mr Nolan's eyes twitched. "This isn't funny, Madam Maeve."
She wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye, her laughter finally simmering down to a knowing smirk. "Oh, but it is. "My grandson, appearing at the company dressed as a delivery man?" She gave Mr Nolan a side glance filled with mischief. "How interesting."
Mr Nolan scowled. "It's ridiculous." "The CEO is right here." He gestured toward Lucas's unconscious form.
Madam Maeve simply hummed, completely unfazed.
She picked up the remote and turned on the television.
And there it was—
A breaking news report on nearly every channel.
On the screen, blurry images and video clips of Jian entering Tianhu Group in his delivery uniform played on repeat.
"Tianhu Group's CEO Secretly Visits the Company?!"
Some employees had already uploaded their exciting posts online:
"OMG! The CEO really came to check on us in disguise!!"
"He even WAVED at us! He's so down-to-earth!!"
"Look at him acting like a normal worker. What a genius!!"
Mr Nolan's face darkened as he watched the absurdity unfold.
"This is a joke. That man isn't Lucas."
Madam Maeve, however, simply pointed at the television with a smirk.
"It doesn't matter what we believe," Nolan. It matters what the world believes."
Before Mr Nolan could argue further, the doors to the room creaked open, and a familiar voice called out.
"Madam Maeve."
It was Miss Charlie.
She walked in, carrying a sleek black tablet in her hands, her expression professional and unreadable.
"I have the airport footage you requested."
Madam Maeve took the tablet and played the video.
On the screen, Lucas was seen walking through the airport, dragging his luggage behind him. His usual sharp posture seemed off—his steps slightly unsteady.
Then, it happened.
He collided with a man.
The stranger's face was obscured by the brim of his hat, but there was something off about him.
Madam Maeve's eyes narrowed.
"This man. He's the one responsible for the poisoning."
Mr Nolan's brows furrowed. "Can you track him?"
Miss Charlie hesitated. "His clothing… it's from a brand under David Klein's company."
At that, Madam Maeve's expression turned icy.
She tilted her head slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in her sharp eyes.
"David Klein, hmm? That man really doesn't know when to quit."
She tapped her nails against the armrest of the chair.
"David has always been meticulous. If it was his doing, then this man is already hidden away. Any trail leading to him has been erased."
Mr Nolan let out a frustrated breath. "So he's untouchable?"
Madam Maeve chuckled, but it wasn't a pleasant sound.
"Oh, Zhang. No one is untouchable. It just means we have to be smarter."
Madam Maeve continued to analyze the footage.
A few seconds later, Lucas was seen staggering before collapsing.
And then—
A young man caught him.
Madam Maeve leaned in closer.
The unknown figure shouted for help before stepping aside as the airport staff rushed in. He didn't stay to explain himself.
Madam Maeve paused the video.
"This man…"
She lifted her gaze to the television, where the blurry "CEO Delivery Man" was still being shown.
Then, she held the tablet up next to the screen.
A perfect match.
"It's him."
Miss Charlie's eyes widened. "The delivery man… was the one who saved the Young Master?"
Madam Maeve leaned back against her chair, a slow, amused smile spreading across her lips.
"Fate is such a funny thing, isn't it?"
Mr Nolan let out an exasperated sigh. Already knowing what's brewing in Madam Maeve mind "We need to bring him in immediately."
Madam Maeve raised a hand, stopping him.
"No."
Mr Nolan blinked. "No?"
She smirked.
"If we drag him here, the media will notice. The moment a black car picks him up, people will start asking questions."
She turned to the television, watching as the news reports continued praising "Lucas" for his undercover visit.
"Instead, we bring him in naturally."
Miss Charlie nodded in understanding. "How?"
Madam Maeve's smirk widened.
"Since he came to the company for a delivery… we make sure he has another reason to come back."
A slow, calculated laugh escaped her lips.
"And this time, he won't leave unnoticed."