Chapter 474

The bodyguard's hands trembled as he saw Nathan regain consciousness. "M-Mr. Goldmann," he stuttered.

Theodore's brow furrowed deeply. "Report. Now."

The guard's eyes darted between Oliver and Nathan. He swallowed hard before speaking. "Ms. Chloe... Ms. Vanderbilt and her father... Their car exploded after leaving the hospital."

Oliver grabbed the man's collar violently. "Repeat that!"

"We got the alert an hour ago," the guard continued, voice shaking. "The entire vehicle was engulfed in flames when we arrived. They were all inside."

Oliver's face went pale with shock.

"Nathan!" Theodore turned just in time to see Nathan tearing IV lines from his arm and bolting toward the door.

At the crash site, police tape cordoned off the intersection as firefighters battled the last of the flames. The blackened skeleton of the car stood as a grim monument.

Nathan shoved through the gathering crowd. "Let me through!" he roared when officers tried to stop him.

One cop recognized him instantly. "Mr. Goldmann? Stand back, sir!"

But Nathan was already falling to his knees before the wreckage. His voice broke. "Zoe... please... I take it all back. No divorce. Just come home."

Tears streamed down the face of the man known for his icy composure. The crowd murmured in shock.

"Wasn't he divorced?"

"Is that his wife's car?"

"God, they were inside?"

Oliver arrived with security. "Sir, you must stand up."

"Don't touch me!" Nathan lashed out wildly. "I can't... I can't breathe without her."

When the coroner unloaded two charred bodies, Nathan fought like a madman against those restraining him. Through the body bags' plastic, he recognized Chloe's distinctive bracelet.

A detective approached with an evidence bag. "We found this in the wreckage, sir."

The engagement ring - blackened and cracked - lay in Nathan's trembling palm. "Zoe..." His whisper carried unbearable pain.

Meanwhile, in the hospital...

"Dad! Chloe!" Evelyn jolted awake, tearing at her IV line. The heart monitor screamed as she ripped the sensors off.

She touched her bandaged face, memories flooding back. "The explosion... I was there..."

Blood dripped from her hand as she stumbled from bed, collapsing on the cold tile.

A shadow appeared in the doorway. "Do you really think you're going anywhere in this state?"