Charlie, in a frenzy, lunged towards Shawn, but was intercepted by the rushing bodyguards. They held Charlie back, keeping him at a distance, and restrained him with his limbs bound. Luke pushed Shawn closer to Charlie, and as their eyes met, it felt like a boat quietly passing through countless mountains. Once friends, companions, and confidants in their youth, now reduced to calculating against each other. "Mr. Charlie, this is the last time I address you as Mr. Charlie," Luke sighed. "When you came, Mr. Tate instructed that if you didn't mention this matter to your wife, he would spare you for old times' sake. But if you did, don't blame Mr. Tate for being ruthless." Who was Shawn? A man who crawled out of a pile of corpses, licking blood off his lips. Did Charlie naively think he could control them? "Charlie, you can go and tell Mrs. Tate about Mr. Tate's identity. If she knows the truth, at most, she'll ignore Mr. Tate for a few days. Mr. Tate can coax her back with some effort. But your wife and children are not the same. Back when someone from Alter Group infiltrated DT Investment, do you not remember how Mr. Tate dealt with that person? Do you want to endure the same humiliation?" Luke explained. Back then, the infiltrator at DT Investment, although finally turned over to the police, everyone knew how he had suffered. Mr. Tate had forcibly disabled his limbs, then healed them one by one without using anesthesia. The entire process, from disabling to healing, was done without any pain relief. The man was tortured to the brink of death, mentally shattered, and he confessed everything as soon as he reached the police station, fearing that they might send him back for more torture. In the vast living room, a deep silence enveloped the atmosphere. Even the fearful breaths of Charlie were audible. "Well..." Finally, Charlie hesitated before smiling, "How do you want me to handle this?" Shawn lowered his eyes, looking at the scar on the middle finger, a mark left by the burning hot key he had used to escape a life-threatening situation. He spoke emotionlessly, "Later, Luke will arrange for you to make a recording. In the recording, disclose in detail your dealings with Tanya. Afterward, go back to the hospital and, in the hospital's name, get Professor Smith released." That scar—the result of Shawn sticking his hand into a raging fire to retrieve a key. The burning hot key had coiled around his flesh and left a permanent mark that would never fade. Unreachable past, a fleeting moment."But Professor Smith's guilt is acknowledged by the hospital. If we release him easily, the media will dig deeper, and by then..." Charlie also noticed the change in Shawn's gaze, and with a hint of hope, he tried to play the emotional card again. Unexpectedly, Shawn only squinted. "What does it have to do with me?" Charlie was stunned. He had tried to appeal to Shawn's emotions, but Shawn's creed was simple—success or failure—with no room for compromise in between. "I know what to do now," Charlie compromised. "So, when do you plan to release my wife and children?" "After you return to England, I'll arrange for your reunion with them," Shawn coldly chuckled. Given the circumstances, Charlie's attempt to negotiate conditions seemed ludicrous. "Before that, Luke will assign you the tasks you need to do." "Shawn, are you treating me as your slave now?" Charlie couldn't bear this. In the past, they were equals, and Shawn's trust in him had surpassed even Jasson. Now, he was reduced to dealing only with an assistant? He couldn't accept this. "Behave yourself and don't make me angry. Otherwise, I'll make sure you can't even return to England." Shawn issued the stern command, then gestured for Luke to push him away. Behind them, Charlie's curses echoed, but these curses lasted only a few minutes. Soon, he slumped to the ground, crying and laughing silently. He had enjoyed the good life for too long, thinking he had become someone untouchable. However, with just a glance and a few words, he found himself back in an inescapable hell. "Hello, I'm Shawn. What's your name?" "I'm Charlie." "Charlie, you suffered such serious injuries for me today. It's my fault for dragging you into this mess. Would you like to be friends with me? From now on, I'll make sure to protect you." "Okay, Shawn." Scenes from their youth flashed in Shawn's mind like a movie. Growing up together, encouraging each other, supporting each other, and now, a single misstep had changed everything. There was no going back. "Mr. Tate, handling traitors so generously isn't your style. Allowing the tiger to return to the mountain is like planting a time bomb for yourself," Luke whispered. Shawn snapped back to reality, his tense face softening at Luke's words. "Charlie's personality is definitely not that of a behind-the-scenes manipulator. There are others in the First Hospital of City A involved in this." "Are you suggesting he was manipulated by someone else?" "If he had been firm enough, he wouldn't have been manipulated. You know what to do." "Don't worry, Mr. Tate. Following the usual procedure, we'll make him unconscious shortly, then implant a chip in him." Letting the tiger return to the mountain might be Shawn's strategy to expose a more significant threat behind the scenes. ... After returning to the hospital from the Tate residence, Charlie found the Orthopedics department in chaos. Due to Professor Smith's sudden change in circumstances, the patients under his care were left unattended. The current doctors had to take over, but it wasn't going smoothly. "See if you can arrange for some doctors and nurses from the branch. Professor Smith's departure has left us overwhelmed." Charlie frowned and glanced at the chaotic department. "Where is Tanya?" "She..." The doctors exchanged glances, their eyes revealing a touch of disdain. "Director, you know she's the young lady of the Alter Group, doesn't do any work herself, and refuses to take over Professor Smith's patients. She's still huddled in her own patient's room." Charlie felt a headache coming on. If it wasn't for Tanya being so driven by profit and easy to manipulate, he would never have recruited her into his camp. Someone so unskilled and reliant on external factors to succeed had either been incredibly lucky or undeserving of their position. "Tomorrow will be better. You guys hold on for tonight, and I'll go talk to Dr. Potts." He patted the doctor's shoulder and hurried towards Tanya's patient room. After establishing a connection with Tanya, Charlie had been using his authority to assign her wealthy and influential patients for years. These patients were under constant surveillance with security guards stationed at the VIP ward's entrance. Standing in front of the VIP ward, Charlie sighed and looked inside. He was about to push the door open when, through the crack, he saw Tanya sitting on the bedside, smiling lasciviously at an elderly tycoon. The tycoon's hands were caressing Tanya's hand, creating an atmosphere charged with suggestive undertones. "Mr. Vandergald, you said after being discharged, you’ll hire me as your family doctor, right?" "Of course. After being discharged, I won't be able to see you, so I have to find a way to have you come to my house. That way, I can see you whenever I want." "As for my salary, it depends on the situation and the services you request." Charlie took a few steps back and stood on the other side of the wall, silently cursing their shamelessness. Even though Tanya was known for her motto that mental and physical aspects could be separated and affairs could happen while loving someone else, now that she was the prospective daughter-in-law of the Alter family, shouldn't she show some restraint? Charlie, despite betraying Shawn, was loyal to his wife, children, and family. Therefore, he couldn't stand immoral women like Tanya. Thinking this, he cleared his throat and, to get their attention, pushed open the door. "Dr. Potts, everyone outside is working tirelessly, and you're here chatting with Mr. Vandergald?" he scolded. At that moment, Tanya had just withdrawn her hand, and she faced Charlie with a smile, her eyes exchanging signals with Mr. Vandergald. Upon hearing Charlie's warning, she immediately put on a displeased expression. "Deputy Director, is Mr. Vandergald's health more important or the conditions of those people outside?" she retorted. Charlie, although not a doctor but a manager, couldn't help but wonder if Tanya's words made any sense. He didn't want to communicate with this woman, so he turned and bowed to Mr. Vandergald. "I'm really sorry, Mr. Vandergald. The hospital is short-staffed today and it's been quite challenging. May we borrow one of your doctors?" Mr. Vandergald smiled amiably, not upset at all, "No problem, Dr. Potts, feel free to go." He also thought Tanya's words were inappropriate, but he found it easy to control her, this unfeeling and foolish woman. Charlie looked at Tanya without saying a word, implying that since Mr.Vandergald had spoken, should she continue embarrassing herself here?***