"Why are you so messy when you eat?" Yeri complained as she picked up some scattered dog food.
Carpet simply wagged his tail and continued eating voraciously.
The moment Yeri opened the cabinet filled with treats, Carpet finished his meal in record time and rushed over, expecting dessert.
"I should've named you Piggy instead of Carpet," Yeri muttered as she tossed him a few beef treats.
The laptop on the counter let out a ding, confirming that no malware had been detected.
She had run a security scan after feeling unconvinced by Shin's excuse last time that her phone had merely ended up in his coat pocket.
What if he had secretly installed some kind of spyware on her gadgets?
Just as she was about to scan her phone, an unexpected text message popped up.
It was from Sean. He said he thought his parents had fought again because he noticed a cut on his father's lip that morning.
Yeri raised an eyebrow. Sean had always been a smart and sensitive child.
She first replied, telling him not to worry. After all, his father was a doctor. Then, after a moment of deliberation, she called Lianna.
It had been quite some time since they had last caught up because of everything that had been happening on Yeri's end lately.
At first, the two chatted about the recent events surrounding Yeri, especially all the online news involving Calin. Then she casually mentioned Sean's text.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
Perhaps because she trusted Yeri and simply needed someone to vent to, Lianna decided to tell her what happened yesterday.
"Wow, Sister Lianna, you're amazing! Congratulations! Before you become so in demand that it'll be impossible to book you, can I have the honour of asking you to play a piano piece at my wedding?"
Lianna laughed. "What nonsense are you talking about? Of course I'll do it. Besides, are you sure? For the wedding of the century, you could invite the most renowned pianist if you wanted."
The two continued joking, but when Lianna mentioned Zahn Neri, Yeri had to admit she was genuinely surprised.
Did he get possessed? Or was this simply the fiery jealousy and newfound courage of a man?
Now that her memories had returned, Yeri also remembered how she had intervened and helped Lianna recover from her severe depression.
Although she had used a demon ability, it hadn't altered Lianna's emotions or manipulated her thoughts. She had merely helped Lianna see things more clearly, strengthening her heart and helping her become more resilient and learn to love herself.
If Doctor Neri was truly determined and genuinely serious about making Lianna fall in love with him again, it wasn't entirely impossible.
But Lianna was no longer the naive, desperate woman who had once longed for someone else's love.
"Uhm, do you still have any feelings for Doctor Neri?" Yeri asked.
"Not at all. He's a lunatic. I don't understand him anymore," Lianna answered without hesitation. "If it weren't for Sean, I would've reported him for hooliganism."
Yeri almost burst into laughter before asking if there was anyone she currently liked.
"Do you think I haven't learned my lesson? Relationships are the least of my concerns right now," Lianna replied.
Yeri understood. After all, Lianna was now a wealthy woman thanks to the divorce settlement, she's also doing well at her studies, and she already had a child. It could be said that she was already winning at life.
If she ever entered another relationship, she'd have to be extremely careful not to end up with a schemer or scumbag.
"Thanks for telling me about Sean. That child has always been observant and tends to keep things to himself," Lianna said worriedly.
"It's fine. I think it's a good thing that he's opening up instead of silently misunderstanding everything," Yeri replied.
After the call ended, Yeri suddenly thought of the little prince and wondered if the two children could become friends.
Then she quickly shook her head, that would be far too risky.
From what she remembered, the little prince was incredibly troublesome and had a strong dislike for humans.
When she looked up from her phone, she was dumbfounded to see treat wrappers scattered all over the floor, and Carpet had already ransacked the entire treat cabinet.
"You crazy dog!" Yeri stomped her foot as she gave chase after the golden retriever, who immediately bolted away with his prize.
"Get back here!"
--
At Neri Medical Hospital, medical staff surrounded the VIP bed, carefully monitoring the patient and ensuring her condition had finally stabilised.
After giving a few instructions and reminders, the attending doctors quietly left the room.
Only then did Ellis and Hiro step inside.
"Ah, son... why do I feel like I've been asleep for such a long time?" Elder Madam Keir muttered weakly. "I don't want to stay here anymore. When can I leave?"
"Mom... you've been in a coma for months," Ellis said as he pulled up a chair beside her bed.
The old matriarch froze.
Her mind was still hazy, and she absent-mindedly mumbled to herself as she struggled to piece together the missing months.
Ellis and Hiro exchanged meaningful glances before Hiro put on a grim expression.
"Grandma... a lot has happened while you were unconscious, and..." He hesitated, as though the words refused to come out. "Hadi... he..."
"That's right, where's Hadi?" Elder Madam Keir asked. "I feel like I heard his voice earlier... or was I dreaming? Did he already leave?"
"Mom..." Ellis said, his eyes reddening. "He's gone."
The old matriarch failed to grasp what he meant, assuming Hadi had simply left the hospital.
"It's alright. He can visit me when he's not busy," she murmured with a faint smile.
Ellis drew a deep breath, preparing to reveal the cruel truth.
Just then, the door swung open.
Allister's sharp gaze swept over Ellis and Hiro before settling on his mother.
"Allister!" Elder Madam Keir exclaimed happily, gesturing for him to come closer. "How's the family? Is everything alright?"
Seeing how much happier his mother seemed upon seeing his younger brother, Ellis couldn't help but feel bitter. It was as though only Allister's words carried any credibility in her eyes.
With a cold sneer, he blurted out, "Why are you asking someone who wouldn't care even if the Keir clan crashed and burned? Instead of letting him feed you comforting lies, I'll tell you the truth. Don't you know? Shin Keir and his fiancée have been dominating the nationwide headlines again and again for all the wrong reasons. Scandals, accusations... dragging the Keir family's reputation through the mud. And Calin Ricci publicly exposed your past conversations with her, claiming you emotionally manipulated her, lied to her, and kept insinuating that she'd be the one to marry Shin-"
"Ellis Keir! Shut up!" Allister roared as he grabbed him by the collar.
But Ellis had completely lost control, shouting. "And Hadi is dead! It wasn't enough that Shin had him expelled from the clan. After that, he completely lost himself and got run over by a car. My son died just like that!"
Allister's fist slammed into Ellis's face.
"For the sake of inheritance, you've really stooped this low?" he snarled. "Ellis Keir, you're pathetic."
Before either man could say another word, the ECG suddenly emitted a shrill, continuous alarm.
Elder Madam Keir had gone deathly pale.
With trembling fingers pointing towards them, her eyes widened in horror as she struggled to breathe.
"I... is that true?" she stammered between ragged breaths. "All- all of it..."
Allister immediately rushed to her bedside. "Calm down. Don't listen to him. He's talking nonsense."
The old woman's breathing only became more laboured.
Within seconds, doctors and nurses rushed into the room.
The once quiet VIP ward erupted into chaos as medical staff hurried around the bed, issuing rapid instructions while monitors continued blaring.
The three were promptly ushered outside.
The moment the door closed behind them, Ellis opened his mouth to speak but Allister threw another punch, sending him stumbling backwards before the two brothers grappled in the middle of the corridor, each refusing to back down.
Hiro had absolutely no intention of playing peacemaker. Instead, he simply pretended to panic, calling for them to stop while making no real effort to separate the two.
Ellis had initially intended to tell the old matriarch about Hadi's death alone.
But the moment he saw the absolute trust and dependence in his mother's eyes when she looked at Allister, every ounce of resentment, jealousy, and bitterness he had buried for years surged to the surface.
Among the three siblings, Ellis had always known their mother favoured Allister.
The only time their relationship had ever turned sour was when Allister refused her arrangements and insisted on marrying Celestine. Just when she thought she had finally succeeded in separating them, Shin entered the picture.
Although the old matriarch openly favoured Hiro and Hadi while treating Shin with viciousness and disdain, whenever it came to matters concerning the company or the Keir clan, she would suddenly turned helpless, always had an excuse.
Wasn't her kindness towards Hiro and Hadi merely an attempt to ease her own guilt?
Because deep down, she had always believed that Allister and Shin were the true pillars of the family. The only people she genuinely relied on.
Ellis had finally had enough.
If that was truly how she saw things, then he no longer had any need for a mother like her.
As the two brothers traded punches in the hospital corridor, no one noticed a paparazzo who had quietly slipped inside, hoping to catch some gossip involving the wealthy elites.
By sheer luck, he had struck gold.
It didn't take long before articles flooded the internet.
[Two Influential Keir Brothers Brawl Inside Hospital Corridor!]
[Power Struggle Within the Keir Family?]
Almost instantly, the Keirs once again shot to the top of the trending list.
Naturally, Yeri's brain-dead haters wasted no time dragging her into a matter that had absolutely nothing to do with her.
"Must be Yeri causing trouble again."
Another replied, "I remember Master Keir was quite fond of Yeri. He even defended her at Calin's engagement banquet after she slapped his crazy wife."
"Gosh, I think I know what's going on!" another self-proclaimed internet detective wrote. "Wasn't Ellis Keir suspected of having something to do with Yeri's father over Shin's mother's death? There were rumours years ago that Shin's mother was Master Keir's first love! That has to be why these two are fighting! If Master Keir liked Yeri before... I wonder if he still does now? LOL."