?Chapter 1182:


    Before Stan couldplete his thought, however, his head copsed sideways against the pillow, and consciousness abandoned him entirely.


    In that precise instant, the heart monitor stationed beside the bed erupted into a shrill, ear-splitting wail that sliced through the sterile air.


    The jagged line that had previously danced with irregr heartbeats now stretched into a merciless, unforgiving t line. “Beeeeeep—”


    ine’s mind reeled in confusion, his thoughts spinning wildly while panic surged through his chest like a tidal wave threatening to drown him.


    Pure instinct propelled ine forward as he seized Stan’s shoulders with desperate hands, shaking the unconscious man with fierce determination.


    “Stan! Stay with me! Tell me who did this to you!”


    The doctor’s face drained of all color as he rushed across the room to examine Stan with urgent, practiced movements.


    He bent close to detect any whisper of breath, then carefully lifted Stan’s eyelids to peer into pupils that would reveal the truth.


    Agonizing seconds crawled by before the doctor finally raised his head, his expression carved from stone and bearing the weight of finality.


    “Mr. Castro…” The doctor’s voice carried the devastating weight of loss. “I’m deeply sorry. He’s passed away.”


    Reality refused to register in ine’s mind as he stumbled backward, his legs threatening to buckle beneath the crushing weight of this impossible truth.


    Stan had indeed experienced that final surge of rity that sometimes graced the dying, yet he hadn’t managed to voice even aplete thought before death imed him with merciless swiftness.


    The realization struck ine like a physical blow—that nurse, the one who had administered what she imed was an adrenaline injection to Stan.


    Ice-cold understanding zed through ine’s consciousness with the force of lightning, transforming his features into a mask of deadlyprehension.


    “Damn…”


    “It all!” The curse tore from his throat as he pivoted sharply and bolted from the ICU with explosive speed.


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    The corridor stretched before him in mocking emptiness—the nurse had evaporated into thin air, leaving not even a whisper of her presence behind. ine dug his fingertips into his temples, fury and frustration warring within him as the bitter truth settled in—he had allowed his quarry to escape through his very grasp.


    His trembling fingers fumbled for his phone before jabbing at his bodyguard’s number with barely controlled desperation.


    The instant the connection crackled to life,mands erupted from his lips with military precision.


    “Lock down this entire building immediately! Every exit, every entrance—secure them all! No one leaves this ce! Locate the nurse who just exited Stan’s room—use any means necessary!”


    The bodyguard recognized the lethal urgency in his employer’s voice and responded without hesitation or inquiry.


    ine terminated the call before driving his fist into the unforgiving hospital wall.


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