Chapter 31
Arianne waited in the hospital parking lot that night. She had been preparing to sleep when Gilbert called to tell her Vincent had collapsed at home and was being rushed to the hospital.
She stepped out of the car as soon as they came to a stop. Gilbert followed, locking the doors behind him.
In the VIP ward lobby, they found Amanda pacing nervously, while Franz was seated on the bench, head down.
“Auntie, is there any news?” Arianne asked, walking toward the older woman.
Amanda lifted her gaze and drew Arianne into a hug, her hands trembling slightly.
“Oh, Aria. We’re still waiting for the doctor to come out. I found him in his study unconscious.” Amanda wept in Arianne’s arms. “I should have nagged him more to take a break from work if I knew something like this would happen.
Arianne glanced at Gilbert, who had taken a seat next to Franz; neither man uttered a word.
“Calm down, Auntie,” Arianne told Amanda, leading the older woman to take a seat instead.
“What about the kids?” she then asked Franz.
Gilbert answered in his stead. “I sent Sam to accompany them for now. I told her not to mention what just happened p>
It had only been over two months since Alex and Layla’s passing. If the twins heard about this, their fears of having to lose someone again might undo all the progress they had made in their therapies.
While waiting, Arianne stood up and called Lucas to inform him of the situation. News like this could be detrimental to Rochefort Group, as it was in the final phase of the Orion Logistics merger.
Lucas assured her that he would handle the disclosure and would cooperate with the communications department about the press inquiries.
Minutes passed without announcement.
A nurse crossed the lobby twice, each time glancing at the closed doors before moving on.
No one offered updates. No one promised timelines.
Arianne thanked him and ended the call just as a doctor finally emerged from the room, holding a folder in one hand. Amanda and Franz rushed to greet him.
Arianne didn’t return to her seat right away.
Her phone remained in her hand, screen dark, as if waiting for the next interruption to justify itself.
She already knew it wouldn’t be the last call.
“Doctor, how’s my husband?” Amanda asked the doctor, her voice filled with worry.
Franz waited beside her with anticipation while Arianne and Gilbert stood silently nearby.
“You brought him in time. If you had arrived any later, he would have suffered worse. Mr. Rochefort suffered a heart attack. For now, he’s not stable yet and needs to be observed.” The doctor replied.
The doctor’s words settled unevenly in the room.
Nothing he said sounded final, and that was what unsettled her the most.
Stability was implied, but not promised.
But for how long?” Amanda asked desperately.
It hadn’t been long since she lost her eldest son and daughter-in-law. Was she supposed to lose her husband, too?
The doctor shook his head.
“We can only wait for now, Madam,” he replied.
Amanda wanted to say more, but what else could she do but wait?
Franz held his mother’s shoulders to stabilize his mother.
“Are we allowed to see him at least then?” he asked the doctor.
“Yes,” the doctor replied, “You can see him as soon as he’s moved to the ICU p>
Franz nodded.
Arianne took his arm when she got a chance and told him, “Just focus on your family for now, Franz. You can leave the company affairs to Lucas and me. We’ve already discussed the next steps p>
Franz was relieved to hear her reassurance. His shoulders relaxed.
“Thank you, Aria. You have no idea how much this means to us,” he said.
Arianne tapped his arm and smiled.
“Your family has helped me when I was down. Think of it as me repaying all the favors your family has given me p>
“Don’t say that, Aria. You are like part of our family. Of course, we would always have your back p>
“I understand.” Arianne didn’t push further. “We’ll try to suppress the news temporarily. The news is bound to be known by the public sooner or later p>
“That’s what I’m worried about. The signing of the merger might be delayed p>
“Leave those things to us for now, Franz,” Arianne replied. “For the meantime, stay with your parents. They would need you more than ever p>
She then looked around, watching the nurses come and go as they prepared to move the chairman to the ICU.
“Being here in the hospital must be uncomfortable for you,” she whispered.
“Being here reminded me of the time of the accident,” Franz’s voice lowered. “Do you know I was the last person Alex talked to before he passed away p>
Arianne’s eyes widened. She had not expected that.
“No,” she shook her head. “No one told me p>
Franz wanted to say more, but his mother called his attention, asking him to go.
“I’ll tell you some other time, Aria,” he forced a smile on Aria. “Thank you for coming here on such short notice p>
He left Arianne to accompany his mother as they followed the nurses to the ICU room, leaving Arianne with Gilbert.
The hallway had quieted.
Even the distant sounds of movement seemed to soften, as if the building itself were holding its breath.
For a brief moment, nothing demanded her attention.
Her phone beeped in her pocket. Checking it, Arianne found a message from Lucas.
“Press has it. We’ve just lost the window p>
Another storm was just about to hit the Rochefort Group.