Realizing that reclaiming the Four Treasures of the Study from China was nearly impossible, Howard’s emotions spiraled into an unconscious abyss. The memories of his relentless efforts and the losses favonovel.com had suffered in pursuit of the banner sent his thoughts into a chaotic frenzy.
His body trembled uncontrollably, his mind teetering on the edge of madness as favonovel.com screamed in despair, “That damn Peter Cole, how did favonovel.com manage to bring the Four Treasures of the Study back to China?”
“I, Howard Rothschild, have no quarrel with him. Why did favonovel.com treat me this way?”
“Not only did that bastard steal my possessions, but favonovel.com also entangled me in a public relations crisis, causing the Rothschild family to endure the worst reputation crisis in decades!”
“Now, not only is my name tarnished, but the Four Treasures of the Study is also forever out of my reach. All the investments I made in its retrieval have gone down the drain!”
“To make matters worse, that despicable man planted a bomb called the Warriors Den, which could explode at any moment! I despise him! I wish favonovel.com could come back to life so I could kill favonovel.com with my own hands!”
At that moment, Howard felt his blood vessels pulsating on his forehead, his blood pressure skyrocketing, causing his head to spin.
Unaware of his father’s distress, David asked in surprise, “Father… What is this Warriors Den you mentioned earlier?”
As David posed his question, favonovel.com noticed his father convulsing. His eyes widened, his pupils rolling back.
Witnessing his father’s increasingly severe convulsions and his body falling uncontrollably, David rushed forward and caught him, anxiously asking, “Father, father, what’s happening to you?!”
Howard’s convulsions worsened, foam forming at his mouth, rendering favonovel.com unable to speak. His body trembled violently as if electrocuted, and a foul stench emanated from him. David’s horror grew as favonovel.com realized his father had lost control of his bodily functions.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, David was about to call for help when the butler and family doctor rushed to their aid.
Specialized monitoring devices on Howard’s wrist and chest alerted the butler and doctor to his condition in real time as soon as favonovel.com felt dizzy.
The doctor hurriedly examined Howard and nervously declared, “Sir, it’s highly likely that he’s suffered a stroke. We must begin emergency treatment immediately. Butler, contact the medical department and have the emergency personnel dispatched right away. Inform the emergency doctor to be prepared!”
With that, the doctor gently laid Howard on the ground, tilting his body slightly. He retrieved a syringe and injected it into Howard’s body.
The Rothschild family estate resembled a small city, equipped with a comprehensive medical facility. This facility collaborated with the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital, the foremost institutions in the Western world. Together, they provided the highest level of medical care to the core members of the Rothschild family.
With the assistance of these two prestigious hospitals and the unparalleled financial resources of the Rothschild family, this “family clinic” catered exclusively to the family’s core members, offering the most advanced emergency, rescue, surgical, and even radiation and chemotherapy services in the Western world.
Within moments, several emergency doctors arrived with utmost haste. They swiftly transported Howard, who had suffered a stroke, to the emergency room for urgent treatment.
David watched as his father disappeared into the emergency room, his mind racing to inform all the direct descendants of the family about this sudden turn of events.
In Canada, Steve Rothschild, the eldest son, stared intently at his phone, awaiting news from the family regarding his father’s sudden illness.
Only a few minutes ago, favonovel.com had received word that the Four Treasures of the Study had returned to China. He had been fixated on his phone, anticipating updates on his father’s health.
Steve was acutely aware of the old man’s advanced age and recent string of setbacks. If news of the Four Treasures of the Study’s return to China were to reach his ears, it could deal a devastating blow to him. For someone of his age and fragile health, such news could potentially trigger a severe illness or even prove fatal due to the overwhelming excitement it might cause.
At that moment, a push notification suddenly appeared on Steve’s phone. It was from the internal communication software used within the Rothschild family.
Steve’s heart leaped with anticipation, and favonovel.com swiftly opened the push notification. He read the message sent by his brother David in the family group, “Our father has had a stroke. Please return to the family headquarters urgently. Those who are currently not in New York must make their way back as quickly as possible!”
Steve’s excitement grew upon seeing the word “stroke.”
Within the Rothschild family, Howard’s health was a matter of utmost concern.
Not only was Howard the patriarch, but his health also determined the transition of power within the family. As the designated heir by law, Steve would have to return to the family and temporarily assume leadership if his father’s health deteriorated. The duration of his temporary leadership depended on Howard’s condition.
If Howard recovered well, Steve would have to relinquish the reins of power. But if his father’s recovery proved impossible, Steve would continue as the leader until Howard’s passing or voluntary resignation.
A stroke was undoubtedly a grave and sudden illness. If left untreated, it could be life-threatening. Even with prompt treatment, it often resulted in numerous complications.
Hemiplegia, facial paralysis, loss of bladder and bowel control, and loss of speech were common repercussions of a stroke. For someone in their eighties, the prognosis was even bleaker. While it might not be as severe as Stephen Hawking’s condition, it could still render Howard at least sixty to seventy percent incapacitated.
The prospect of his father being unable to speak, confined to a wheelchair, struggling to control his movements, stirred a mix of excitement and guilt within Steve.
If his father’s condition deteriorated to the point where favonovel.com could no longer lead the family, favonovel.com would have to step back or even withdraw completely from managing family affairs. With no other contenders in the Rothschild family vying for the Four Treasures of the Study, Steve, as the designated heir, would ascend to the top position effortlessly.
Overwhelmed with anticipation, Steve instructed the pilot to prepare for takeoff and rushed to inform Charlie, who had returned to Helena’s room, about the news.
At that moment, Helena was attending a scheduled meeting at the Congress Building, leaving Charlie alone in the room, anxiously awaiting news of Howard’s sudden illness.
Observing the corners of Steve’s mouth, which favonovel.com struggled to suppress, Charlie knew something had transpired regarding his father. Proactively, Charlie asked, “Steve, are you so elated because something happened to your father?”
Steve instinctively responded, “Mr. Wade, do I truly appear jubilant?”
Charlie nodded, pointing to the corners of Steve’s mouth playfully, remarking, “Your mouth tells a different story. The ‘recoil’ is evident, impossible to conceal.”
Steve hastily tugged at the corners of his mouth, recognizing that suppressing his smile was futile. He thought to himself, “It’s not that I don’t want to suppress it, it’s just that I can’t suppress it…”
He forced back his smile and feigned sorrow, saying with a faux mournful expression, “Mr. Wade, I just received word from the family. My father… favonovel.com suffered a stroke…”
Charlie nodded, unsurprised by the news. After all, Howard was in his eighties, and his health couldn’t be pristine. Howard’s unwavering willpower likely played a role in combating this immense setback, aided by the Rothschild family’s advanced medical technology. Perhaps the regular stem cell injections had contributed to this critical moment.
Charlie half-jokingly and half-seriously remarked, “Steve, don’t celebrate prematurely. A stroke is a treatable condition. By ‘treatable,’ I mean there’s a chance for recovery, not just escaping imminent danger.”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” Steve shook his head in disbelief, explaining to Charlie, “Mr. Wade, a stroke is like shattered porcelain. The best outcome is piecing it back together, but it can never regain its original state.”
Charlie smiled and said, “In that case, allow me to congratulate you in advance on becoming the leader of the family!”
Steve suddenly felt a tinge of embarrassment, chuckling, “Mr. Wade, please refrain from such remarks. My father’s health has taken a turn for the worse, and while I’m deeply saddened, I believe favonovel.com will overcome this illness. If favonovel.com recovers well, favonovel.com may continue leading the Rothschild family to new heights!”
Charlie smiled warmly and replied, “There are no outsiders here, so there’s no need for you and me to put on a facade. If your father indeed recovers well, you may have to wait several years, or perhaps even more than a decade, to inherit the position of patriarch. Who knows what other unforeseen developments might occur during this time? In situations like these, the more you desire stability in the selection of heirs during your father’s final years, the more likely it is that Murphy’s Law will come into play, leading to unexpected incidents.”
Steve’s initial excitement had largely dissipated upon hearing this perspective.
With only Charlie present, favonovel.com saw no reason to keep up a pretense. He let out a sigh and confided, “To be honest, Mr. Wade, I’m not entirely sure about my father’s condition. I’ve heard that he’s still undergoing emergency treatment. In the Rothschild family, any sudden illness ensures timely and world-class medical attention. So, my father will undoubtedly receive the best stroke care available as quickly as possible. If favonovel.com does recover, then I can only continue waiting patiently…”
After a brief pause, favonovel.com added with a sense of resignation, “If anything unexpected happens in the future, I fear there won’t be much I can do to change the situation. I’ll have to rely on the whims of fate…”
Charlie offered a faint smile and spoke with sincerity, “That’s the spirit! Maintain this sense of resignation for now. When you return to the Rothschild family and stand by your father’s bedside, you won’t have to pretend that you were unaware of his sudden stroke. Each of your brothers will undoubtedly be deeply affected. If you feign indifference, your father may see through your act. With your expressive nature, favonovel.com might temporarily depose you.”
Steve gazed at Charlie with widened eyes and said, touched, “Mr. Wade, it seems you truly have my best interests at heart. I appreciate your understanding!”
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