The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 267

The sound of shoes pounded down the hallway as a group of bodyguards in black suits raced toward the hospital room.

Lucie stared at Elio, completely stunned. “Elio, what’s going on with you?”

He shot her a frantic look and darted toward the balcony. “Lucie, I can’t explain right now. Take care of yourself, okay? I’ll come find you later!”

Without waiting for a response, he hopped onto the balcony railing, inching along the thin metal like it was some sort of tightrope. There was nothing below him except open air and a deadly drop.

Lucie’s heart almost stopped. “Elio, get down! That’s way too dangerous!”

Before she could say another word, the hospital room door slammed open. Several young bodyguards rushed inside. The moment they saw Elio, they all froze, jaws dropping.

“Mr. Pitts! Sir, please come home with us! It’s not safe—get down!”

Elio acted like he couldn’t even hear them. He took a few quick steps on the narrow railing and, without hesitation, leapt into thin air.

“Mr. Pitts!” the bodyguards yelled, rushing to the balcony.

Lucie gasped, her face going white. She scrambled to the railing, peering over the edge in terror.

Right then, the butler, Owen, burst into the room. He caught sight of Elio just as he disappeared over the railing. “Oh, dear Lord!”

Owen’s legs buckled and he collapsed backward against one of the bodyguards. “He jumped! Mr. Pitts really jumped!” His face was sheet-white as he clutched his chest, practically wailing, “Who told you to chase him like that? You scared him right off the balcony! If anything happens to him, we’re all finished!”

Owen scrambled to the balcony on his hands and knees, Lucie already glued to the railing, searching frantically.

Just then, they saw Elio land with surprising agility on the eighth-floor balcony below. Without missing a beat, he vaulted down to the seventh, then again to the sixth. He moved from balcony to balcony, nimble as a monkey.

“Elio, please be careful!” Lucie whispered, barely able to breathe. This was so typical of him. Elio had always been reckless, always getting himself into trouble no one else would dare.

A bodyguard called out, “Owen, he’s alright!”

Owen staggered to the railing and looked down. Elio had already reached the fifth floor. He slipped inside, out of sight—safe, but gone.

“Anything could happen at any time, and even the smallest complication could be critical. He’ll need to stay in the ICU for at least a month. Our main goal now is to keep him stable and monitor all his vital signs closely.”

Lucie’s face drained of color. Her legs felt weak, so she grabbed the back of a nearby chair for support, voice trembling. “Doctor, is there… is there any chance he’ll fully recover? Is he in danger over the next month?”

The doctor sighed gently. “Right now, let’s not worry about a full recovery. Honestly, just keeping him alive is already a huge win.”

Lucie’s eyes filled with tears. She blinked them back, forcing herself to stay strong. “Please, doctor, do whatever you can to save him. No matter the cost, I’ll do anything.”

“We’ll do everything possible,” the doctor said kindly. “But you need to take care of yourself, too. Stay strong. Your grandfather needs your support now more than ever.”

“Thank you, doctor. I will.”

After leaving the office, Lucie walked slowly to the ICU doors. Through the thick glass, she saw her grandfather lying in bed, surrounded by tubes and wires. The steady beep of the monitors was the only sign of life. He looked so still and pale, his eyes closed.

Lucie couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears she’d been fighting finally spilled down her cheeks.