Chapter 524: How Much Time Do I Have Left?

Lucas’s eyes turned red. He had dealt with situations like this before. He knew how much Bianca meant to Dave. If he hurt her now, it would only turn Dave against him.

“You can scare her slightly, but don’t overdo it. If I go after her now, Dave will turn against me. It’s not the right time yet. I’ll wait for the right moment.

But Wyatt? Dave won’t care as much about him. Make him as an example to others. Be harsh. Let everyone see the price of going against me. Bianca needs to understand what will happen if she ever dares to challenge me.”

Rupert nodded quickly.

The situation was urgent, so they called the family’s medical team right away. The doctors moved fast and brought Lucas into his room.

His condition was critical. He was barely holding on, and only the doctors’ quick actions kept him alive. Now, he lay in bed, weak and fading.

Rupert stood by his side as his face was filled with worry. He only felt relaxed when Lucas motioned for him to come closer.

“Rupert, be careful. Don’t draw attention. One wrong move and the company could fall.”

Rupert felt an overwhelming victory inside. His father's trust gave him a sense of pride.

His plan had worked. He had created distance between Dave and Lucas, and at the same time, earned his father’s favor. This was just the beginning of his climb to the top.

But he knew he had to keep pretending. To his father, he had to look like the loyal son. His real plans should be properly hidden.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything carefully,” Rupert said.

He also made sure to praise Dave, just enough to erase any doubt. “Dave means well. He’s just blinded by Bianca. She’s the one pulling the strings.”

Rupert kept bubbling, “Dave, unlike others from noble families, has buried himself in work. He doesn’t understand how dangerous women like Bianca can be. He’s still young and needs to learn some tough lessons.”

Lucas stared at his son, still unsure if Rupert had what it took to lead. But for once, he saw some sense in his words.

Dave’s weakness was clear. He was too soft when it came to women. He let his feelings cloud his judgment. How could someone like that be trusted to run the Evans Group?

Still, deep down, Lucas already knew who he wanted as his successor. It was Dave.

He had thought about getting rid of Bianca. But Dave’s sharp instincts made it risky. If he found out, things could spiral fast. He might even turn against them.

But Lucas couldn’t wait any longer. If he didn’t act soon, the Evans family’s name would be dragged through the mud.

“Rupert,” Lucas called out his name with a frail voice but determined, “Bianca must be made to leave Dave on her own.”

He started coughing hard. When he looked at his hand, it was stained with blood.

He quickly hid it under the blanket so Rupert wouldn’t notice.

“I understand,” Rupert replied, not realizing how serious his father’s condition was.

In his mind, he was already making plans and schemes to take everything from Dave.

Lucas let out a tired sigh. His body was weak, and everything that had happened lately felt like a heavy weight he couldn’t shake off.

Time was slipping away. He thought about the future of the Evans Group. Dave still needed time to grow, but Lucas wasn’t sure he had any left to give.

He looked at Rupert and, though he didn’t fully trust him, he knew Rupert could still be useful.

“I need to rest,” Lucas said gently. “You’ll take care of the company for now. Prove yourself, Rupert. Don’t disappoint me.”

Rupert’s heart was filled with joy for winning his father's favor.

This brief chance to lead was the first real sign that his father was starting to see him differently.

The moment he had waited for had finally come. All he could see now was power.

He swore to lead the Evans Group with full force, to rise above everyone else, and to be a man no one could challenge.

The family's legacy was almost in his hands. His rise had already begun.

But Rupert wanted more than just a title. Using his father’s trust as a shield, he planned to crush everything Dave had built, make Bianca suffer, and prove to Lucas that all his doubts had been right.

The growing rift between Lucas and Dave would be the final blow.

Once their bond broke completely, nothing would stand in Rupert’s way.

As he pictured his rise, a smug smile crept across his face.

“Go, make me proud,” Lucas said.

He watched Rupert walk out, then quietly signaled the doctor to come closer.

“Tell me, doctor,” he asked, “how much time do I have left?”

The doctor had worked for Lucas for many years. Lucas trusted him.

He could tell the doctor was holding something back, so he told him to speak freely.

Lucas already knew that his condition was getting worse.

Earlier, when he got angry, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and coughed up blood.

The doctor looked at him and gave him a quick check.

“Then I’ll be honest,” the doctor said. “Your condition got worse because of stress and overwork. You’re not young anymore, and your body is wearing down. If this keeps up… even with treatment, it might not help much. You don’t have a lot of time left.”

He sighed and shook his head. “I’ll do what I can, but you must stay calm. If you get upset again, the damage might be permanent.”

“Tell me clearly,” Lucas said. “With treatment, how many years do I have left?”

The doctor’s face turned serious. “It depends. If you rest and avoid stress, you might live longer. But if you keep working and getting angry, you may only have a few years left.”

Lucas’s eyes twitched. He knew that as long as he ran the Evans Group, peace of mind was impossible. The doctor wasn’t lying. It was clear that he had to choose a successor soon.

What had happened recently felt like a test for both Dave and Rupert.

If Lucas passed away, someone had to take charge of the Evans Group. Both Dave and Rupert were part of his bloodline.