Chapter 46
A group of men dressed in men burst into the venue with an imposing presence.
With swift and precise movements, they saved Nydia and formed a protective circle around
her.
Buck exclaimed, “Who are you people?”
The crowd was equally shocked. “Could the men be foreign agents rescuing their undercover spy?” they wondered.
But Buck turned his gaze to Mick and wondered if Mick was publicly defending Nydia now. That didn’t make sense.
In the past, Mick wouldn’t spare her a glance even if she was humiliated in public.
Mick frowned deeply in confusion as he glanced toward the entrance.
Seeing it wasn’t Mick’s doing, Buck was even more alarmed. Could Nydia have another identity?
The next moment, a collective gasp arose from the audience as a man in a tailored gray suit stepped forward. His sharp facial features exuded cold authority, and his tall commanding figure seemed to dominate the room.
Beside him was a boy dressed in a matching gray suit. He had a crocodile–themed water bottle slung across his chest and a crocodile plush toy in hand. He looked utterly adorable.
“Who’s that? That suit looks like Queen’s design! It’s priceless!”
“That’s so cool!”
“What an overwhelming presence. I dare not even speak.”
As the man approached, the room fell into complete silence.
Buck’s voice trembled in disbelief. “Mr. Houle?”
Nydia was equally shocked. Before she could react, Norman rushed into her arms. “I’ve missed you so much, Ms. Vega.”
She smiled and pinched his cheek. “Good boy. Why are you here?”
“Of course, I’m here for you. I saw the livestream,” Norman said as he gestured toward his phone.
“You’re amazing, and yet they don’t trust you. They’re all idiots!”
Eddie cast a cold glance at the crowd, while Homer got up and inquired in a respectful tone, What brings you here, Mr. Houle?”
Eddie replied in a calm voice, “This concerns your health, so I have to take it seriously.”
After a pause, he turned to Nydia. “Were you saying there’s something wrong with Mr. Barton Senior’s health?”
Nydia was unsure of his relationship with the Barton family, but she’d been repeatedly interrupted and dragged away, so she hadn’t had the chance to explain.
Now she finally had the opportunity to speak. “During the final round, I noticed seven muscle spasms in Mr. Barton Senior’s arm within ten minutes.”
As she finished, Homer’s expression changed drastically.
She continued, “That’s right. These spasms usually occur during deep sleep when breathing reaches its lowest frequency. That’s when the brain sends signals to wake the body.
“But for spasms to occur while awake, it usually means the brain has detected a signal indicating imminent danger and is trying to alert the body.
“Unfortunately, these signs have been ignored so far.”
Buck’s face had been filled with rage, but now he fell into deep thought. If Nydia had said anything unfavorable, he might’ve lashed out. But as she finished, his face turned grave in contemplation.
Months ago, Homer had undergone a chest X–ray due to a cough. The results showed some abnormalities, and doctors suggested further consultations with specialists.
However, he had dismissed it as a minor pneumonia and insisted there was no need to make a fuss. No one had taken it seriously back then.
Now that he thought about it…
“Grandpa…” Buck’s voice trembled as he turned to Homer. His face was filled with worry. Mona suddenly interjected. “What nonsense is this? You’re just fearmongering!”
