Tom Wilson first led the group to the showroom to showcase the wheelchair he had designed. Jonny Dawson immediately sat in and tried it out for himself.
After giving it a try, he complimented, "This is really a great wheelchair. The features are impressive."
"Thank you, Mr. Dawson. Compared to Meco's smart products, we still have a lot to learn," Tom Wilson humbly replied.
"Mr. Wilson, you're being too modest," Jonny Dawson said. "By the way, who's in charge of R&D at your company?"
Tom Wilson smiled and answered, "I'm currently in charge of R&D. I come from a technical background."
Jonny Dawson was a bit surprised. "Just you alone?"
"For now, yes. But we plan to expand our R&D team soon."
Jonny Dawson suggested, "How about we sit down somewhere and talk more?"
"Sure."
Both Jonny Dawson and Tom Wilson were really familiar with AI, so their conversation flowed smoothly and professionally. Grace Li, sitting off to the side, didn't fully catch all the technical jargon.
After the meeting, the group went to a restaurant for dinner. As they entered the private dining room, everyone took their seats. Grace Li handed the menu to Jonny Dawson, saying, "Mr. Dawson, please take a look and let me know what you'd like. Does anyone have any specific preferences? Feel free to suggest something."
Jonny Dawson waved his hand. "You can go ahead and order. I'm not picky."
Grace Li asked, "Do you have any preferences for food?"
"I usually go for something light."
"Got it." Grace Li flipped through the menu, chatting with everyone as she placed the order.
Jonny Dawson and Aiden Thompson started chatting and seemed to be really into their conversation.
The dishes arrived one by one. During the meal, everyone chatted casually, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
Grace Li really liked these kinds of dinner gatherings. There was no forced drinking, no flattery—just people sitting together, discussing a project or relevant topics in the field. She learned a lot from it.
Halfway through the meal, Aiden Thompson's phone rang. He gripped it tightly, his knuckles turning white from the tension. His voice was full of urgency as he said, "Excuse me," then quickly stepped out of the room to take the call.
It was his sister, Vera Thompson. Her voice trembled slightly on the phone, "Aiden, Dad had a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital unconscious. They immediately took him to the ER, and the doctors are doing everything they can. They're still monitoring his condition."
Aiden Thompson's heart sank. A sudden heart attack usually happens after a big shock. "What happened? Why did he have a heart attack?"
"At the board meeting this morning,Elijah Porter and Henry Morgan proposed holding a shareholders' meeting to re-elect the board. According to the company rules, they need to notify all shareholders in advance and explain why. Their proposal didn't follow the proper procedure, and it really upset Dad. He argued with them for a bit, got really angry, and then had a heart attack."
"How's he doing now?"
Vera Thompson said, "He's still in the ER. The doctors are doing everything they can, but his condition is still critical."
Rex Thompson had had a sudden heart attack and was unconscious, and now there were people in the company scheming against them. As the man of the family, Aiden couldn't just sit back and do nothing. "I'm on my way back now."
Aiden Thompson returned to the private dining room. First, he apologized, "Sorry, everyone. I have to leave—there's an emergency."
Jonny Dawson said, "It's okay. Go take care of it."
Aiden Thompson looked at Grace Li, "Grace, could you step out for a second?"
Grace Li stood up and followed him outside. She noticed his serious expression. "Aiden, what's wrong?"
Aiden Thompson said, "My dad had a sudden heart attack and was hospitalized unconscious. I need to get back to LA right away. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I'll come back as soon as I can."
Grace Li said, "It doesn't matter how long you're gone. Don't worry about the company. I've got it. Just go take care of your dad."
Aiden Thompson reached out and hugged her. "Thank you."
"Go quickly. Do you want to take my car?"
"I'll grab a taxi."
"All right. Take care."
**
When Aiden Thompson rushed back to the luxurious estate in Los Angeles, his father, Rex Thompson, had already been rushed to the ICU at a nearby top private hospital.
Outside the ICU, a few anxious faces were gathered. Bob, the long-time chauffeur, was dressed in a perfectly pressed uniform, having faithfully served the Thompson family for years. David Smith, the company's executive vice president, a veteran who had worked side by side with Rex since the early days of the business, stood there, looking worried.
Bob spotted Aiden immediately and quickly walked up to him. "Aiden, you're finally here," he said with a nod.
Aiden hurried toward him, his face showing obvious concern. "Bob, has my dad woken up yet?"
"Not yet."
When Mabel Thompson saw Aiden, her eyes lit up. She quickly stood up, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she rushed toward him. "Aiden, my baby, you're back."
Aiden softly said, "Mom."
"If your dad wakes up and sees you, he'll be so happy," she said, her voice filled with relief.
"Yeah."
Aiden looked through the glass at his father, Rex, lying in the bed inside the ICU. The last time they'd spoken was six months ago, at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan. They had a huge falling out over the future direction of the family business and Aiden's refusal to marry with the Porter family. Their argument had ended badly. Now, Rex was lying in a hospital bed, his hair graying, an oxygen tube in his nose, and the heart monitor showing his weak heartbeat.
"What did the doctors say?" Aiden asked, his voice tight.
Vera Thompson sighed. "His blood pressure shot up from stress, causing a severe heart attack. He's through the worst of it, but his oxygen levels are still low, and he's still in a coma."
"Got it."
Rex's life was hanging by a thread today, but father and son still hadn't made amends. Mabel, deeply worried, took Aiden's hand. "Sweetheart, if your dad wakes up, talk to him more. Tell him you care, don't be so stubborn. Whatever he says, just listen. Don't fight him anymore, okay?"
"I know, Mom."
"You two are just too hard-headed. Every time you argue, neither of you will back down," Mabel said, a slight catch in her voice. "But I know your dad has always cared about you. He checks on you from time to time. He's just too proud to show it, but he really does care. Please, don't hold it against him."
Aiden understood his mother's intentions. She wanted peace between him and his father. He replied, "Mom, I'm not holding anything against him."
"That's good. We need to stick together now. Your dad and I are getting older. We really can't handle any more stress," Mabel said, her voice soft but full of concern.
"Yeah." Aiden gently patted his mom's shoulder, offering her comfort.
Aiden then turned to Vera. "Sis, what's the situation at the company?"
Vera frowned, her face serious. "The Porter family and the Morgan family have joined forces. They're pushing hard for a shareholders' meeting to re-elect the board. They're saying Dad's too old and sick to keep running things."
"Porter and Dad have been partners for years. Now they've teamed up with the Morgan family to push him out. Looks like they don't care about any of that history anymore," Aiden said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"The Porter family has one daughter, Emily. She's marrying Henry, the heir to the Morgan family. The Morgan family has always had an eye on our company, and now they're hoping Henry will take over as CEO," Vera explained.
At that moment, David walked up. His hair was mostly gray now, and as Rex's most trusted person, he had a key role in the company. " Aiden, I know you've been upset about your dad pushing you into that marriage with the Porter family, but it wasn't what he wanted. He did it out of necessity. Over the years, the Morgan family's been buying up shares quietly. Your dad's been keeping a close eye on it. If you had married with the Porter family, the company would have stayed in your hands. But now, with both families coming together, their combined shares have surpassed your dad's. If this shareholders' meeting happens, we're in serious trouble."
"Has the meeting been set yet?" Aiden asked, his tone more urgent.
David shook his head. "Not yet, but the board is talking about it urgently. Henry and the Porters are set on it. I don't think we can stop them."
"Also, rumors are going around, inside and outside the company, that you've cut ties with your father and there's no one to take over. Aiden, this may be personal, but your dad has spent his whole life on this company. He's almost at retirement age, but he's still fighting. As his son, you should try to understand him more," David said, with a sympathetic tone.
Aiden, though reluctant to take over the family business, wasn't going to let anyone undermine his father's hard work. "I'll go to the company tomorrow. Once I'm there, those rumors will die down."
David breathed a sigh of relief. "If your dad hears that, he'll be really relieved."
It wasn't until 10 PM that Rex finally started to stir. The doctors and nurses in the ICU immediately surrounded him, using advanced medical equipment to run a full check-up and make sure his vitals were stable.
Through the glass window, Rex saw the people outside, and the one who stood out the most was his son, the one who'd once been so rebellious.
"Doctor…"
The doctor hurried over, speaking respectfully. "Mr. Thompson, what can I do for you?"
"Let them in."
The doctor hesitated. "This is the ICU, and usually, we don't let family members in freely. But since your condition seems stable, we can allow two family members in for a visit. However, we can't let it go longer than ten minutes."
"Alright."
The doctor stepped out of the ICU to inform the family they could come in.
Mabel walked into the ICU, and when she saw Rex was awake, tears sprang to her eyes. "You're finally awake! You scared the life out of me."
"Look at you, your eyes are all puffed up like walnuts."
Hearing him joke, Mabel laughed through her tears. "You really scared me, you old fool."
"I'm alright now. As long as I'm awake."
"Yeah."
Rex's eyes shifted to Aiden.
Aiden stepped closer, softly calling out, "Dad."
That single word, "Dad," was something Rex hadn't heard in over a year. Their father-son relationship had been strained for so long. Aiden had been tough on the outside, but Rex had always worried about his son, wondering when the rebellious kid would grow up and understand what his father was trying to do.
Now, lying in the hospital bed, Rex felt a sense of relief. His son had finally come back.