CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me

Chapter 221 - 173: Light at the End of the Tunnel (Part 2)

Before they could finish their conversation, voices suddenly sounded from outside. It was Julian Donovan, and he sounded furious as he spoke to the two bodyguards. "What’s the problem? You won’t let me in? This hospital is mine. I’ll go wherever I damn well please. Who the hell do you two think you are?"

"Our boss gave us orders. No one is allowed in except for doctors and nurses!"

One of the bodyguards answered defiantly. Julian Donovan’s voice grew even colder. "Don’t make me use force. Get out of my way!"

Hearing the commotion, the detective said hurriedly, "I should go. The information you provided today was very useful. Thank you!"

He put on his mask and turned to leave. The moment he opened the door, he saw Julian Donovan glaring at the two bodyguards, a chilling frost on his stern face. When Julian saw him exit, he shot him a cold glance. Even for a detective who had seen his fair share of intense situations, that single look sent a shiver down his spine.

Remembering his cover as a doctor—and as one of Julian Donovan’s employees—he lowered his head, gave Julian a slight nod, and turned to leave. As he walked away, Julian watched his retreating figure, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

He shot the two bodyguards another vicious glare, but instead of trying to enter the room again, he turned and left. The bodyguards assumed they had successfully blocked him. Inside the room, Naomi Shaw let out a long sigh of relief when she heard his footsteps fading away. ’I really don’t know how I could have faced him right now.’

The detective hurried to the end of the hall and slipped into the stairwell. Most people took the elevator, so the stairs offered a more discreet and safer exit. He had only just descended one flight when a cold voice rang out from behind him. "Stop right there!"

’This is bad,’ he thought, quickening his pace to escape. But the person behind him launched a ferocious assault, and he had no choice but to turn and meet the attack.

Julian Donovan was a man of principle, especially when it came to his hospital. He personally interviewed and selected every doctor on his staff. He demanded they possess not only superb medical skills but also impeccable character. As a result, he had at least some impression of nearly every physician.

This was especially true for the doctor treating Naomi Shaw. Upon hearing she was hospitalized, he had specifically inquired who her attending physician was. That was why, when he’d locked eyes with the man at Naomi’s door, he immediately sensed something was wrong. Even with the large surgical mask, he knew those eyes. They didn’t belong to any doctor in his hospital.

His suspicions aroused, he had forgone visiting Naomi and followed the man instead. Just as he’d expected, he found something strange. ’What kind of doctor skulks down a stairwell?’

And so, the two began to fight in the narrow stairwell. As an Interpol officer, Ivan Warren was highly skilled. But Julian Donovan was a man who had clawed his way through life-or-death situations; his skills were even sharper. On top of that, he had a belly full of rage to unleash, so for a moment, the two were locked in a stalemate.

In the middle of the fight, Ivan Warren’s credentials fell from his pocket. Julian glimpsed them, took a step back, and lowered his fists. The chill in his eyes intensified. "A cop?"

Ivan Warren wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth and bent down to retrieve his credentials, saying nothing. Now that Julian Donovan knew, there was no point in hiding it.

Ivan Warren was injured, but Julian Donovan hadn’t escaped unscathed. His handsome face was streaked with blood, but he felt no pain—only rage. Now that the man’s police identity was revealed, Julian could piece together the whole story. And since he knew, he could no longer sit back and do nothing.

He snorted coldly at the detective. "Officer Warren, would you prefer to continue this fight and alert Sean Donovan’s men? Or would you like to come to my office for a cup of tea?"

Though reluctant to have his identity exposed, Ivan Warren knew he wouldn’t be leaving the hospital today without cooperating. He managed a smile. "In that case, let’s go sample President Donovan’s tea."

Only then did the hostility on Julian’s face recede. He straightened his clothes and led the way upstairs, and Ivan Warren followed him to his office.

Julian Donovan did indeed treat Ivan Warren to some fine tea. After they sat facing each other on the reception sofas, Julian cut straight to the chase. "I want to know the whole story."

Ivan Warren took a sip of his tea and told him the truth. At this point, he had no other choice. Even though Julian had already guessed the gist of it, he still erupted in a rage upon hearing Ivan hesitantly explain that they were using Naomi Shaw as an undercover agent to spy on Sean Donovan. He lunged forward and swung a fist at Ivan’s face. "Are you cops that pathetic? You sent a defenseless woman to be your mole?"

The thought of her in such a dangerous position next to Sean Donovan made him want to kill every last one of these cops.

Ivan Warren hadn’t expected him to be so furious and couldn’t dodge in time, taking the punch head-on. Catching his breath, Ivan tried to explain, "It’s not like we had any other choice with Sean Donovan! He’s too cunning. None of the agents we sent could get close to him. Only Naomi Shaw could get in his inner circle!"

His eyes bloodshot, Julian roared at Ivan Warren, "If anything happens to her, I’ll make every last one of you pay with your lives!"

"We will do our best to ensure her safety..."

Ivan Warren’s attempt to placate him only fanned the flames of his rage. "Ensure her safety? She’s with Sean Donovan every day, how can you possibly protect her? Is this your idea of protection? Landing her in the hospital?"

"We didn’t expect her to get sick..."

Before Ivan could finish, Julian cut him off coldly. "I don’t want to hear your excuses, and I have zero faith in your competence. From now on, I’m taking over. Now, tell me how far you’ve gotten."

Left with no choice, Ivan Warren relayed the information Naomi had just provided. Julian frowned, deep in thought. Sean Donovan hadn’t left the Donovan Residence, which meant there had to be a secret area on the property for his drug production. But how could they find it? ’Do I really have to leave her with Sean Donovan to uncover this secret?’

’No! I won’t let her take that risk again!’

However, uncovering that secret would be no easy task. Sean Donovan was too cautious; he would never allow any strangers inside the Donovan Residence.

Suddenly, he thought of someone. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Mom, have you ever been to the Donovan Residence?"

To find out that secret, the only option now was to find someone familiar with the Donovan Residence. He had never once set foot in the Donovan Residence. Charles Donovan, his own father, and Sean Donovan’s mother were all dead. The only person who might possibly know was Jean Coleman.