The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1877

Meanwhile, in Colifernia, Fabian barged into the ward. Over the past week, Wynter had been missing in action while Dalton remained unconscious. When she finally returned, she refused to allow anyone to follow her into the emergency ward, even firmly requesting to stay with Dalton.

She had lain asleep for a full day and night, yet her heartbeat was alarmingly weak. Concerned, the doctors sent out critical warnings one after another.

But Fabian wasn't the only one on edge—the Yarwood family was just as disturbed. The last time they felt such agitation was when Dalton was 18. It was the same as now—he stopped breathing out of nowhere, right on his birthday.

Eventually, Kaspar fought with everything he had to pull Dalton back from the brink of death. Rumor claimed Mt. Dragon had performed rituals throughout the night, even using their sacred artifact to summon Dalton's soul back from the underworld.

From that day on, the Yarwood family prepared a coffin in their house. To outsiders, it might seem like an ill omen. However, those who met Dalton believed he wouldn't make it past 30. Since then, Dalton had stopped leaving the house as his body grew weaker.

Fabian had always been confused by Dalton's recovery in Wynter's presence. Now, he understood that Wynter was no ordinary young woman. She wasn't just sharp in business—there was far more to her than he'd ever realized.

Still, as an elder, Fabian couldn't help feeling distressed seeing Wynter in such a fragile state. But with great power came great responsibility. As the head of the Quinnell family and having previously led the Quinnell Group, he knew all too well the weight behind that saying.

Gazing at Wynter, Fabian let out a sigh of relief. His hand, gripping the dragon cane, was damp with sweat. "You're both safe. Seriously, thank god you've returned."

Dalton, ever respectful of his elders, stood up and offered his seat while greeting him. Wynter followed suit, understanding that Fabian had been carrying many burdens in her absence.

She doubted that certain members of the Southern Cascadia Chamber of Commerce would stay put during her absence, especially with Colifernia's location being so convenient for Havenia and Wanish.

Unless they kept close and frequent ties, one never realized how many foreign forces had remained embedded within the chamber of commerce.

Wynter speculated that something was amiss about the chamber of commerce. Otherwise, Fabian wouldn't have traveled all the way from Kingbourne to Colifernia. Given the circumstances, he should have stayed in Kingbourne and taken command.

In fact, part of Fabian's journey to Colifernia was indeed driven by his concern for Wynter. Recently, calls for her resignation as the chamber's president had grown louder. Though Fabian was determined to keep things from escalating, he couldn't shake his worry for Wynter.

As a grandparent, Wynter was the grandchild whom he had recovered after years of searching. And those who wished harm upon the Quinnell family often set their sights on her.

Fabian could hardly bear to think of the hardships Wynter had endured over the past 18 years. She was meant for a life of comfort upon her return to Kingbourne, adored and cared for by admirers. Even if the Quinnell family fell, Fabian was ready to risk everything to ensure her peace.

However, it was the Quinnells who needed saving. If not for Wynter, the family would have shattered long ago. Fabian would never reconcile with his grandsons, nor would he learn about the foreign infiltration within the chamber.

While he was aware of Shane's incompetence, he never imagined the extent of the sinister plot that was unfolding.

The mastermind schemed to drive a wedge between the Quinnells and the Whitmans—one so deep it could never be repaired. Worse still, they had attempted to frame the Quinnell family for treason, threatening to ruin the family completely.

It wasn't until Fabian arrived in Colifernia that he fully grasped the scope of the scheme.

With a trembling hand, he stroked Wynter's head. "Oh, my poor Sevie… You've gone through so much."

Wynter could feel the sincerity in Fabian's concern for her. Seeing the tears in his eyes, she realized how much her family had been worried for her. It reminded her of Ailithir, who had cared for her back in Mt. Nyxvarn.

Back then, the world scorned her demonic manifestation, condemning her as a harbinger of destruction. Despite the warnings, Ailithir had brought her back to Mt. Nyxvarn, where he raised and taught her as his own.

Without Ailithir, Wynter would have met an untimely end. In an age of royal patriarchy, a child of unknown origin would've been thrown away like trash.

But after a journey to the underworld, Wynter had recovered some of her memories. Kyro told her that there was still a glimmer of hope, advising her to be patient. Did that mean Ailithir and the others could one day be reincarnated?

As Wynter was deep in thought, a sudden rush of emotion hit her, leaving her stunned.

Noticing something was off about her, Fabian softly asked, "What's the matter? Did I scare you?"

"Of course not. It's just that I haven't seen you in so long. I miss you, Grandpa," Wynter replied, reaching out to hug Fabian.

Fabian was taken aback, never being approached by his grandchildren in such a way. A smile stretched across his face. "What did I say? You're truly a child, Sevie."

Outside the ward, the Quinnell Group's executives heaved a sigh of relief and smiled warmly at the sight. They had witnessed every step Wynter took to lift the company up, and that memory stayed strong in their hearts.

While they had harbored doubts about Wynter in the beginning, they now regarded her with nothing but respect and admiration. To the executives, she was far more than just a scion or someone's fiancée. She was their figurehead and the Quinnell Group's youngest CEO, and nothing could change that.

They paid no mind to any provocation, for none of them wished ill on Wynter. Everyone was simply waiting for her return, eager for her to lead them to greater success.

Such genuine sentiment was seldom seen in the cutthroat world of business, where everyone only cared about fame and wealth.

Despite the plummeting stock prices and slanders aimed at the Quinnell Group, not a single executive had abandoned the company, even when offered better opportunities elsewhere. All the executives made it clear—they wouldn't work under anyone else's leadership.

The Quinnell Group had deep roots in Cascadia. But even for a national company, it wasn't easy to keep all employees united. In the past, they would've been too disheartened to stay loyal. But with Wynter, things were different.

Every businessman knew that the employees only stayed for Wynter. To be honest, it was something of a marvel in the business community. It was that very loyalty that had carried the Quinnell Group's employees through the darkest times, all the way to Wynter's return.

Astute as ever, Wynter understood everything upon noticing the executives standing outside. She raised her head with a determined gaze. "I'm sorry for making you all worry."

No CEO would ever apologize to their employees. Yet, such a level of respect was given at the Quinnell Group.

Other company executives who favored business dinners often viewed their employees as mere slaves, sometimes even using them as scapegoats for their children's mistakes. That was why the executives knew, more than anyone, how rare it was to have a boss like Wynter. And for that, they were deeply grateful.

Fabian was moved by the heartfelt moment. The Quinnell family had weathered the toughest storm, but he had never forgotten their ancestral motto.

Now that Wynter had dispelled the formation, the atmosphere surrounding Monway University had drastically changed. Before, faint, resentful energy had lingered over the campus.

A later investigation uncovered that the issue stemmed from academic fraud and the sexual harassment of a student by a lecturer. Moreover, the scions attending the university were surprisingly haughtier.

Perhaps it was the university's close proximity to Havenia that gave them easy access. Some even long abandoned their Cascadian roots, showing no concern for their wrongdoings. There were even reports of students misappropriating resources and quotas meant for others.

In short, Monway University had become the breeding ground for the Sacrificial Human Formation.

Wynter didn't just dispel the formation—she had ended years of injustice. Her bold actions led to a thorough investigation of Monway University, and even the untouchable scions were called in for questioning.

In a single night, families scrambled to leverage their connections in relevant departments or send their children abroad to avoid the fallout. Noticing their attempts, Wynter swiftly contacted the military for assistance.

It was clear that Colifernia's figurehead had a skewed logic. There had been noticeable signs, with the Southern Cascadia Chamber of Commerce stripped of its authority over two major ports and foreign investments suddenly pulling out.

Wynter, a seasoned finance expert, could read the signs of an impending economic crisis as easily as she could navigate the stock markets. Just as she expected, the chamber was in turmoil when she arrived with Dalton and the others.

That said, the ones who had benefited the most were always the first to run when trouble hit. They couldn't be relied upon in times of crisis.

Wynter watched as financial supply chains of major industries were severed, understanding the panic of those left behind. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and dialed a foreign number.

It had been a long time since she had last contacted Leomer Malster. Little did she know that he had been waiting for her call.

A dangerous man who valued money above his life, Leomer was actively involved in the gray market under the codename "King". He had been saved by Wynter once, back when she was operating as 001.

Though his roots were Cascadian, his family had left the country generations ago, back in his great-grandfather's time. He had never taken an interest in Cascadia, nor had he considered returning. That was, until he met Wynter.

Once the call was connected, Wynter cut to the chase. "I need your help."

In fact, Leomer owned numerous casinos and ran illicit businesses abroad, all while living in a place where the law barely held sway. Whether crooks or authoritarians, no one ever had dared to speak to him that way.

But Wynter was an exception. Instead of being infuriated, Leomer was delighted to hear from her. "I didn't expect you'd still reach out to me. What do you need?"

"I need to track a large sum of money from overseas accounts, especially those tied to financial crimes. And I want to know if there have been any emerging cults recently," Wynter answered as she studied the chamber's accounts.

"And what's that?" Wynter questioned, sensing something crucial was about to come to light.