The security guard admitted James. He pushed open the door and found the Callahans gathered in the hospital hallway, pacing anxiously.

James approached them. "What happened?" he asked.

Thea, her voice choked with tears, explained, "We don't know. A crowd appeared suddenly and started causing trouble. They claimed someone died in the hospital and demanded compensation. It's escalated; even reporters are here. We had no choice but to close temporarily."

Lex was on the phone, apparently contacting influential people to help resolve the crisis.

Gladys sniffed the air. "You reek of alcohol," she rebuked James. "Why are you here? To cause more trouble?"

Tommy burst in, panicked. "Dad, Grandpa, it's worse! More people are outside. They're saying something's wrong with our medicine!" He stumbled and fell.

Silence fell over the group.

Howard, puzzled, asked, "What's going on? Eternality Hospital has operated for years without incident. Mr. Chase, you're in charge. Even a single accident would be unacceptable, so how could so many occur at once?"

Howard looked at Zeke Chase, a sixty-year-old doctor with long hair, wearing scrubs. A distinguished physician and member of the Doctor's Association, Chase was the hospital's director, appointed by Eternality Group.

Zeke was equally bewildered. "I don't know," he said. "There have been no accidents under my tenure. Our doctors undergo rigorous selection, and our medications should be safe. How could someone die because of them?"

Thea grabbed James's arm. "What should we do?"

James reassured her, "Closing the hospital won't help; it makes us look guilty. Open the door. We can talk to them."

Tommy protested, "Communicate? How? James, are you here to cause trouble? Those people outside are brutal! If we open the door, they'll attack us."

Others echoed his concerns. "We shouldn't open the door," one said. "Let's call the police," suggested another. "It's useless," a third countered. "This looks like medical negligence. We should just pay compensation and be done with it. If Eternality's reputation is ruined, how can we continue?"

James looked at Thea. "Thea, you're the chairman of Eternality Group. What do you think?"

Thea considered this. "James is right. Closing the doors solves nothing. We must open them and explain. If our doctors are at fault, we'll accept the consequences—compensation, even closing for reorganization, if necessary."

Others disagreed. "How foolish, Thea! Someone's targeting Eternality Hospital," one said. "This isn't a coincidence," another added. "Thea, don't open the door; we'll be beaten!"

James supported Thea's decision. "Thankfully," he thought, "there's at least one sensible person among the Callahans." He looked at Thea. "Open it. I'll help."

"I know," she replied.

Thea took a deep breath and approached the door. The other Callahans recoiled; they'd seen the men outside's ferocity. Hundreds of injured, shouting men—their numbers growing—surrounded the hospital, creating a chaotic scene.

The hospital door opened, and Thea emerged. The crowd surged forward. "We demand compensation!" they shouted. "Down with Eternality!" "This is Thea Callahan, the new chairman!" someone yelled. "Thea, pay with your blood…"

James roared, his voice like thunder, halting the advance. He stood before Thea. "If you have something to say, say it one at a time."