CHAPTER 47 — The Invitation
Morning sunlight spread slowly across the wide glass windows of Care's mansion. The city outside was awake—cars moving, people rushing to offices, businesses opening.
Inside the mansion, however, the atmosphere was calm.
For the first time in weeks, the entire group had gathered again.
The large living room looked like its usual chaos.
Papers, laptops, coffee cups, and half-finished snacks scattered across the table.
But the chaos now had a different energy.
They were no longer college students.
They were founders.
CEOs.
Doctors.
Engineers.
Scientists.
Yet somehow, when the ten of them gathered together, they still behaved like the same ridiculous group that once studied, fought, and survived sports week together.
Kevin leaned back across the couch dramatically.
"I swear," he groaned, "running companies is more exhausting than sports week."
Ash immediately threw a pillow at his head.
"Speak for yourself. At least your company doesn't involve designing buildings that hospitals must survive earthquakes in."
Kevin caught the pillow.
"Excuse me, madam engineer, logistics companies run the world."
Alex looked up from his laptop calmly.
"Technically supply chains run the world."
Joong laughed.
"Here we go again. The Lucos debate."
The three cousins had built something massive.
Lucos Company — a fast-rising chain of logistics and tech companies.
Kevin handled operations.
Joong handled finance and strategy.
Alex controlled the technological infrastructure.
Their company had grown faster than even they expected.
Across the table, Nova and Ben were discussing something more serious.
Hospital plans.
Charts.
Medical expansion proposals.
Their hospital network had grown into something powerful.
Trinity Hospital Chain.
Founded by Nova, Ben, and Cole.
Multiple branches.
Cutting-edge equipment.
A rapidly growing reputation.
Daisy sat beside them, still in her white lab coat.
Even outside the hospital she never truly looked off duty.
The youngest surgeon in their chain.
And a rising scientist.
Joong glanced at her.
"You slept at all last night?"
Daisy shrugged.
"Research doesn't sleep."
Ben shook his head.
"You'll collapse again if you keep doing that."
Daisy smirked.
"I survived a one kilometer race after pneumonia. I think I can survive research."
Across the room, Lyra and Ash were standing near the window discussing architectural plans.
Their company had also grown.
L&A Design Studios.
Hospitals.
Research centers.
Advanced medical buildings.
Their work had already been commissioned in three countries.
Lyra adjusted a blueprint while speaking.
"The London project will need different structural codes."
Ash nodded.
"We'll review it tonight."
Meanwhile…
Cole was sitting quietly on the arm of a sofa.
Watching everyone.
The way they argued.
Teased.
Laughed.
For a moment he simply observed the group.
The ten people who had somehow become his entire world.
Then his gaze shifted.
Toward Care.
She was standing near the long table, reading something on her tablet.
Quiet.
Focused.
The youngest CEO among them.
Founder of C& Patel Corporation.
A massive infrastructure and technology company that had grown unbelievably fast.
Hospitals.
Medical tech investments.
Research partnerships.
Care had built it all.
And yet she looked exactly the same as she did years ago.
Simple.
Calm.
Almost distant.
Cole walked toward her.
"You've been quiet for ten minutes."
Care didn't look up.
"That's because I'm reading something interesting."
Cole leaned beside her.
"What is it?"
Care finally turned the tablet toward him.
An official digital letter.
A global seal at the top.
Cole read the headline.
His eyebrow rose slightly.
"...Well."
He leaned back.
"That's big."
At that moment Kevin shouted from the couch.
"Why are you two whispering like villains? Share the drama."
Care sighed softly.
"Everyone come here."
Immediately curiosity spread.
Within seconds all ten of them gathered around the table.
Care placed the tablet in the center.
"Read."
Alex picked it up first.
His calm expression slowly changed.
Then he passed it to Joong.
Joong blinked.
Kevin grabbed it next.
"Wait… what?"
Ash stepped forward.
"What is it?"
Kevin looked up slowly.
"Guys… this is huge."
Ben took the tablet and read it carefully.
His expression grew serious.
Nova leaned over his shoulder.
Then Daisy.
Then Lyra.
Within a minute the entire room had gone silent.
The letter was an official invitation.
From the Global Medical Innovation Consortium.
A massive international organization.
And the event mentioned was even bigger.
The Global Medical Technology Conference and Gala.
Location:
London.
Participants:
World-leading hospitals.
Biotech innovators.
Medical technology companies.
Healthcare infrastructure leaders.
Young scientific pioneers.
Daisy whispered slowly.
"This… is the biggest conference in the medical world."
Ben nodded.
"And they don't invite people easily."
Nova pointed to one section of the letter.
"They specifically invited Trinity Hospital Chain."
She looked at Ben and Cole.
"This is for us."
Another line.
Special research presentation invitation — Dr. Daisy.
Joong looked impressed.
"You're presenting research internationally now."
Daisy blinked.
"Apparently."
Another line.
Infrastructure innovation partner — C& Patel Corporation.
Kevin whistled.
"Care… that's your company."
Ash pointed again.
"Wait… there's more."
Architecture and medical design partners — L&A Studios.
Lyra looked stunned.
"They invited us too?"
Alex read another line.
"Lucos Company — global logistics systems for healthcare expansion."
Kevin dropped into the couch dramatically.
"We're going to London."
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then Kevin suddenly jumped up.
"WAIT."
He pointed at Care.
"How long have you known about this?"
Care calmly sipped her coffee.
"About twenty minutes."
Kevin looked betrayed.
"You waited TWENTY MINUTES before telling us we were invited to a global conference in London??"
Ash laughed.
"She wanted to see your face."
Kevin groaned.
"You're evil."
Joong looked back at the tablet.
Then asked the most important question.
"When is it?"
Care answered simply.
"Three days."
Silence.
Then chaos exploded.
"THREE DAYS??"
"We need flights!"
"Hotels!"
"Presentations!"
"Clothes!"
"Research files!"
Kevin pointed at Care.
"You said that way too calmly."
Care leaned back in her chair.
"We're going."
Everyone froze.
Kevin blinked.
"...We are?"
Care nodded.
"All of us."
Nova smiled slightly.
"That actually makes sense. Most of our companies are involved."
Ben looked thoughtful.
"This conference will have the biggest hospital chains in the world."
Daisy's eyes shone with excitement.
"The research discussions alone will be incredible."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"And London architecture."
Ash grinned.
"Shopping."
Joong laughed.
"Of course."
Kevin suddenly remembered something.
"Flights though."
He looked around the room.
"Getting ten seats on a plane in three days will be impossible."
Care looked at him calmly.
"We're not taking a plane."
Kevin frowned.
"Then what?"
Care spoke simply.
"Two private jets."
The room went completely silent.
Kevin slowly turned toward Cole.
"You're rich."
Then toward Care.
"You're rich rich."
Cole smirked slightly.
"One jet is mine."
Care added.
"The other is mine."
Kevin sat back down.
"Alright."
He folded his hands.
"I accept my billionaire friends."
Everyone laughed.
For a moment the room was filled with energy.
Excitement.
Anticipation.
But Care quietly scrolled further down the letter.
One last section remained.
She read it silently.
Then spoke.
"There's one more thing."
Everyone looked at her.
"This conference has another group attending."
Alex tilted his head.
"Another group?"
Care nodded slowly.
"Yes."
She turned the tablet toward them again.
At the bottom of the invitation was a list of special young innovators attending the event.
One name stood out.
Section E.
Kevin frowned.
"Who are they?"
Nova shook her head.
"Never heard of them."
Cole looked thoughtful.
"Sounds interesting."
Care's eyes rested on the name for a moment longer.
Something about it felt familiar.
But she couldn't place it.
Finally she locked the tablet.
"Well."
She looked around the room.
"We leave for London in two days."
Kevin stood dramatically.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
He pointed toward the stairs.
"Operation London begins."
Ash laughed.
"Pack your bags."
Joong added.
"And prepare your presentations."
Ben nodded.
"And prepare to meet the biggest medical minds in the world."
The group slowly began dispersing.
Excited.
Talking.
Planning.
But near the window…
Cole stood beside Care again.
Watching the city outside.
He spoke quietly.
"You feel it too, don't you?"
Care didn't answer immediately.
Then she nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Something about this trip felt…
Important.
As if something unexpected was waiting.
In London.
And neither of them knew yet that this invitation…
Would change everything.