Chapter 153: Councilman Delaney’s Visit

The next morning arrived with far more noise than the previous ones. Long before the scheduled time, the entire floor outside Damian’s room had turned into a controlled storm. Security personnel lined the corridor, nurses whispered nervously, and hospital administrators hovered like anxious shadows. The presence of cameras had transformed the quiet medical wing into something closer to a press arena.

Through the glass wall, Damian could already see movement below. News vans filled the hospital driveway. Satellite dishes rotated slowly like mechanical flowers blooming toward the sky. Reporters clustered behind barricades while photographers adjusted lenses, waiting for the moment.

Inside the room, Hazel stood near the window with a faint frown. Ruby leaned against the wall with folded arms, while Racheal calmly adjusted Damian’s pillows. Clara hovered close by.

“They are here for him.” Clara whispered softly, though everyone already knew.

Damian exhaled slowly. He had expected the visit, but the scale still surprised him. The councilman was clearly turning this into a public statement, and he did not mind at all. If anything, it strengthened the narrative he wanted.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by a firm voice.

“Media team is in position. Councilman Delaney is arriving in thirty seconds.”

Hazel glanced at Damian. “Do you want us to leave?”

Damian shook his head calmly. “No. Stay.”

The door opened, and the first wave entered. Two men in suits stepped in, scanning the room quickly. Behind them came a hospital administrator forcing a stiff smile, followed by three camera operators, a boom mic technician, and a woman holding a clipboard.

The room instantly felt smaller.

The cameramen positioned themselves carefully. One angled toward the bed. Another stood near the foot, capturing the wives in frame. The third hovered near the window for a wide shot that included the skyline behind Damian.

The boom mic lowered quietly.

“Rolling in five.” someone whispered.

Then the door opened again.

Councilman Delaney walked in with measured steps, dressed in a navy suit with a deep red tie. His expression carried just the right mix of concern and determination. He paused at the entrance briefly, allowing the cameras to capture the moment before approaching the bed.

“Mr. Hill…” he said, voice warm and steady. “It is good to see you awake.”

Damian gave a faint smile and shifted slightly on the bed, careful not to appear too strong or too weak.

“Councilman… I appreciate you coming.”

Delaney stepped closer and extended his hand. Damian accepted it. The handshake lingered long enough for the cameras to capture the image perfectly.

Flash.

Flash.

Flash.

The room filled with soft bursts of light.

“I was deeply disturbed when I heard what happened.” Delaney continued, still holding Damian’s hand. “An attack on a defense attorney is an attack on justice itself. No one should be targeted for doing their job.”

Damian nodded slowly, his expression calm but serious.

“I intend to keep doing my job. No matter what.” he replied

Another round of flashes.

Delaney released his hand and pulled a chair closer to the bed, deliberately lowering himself to Damian’s level. It made the moment feel personal while still remaining visible to the cameras.

“You showed courage in taking this case and now you have shown courage surviving this attack. People like you are the reason the system still works.” Delaney said.

Clara watched silently from the side, her fingers clenched slightly. Hazel’s eyes remained cold as she observed the politician. Ruby leaned against the wall, unimpressed by the theatrics. Racheal simply watched Damian, reading the subtle changes in his expression. She looked almost amused by the drama.

A reporter’s voice came from the doorway.

“Councilman, do you believe the shooting is connected to the corruption case?”

Delaney turned slightly, allowing the cameras to catch his profile.

“I will not speculate while the investigation is ongoing,” he said carefully. “But I will say this. When lawyers defending public officials get shot, it raises serious concerns. We cannot allow intimidation to influence the legal process.”

Damian lowered his gaze slightly, playing into the narrative without saying it outright.

“I just want to recover and get back to work. The case deserves that.” he said quietly

Delaney nodded firmly.

“And you will have my full cooperation.”

He then reached into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope.

“This is a formal statement of support from my office. I wanted to deliver it personally.”

Damian accepted it. The cameras zoomed in. And the flashes returned from several angles

The room buzzed quietly and after a while Delaney rose to his feet slowly.

“Rest well, Mr. Hill. Chicago needs you back.”

“I’ll be back soon.” Damian replied.

They shook hands once more. This time the flashes were even louder.

Delaney turned and walked toward the exit. The media team followed immediately, cameras still rolling as he stepped into the hallway. Questions erupted instantly from waiting reporters.

“Councilman! Do you believe this was politically motivated?”

“Will this affect the trial?”

“Do you fear further violence?”

The door closed, muffling the noise, but the energy remained.

The room fell silent again and Clara exhaled slowly.

“…You just became even more famous.” she murmured.

Damian leaned back against the pillows, eyes drifting toward the window where the flashing lights still flickered below.

He did not respond, but the faint smile at the corner of his lips said enough. Life is much easier when people share your thoughts and act in accordance to it before you make a request.

“Will this help your case?” Hazel got on the bed and crawled up to Damain’s feet, laying on it.

“When are we going back home?” Racheal asked.

“Give him some space to relax!” Ruby scolded her sisters.

Watching the chaotic scene before him, Damain couldn’t help but chuckle. Maybe it was because of his near death experience at Duke Haborym’s hands or just because these few days in the hospital made him appreciate moments like this. He could only laugh out loud in his heart and observe her from a distance.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep