Ste shot a nce at Rachel before picking up her phone and dialing a number. Rachel hadn''t quite figured out what Ste was doing when the call connected.


    Ste''s voice was firm as she spoke, "Ms. Pearce mentioned she''s got a concerting up and is worried about injuring her hands. She thinks you''d be upset, so she''s turning down the job of sorting herbs. Mr. Burton doesn''t keep idle hands around, so it might be best if you take Ms. Pearce back."


    There was a lengthy silence on the other end before a voice finally responded, "Let me speak with Rachel."


    Ste handed the phone to Rachel.


    Rachel had already deduced who was on the other end of the line. Her voice quivered as she spoke, "Haynie, I''m just scared that if I hurt my hands, it would affect my violin ying... You know, we violinists even insure our hands."


    Haynes replied, "I''ll send over some specially made gloves. They won''t let your hands get injured."


    Rachel was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Upon noticing her silence, Haynes added, "I have a meetinging up, so unless there''s anything else, I''m going to hang up now."


    Half an hourter, Haynes sent over four pairs of gloves.


    There was even a pair of children''s gloves specifically for Marvin.


    Mr. Burton tried on the gloves and found they fit perfectly.


    Inspecting the gloves, he remarked, "Wow, these are really something. Thin as a whisper, yet durable. They won''t harm your hands while sorting herbs... If I''d known Haynes could get his hands on gadgets like these, I''d have had Lin pick a few more bags of herbs."


    Rachel nearly blew a fuse hearing this.


    With Haynes sending gloves instead of taking her back, it was clear he had no intention of rescuing her. Reluctantly, she resumed sorting the herbs.


    Though she had agreed toe over at Haynes'' behest, Rachel was far from content staying here. She knew Mr. Burton intended to make things difficult for her. She wasn''t about to y into their hands.


    Soon, Rachel clutched her head, looking as if she might faint.


    "My head... It feels so dizzy... Am I not going to make it..."


    Ste allowed a hint of a smirk to cross her lips. Without hesitation, she called 911.


    Minutester, an ambnce arrived to take Rachel away.


    ...


    At the hospital, Haynes arrived, rubbing his weary temples.


    "What''s happened with Rachel now?"


    Ste exined, "Ms. Pearce suddenly felt dizzy and said she was in bad shape. I had no choice but to call 911. If anything happened to Ms. Pearce''s health, we couldn''t risk that responsibility."


    An hourter, Rachel was wheeled out.


    The doctor informed them, "Ms. Pearce''s condition isn''t very promising. She needs to avoid stress and restpletely..."


    Mr. Burton, who had apanied them, suddenly spoke up, "Can you actually treat this girl?"


    The doctor, confused by Mr. Burton''s question, responded, "Ms. Pearce is suffering from a terminal illness. Our only option is to manage her symptoms; there is no cure..."


    Mr. Burton cut him off sharply, "If you can''t treat her, then why are you making such grand statements?"


    "There are patients who could be treated, yet it''s due to quacks like you that their treatments get dyed!"


    Mr. Burton had long suspected that Rachel had already bribed these doctors.