Chapter 149 rissa Issues a Threat to Kelly


    Kelly froze for a moment, her thoughts racing, before her gaze met Zev''s. "You ..."


    She couldn''t bring herself to finish her sentence.


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    Zev''s actions were putting immense pressure on her. She had agreed to take part


    in a peacekeeping mission, but she hadn''t told Zev. He had no idea what she had signed up for. What would he do if something went wrong?


    "Hm?" Zev noticed Kelly''s hesitation, a strange unease creeping over him.


    "It''s nothing..." Kelly shook her head, trying to brush off her unease.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    The sound of a knock interrupted their moment. Zev, still leaning next to Kelly, walked slowly toward the door, the two of them together. He opened it to find a young boy standing there, holding arge bag of grapes. It was Gary''s son, Connor.


    "My dad bought some grapes and asked me to bring them to Kelly," Connor said, lifting the bag as if it were incredibly heavy.


    Kelly smiled warmly, taking the grapes from him. "Please thank your dad for me."


    Zev, however, was less than pleased. "Hmph ... don''t think a bag of grapes is enough to make me forget," he grumbled. "My wife burnt her foot, and now the Commendation Conference is postponed-thanks to him."


    "Don''t badmouth people behind their backs," came Gary''s voice from outside. Their homes were right next to each other.


    Zev responded with a grunt. "I said it in front of him."


    Kelly chuckled softly, amused by the interaction between Zev and Gary. Even though one outranked the other, there was a strange mix of respect and defiance in their rtionship.


    "Come here. I need to talk to you," Gary called to Zev, signaling for him toe inside.


    "You go ahead,” Connor piped up confidently. "I''ll stay with Kelly. Nothing''s going to happen."


    Zev tousled Connor''s hair affectionately, grabbed his cane, and walked toward Gary''s room. Kelly felt a flicker of anxiety as she watched them go, hoping Gary wouldn''t mention their secret arrangement.


    Their eyes met briefly, but Gary didn''t say anything. He led Zev inside and closed the door behind them.


    Connor looked up at Kelly with wide eyes. "Kelly, are you a doctor?"


    Kelly nodded.


    "Can you help my dad?" Connor asked, his voice full of hope.


    Kelly was taken aback. "Gary? He seems fine to me."


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    Chapter 149 rissa Issues a Threat to Kelly


    Could he be dealing with something like PTSD?


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    "He..." Connor continued, speaking more quietly now. "He washes his hands a lot, takes so many showers. Thedy says it''s called obsessivepulsive disorder,"


    From what Connor was describing, it seemed Gary was struggling with some form of psychological distress, possibly linked to his past in the field. Kelly could rte- she too had dealt with trauma-induced challenges, though in a different form. "Your dad really needs to see a psychologist," Kelly said gently, feeling regretful. I''m not the right person to help with that,"


    Connor sat down on the couch, looking lost in thought.


    Kelly was about to wash the grapes when her phone rang.


    "Hello?" she answered, her tone cautious as the number was unfamiliar.


    "Is this Kelly? It''s rissa."


    rissa?


    Kelly''s heart skipped a beat. "What''s going on?" she asked, her voice neutral yet wary.


    "I just wanted to ask-what''s your connection to the Hardisons from Velrora?" rissa''s voice was probing, as if trying to extract information.


    Kelly frowned, unsure of where this was going. The Hardisons? Is she talking about the massive conglomerate with industries ranging from heavy machinery to hotels? "Does this have to do with you, Ms. Lynch? Because if it doesn''t, I''m hanging up."


    Kelly was about to end the call when rissa''s voice dropped lower, taking on a more serious tone.


    "The hospital just received word-the Commendation Conference is postponed until next Thursday. The hospital''s supposed to coordinate things now," rissa said ominously.


    It was clear that rissa had expected Wade''s influence to stop the conference from happening. That way, Kelly wouldn''t get a chance to say anything to the leaders even if she donated all her money, but the Hardisons had intervened, forcing a reschedule. The higher-ups had issued a new directive.


    Beau, no doubt, feared that Kelly would cause trouble during the conference, where top leaders and media from across the country would be present. rissa was clearly flustered and was trying to gauge Kelly''s influence.


    "Kelly, you''re smart. You know what to say and what not to say, don''t you?" rissa pushed further.


    "I''m not sure what you mean,” Kelly responded firmly, preparing to hang up.


    "Oh, really? You''re not scared of anything, are you?" rissa''s tone shifted, bing more menacing. "And what about Melody? Darren and Craig too?" Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "I have some videos of Melody being assaulted in Solmaris ... Would you like to see them?"


    Kelly''s heart dropped, and her body tensed instantly.


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    Chapter 149 rissa Issues a Threat to Kelly


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    But now, rissa was threatening to releasepromising videos that could ruin Melody''s reputation. Melody was married into the Wagners, a family known for its strict rules and high expectations, and the had an especially demanding mother- inw. If these videos came But, it would destroy Melody''s standing


    "What do you want?" Kelly asked, her voice calm, though her heart was racing in fear.


    "I need you to meet me," rissa demanded. "There''s a café across from the hospital. You have 20 minutes. If you''re not there by then, I''ll send those videos to Melody''s mother-inw-or to the Wagner family group chat."


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