《My Cold Ex-Wife Refused to Move On》 Chapter 1 For the fifth time, Chase looked up at the clock on the wall. The hands pointed to midnight. He nced at the table full of dishes and let out a weakugh. Of course she wouldn''t remember tonight. He didn''t even know what he''d been hoping for. He got up, ready to throw out the now-cold food, when the sound of the passcode being entered came from the door. Chase froze. Wendy walked in with the cold wind behind her, looking exhausted and carrying a bag. She looked up at Chase as she stepped inside, dropped the bag at the entrance, and said, "Happy birthday. I workedte. Try it on, see if it fits." Before he could walk over to her, she turned and went straight into the bedroom. Chase stood by the entrance for a long time. He walked over to the bag with a sense of resignation. One nce at thebel made him sneer inwardly. A high-end French designer brand-only one store in the entire country. If nothing else, this proved Wendy had put effort into his birthday. But he never wore that brand. He didn''t even have to take it out of the bag. Just the color told him exactly who the original owner of that gift was meant to be. After a long silence, he lowered his head and muttered a "thank you." The bag stayed right where it was. Wendy didn''t see the cold food on the table. She didn''t even ask if he''d eaten. She just went straight to the bathroom. Before that, her phone rang, and the sound alone made Chase feel utterly drained. "Henry? I''m home. What is it?" In that moment, every ounce of strength in Chase''s body gave out. He was exhausted. They''d been married five years, yet the number of days they''d truly spent together probably didn''t even add up to ten. Wendy was always in meetings, always flying around the world. Maybe she really was busy. Or maybe... she just didn''t care about him. Then came a knock at the door. Chase got up and opened it, greeted by a familiar face. "Mom." His voice was soft as he stepped aside to let Mandy in. "Wendy''s home. She''s showering. I''ll make you some tea." From the corner of her eye, Mandy saw the untouched food on the table. Her heart ached even more. She grabbed Chase''s hand and led him to the couch. "Chase, have you thought about what I said?" The wind howled outside, snow mming against the windows. It was warm indoors, but Chase''s hands were still ice-cold. Mandy saw the fatigue in his eyes and felt hers grow wet. "Mom, I... I''ll do it." She nodded. "Back then, we used our wealth to exploit your dilemma and force you into marrying Wendy. We''re really sorry. At least now we can make things right." Her gaze shifted toward the sound of running water in the bathroom. "After the divorce, you and Wendy can return to your proper paths. I only me myself for agreeing to the marriage in the first ce." Their marriage had always been a transaction. Back in college, Wendy had fallen deeply in love with Henry and was ready to give up her title as heiress to the Quinn family to run off with Henry. She was willing to leave everything behind. But on their way out of town, they got into a car ident. Among the victims of that multi-vehicle crash was Chase''s mother. He had been nearby, rushed to the scene, and dragged his mother from her car. Then he rescued Wendy too. Henry, meanwhile, had already been pulled from his car by others. By the time Chase got Wendy out, Henry was nowhere in sight. Later, Chase learned that Henry had been intercepted by the Harrison family and put on a ne overseas that very night. So Henry and Wendy never saw each other again after that. Chase never expected that Wendy would proposed to himter. After the ident, his mother had suffered massive organ damage. Despite pouring money into her care, nothing seemed to help. The Quinn family, grateful that Chase had saved their daughter''s life, transferred his mother to a better hospital, bought new equipment, hired the best doctors, and spared no effort to pull her back from the brink-all at their own expense. The day Wendy proposed marriage, Chase''s mother had another major hemorrhage. Chase refused to ask the Quinns for more help. He used his schrship money for the medical bills, but it still wasn''t enough. That''s when a hand reached out from behind him, a credit card pinched between two slender fingers. "Use this." Chase turned around and saw Wendy. She looked nothing like the girl he''d pulled from a wreck. She was stunning-so beautiful he couldn''t look away. After a few seconds of staring, he looked down and quietly said, "I''ll pay you back." "No need." After paying the bill, Wendy sat with him outside the operating room for four hours, until his mother pulled through. "Chase. Top of your ss at Arthur University. Father ran off with all the family money. Mom''s in poor health and now a car crash." She recited his life story like a list. Then her eyes reddened. She grabbed his hand-cold, trembling, and stubborn in a do-or-die kind of way. "Will you... marry me?" It was a ridiculous request. But as Chase looked into her tear-filled eyes, thought of the Quinn family''s generosity, he told himselfmaybe this was just a deal. One he had no right to refuse. He wouldn''t find out until muchter that the very day he was proposed, Henry got engaged to another heiress. Remembering all this now, Chase felt strangely calm. "Mom-Ms. Mandy-I told you from the beginning, I''d pay the money back. Marrying Wendy was my choice. You didn''t force me. You don''t have to feel guilty." Over the years, the Quinns had treated him well. They knew their daughter was still hung up on Henry and tried to make up for it by being even kinder to Chase. They could see he was smart. But six months ago, Henry came back. No one expected the first thing Henry would do was get in touch with Wendy. From that point on, Wendy came hometer andter. Sometimes, she didn''te home at all. To her husband waiting at home, all she ever said was, "Workingte." What a joke of an excuse. She couldn''t even be bothered to make up a convincing lie. "There''s four hundred twenty thousand dors here. I''ve arranged for you to go back to school overseas. I know not getting your master''s was always a regret. Go back. Your father and I will support you." Mandy left before Wendy came out of the bathroom. Chase didn''t touch the card. He cleaned up the table, then went to bed. "My mom came over?" He was half-asleep and only managed a groggy "Mm." Wendy let out a snort. "Stop taking money from my mom. Everyone thinks I''m mistreating you." Somethingnded on the pillow next to him. The next morning, when he woke up, he saw it. Another card. Her words from the night before echoed in his head. "Don''t just mope around at home. You''ve got the money but no idea what to do with it. Go out. Visit your mom more. I don''t have time. Just buy some flowers and take it over." Chase did as she said. He squatted in front of the tombstone for a long time, silently brushing the dust from its surface. His mother''s smiling face in the photo burned into his mind. He ced the card on the step. "Mom, Wendy''s busy. It''s just me again. But hey, at least she''s generous." The tombstone said nothing. The wind howled with silence and grief. Chase murmured, "Mom, I miss you, and... I want a divorce." Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Who Would Ever Know How Good I Was? The world around him was silent. Only an unshakable attachment lingered in the air. After a long pause, Chase murmured softly again, "Mom, I want a divorce." He lowered his head in silence, something wet slipping from the corner of his eye. Only the tombstone bore witness to his whisper. If only we''d never gotten married. On the way back, he stopped by thew office to pick up the divorce papers he''d prepared a while ago. The moment he first brought it up to his mother-inw, he''d already made up his mind. He figured, if Wendy no longer had feelings for him, then ending things early would be best. It would keep her from missing the chance to get back together with Henry. He didn''t have much at home. Almost like he''d known this day woulde from the start, he had never left a trace of himself in that ce. After packing for the entire afternoon, all he had was a small suitcase. If it weren''t for the fact that he had actually lived there for five years, anyone would''ve thought he was just visiting on a business trip. That evening, Wendy came home surprisingly early. The moment she opened the door, she wasn''t greeted by the usual warmth, nor the sight of Chase cooking in the kitchen. The unfamiliar silence made her heart lurch for a moment. On instinct, she took out her phone and called Chase. Meanwhile, over at Arthur University''s medical school, Chase''s former mentor could hardly believe the transformation. Just five years of married life had turned a bright, promising young man into someone worn down and hollow. He had once been his best student-his most talented protg! Before graduating, Chase had already been offered full schrships from Ivy League schools abroad, along with offers from top hospitals. Everyone had assumed he''d take the best path avable to him. No one expected that instead, he''d get married. And that he''d be so unhappy. "Chase... what happened to you?" the elderly mentor asked, heart aching. His wrinkled hand reached out to hold Chase''s. "If you''re truly unhappy, take a different road. You know how many people are still waiting for you to return to the operating room?" Chase was the only medical student allowed to scrub in on real surgeries alongside renowned doctors before graduation. His hands were steady, precise, and bold. Not a single person in the field could find fault with his technique. Chase gave a smallugh and patted his mentor''s hand reassuringly. "The divorce will be finalized soon. I actually came today to ask if you could help me reinstate my student status. I''ll handle the paperwork in the next few days." At that, the mentor''s eyes lit up. "Really?" "Yeah." Chase felt a rare sense of rity and said softly, "It''s been five years. I''d say we''re even now. After this, we can each go our own way. I''ll be signing the divorce papers tonight. The overseas spot you mentioned before-for Darovia Medical School... is that still open?" "It is, it is!" The professor rummaged through his drawers and pulled out the application Chase had once submitted. "Look-I''ve already signed my part. All that''s missing is yours." Of course the old man had been thinking of him all this time. As Chase walked out of the office, his phone rang. He nced at the screen. It was Wendy. He couldn''t even remember thest time they''d talked on the phone. Whenever he called to ask if she''d be home for dinner, her secretary was the one who picked up. "Where are you?" Her voice came through muffled, like she''d just taken off her coat. After a pause, he said, "At school. My professor asked me toe in." Wendy frowned. "You graduated ages ago. What could they possibly want? Juste home." "Okay." His voice was as calm as ever, revealing nothing, but inside, he felt a strange flicker of hope. His packed suitcase was in in view in the living room. If Wendy cared at all, she''d notice it. He opened the door with his fingerprint and walked into silence. His gazended on the suitcase by the couch-still right where he''d left it. Untouched. What exactly was I hoping for? "I''m heading out now. Don''t worry," he said into the phone. Wendy had just gotten out of the shower. Her hair was still damp, and her face looked tense. On any other day, he would''ve reminded her to dry her hair before going out. Even if she found it annoying, he would''ve done it himself. But today, Chase silently pulled out the divorce agreement. He was still standing at the door, hadn''t even taken off his shoes. He didn''t have to guess. It was definitely about Henry. As soon as the call ended, Wendy dialed her assistant. "Drive over now. Pick up Henry and Joy. Joy has a fever. Take them to the hospital. I''ll be there soon." She walked past Chase as if he were a piece of furniture, not a living person. But this time, Chase didn''t hold back. He handed her the divorce papers directly. Sign it. Only then did Wendy nce at him, her expression pausing. "You... Joy''s sick. I''m going to check on her." "It''s fine." Chase nodded. "Once we''re divorced, you can openly take care of Mr. Henry and his child." "Don''t be dramatic. I''m in a rush." She had one hand on the phone, the other pulling on a coat. When Chase didn''t move, she snatched the papers and pen from him and signed her name quickly. Her face full of irritation, she muttered, "The only time you ever take initiative is when you want money." Chase was stunned. Even after she handed the papers back, he didn''t look up. "Wendy, do you even know what you just signed?" "Isn''t it the adoption agreement?" she snapped. "We''ve never had kids. My mom''s been nagging me for years. Didn''t she tell us to adopt? I''m just saying, I don''t have the time." Adoption? A kid? There had been talk of that, sure. But Chase had thought, in a marriage like theirs, no child would be happy in that home, so he''d refused. Her phone rang again, loud and shrill. In that moment, Chase wanted to snatch it out of her hand and throw it away. He wanted to scream. You don''t see me. You don''t think about me. Weren''t you the one who said we''d build a life together? There had been a time when he and Wendy were happy. It was around their first year of marriage. Maybe when Henry had finally settled down abroad, Wendy stopped hoping and turned back to Chase with the intention of truly trying. That had been one of the few happy chapters in his life. He''d gone to ss during the day, cooked at night. The same hands that once danced across the surgical table had made soup just for Wendy. "Was Henry good to you?" Chase asked suddenly. "Back then, I mean." Wendy didn''t pause for even a second. At the door, she nced back at him with a cold, shadowed look. "Don''t start." "Wendy, I..." Before he could finish, the door mmed shut in his face. He stood there for a few seconds, then let out a dryugh. What was I even hoping for? Hadn''t he known all along how obsessed Wendy was with Henry? If that''s the case, what more was there to say? The signed divorce papers were already in his hand. He gripped them tightly, walked over to the couch, and picked up the suitcase that had been sitting there all day. He looked around onest time at the home he''d lived in for five years. Even though he had never felt warmth here, he still saw it as home- because it was where he and Wendy lived. Especially after his mother died. He couldn''t help wondering how long it would take Wendy to realize he was gone. The unloved leaves, and the loved one takes their ce. So will Henry live here? Chapter 3 After arriving at the hotel, Chase unpacked and copsed onto the bed, sleeping like the dead. Thick curtains blocked out the setting sun. By the time he woke up, it was already dark. For a moment, the unfamiliar room threw him off. He got up, took a quick shower, and opened hisptop to start handling his study abroad preparations. His professor had sent him the contact info of a mentor at Darovia Medical School-he''d need to reach out in advance. Chase could manage some basic Darovian, but if he was going to live there, he''d need to study it properly. Thinking it over, he used the money from the card to sign up for anguage course and checked his ount while he was at it. He hadn''t touched any of the money from his mother-inw or Wendy. The only funds in the ount were from his old schrship. After all, the Quinn family had paid all his mother''s medical expenses toward the end. He still had a bit of that schrship money left. He''d have to pay them back someday. He needed to figure out how to make a living. He reopened an old blog he hadn''t touched in ages. It still had a few essays he''d written back in school. His writing had always been praised-plenty of ssmates had asked him to ghostwrite their love letters. He used to post regrly, and starting with his second entry, he''d set a small paywall. To his surprise, people still paid to read it. Even more surprising, his blog''s backend showed quite a bit of money waiting. He withdrew it all. Digging around, he finally found his phone under the bed. Must''ve dropped it while he was sleeping. The screen didn''t respond at first, but after plugging it in, it powered up. The second it reconnected to thework, his screen exploded with messages and missed calls. He figured they were from his professor-maybe more information about the Darovia program. But when he opened them, they were all from Wendy. "Joy has a fever and needs porridge. Where are you? Why aren''t you home? Where''s the rice? Are you seriously throwing a tantrum right now? A kid is sick and you''re sulking? Get back here!" Chase stared at the screen for a few seconds and couldn''t help butugh. That was Henry''s child-not his. Why on earth should he care? And that house is hers. She''d lived there for five years and didn''t even know where the rice was kept. Wasn''t thatughable? They were getting divorced. It was better not to get tangled up anymore. So he didn''t reply. But Wendy didn''t let it go. Just as he was about to set the phone down, it rang again. This time, it was her sister, Ste, lighting into him the second he answered. "You really have no conscience, do you? A child''s sick, and you don''t even care? My sister told you toe back and make porridge! The whole family''s waiting on you!" Chase frowned. "Who''s waiting on me?" "Wendy, Henry, Joy, and me. That''s four people! Get back here and cook. Joy wants a homemade pizza. She doesn''t like the ones from restaurants. You make them." Themanding tone was almostughable. Chase couldn''t help but sit up straighter. "First of all, Joy isn''t my child. I have no obligation to care for her. Second, if you want to wait for me, go ahead. I won''t being. Andstly, from a medical standpoint, pizza isn''t suitable for a sick child. It''s hard to digest." On the other end, Ste was stunned. Chase could actually talk that much? Is that Chase? Let me say a few words to him." Ste-visibly annoyed-handed the phone to Henry. "Chase, we haven''t met, but I want to apologize. I shouldn''t havee into your home without permission. It''s just that Joy is sick and not listening. If it bothers you, I''ll leave with her right away. But you shouldn''t avoid your own home because of us." His words backed Chase into a corner, making it sound like he was being petty with a child. Chase licked his dry lips out of habit. Years of trying to please Wendy and his naturally non- confrontational personality left him struggling for a response. But he wasn''t going back. "Mr. Henry, we haven''t met because when I pulled Wendy out of that wreck, you''d already been taken away. Doesn''t matter. We''re not exactly people who need to meet." From the background, Ste shouted, "What do you mean ''his home''? That house belongs to my sister! She can bring whoever she wants! What right does he have to make decisions?" "Ste." Wendy''s voice cut in sharply. "Enough." But Ste wouldn''t let it go. "Am I wrong? You bought that house. What''s it got to do with him? He''s just a leech trying to scam money!" She had always been biased against him, and after the marriage, that hatred had only intensified. Ste adored Henry and believed Chase had stolen his ce. Their mother had exined countless times that Henry had married someone else overseas, but Ste refused to listen. Chase didn''t need to hear more. "She''s right. That''s not my home." With that, he hung up and silenced his phone. Ste and Henry stared at the disconnected line, both momentarily stunned. "Did he just hang up on me?! Does he even want toe back?!" But Wendy felt something else-panic. She couldn''t exin it, but she felt like she''d missed something important. She''d called Chase back that afternoon to make up for forgetting his birthday. She was going to take him out for dinner. She hadn''t expected things to spiral like this. But years of living in power had twisted her temperament. She couldn''t bring herself to lower her pride and make peace with Chase. His screen lit up with a new message: "Get back here right now. If you don''t, I''m changing the fingerprint and password. You''ll never get in again. A clear threat." Chase shook his head with a helpless sigh. They''d already signed the divorce papers. If she wanted to delete his ess, so be it. He replied, "Okay." Wendy, fuming, called immediately. He didn''t answer. The mood to write his blog was gone. He sat motionless in front of hisputer for a long time, his body stiff as stone. He couldn''t understand how his life had turned out this way. If I hadn''t agreed to marry Wendy back then, maybe I''d already be a renowned surgeon by now- showing the world what I''m capable of in the operating room. The dim room was lit only by the glow of theputer screen, casting shadows over Chase''s colorless profile. He was, without a doubt, a handsome man. Ever since middle school, girls had always chased after him. But he''d never had time for love. His focus had always been on his studies. He never wanted to waste his talent. Until he met Wendy. Wendy wasn''t the most beautiful girl he''d ever seen, but her tears... they had fallen straight onto his heart at the worst moment of his life. Scalding. They hurt too much for me to say no. It was a cycle with no exit. If he didn''t marry her, his mom wouldn''t get the help she needed. She might have died even sooner. There was no way out. Thank God it onlysted five years. He''d made it to the end. Now, he could start over. His love for Wendy had been worn away by years of disappointment. All that remained was regret. Regret that he never received her love. Maybe even a bit of jealousy toward Henry. His phone lit up again. Wendy wrote, "I''m giving you onest chance. Tell me where you are. I''lle get you." Chase stared at the message, confused. Come get me? For what? So I can watch you and Henry y happy family? Chapter 4 Chase actually found it pretty strange. With the way Wendy had always been, as long as Henry was around, how would she even be able to see him? Getting messages from her once, twice, and then again today was already rare. From Wendy''s point of view, if he still wanted to hold on to this marriage, he should''ve taken the hint and backed off by now. But he no longer cared what Wendy thought. So he didn''t reply to her message. He left his phone on silent and tossed it aside. He wasn''t going back to that house anyway, and if Wendy wanted to delete his fingerprint, she could knock herself out. He figured this was probably the extent of what Wendy would do. If he didn''t go back, then he didn''t go back. With Henry around, of course her first love was the top priority. But who would''ve thought that in the middle of the night, the door would suddenly be swiped open. Half-asleep, Chase bolted upright. The lights in the room shed on with a snap. In the blinding white light, Chase saw Wendy standing in the doorway, her face filled with barely restrained anger, and for a moment, he wasn''t even sure where he was. Even back when they lived together, he and Wendy had been sleeping in separate rooms for a long time. Wendy often came homete, saying she didn''t want to disturb his sleep. But in reality, ever since Henry came back, Wendy had been acting chaste, like she was saving herself for him. Chase understood that, and he didn''t care enough to do anything about it, so he let her be. "What are you doing..." Chase hastily tugged the nket up. Wendy''s lips twitched slightly. The well-tailored coat she wore made her figure look even better than usual. Her face still held traces of anger and coldness from the outside air, but none of that could hide her beauty. Five years of marriage had seemed to wear down Chase''s edges, but Wendy hadn''t changed at all. "Not bad. You''ve learned how to run away from home." Wendy shrugged off her coat and walked to Chase''s side. Standing beside the bed and looking down at him, she paused for a moment before reaching out to pinch his cheek. "You haven''t really gone out much these past few years, just been staying home, turning into a drama king in secret?" So she came all the way here just to yell at him? Chase stared at her in disbelief, then his brow suddenly furrowed. He pped her hand away. Getting woken up in the dead of night, and with that kind of nasty attitude-anyone would be pissed. Not to mention the divorce was already in progress. He didn''t have to humor Wendy anymore. "If I''m so ridiculous, what are you doing here?" Chase looked up at Wendy. "What, Mr. Henry left?" As soon as those words left his mouth, he saw Wendy''s expression falter for a split second, and he understood immediately. "I just left, and Mr. Henry already moved in. Beautiful night, beautifulpany. I really don''t get why you came all the way here just to make yourself miserable." In five years of marriage, this was the first time Chase had ever spoken to Wendy in such a sarcastic tone. She was a little surprised, but thinking about it-Henry had moved into the house, after all-Chase was bound to be upset. So Wendy held back and tried to calm him down a bit. "What are you throwing a fit for? I already told you, Henry and Joy don''t have anywhere to stay right now. We''ve got plenty of rooms, and it''s not like they''re in the master bedroom. It won''t affect you." "Wendy, you didn''t forget you signed something that day, did you?" Chase asked, cautiously testing the waters. Wendy nodded without hesitation. "Of course not. I even agreed to adopt a child with you. What are you still mad about? I wanted you to go back and take care of Joy because I thought it''d help you get used to the whole taking-care-of-a-kid thing. After all, we''re going to have one too." Chase went quiet. So that was it. No wonder Wendy had signed so quickly that day without even ncing at the terms. She''d thought it was an adoption agreement from the start. Seeing how confident she looked, Chase couldn''t help but let out a cold chuckle. To avoid causing anyplications, he didn''t bother reminding Wendy that what she had signed was a divorce agreement. "Let''s go. Go home." Wendy tugged at the nket. But Chase said, "You can go home by yourself. Even Ste said that house is yours and has nothing to do with me. I know my ce. No need to show up and be an eyesore. Besides, Mr. Henry''s child should really be taken care of by him. If she gets hurt while she''s with me, I can''t afford to be held responsible." "Chase!" Wendy finally lost her patience and snapped. Chase raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the wall. "If you want to yell, go home and do it. Yell at Mr. Henry and his kid all you want. This is a hotel. Waking other people up in the middle of the night is kind of rude." It was already the middle of the night. Wendy had shown up wrapped in cold air and left carrying her anger with her. Chase let out a long sigh andy back down. Darkness returned to the room as he stared up at the ceiling. No wonder Wendy had signed so easily. She hadn''t even mocked him or taken a look at the document. If he''d known, he might''ve slipped in a few extra properties. Thinking about it, Chase let out a softugh. He didn''t want anything from Wendy anyway. As long as he got away from her, he''d be able to get his life back on track. He believed in himself. He wasn''t going to end up living a miserable life. He''d thought he could head to Darovia and start adjusting to life there smoothly, but who would''ve thought-his passport suddenly had an issue. Chase sighed. If that''s what fate had in store, then he''d stay a few more days. Wendy sat staring nkly out the window. Chase still refused toe home. Last night, since Chase hadn''te back to cook, Wendy ended up ordering some home-style congee for Joy. After Ste left, she found out where Chase was and got ready to go look for him. Henry had said, "Mr. Goodman''s probably upset. Want me toe with you?" "What about Joy?" "She already took her medicine and went to sleep. It''s fine. I''ll go with you and help exin." Henry''s tone was sincere. "Mr. Goodman''s being unreasonable. I''m just friends with you. Why would he be angry? He doesn''t actually think I''m the other man, does he? Hearing that made her feel strangely ufortable. Henry''s insistence on staying by her side... gave her a feeling that something was starting to change. Chapter 5 After thinking it over, Wendy still felt it wasn''t a good idea to bring Henry with her. "Forget it. I''ll go by myself. Chase has a bit of a strange temper-he might offend you. Go get some sleep. You still have to take Joy to the hospital for her IV tomorrow. Don''t let it drag out." She didn''t give Henry any chance to object. Grabbing her car keys, she headed out the door. Henry stood in the living room for a long while. Then, turning his head, he nced around the entire room before quietly pushing open the door to Wendy and Chase''s old bedroom. Wendy must really not like Chase. From the moment he arrived, he''d noticed there wasn''t a single men''s item in the whole ce, and yet Wendy hadn''t picked up on it at all. That made things easier-fewerplications. Chase had spent several days running back and forth over his passport issue and still hadn''t managed to get it fixed. He''d already missed the first round of the exchange program, and the frustration burned quietly inside him. He knew this was all Wendy''s doing. She was forcing him to show himself. But for the sake of getting the divorce finalized, he kept his mouth shut. Language sses had started. Chase spent every day either in ss or at his hospital internship. When the teacher heard he hadn''t been able to go abroad as nned, they told him to wait for the second session to begin. In the meantime, a hospital that had requested him months ago specifically reached out again, and with the teacher''s help making the connection, Chase started his first job in five years. He moved to a different hotel. He knew full well if Wendy wanted to find him, no matter where he moved, she could. Work and study filled his week. It was busy but fulfilling. That energy, that pride, returned to Chase atst. He finally felt alive again. He''d thought he wouldn''t see Henry until the divorce was finalized-but to his surprise, Henry brought Joy to the hospital where he was interning. "You must be Mr. Goodman." Chase had just walked off the operating table in his white coat and was heading to the office when he heard the voice and turned his head. Henry smiled. "Hello, I''m Henry." His voice was exactly like it sounded on the phone, and he did have the kind of face Wendy would go for. No wonder she''d held onto that fantasy for all these years. Chase instinctively looked around for Wendy, but instead met Ste''s disdainful re. "What are you doing here? Don''t tell me you followed us?" she scoffed. She knew Chase wouldn''t just walk away from the family like he imed. All that drama for days, and in the end, still running after her sister. Chase looked away and gave Henry a quick nod before turning to leave. But Henry didn''t seem willing to let him go that easily. He took a few steps forward and blocked his path. "Mr. Goodman, can we talk? Henry''s fake smile made Chase deeply ufortable. He was just the long-lost first love who''d returned. Chase was already an unloved, soon-to-be ex-husband. What was there for them to talk about? Chase frowned and rejected him directly. "I''m working." Before Henry could respond, Ste cut in sharply, "Henry''s giving you face-you''d better know how to take it!" Their voices were rising. People were starting to nce over. If security got involved, it''d be Chase''s reputation that took the hit. Chase sighed. What do you want to say?" Henry didn''t answer. He simply gestured toward the emergency exit. The emergency light above the exit door hung askew. Cigarette butts littered the concrete floor beneath it. You moved out, Mr. Goodman?" Henry nudged one of the cigarette butts with the tip of his shoe, dragging a long ck smear through the ash. He''d said "moved out," as if he already considered himself the master of Wendy''s house. Chase let out a snort, his eyes locked on Henry. "Mr. Henry, you already know. So why are you here to humiliate me?" Henry didn''t respond. He sucked in his cheeks slightly, then finally spoke. "Mr. Goodman, you''re not using this whole act to make Wendy keep thinking about you, are you?" The thought hadn''t urred to Chasebut if it made Wendy think of him even a little... No wonder she''d been obsessed with this guy for years. Chase scoffed at himself. "I''m about to divorce Wendy. Honestly, I should already be overseas by now. If it weren''t for "If he''d already made the decision to leave, then why-deep down-was there still a sliver of hope? Hope that Wendy had stopped him from going? But she''d been so busytely. Henry and his daughter had been right by her side... What was he even hoping for? Chase gave a bitterugh. "I don''t believe for a second that you''d ever give up a big tree like Wendy," Henry said, as if he''d just heard the funniest joke in the world. "So to you, Wendy''s just a nice tree to sit under and enjoy the shade, huh?" "Looks like her taste isn''t that great, after all." Chase pushed open the stairwell door and was about to walk out. Henry let out a few coldughsand suddenly pulled a fruit knife from his pocket, shing it across his own arm. "Chase, you want a divorce, right? Let me help you with that..." Chase turned back, trying to grab Henry''s hand, but it was already toote. The sharp de sliced through Henry''s tailored suit, leaving a long gash on his upper left arm. Blood began to drip. Henry''s face turned visibly pale. Chase had never hated being a doctor as much as he did in that moment. He rushed out the door. "We''ve got a patient! Emergency surgery-now!" Ste was still waiting outside the stairwell. She grabbed him the moment she heard that. "What did you do?" Chase kept walking, but she yanked hard on his arm again. I said, what did you do?" Chase yanked free, annoyed. "If you''re that worried about your precious crush, then get your ass into the stairwell and check on him." That suspicion had lingered in Chase''s mind for a while now-Ste had always seemed a little too eager to help Henry. The pampered princess of the Quinn family, following a grown man to the hospital? In any other family, maybe it would''ve been seen as a younger sister looking after her brother-inw-but this was Ste. Born with everything. Just look at the way she treated Chase. She made it crystal clear who she liked and who she didn''t. Sure enough, Ste''s eyes widened like he''d hit a nerve. It took her a moment to recover, and then she turned and bolted into the stairwell. Wendy arrived quickly-probably dropped everything at work the moment she got Ste''s call. Henry''s injury wasn''t actually that serious. No matter how hard you try to hurt yourself, your instincts will still hold you back. He''d only nicked a vein. But it was enough to give Wendy a reason toe storming in. So when she burst through the office door, face full of rage, Chase wasn''t even surprised. "You stabbed Henry?" Chase let out a bitterugh. "That''s what you think of me?" Wendy snapped back, "Isn''t it true? You''ve been making a scene this whole time because of him!" So all he''d done these past few days in her eyes-was throw a jealous tantrum over Henry. "He cut himself." "You expect me to believe that? You think Henry would self-harm just to frame you? You really think you''re worth that?" Thosest three words knocked the wind out of Chase. He looked her dead in the eye, stubborn and serious. "He set me up, Wendy. Why is it so hard for you to believe me?" Just once-just this one time- If Wendy had believed him, then these five years he''d spent with her wouldn''t have been for nothing. But it seemed every bit of hope he''d ced on her would always end the same way. "You''d better pray he''s fine." Wendy flung thatst sentence at him before storming out of the office. The sharp click of her heels echoed across the hospital floor. Chase slumped back into his chair, drained. In the end, she didn''t even bother closing the door behind her. In the treatment room, Wendy pulled up a chair and sat beside Henry. The cut was long, but luckily, not deep. Henry''s face was pale. "Wendy, did I do something to upset Mr. Goodman?" Wendy shook her head. She couldn''t shake the look on Chase''s face from her mind. From what she knew of him, he wasn''t the kind of person who''d do something like that. Had she really misjudged him? Henry didn''t get the response he was hoping for. He continued, "Wendy, if I''m just causing trouble by staying here, I can take Joy to a hotel." Right-Joy was still running a fever. Chase had made such a scene these past two days, the poor kid couldn''t even rest properly. Everything that happened today... It was too much. Too childish. Had she been too lenient with him all this time? With that thought, Wendy gently reassured him. "No. You''ll stay here. You didn''t do anything wrong. He hurt you I''ll make sure he apologizes to you in person." Henry nodded, the corner of his lips curling into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile. Just then, Ste barged in, breathless. "Sis, thank God you''re here!" "Chase actually stabbed Henry! And you''re just going to let that go?!" "Whatever. Once his passport''s ready, he''ll be out of our lives anyway!" Wendy froze at those words. Her head snapped up. "He''s leaving?" Ste jumped in surprise. Blinking, she asked, "He''s going abroad. You didn''t know?" Chapter 6 The next day, Chase checked out of the hotel. The hospital offered housing, so he moved in with his luggage. But during his shift, he unexpectedly overheard Wendy and Henry''s names. "Ms. Quinn and Mr. Henry really have something special. Did you see those old news articles?" "Yeah, I did. Ms. Quinn and Mr. Henry were childhood sweethearts. They were supposed to end up together, but their families pulled them apart. Honestly, it''s like something out of a romance novel! But... didn''t Ms. Quinn get married?" "So what if she did? Mr. Henry was married too! They even have a kid, but... they must be divorced by now. Otherwise how would they be back together again?" "Breaking up, getting married to other people, and still ending up together? That''s some drama. But Mr. Henry really does look so gentle. Ms. Quinn too." Chase stood frozen in the doorway, not reacting for a long while until his roommate came back in with water and called out. "Chase, what''s up?" Snapping out of it, he shook his head. Seeing him holding a cup, the roommate lifted the kettle. "Come on in. I just got some hot water." Chase returned to the room, movements a bit stiff. His roommate poured him a cup of hot water. "Those nurses just got off their shift. The hospital just got sponsorship from Quinn Group, so of course they''re curious about Ms. Quinn." The hospital was sponsored by Quinn Group? Chase slowly turned to his roommate. "Quinn Group? Wendy?" "Yeah. You heard about it too?" The roommate didn''t even look up, still gaming on his phone. "Quinn Group donated two hundred million in medical equipment all at once. Talk about generous!" Chase sipped his water and slowly calmed down. He was about to head out when he heard his roommate behind him say, "Oh right, you''re supposed to scrub in on tomorrow''s surgery with the professor. He said you''ve got really steady hands. He left the files in the office -you should go grab them." Their intern dorms were just behind the hospital. After a moment''s thought, Chase threw on his coat and went to pick up the case files. Truthfully, he really wanted to see what it looked like when Wendy loved someone. Even after five years together, Wendy had never loved him. If he couldn''t have it for himself, he at least wanted to see what it looked like when she gave it to someone else. He entered the hospital through the back entrance, picked up the files from the professor''s office, and started wandering aimlessly through the building. The nurses all recognized him. He was good-looking, and he was handpicked by the hospital for his internship. What other intern got to assist in surgeries right from day one? He had a high profile here. "Dr. Chase, what brings you in? Covering a shift?" a nurse greeted him with a smile. Chase hesitated a moment, then walked over. "I''m here to grab a case file. Can you check for me there''s a little girl named Joy. I think it''s a fever from bronchitis. Is she still on IV?" The nurse started to check, but paused the moment she heard the name. She gave him a knowing look. "So you''ve heard too, Dr. Chase?" Chase looked confused. Leaning in, the nurse whispered, "That little girl is supposedly Ms. Wendy''s daughter. You didn''t know? Quinn Group''s investing in our hospital and flooding us with medical equipment like it''s free." She motioned with her chin. "They''re in Room 512. Rich folks really are different. A tiny fever, and the kid gets a private room for her IV. Probably done in another thirty minutes." "Thanks." Room 512 was on the same floor. Just a short walk around the corner. And sure enough, Wendy and Henry were sitting just outside the room. Probably to avoid disturbing the child''s rest, the two of them were shoulder to shoulder on the hallway bench, the atmosphere intimate. "Here, just take it," Wendy said, stuffing something into Henry''s hand. Henry looked flustered and instinctively tried to hand it back. "No, really. Joy and I are already putting you out. I can''t take your car on top of that." Oh. So she was giving her first love a car now. Chase let out a bitterugh. Of course. Different people, different fates. Chase never worked and stayed home most of the time. The few times he went out for groceries, he didn''t even need a car. Two years into their marriage, it was Mandy who gifted him one, said it was for convenience. Seeing the concern in her eyes, Chase didn''t want to worry his mother-inw, so he epted it. But that same night, Wendy came home drunk and tore into him. "Some live-in husband you are taking money, taking a car. You want my dad''s car too, huh?" She shoved a card into his pocket. "Quit asking my mom for money. If word gets out, people will think I''m bullying you." Chapter 7 Chapter 7 A Way Down Looking at him now, Wendy had the same expression as her mother-eyes full of pity. "You''ve got enough on your te raising Joy on your own. It''ll be good to have a car to get around. Don''t worry. If I''m the one giving it to you, the Harrison family wouldn''t dare try to take it." The Harrison family couldn''tpete with the Quinns, but they still held some influence locally. Years ago, Henry had been sent abroad for an arranged marriage. But before five years were up, the woman had gotten tired of him, didn''t even want custody of their daughter, and divorced him outright. He came home, defeated, with the child. As for the Harrisons, they were embarrassed by him. They could ept him wanting to be with Wendy once upon a time, but getting thrown out by a woman? That was unforgivable. Since his return, they''d never let him back into the house. They even repossessed the home they''d once given him. Now Wendy kept saying that Henry''s ce was still being renovated and that he''d be moving soon, but in truth, that house belonged to her as well. Chase let out a long sigh and turned to leave. Love really made all the difference. Everything she never would''ve given to him, Wendy handed over to Henry without a second thought. On the way back to the dorm, Chase sent Wendy a message. -Don''t forget to sign the papers next week. Wendy had just left the hospital herself. She''d originally nned to pick up Henry and Joy, but there were still documents that needed reviewing at the office-she had to workte tonight. When she saw Chase''s message, she mmed her foot on the gas. Just seeing his name filled her with irritation. The decision to invest Quinn Group''s funds in Chase''s hospital had been hers alone. The board didn''t get it at all. She''d hoped to run into him today, but the nurse had told her he wasn''t on shift. She''d already gone this far-given him a way down, preserved his pride as a man-and he still wouldn''t take it? Just as she was cursing him in her head for being ungrateful, the message came through. Wendy nced at it and let out a faint smile. Not bad. Looks like he''d figured out where the investment came from. They were husband and wife. Friction was normal. Even if their rtionship wasn''t exactly conventional, someone still had to take the first step. Strangely enough, ever since Henry had returned to rekindle things, Wendy had faced him squarely, over and over. The man she''d once wanted so badly it had hurt-she could finally have him. She should''ve been racing to divorce Chase, to build the family she''d always dreamed of with Henry. But for some reason, she couldn''t seem to take that final step. Maybe it was habit. They''d been married for five years. To suddenly end it like this-it felt unfair to Chase. That''s what Wendy told herself. She still loved Henry. But she''d gotten used to having Chase around. His quiet thoughtfulness was exactly what she needed. Her rtionship with Henry had been passionate, even chaotic. Their fights had made entertainment headlines, their reconciliations always public. After too much of that, someone like Chase- calm, steady, longsting-was easier to live with. Wendy wasn''t just a woman. She was a businesswoman. And business was about returns. She always knew what worked best for her. Back at the office, she finally lowered herself enough to reply to Chase''s message. -Got it. Sam was still workingte too. Carrying a stack of files, she followed Wendy into her office. "Ma''am, the Ocean Project conference starts the day after tomorrow. It''llst a week. I''ve sent your flight info to your phone. I''ll be going with you again this time." Wendy paused mid-step. She turned and looked at Sam. Sam had been with her for years. One nce was all it took to read her boss''s mind. She quickly added, "Ma''am, the Ocean Project is a five-nation joint conference. AGS International-the one you wanted to coborate with from thest bidding round-they''ll be there." Wendy let out a soft "Oh." If it started the day after tomorrow, they''d have to leave tomorrow. And if itsted a week... she wouldn''t be able to attend the adoption signing. After a moment''s thought, Wendy said, "Have Lina go with me. You stay here. Go sign the papers with Chase next week." Sam hesitated. "I''m signing?" Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Divorce Wendy had always wanted to adopt a child. Maybe then Chase wouldn''t have so much time to be out working-maybe he''d stay home and focus on the kid. After spending these past few days taking care of Joy, she''d actually started to think adopting a child might not be a bad idea. At the very least, it could stop Chase from wandering around. To her, it wasn''t as important as a business deal. But to Chase, it was probably a major life decision. Wendy spoke about it so casually that Sam didn''t think much of it and nodded. But one weekter, when Sam saw Chase standing outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, she waspletely stunned. "This... this is the small matter Madam Wendy mentioned?" Sam stared wide- eyed, heels clicking as she approached Chase. She hesitated, then asked, "Sir, what is this?" Chase frowned the moment he saw it wasn''t Wendy. "Why are you here? Where is she?" Sam replied, "She went abroadst week. The Ocean Project. It''s a weeklong trip-she won''t be back until the weekend." Of course. Her business was more important than his life. Sam quickly pulled out her phone and called Wendy. The voice on the other end was speaking some unfamiliar, foreignnguage. Sam couldn''t make out the words, but Wendy clearly sounded irritated. Madam Wendy, this... this too? You want me to sign?" "If he lets you sign, just sign. But this... maybe we should wait until you''re back." One hand pressed to her forehead, the other holding the phone, Wendy was distracted by someone writing something down on a sheet of paper nearby. Her attention shifted instantly. "No need. Just sign it. If you need money, pull it from the ount. And don''t forget to pick me up from the airport this weekend." Sam immediately returned to work mode. "This weekend is Madam Quinn''s birthday banquet, sirshould you still attend?" She wasn''t sure what to make of the current situation. As things stood, Chase and Wendy were here to get divorced. After today, Chase would no longer be the Quinn family''s son-inw, and there''d be no reason for him to attend. "He''s still the Quinn family''s son-inw. If he doesn''t show, it''ll be a joke," Wendy said bluntly, just before another question came her way. She hung up. Sam gave a helpless smile. Chase stood next to her and had heard the whole thing. He had thought that he and Wendy could part ways peacefullybut she hadn''t even shown up to collect the divorce certificate herself. At this point, Chase gave up. There really was no future for the two of them. Since that was the case, there was no reason to waste more time. He turned and walked inside. Sam, struggling to keep up in her heels, chased after him carefully, wanting to say something. But knowing everything Chase had been through recently, she couldn''t find the words. As Wendy''s assistant, Sam of course knew that Henry had returned, and that Madam Wendy''s attention waspletely consumed by him and his daughter. Meanwhile, Chase-still her legal husband-hadn''t even been home. To see a marriage end like this after all these years... it really was ridiculous. When their number was called, Sam tried one more time to call Wendy and exin the situation, but Wendy didn''t answer. The staff didn''t even turn around as they took the documents from Chase''s hand. They flipped through them, confirmed the details, and immediately pressed down the official seal. "Sir, maybe you should reconsider. This..." Chase said nothing. The staff worked quickly. Two copies of the divorce certificate were handed to them. Chase gave Wendy''s copy to Sam. Seeing the troubled look on her face, he said gently, "Don''t worry. She signed the divorce agreement herself. This has nothing to do with you. Even if you hadn''te today, I would''ve found another way to collect it." "But..." "I''ll be at Madam Mandy''s birthday banquet this weekend. Just have the suit delivered to the hospital. Thank you." With that, Chase gave a polite nod and left, leaving Sam standing alone on the steps. The sunlight poured over him, but it didn''t bring him the slightest warmth. Back in the car, he tossed the divorce certificate onto the passenger seat and let out a coldugh. Five years of marriage-not just a mistake, but aplete joke. Who gets divorced through a secretary? Chase was certain Wendy hadn''t even looked at the papers she''d signed that night. Maybe she didn''t even know they were divorced now. But what did that have to do with him? If Wendy wanted to stay stuck in that rtionship, that was her business. But not him. He''d already lost five years he was moving on. Back at the hospital, he jumped straight into surgery. The next few days were packed with back-to-back procedures, and slowly, he began to regain the rhythm he once had. The attending who''d taken him on was pleased. "I''ve heard your name before. When the hospital brought you in, I had my doubts since you''d been gone for years. But now? A genius is still a genius," said Mr. Lance, nodding with satisfaction. Keep it up. You''ve got a bright future ahead of you." Chase sat beside Mr. Lance and nodded. He was satisfied with his own performance too. Even though he wasn''t the lead surgeon on these cases, he''d had plenty of hands-on opportunities. Nothing felt rusty at all. "Didn''t Lemuria save you a spot in their exchange program? Why didn''t you go?" Mr. Lance adjusted his sses and put them back on. "I heard from your professor that you''d agreed to go abroad. I did. I was supposed to leave with the first group, but my passport had issues. So I''m stuck for now. But at least I get to learn from you in the meantime." "There''s only so much I can teach. I''ve already reached the peak of my field. But you- you''ve got endless potential. I''m getting old. You young people are just getting started. Study hard. When youe back, maybe I''ll be the one assisting you." "Don''t say that. I''d never dare. I''ll head out now-please take a break." "Alright." As soon as Chase left the lounge, he felt his phone vibrating. Wendy had been too busy abroad to reach out these past few days. It was Sam, reminding him that today was Mandy''s birthday. He and Wendy were officially divorced now. He was no longer Mandy''s son-inw. But after everything she''d done for him over the past five years, he couldn''t let her down. He also needed to return a few things. He gathered all the bank cards he had once left at his mother''s grave. He hadn''t touched a cent from them. He knew exactly how much money the Quinn family had spent on him back then. One day, he''d pay it all back-with interest. "Dr. Chase, someone sent a suit for you. It''s in your office," the head nurse said as she passed by, busy changing bandages. Chase changed into the suit and drove to the Quinn family estate. He used to visit often. Wendy was always busy with work and rarely had time to look after her parents, so he handled it on her behalf. He never minded. A son-inw is half a son, and with his own parents gone, taking care of Wendy''s parents just felt natural. But Ste had always looked at him with disdain. Eventually, he started going less and less. It was usually Mandy who came to visit them instead. He parked in the back garden. The butler came to open the door and greeted him cheerfully. "Mr. Chase, wee back." "Louis." Chase grabbed a bag from the passenger seat and handed it over. "Last time, mom said your wrist''s been hurting. I prepared some medicated patches for you. Try them out first." Chapter 9 The butler took the bag full of medicated patches with a heavy heart and softly said, Mr. Chase, that''s very thoughtful of you." Chase thought about reminding him not to call him "Mr. Chase" anymore, but with Wendy likely to show up, he didn''t want to make things moreplicated-so he kept quiet. He just nodded and followed behind the butler. The butler led the way silently. What a good man Mr. Chase was, and yet the young miss didn''t like him. She just had to go for that Harrison guy instead. The butler had been with the Quinn family since before Paul and Mandy got married. He was long overdue for retirement. He''d watched Wendy grow up and naturally knew about her past with Henry. From the very beginning, none of them had liked Henry. It wasn''t about his background-it was about the kind of man he was. Inside the main hall of the Quinn estate, the ce was filled with powerful figures. It was exactly the kind of event Chase hated. He wasn''t the kind of man who cared for social climbing, but at events like this, if the Quinn family''s son-inw didn''t hold his own, it''d just be embarrassing for everyone. So he had no choice but to keep his head high, walking confidently behind the butler, keeping in step. "Hey, did you hear? Henry''s back." "Of course. I knew Wendy still had feelings for Henry. She only married Chase out of heartbreak when Henry got engaged to someone else. Watch-she''ll be divorced in no time. But Henry came back with a daughter." "So what? It''s not like Wendy can''t afford to raise her. The Quinn family could raise a dozen kids without blinking." ... In a corner stood a group of Wendy''s old ssmates. They were all from elite academies, all from privileged backgrounds-when they stood together, they drew attention. After greeting her parents, Ste also headed over to join her circle of friends. "I saw Henry too. Isn''t the Harrison family supposed to hate him? Why would they let him show up at something like this?" The Harrison family still thought Henry was a disgrace. Now he''de back with a child from another woman? They''d probably rather he die at home than show his face in public. But with his custom suit and that Patek Philippe on his wrist, people didn''t quite know what to make of him. Ste nced toward him, drink in hand. Say what you will -he was still the former heir of the Harrison family. Every move he made was graceful. Even after years abroad, he didn''t look the least bit out of ce at an event like this. People gossiped around him nonstop, but he acted like he didn''t hear a word. When someone came up to greet him, he responded gently. When no one did, he quietly kept to himself. It looked a little pitiful. "Who cares what the Harrison family thinks? As long as my sister likes him, that''s all that matters," Ste said. One of the Lyn girls tugged Ste''s skirt and whispered, "But your sister''s still technically married. Where''s her husband?" "He just got here," Ste said, her face twisting in annoyance. "At an event like this, with his background, the only reason he''s even invited is because he married my sister." The group of girls, already in gossip mode, lit up. "Now that Henry''s back, and your sister clearly still likes him, do you think she''ll divorce Chase and marry Henry instead?" "No doubt about it." Ste answered with certainty. "She''s said it herself-she''s been sick of Chase''s face for years. They should''ve divorced ages ago." Just as she said it, Chase walked in behind the butler. All eyes turned to him, curious and judgmental. But Chase stayed calm and unbothered. He gave a small nod, acknowledging everyone, then headed straight for his mother-inw''s room. "Mom." He didn''t want to make things ufortable for Mandy on her birthday. News of the divorce hadn''t been made public yet, and he didn''t want to cause a scene-so he didn''t correct her title. Mandy had been in a gloomy mood all day, sitting quietly and refusing to smile. But the moment she saw Chase, her eyes lit up. She waved him over, and he came to her side. He chatted with her for a while, gently cheering her up, then took out the gift he''d carefully prepared. "I remembered you liked this painting. I had someone bring it from overseas. Happy birthday." Mandy had loved collecting art over the years, often buying works from well-known masters. Lately, though, she''d taken a liking to up-anding artists. Their pieces weren''t cheap either, but at least they were within Chase''s means. "This is lovely. Just having you here makes me happy." Mandy looked him over and, after making sure no one was nearby, asked quietly, "You and Wendy..." The divorce cooling-off period had passed, but Wendy had been abroad recently. Had they finalized it yet? She had always genuinely liked Chase. Meeting Mandy''s expectant gaze, Chase couldn''t lie to her. "The divorce certificate''s been finalized." "But Wendy''s been out of the country... how did you" She didn''t need to finish the sentence. The realization hit her, and her eyes welled up instantly. "You poor thing." Chase gently patted her hand. "Mom, I don''t feel sorry for myself. This is the start of a new chapter for me. It''s like being reborn. I''ve been married to Wendy for years, and I''ve never once felt wronged. I loved her." Wasting time with someone you love... that''s still a beautiful thing. Even if it didn''t lead to a happy ending. "Oh, that girl Wendy..." Mandy sighed. "Henry''s here too. Have you seen him?" "We ran into each other at the house. Also bumped into him at the hospital where I''m interning. His daughter was sick." They chatted a bit more, and then Mandy pulled a check from her drawer and slipped it into Chase''s hand. "This is from me. I know you want to study abroad. No matter where you go, you''ll need somewhere to live." "I can''t ept this, Mom." Chase pushed the check back and took out a few bank cards, cing them in front of her. "These are the cards Wendy gave me over the years. I never used them. We were married, not in some kept arrangement. These belong to her. Please return them." "You silly child..." Wendy stepped out from the next room. Even with her wless makeup, she looked exhausted. As CEO of Quinn Group, she was more thanpetent. Even on her mother''s birthday, she''d been next door handling business. She knocked and opened the door, surprised to see Chase sitting beside her mother. They were even holding hands, looking unusually close. Wendy walked over and rested her hand on the back of Chase''s neck. "You''rete," she said calmly, but with a hint of irritation. They hadn''t been in touch in a while. She''d thought when she came home, she''d see Chase waiting there. But when she opened the door, it was still just silence and Joy''s toys left scattered on the coffee table. If Chase had been home, there''s no way he''d let the ce look like that. "Had a surgery." Chase subtly moved away from her touch. They were already divorced-no matter how they yed the part in public, they couldn''t be too close. "Let''s go downstairs then." Wendy moved to her mother''s other side and helped her up. "It''s about time." One on each side, Mandy felt her heart twist in a thousand directions. Chapter 10 Mandy was helped onto the stage. She started by thanking everyone for attending, then turned to Chase. "My daughter is perfect, and with such a wonderful son-inw, I couldn''t ask for anything more. I have no wishes leftjust hope everyone enjoys themselves tonight." With that, she stepped down amid warm apuse and admiration. The tall cake was pushed out. Originally, Mandy was supposed to cut it, but she hadn''t even made a wish. Naturally, the task now fell to Wendy. Just as Wendy was about to pull Chase on stage with her, Ste appeared from behind the crowd-dragging someone by the hand. "Sis, since today''s so special, why don''t you go up with Henry instead?" Ste beamed, nudging Henry toward Wendy. "To cut Mom''s birthday cake, it should be the person most important to her. Otherwise, how can they make a wish on her behalf?" Chase hadn''t wanted to be on stage to begin with, so now that someone else was more than willing to step in, he dly handed the task over before Wendy could even look his way. He directly handed the knife to Henry. "Better not," Henry said with a soft smile, looking toward Chase. "After all, he''s still the Quinn family''s son-inw. If I suddenly go up there with Wendy, it wouldn''t be right. So many people are watching-it''d make Mr. Goodman lose face." Ste shot Chase a look full of hostility. It was the kind of look someone gives when their secret''s been discovered-nervous that it might be exposed at any moment. She turned to Chase and said, "Some people have gotten a little toofortable in their role and keep looking for trouble. But Henry is different. That role was his to begin with. If it hadn''t been for someone lying, scheming, and stealing, the title of the Quinn family''s son-inw never would''ve gone to him." There weren''t many people nearby, so their conversation didn''t draw too much attention. Wendy frowned and was about to speak when Chase stepped back and tilted his head up. "He''s not wrong. That title was never really mine to begin with. It''s just cutting a cake it doesn''t mean anything. You can have whoever you want go up. The decision''s yours." The cake knife, originally meant for Henry, was now solemnly ced in Wendy''s hand by Chase. Another choice. He''d known from the beginning that no matter which option was on the table, he wouldn''t be one of them. As long as Henry was around, Wendy would always choose him. Still, he couldn''t help ithe wasn''t ready to let go. Back when Henry went abroad, Chase was the one who stayed by Wendy''s side. He hadn''t even gotten a taste of what it felt like to win, and now he had to hand it all over? It felt like swallowing ss. His pride wouldn''t allow him to walk away so easily. So he wanted Wendy to make the choice onest time. If she chose him, maybe there was still hope between them. But deep down, he already knew what she''d do. "It''s just cutting a cake. Why make it soplicated?" Wendy frowned and turned toward the stage. Ste bumped Chase with her shoulder to make him move aside. Henry followed Wendy up the stage with a smile, and everyone below watched closely. "I knew it. As long as Henry''s in the picture, Wendy will always pick him. Her husband is literally right there. Choosing someone else in front of him... I don''t know. Henry''s definitely changed sinceing back from overseas." "Back then, he had a real temper. Anyone near Wendy would set him off. But now they''ve both been married, and Henry''s got a kid-he probably isn''t that petty anymore." "Am I the only one who thinks Chase looks really pitiful?" "I feel that too. He''s still the Quinn family''s son-inw, but Wendy brings another man up on stage for her mother''s birthday. That''s a p in the face." No matter what the others whispered, Chase kept his eyes on Wendy. Once the cake was cut, the mood of the event shifted. The lighting dimmed and softened into something more romantic. Chase stepped back a few paces, moving out of the spotlight, making room for the true stars of the show. Someone he didn''t know who-handed Henry a microphone. "Wendy, we''ve wasted so much time. We''re not as young as we were. I think it''s time we made a decision. I didn''t leave you on purpose back then, and now we shouldn''t care what others think..." Chase didn''t have the courage to hear the rest. He headed upstairs, found a room, and turned on the lights-only to realize it was Wendy''s old bedroom, the one she''d had before she got married. It was easy to tell. Every photo in the room was of Wendy and Henry. He felt like a stranger who had stumbled into a shrine of an old love story, standing there awkwardly as the evidence of their history surrounded him. I knew from the start... so why does it still hurt? Chase asked himself that as he stood still. The music downstairs changed too-more romantic than before. Even through the door, he could practically picture Wendy''s radiant expression as she melted into Henry''s arms. A look he had never seen on her face before. It was finally over. The divorce certificate was in hand. If he could just get through today, he could walk away clean. He''d just sat down on the bed, trying to collect himself, when the door suddenly swung open. He thought someone had caught him sneaking inbut as the hallway light spilled in, he saw Ste''s face appear. "You saw it, didn''t you? Henry confessed to my sister, and she said yes. From now on, you''re nothing. You need to leave the Quinn family and give Henry his rightful ce." "We''re already divorced. There''s no point in saying this now." Ste scowled. She still refused to believe Chase had really agreed to the divorce. "If you agreed to it, then you must''ve gotten something in return." She stepped closer to him. "All these years, even if it wasn''t from my sister, the money my mom gave you was plenty. And for you to finally agree to divorce, you must''ve gotten even more. Chase, you really haven''t changed at all." Chase rubbed his temples, tired. He''d had a couple of sses of champagne downstairs, and the alcohol was hitting him now. His mind was full of Wendy. They''d spent years together. How could he just move on like that? He''d gritted his teeth and walked away from the woman he''d once loved. Now he had to watch her find happiness with someone else, and on top of that, deal with Ste''s mockery. No one could take that kind of humiliation. "You know what I''m like. If you really don''t want me to leave your sister, then keep talking. I can drive the price up as high as I want-until she can''t afford me anymore, and she''ll give up on the divorce herself." "You!" Ste red at him. Chase leaned in slightly, staring her down. "You know I''d do it." Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Don''t Think You Can Just Walk Away Finished At first, Ste thought Chase was only bluffing. But in the dim light, as it flickered across his face, she caught the look in his eyes-and in that instant, she knew he meant every word. Flustered and furious, Ste stormed out, leaving Chase alone, exhausted, as he copsed onto the bed. He slung an arm over his eyes. Through the crack beneath the door, music from the party still filtered in. That world of lights andughter felt far away now. It took him a long time to finally sink into the darkness. He didn''t know how much time had passed when he heard soft, rustling footsteps creeping closer. Still half-asleep, he thought it was Ste again and was about to sit up-until the heavy scent of alcohol hit him. Then, someone suddenly pounced on him. Chase froze for a few seconds, instinctively moving to push them away-until he caught the familiar scent. "Wendy?" She seemed drunk. "I''ve been looking all over for you. The butler said he saw youe into my room." Wendy''s whole body copsed against his, like she couldn''t hold herself up anymore. Then she looked up, her long hair spilling over his shoulder in soft, teasing strands that tugged at something deep inside him. "You''re drunk. I''ll have someone make you some sobering soup." He moved to help her onto the bed and get up. But she didn''t let him. Wendy pushed him back down. "I looked everywhere for you, and you''re just hiding in my room without saying anything?" she said, pressing her lips to his cheek. Chase frowned and pushed her off. "Wendy, do you even know who I am right now?" "Chase." She sounded dazed, slurring his name over and over. "Do you know what you''re doing?" "Sleeping." She seemed impatient now, tugging at his suit jacket. "Why are you wearing so much?" His instinct was to stop her. After all, they were already divorced-this was crossing a line. 1 Chapter 11 Don''t Think You Can Just Walk Away But... Chase was still a man, and the woman he''d loved for years was right in front of him. Finished They hadn''t been intimate in a long time. Ever since Henry came back, all of Wendy''s attention had been on her first love. There had been no time-or energy- for Chase. They''d been sleeping in separate rooms for so long that Chase had thought she was saving herself for Henry. It wasn''t something he''d ever made a big deal of. Over time, he got used to it. Wendy''s hands felt like fire, igniting everything they touched. Chase finally gave in, flipping her beneath him. "Wendy, do you really know who I am?" He asked again. This time, Wendy sounded almost annoyed. "Chase, what''s wrong with you?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "I''d never mistake you." That much was true. Wendy had never treated Chase like Henry''s recement. They were nothing alike. Just this once. Let it happen. Let it be thest time. If Wendy could still recognize him, then maybe... this was. what she wanted tbo. Neither of them knew when the party downstairs had ended. The two of them didn''t care. Chase used thest of his clear-headedness to lock the door, then climbed back into bed. Before dawn, Chase quietly got up and slipped out of the room. He poured himself a ss of water. That was when he noticed someone nearby. At first, he thought it was the butler, but as he stepped closer, he saw it was someone else entirely. "Chase, you''re still here?" It was Henry. No longer putting on his usual act, Henry finally bared his teeth-like a territorial wolf catching an intruder. Chase held his ss, startled at first, but then slowly regained his calm. He was still Wendy''s ex-husband. And Henry? He was just a former boyfriend who''d been sent abroad after breaking Wendy''s heart. He hadn''t been part of her life all these years. If anything. Henry was the one trespassing now. Chapter 11 Don''t Think You Can Just Walk Away inw. The real question is-what are you doing here? You had a whole family overseas, a daughter too. So what''s this? You back to im what you think is yours?" Henryughed quietly, stepping closer in the shadows. "What, are you mad at me now?" Chase shrugged. "Not really. Just seems like you''re unnecessary at this point." Finished "You couldn''t make Wendy fall in love with you after all these years. That''s ''s your failure. I''m just here to take back what''s mine. Even if the Harrison family disowns me, I still matter to Wendy. If you had any dignity, you''d walk away now. I don''t want to show you too much of who I really. am." But Chase already knew who Henry was. They were both men. You could see a lot in the way someone looked at a woman. He''d never believed Henry was as harmless as he seemed. Henry had been engaged, married, had a child. Even after divorce, he could''ve stayed abroad and lived a good life. So whye back now? Because he couldn''t let go of Wendy-and couldn''t give up the status she had now. In short, he wanted it all. "I''m not trying to fight you for anything." Chase said, drinking his water and checking the time. He had to head to the hospital soon. "Wendy made her choice. I''ll respect it." "If that''s the case, then give her the time and space. If she really wants to get back with you, fine. It won''t stand in the way. Chasing love isn''t worth anything if you have to steal it." Chase brushed past him and headed for the door. "I heard you''re going ad," Henry said suddenly. Chase nodded "But if VAT ing you your space. Isn''t that what you wanted?" ay just like that-what does that make you to Wendy?" So well what it felt like to love someone and never be able to forget them. eft now, he''d be the next Henry. ity would never forget him for the rest of her life. And Henry couldn''t let that happen. So he had to do something. -Chase, you stole Wendy from me. It''s time you paid for that. Don''t think you can just walk away. I won''t let you leave a single trace of yourself in Wendy''s heart." Then, with a strangled cry, Henry copsed to the ground. Chase jumped. Finished Chapter 11 Don''t Think You Can Just Walk Away seeing. Then came the sound of fast footsteps on the stairs. Ste was the first to reach Henry. "Oh my god-Henry! What happened? Why is there so much blood?!" Chase stood frozen, frowning. His eyes met Henry''s-and in the ce where Ste couldn''t see, Henry raised his brow with a smug little twitch. This was Henry''s move. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Henry''s Game Wendy appeared shortly after. She had drunk quite a bit the night before and was still nursing a headache. Wearing a slip dress, she came rushing down the stairs. Like Ste, she dropped to her knees in front of Henry. The sight of blood spreading across the floor made her instinctively look around for the other person. The moment she saw Chase, she froze for a second-then shouted at him to call an ambnce. "It wasn''t me." Chase called the ambnce and crouched down, ready to give Henry some basic emergency aid. Even if this was Henry''s stunt, Chase was a doctor. He couldn''t just watch someone bleed out. He was about to begin when Wendy smacked his hand away. "What are you doing!" she yelled. "Chase, I can''t believe you''d do something like this!" "What kind of person do you think I am?" Chase stayed kneeling where he was, staring at her quietly. Deep down, he wanted to know just how she really saw him. "We were together for five years. Did I ever hurt anyone? I know you love Henry. I even made room for him and agreed to a divorce. Do you honestly believe I''d harm him?" "Divorce? What divorce?" Wendytched onto that word immediately. "You''re divorcing me because of Henry? And you say you''re not jealous?!" Chase shook his head, exasperated. They already had the divorce certificate. What was the point of arguing now? "He''s about to go into hypovolemic shock. I need to stop the bleeding now or he won''t make it until the ambnce arrives." "No!" Ste was the first to object. "Sis, don''t let him touch Henry! He''s ruthless- he''ll never save him!" The two sisters fumbled to apply pressure to Henry''s wound, but it only made the bleeding worse. Chase lost his patience and pushed them aside. He grabbed a nket off the couch and. tied it around Henry''s abdomen. The bleeding slowed significantly-enough to hold out until help arrived. Covered in blood, all three of them watched as the EMTS carried Henry out. Ste pointed at Chase and swore she''d press charges. Wendy didn''t say a word. She stayed right next to Henry. This was what Henry meant when he said he wouldn''t let Chase leave any trace behind in Finished Chapter 12 Henry''s Game It was an effective strategy. If Wendy thought Chase was a cold-blooded man, she''d never value the five years they spent together, Blood was smeared across the floor. When the housekeeper woke up, she gasped and rushed over, thinking Chase had been injured. She reached for the first aid kit. Chase waved her off and headed upstairs to wash the blood away. All the noise had woken Mandy as well. "You''re really not hurt?" she asked. From her room, she''d seen what happened. She hadn''t seen Henry hurt himself, but she refused to believe Chase was capable of something like this. He was too kindhearted. If he were truly dangerous, he would''ve had Wendy in the palm of his hand long ago-not filing for divorce the moment Henry returned. Chase shook his head and casually threw on a coat. "I knew that Harrison boy wasn''t fit for the spotlight." Mandy, still in her nightgown and draped in a shawl, watched the housekeeper mop up the blood downstairs. "I didn''t want them together back then either. I could tell Henry had a bad heart. That''s why I put my foot down. Never thought it''de to this. Poor you-five years, just gone." "We''re divorced. Whatever trouble he causes now has nothing to do with me." "You don''t understand how business people think," Mandy said, her tone serious. "You and Wendy are no longer married. No one''s protecting you now. If the Harrison family tries to pursue legal action, it could turn into awsuit. But don''t worry. No one in that family actually gives a damn about Henry. Even if they do try something, I''ll make sure you have a goodwyer." Chase didn''t believe Henry would really go that far. He was just putting on a show to get sympathy from Wendy. Even when Chase had tied the wound, he noticed the cut was only superficial- just enough to hit a vein. It looked bad, but it wasn''t serious. A little first aid and Henry would be fine. People who don''t know medicine tend to think a lot of blood means it''s life- threatening. But in Chase''s eyes, this whole act was just pathetic, "I dropped off the rmendation letter at the hospital," Mandy continued. "I asked someone to arrange a referral for you with Lemuria. You missed the first round of exchange students-you shouldn''t miss the next. I''ll figure something out with your passport." Chase politely declined. "Now that Wendy and I are divorced, I can handle everything myself. As long as she doesn''t try to interfere again, I''ll be fine." If Wendy hadn''t tampered with his passport, he would''ve been in I emurial 323 PM ? ? Chapter 12 Henry''s Game can do to make up for it?" Chase had only one request. Finished "When I leave, please don''t tell Wendy where I''ve gone. We''re done. There''s no going back. I want a clean break. No more crossing paths." A marriage that should''ve been beautiful-reduced to this. Even Mandy thought it was a shame. grave re "I''ll make sure someone visits your mother''s You just focus on your studies overseas. I heard you''re a natural in this field. No one should have the right to hold you back." At the hospital, Henry had already been treated and moved into a private room. Hey asleep on the bed. When the doctor came in to check on him, he frowned. "The bleeding looked bad because the vein was nicked, but the wound isn''t serious. He should''ve woken up by now. I''ll order some tests. Get someone to wheel him over." The doctor left with a few interns. Ste had just finished the paperwork and came in, furious at the sight of Henry still unconscious. She yanked Wendy outside. "Sis! That was clearly Chase being jealous! Henry was drunk, so I told him to sleep over. How could I have known something like this would happen? You can''t let Chase off the hook this time. You need to divorce him already! Henry confessed to youst night-why didn''t you say yes?!" Yes, Henry had confessed-in front of everyone. It was exactly the kind of moment she used to dream about. But for some reason, all she could see in her mind was Chase''s face. She chalked it up to habit. Five years of marriage doesn''t disappear overnight. Even if she did love Henry, she couldn''t ept his confession while she still had a husband. "Chase and I... forget it. Stay out of it. Stop getting involved in our business." Wendy looked up at her sister. "If you keep stirring things up, I''ll send you abroad." Send Gifts Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Love and Not Love Not long after Wendy left, Henry woke up. Finished Ste, still fuming, caught sight of the look on Henry''s face-quiet and dejected. She quickly turned tofort him. "Henry, don''t overthink it. My sister still loves you the most. Why else would she rush to get you. to the hospital like that? Trust me, she''s not going to let Chase off casy." Henry gave a soft smile and lowered his head, calm and gentle. But was that really true? He wasn''t so sure Wendy''s heart belonged to him alone. Her expression had held panic-but when she looked at Chase, there was something else there too. Disbelief. And he was certain he hadn''t imagined it-they came out of the same room. The Quinn estate was massive, almost unbelievably so. There were rooms everywhere. If Ste''s story was true-if Chase and Wendy had long stopped caring about each other, and hadn''t shared a bed in ages-then why had the two of them spent the night in the same room? He''d acted in such a hurry because he saw it. Chase held a ce in Wendy''s heart-a ce he didn''t want to leave untouched. He had to make sure Chase didn''t be what he once was. So this was the only move left. "Ste, I''m fine. You should go home." Back at the house, Wendy couldn''t find Chase. She flew into a rage, and no one dared speak up. It wasn''t until Mandy came downstairs that everyone finally saw hope. "What''s all the noise about?" Even in a bathrobe with a shawl wrapped casually around her, Mandy''s presence wasmanding. She had once dominated the business world, and even years after stepping down from Quinn Group, her aura hadn''t faded. "Mom, where''s Chase?" Mandy looked up, full of frustration. She didn''t know what kind of spell Henry had cast on Wendy. It had been years. Wendy had met better, more suitable men. But the moment Henry came back, everything fell apart again. That Chase couldn''t hold onto Wendy was expected. But for a smart woman like her daughter to still be so blind to her own heart-that was just baffling. Chapter 13 Love and Not Love Finished some random man on stage, and now you''re starting drama first thing in the morning. What is it -you''re afraid I''m living too peacefully? That I''m not dying fast enough?" Wendy backed down at once. "He hurt Henry. I have to get an exnation." "Exnation for what?" Mandy, as always, took Chase''s side. "He''s your husband. You''ve been together five years. You don''t trust him-fine. But you''d rather stand up for some outsider? Don''t say I didn''t warn you. If Henry couldn''t marry you back then, he''s not going to now either." "Mom!" What was she even talking about? It''s not like she nned to divorce Chase just because Henry came back. Mandy gave a short snort and waved off the butler, who brought over her coffee. Then she turned to Wendy and said tly. "Miss Wendy, Mr. Chase left a while ago. If you ask me, he''s not the kind of man who''d do something like that." With everyone in the house speaking up for Chase, Wendy grew increasingly irritated. The real victim was still lying in the hospital, and somehow the supposed attacker was the one. getting everyone''s sympathy. Her thoughts drifted back to the days when she''d once wanted to run away with Henry. She''d always been rebellious. And now that she held real power in her hands, no one could stop them from being together. At the hospital, Chase had already done two surgeries back-to-back. He''d only just sat down to rest when someone called him into a meeting to discuss uing operations. He''d been so busy, he''dpletely forgotten about Henry. Until Wendy showed up. As an investor, her presence at the hospital wasn''t unusual. She sat in the office assigned to her and asked to see Chase. "Chase, Madam Wendy wants to see you." Mr. Lance looked worried. "She''s one of the hospital''s investors. I hear she''s got a temper. Be careful. Chase put down the report he''d just finished reviewing and sighed. Wendy''s temper was no mystery to him-he''d lived with it for five years. "Got it." He knocked on her office door, and from inside came a curt response. As soon as he opened it, something flew straight at his forehead. He couldn''t dodge in time, and blood immediately began Chapter 13 Love and Not Love Finished He''d known it would be like this. That''s why he''d insisted oning alone, without anyone to lead the way. This floor was nearly always empty. It was reserved for hospital administrators, so hardly anyone ever came up here. Except for Wendy. No one else would be sitting in that office. After a few silent seconds, Chase stepped inside and closed the door behind him. "What do you want?" The sight of him only infuriated Wendy more. He didn''t flinch. Didn''t whine about the pain. The blood from his forehead trailed down his face, his eyes faintly red. Once, that expression might''ve stirredpassion in Wendy. But now, all she could see was Henry-bleeding, covered in red. Compared to that, what was a scratch on Chase? "Chase, what''s your problem with me and Henry?" Wendy leaned forward slightly, fists clenched. on the desk, banging twice. "If you''ve got a problem, take it out on me. Why would Henry? He didn''t do anything wrong. He''s even trying to protect you!" Beforeing in, Wendy had gotten a call from Ste-Henry was awake. you hurt Henry had told her to calm down. Said Chase probably acted in a moment of frustration. That the injury wasn''t serious. That she shouldn''t make things harder on Chase. "I didn''t do anything wrong. I don''t need Henry to protect me." Chase stood on the opposite side of the desk, calm andposed, even though his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I already told you. I didn''t hurt Henry. I don''t need to exin myself." "Then how did he get injured? Are you saying he did it to himself?! Chase, your excuses are getting worse and worse. He nearly died-just to frame you?!" Chase let out augh. "Anyone with a medical license could tell you that his wound wasn''t serious. He nicked a blood vessel, that''s all. If that''s enough to kill him, then maybe his body''s too fragile for this world." "Chase! You still won''t admit what you''ve done? What happened to you?!" He didn''t want to exin anymore. They were already divorced. Whether she believed him or not didn''t matter. Let her sue him if she wanted. Jail might be easier than watching her like this. With that thought, Chase turned to leave. "Did I say you could go?" 134 PM c Chapter 13 Love and Not Love A crystal ashtray spun on the carpet, finally rolling to a stop at his feet. Finished The difference between love and not love couldn''t be clearer. Henry suffered a minor injury, and Wendy was beside herself. But she could throw something like that at him without blinking. What a joke. "If Henry wants to press charges, let him," Chase said. Then he pulled open the door and left. Momentster, the sound of things being smashed echoed from the room behind him. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Won''t Let Him Go Finished Of course Henry wouldn''t press charges against Chase-after all, the knife that cut him only had his own fingerprints on it. Chase hadn''t even touched it. The more he thought about it, the more certain he was-Henry understood exactly how someone like Chase could leave a deep impression in Wendy''s heart. That was why he would never allow Chase to stand on equal footing. They were both men. Chase could understand Henry, but he didn''t agree with him. There were just two days left until Chase''s flight to Lemuria. This time, there were no issues with the ticket. Every day, he packed up his things, crossing off the days as they passed. His roommate, a fresh graduate a few years younger than him, spent most of his time rounding with professors or gaming in their shared dorm. He couldn''t believe Chase didn''t seem to have any hobbies. "I mean, seriously-don''t you ever get tired of living like this?" His roommate had just finished ordering skewers. Since they had to stay sharp for surgery, alcohol was off-limits, so they clinked cans of soda instead.. "Hm? Why would I be tired?" Chase rarely ate this kind of food. He didn''t really have friends. For five years, he''d locked himself inside a tiny apartment with no one to talk to. Moving into the dorm had actually been a novel experience. The roommate shook his head. "You don''t go out. You have no friends. You don''t y games. You don''t even watch movies. It''s always medical journals or case studies. That''s how people go nuts, man. Hobbies? Friends? He''d have those. Once he left Wendy behind, he''d start a new life. He''d have all of it. "We haven''t been roommates long, but I think you''re a good guy. Here''s hoping you find a better future-and something you actually enjoy doing." They toasted with their sodas. Henry stayed at the hospital for two days before the doctor cleared him to leave. Honestly, he''d been well enough to go home the moment he woke up, but both Ste and Wendy insisted on observation. Ste had brought Joy over to keep himpany. She was packing up his things now, preparing to send him home. Chapter 14 Won''t Let Him Go Finished "The house is finished," Wendy said as she walked back in, having just taken a phone call. "You and Joy can move in right away. If anything''s missing, just let Sam know. She''ll take care of it." Henry grabbed her hand. "You''ve done so much these past few days. Let me cook for you tonight." "Yes! Daddy''s gonna cook for the prettydy!" Joy pped her hands excitedly. "Ma''am, my dad makes amazing food! Once you try it, you''ll never forget it!" Wendyughed. "I haven''t forgotten." Henry blushed, remembering the past. "Okay, sure, I used to be a pretty terrible cook. But when you''re living abroad, you have to learn fast or it''s nothing but sandwiches every day. I couldn''t take it. Let me show you what I''ve learned." "Forget it." Wendy gently pulled her hand free. "You''re still healing. Cooking, cleaning-your wound might get infected. I''ll drop you two off and head back to the office." She turned to y with Joy, while Henry stared at her back, lost in thought. Everyone kept saying Wendy still loved him-but he couldn''t shake the feeling that something wasn''t right. She kept turning him down. Would she really rather go back to the office than spend a few more minutes with him? Chase clearly had more of an impact on her than he thought. He needed toe up with a new n. They''d only brought one car. After dropping off Henry and Joy at Riverville Bay, Ste hopped in Wendy''s car, tagging along on her way to meet friends, On the drive, Ste asked curiously, "Sis, why aren''t you getting back together with Henry?" Wendy kept her eyes on the road. "I''m married. How could we get back together? Things are fine the way they are-I can see him whenever I want." "You can get divorced. And now that Chase is gone, why not be with Henry? Wait-don''t tell me you''ve fallen for Chase?" The second she said it, Wendy mmed the brakes. Ste lurched forward in her seat. "Sis, are you nuts?!" "Chase is gone? Gone where?" Ste blinked. She was genuinely shocked that her sister didn''t know. "I came home yesterday and overheard Mom on the phone with Chase. She asked if he''d packed his flight''s today. Chapter 14 Won''t Let Him Go Was he still nning to go to Lemuria? Study abroad? Join the exchange program? Wendy frowned. "What time''s his flight?" Finished Ste nced at her phone. "About two hours from now. I heard Mom say Chase doesn''t n oning back. Once he finishes school, he''s gonna stay overseas for good. You two-" "You''re taking a cab." Wendy pulled over. "What?" Ste stared at the crowded street. "Where are you going?" "I''m going to find Chase." Who said he was allowed to leave? Ste stood there,pletely confused, as Wendy''s car disappeared into traffic. It took her a long moment to gather herself before calling Chase. At the airport, Chase had been trying to pass the time with a podcast. Then he saw Ste''s name pop up on his phone. Aside from Mandy, he didn''t want anything to do with the Quinn family. He let it ring, then declined the call. Momentster, his phone buzzed again-this time with a message. "Don''t Wendy? say I didn''t warn you. My sister''s on her way to catch you. If you''re gonna leave, do it fast." Chase instinctively stood up. But when he nced at the ticket in his hand, he froze. He just had to get on the ne. Once he got out of the country, he''d be free. He put on his hat and mask, then moved to a quiet corner near a window-out of sight, but with a clear view. He couldn''t even focus on his podcast anymore. As he sat waiting, almost dozing off, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Of course Wendy didn''te alone. Several people followed behind her. A few of them went straight to the check-in desk. Wendy stayed where she was, dialing his number. Chase didn''t answer. He turned his phone off. Just thirty more minutes. Chapter 14 Won''t Let Him Go Finished She had already stopped him twice. Chase couldn''t understand why Wendy kept doing this. She didn''t love him. They were divorced. Why was she still so insistent on keeping him here? When he asked for a divorce, he had it all figured out. Henry was back. Wendy still had feelings for him. They''d finally reunite after years apart, and Chase-he would just be forgotten. A footnote. A mistake. His chest tightened. His eyes stung. Why wouldn''t she let him go? The people Wendy brought were talking to the airline staff. Before long, a few employees rushed. toward the gates, looking for someone. They soon arrived in Chase''s section of the terminal. He kept his head down, hoping not to be recognized. "Excuse me-are you Mr. Goodman?" one of them asked. Chase sprang to his feet and ran. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Caught Again "Sir, wait!" The airline worker stumbled after being shoved aside, catching himself against the wall. He pointed at Chase and shouted, "He''s over here! Over here!" Wendy immediately signaled her people to surround him. She walked over, step by step, until she stood in front of Chase. He clutched his passport and ticket tightly, but Wendy just stared into his eyes. Her hand moved, quick and firm, snatching the documents from his grip and tossing them over her shoulder to a bodyguard. "I haven''t said yes. Where do you think you''re going?" "We''re divorced. I can go wherever I want. You''re going to restrict my freedom now? I can sue you." Wendy gave him a mocking smile. "We''ve been married five years, and you''re still this cute." She waved her hand. Two bodyguards stepped forward and pinned him in ce, one on either side. Chase didn''t want to scream like a lunatic in public, but the way the airline staff stood there, too. afraid to intervene-that chilled him to the bone. Wendy turned to the nearby attendants and said, "Thank you all for helping me find my husband. He has bipr disorder. When he gets upset, he runs off. Last time, in Lemuria, he almost jumped into a river. I''ll make sure to keep a closer eye on him from now on. Thanks. again." Then someone ced a basket of fruit on the counter. "Appreciate all your hard work." In the business van, the bodyguards sat up front. Chase was alone in the back, trying more than once to get out, only to be held down again. Eventually, the door opened and Wendy stepped in,. her gaze cold as ice. The partition went up, sealing them off. Now it was just the two of them. "Trying to run again," Wendy said, holding his passport. She ripped it to pieces in her hands. "Why haven''t you learned yet? I had toe to the airport myself to catch you. Hmm... what kind of punishment should I give you? Chase''s whole body tensed. He instinctively leaned back, but the seat behind him stopped his retreat. Her hand cupped his cheek, and he could feel the sting of her long nails. He took a deep breath, trying to speak calmly. "So we''re divorced-and somehow I didn''t know it." Wendy had found the divorce certificate in Chapter S Caught Again Finished Chase let out a dryugh. "Never seen someone so powerful they have their secretary pick up a divorce certificate. Impressive." He''d always gone along with her before-never talked back. But this time. Wendy had gone too far, and Chase refused to stay quiet. "You tricked me into signing it, said it was an adoption form. Impressive. You''ve really learned a lot these five years." "Trick you? Her voice dropped. "You were rushing to see Henry that day. I told you I wanted a divorce. You signed without blinking. How exactly did I trick you?" Wendy narrowed her eyes. "Chase, were we really that bad? Why did you have to get divorced? Or is there something out there that''s caught your eye?" "I divorced you so you and Henry could be together. The fi flight had already departed. There was no escaping now. Chase finally snapped. "Wendy, why won''t you let me go? All I wanted was a divorce. I don''t want anything you''ve given me. Not the money. Not the house. Not even you." "Chase! Thatst sentence cut deep. Wendy lunged at him, grabbing his cor and yanking him forward. "Take that back. Between you and me, I''ve always been the one in charge. You don''t get to say you don''t want me." "What, we''re already divorced, and now you want to y the victim?" Chase stared down at her pale, trembling hand. The strength she showed in that moment caught him off guard. "Don''t tell me you actually fell in love with me?" "Wendy, that''s ridiculous." Five years, and she never once loved him. But now, post-divorce, she suddenly realized she did? Even more absurd-her so-called first love was still living in her house. She wanted to call that love? It was an insult to the word. Wendy stood there, stunned by the sarcasm. She tilted her head, studying Chase as if she were seeing him for the first time. Over the past five years, she''d gotten used to his passivity-how he obeyed without question, how he let her boss him around. Now, everything had changed. Finished Chapter 15 Caught Again "You''re jealous," Wendy said suddenly, like she''d discovered a delightful secret. She let go of his cor and smoothed it down for him. "I told you, Henry and 1- never mind. Forget him." Chase frowned. "Wendy, I want out. Let me go." "Don''t say that word again." Wendy shot a nce at her phone, irritated. It had been vibrating nonstop since earlier, but she hadn''t had the bandwidth to check it. Sam had called multiple times, followed by a string of missed calls from Quinn Group''s executives. What now? Still gripping Chase''s hand tightly, Wendy sat down beside him and returned one of the calls. "Madam Wendy, thank god you picked up! We''re getting flooded with calls. You need toe back." "What''s going on?" Sam hesitated. Then she said quietly, President, check the trending topics. It''s about you." Being on trending searches was nothing new for Wendy. As the CEO of Quinn Group, her name often made headlines-people always questioned a woman leading such a business empire. But Wendy never cared. She''d taken over thepany and tripled its market value in less than two years. Her results spoke for themselves. From that point on, she became a constant presence on Twitter''s trending list. Even now, hearing the anxiety in Sam''s voice, she didn''t think much of it. BREAKING: Quinn Group CEO Wendy Caught Cheating While Married# Who Is Wendy''s Mysterious Hidden Husband?# Old me Returns Is Wendy Rekindling Her First Love? Wendy paused. Her brow furrowed. Who had leaked this? Henry''s return hadn''t been a secret. People in their circle had known for a while. But no one expected it to blow up online. She took the call again. "What''s the situation at thepany?" Chapter 15 Caught Again "So what?" Wendy leaned back, visibly drained. Finished Chase tried to pull his hand out of hers, the one she''d been squeezing tightly. But she wouldn''t let 1. go. Sam asked, "Aren''t youing back to the office?" "What''s there to see?" Wendy replied. "Tell them to go downstairs and look at thepany sign. No matter the scandal, it still says Quinn. Tell them to stop jumping around." "Then what should I- "I''ll head back in a bit. Oh, and go to the hospital Quinn Group invested in. Help the gentleman resign." Chase sat up sharply and snatched her hand away. "I''m not resigning!" Chapter 16 Chapter 16 The Media Wendy ended the call and nced at Chase''s reddened eyes with little concern. Then she instructed the driver to take them to the office. Who leaked the news? Finished Henry had kept a low profile since returning. If not for Joy''s illness, he might not have left the house at all. So who would use Henry to target her? The real target was definitely her. Henry no longer held any value with the Harrison family. He was a single dad now-who would bother going after him? Other than Chase. Wendy nced at the man beside her and still felt annoyed. She''d nearly lost him twice. "Stop overthinking. Just stay put at home," she said. Chase reached for his bag, wanting to shove the divorce certificate in her face. Whether she acknowledged it or not, they were legally divorced. The car pulled up in front of Quinn Group, but Chase made no move to get out. Wendy sat beside him for a long moment before speaking. "Even if we''re divorced, my mom''s been good to you, hasn''t she? Quinn Group is her life''s work. you really going to stand by and watch it take the fall?" Are Wendy knew exactly how to press his buttons. She knew Chase had a soft heart. Anyone who showed him kindness would get it back a hundredfold. Bring up Mandy, and Chase would never walk away. And she was right-he hesitated. "How about this," Wendy said. "We''re already divorced. You don''t need to pay back what my mom spent on your mother." "What do you want?" Chase asked. Wendy looked him square in the eyes. "I want you to pretend we''re still married. This news is going to shake our stock. Some of the more restless shareholders will take the chance to attack my shares. I need you to stabilize the narrative." After five years of marriage, they''d already done enough ying pretend. If that was all it took for Wendy to grant him real freedom-and if it helped Mandy-he could do it. Chase thought it over, then nodded. Chapter 16 The Media Finished There were still plenty of reporters at the front of the building, all hoping for a scoop after the scandal broke. The moment Wendy''s car stopped, they swarmed forward. Photos online had already shown her and Henry looking quite close. For a married woman, such physical contact with another man was bound to cause bacsh. The bodyguards opened the door. Chase had alreadyposed himself and stepped out behind Wendy They stood side by side. Chase rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. Under the cameras'' shes, he didn''t flinch. Back then, everyone said Chase wasn''t worthy of Wendy. But right now, looking at them, they were more than a match in appearance. "Madam Wendy, are the rumors about you and Mr. Henry true?" "Madam Wendy, you showed up at thepany with your husband right after the story broke. Is this to prove you didn''t cheat?" "Mr. Goodman, were you aware of the interactions between Madam Wendy and Mr. Henry? Some say your marriage is just for show-that you two have been separated for a while. Are you still legally married?" Chase wanted to shout the truth-he and Wendy were already divorced. What Wendy and Henry did was none of his business. He wasn''t some cheated husband, and he didn''t care anymore. But then-Mandy. Wendy had yed her card well. She knew he wouldn''t let Quinn Group fall, not while it was tied to Mandy. So she used that to trap him. Chase smiled. He pulled Wendy in closer, resting a hand around her shoulders, "No, it''s not true. My wife and Mr. Henry are long over. We''re doing just fine. I hope everyone stops spreading rumors." "But Mr. Goodman, were you aware that Madam Wendy apanied Mr. Henry and his daughter to the hospital?" Chase raised a brow, "Of course I knew. You didn''t know I work at that hospital? Wendy even invested in it. That''s the only reason she took Mr. Henry''s daughter there." Wendy''s brow twitched slightly. She had nned to have Sam help Chase resign, but now that he''d said this on camera, he couldn''t quit anytime soon. Otherwise, people would think the whole thing was staged. Chapter To The Media Finished She''d always thought Chase was easy to handle. Over the years, he''d been obedient, always doing as she said. Buttely, he''d changed. He was sharp now- unapproachable. Only now did she realize just how smart he really was. Their marriage had dulled his edge. He''d been content to y the role of househusband. Some reporters weren''t satisfied and pushed harder, trying to get Wendy toment on her history with Henry. I think it''smon sense not to bring up someone''s ex in front of their current husband," Wendy said smoothly. "Henry and I are in the past. Chase and I are married. Nothing and no one jis going to change that." She held Chase''s hand. Their matching wedding bands gleamed under the lights. The press kept pressing, but just then, a group of people came out of the building to hold them back. Sam and Ste followed closely behind. Wendy was about to move forward when a child suddenly dashed out and clung to her leg. "Mommy!" The word echoed like thunder. Everyone froze. Even Wendy was momentarily stunned. She didn''t want to react too harshly and scare the child, so she gently pushed Joy''s shoulders and knelt down. "Joy, you''ve got the wrong person. I''m not your mommy. I don''t have any kids." Joy blinked, then looked back at Henry before turning to Wendy. "But I want you to be my mommy." On the steps above, Ste watched like she was at a y, eyes cold and amused as they flicked over Chase. In her mind, Wendy would never embarrass Henry in public. He mattered too much to her. All Wendy had to do now was admit she still loved Henry-and Chase would be pushed aside. Sam was panicking. She wanted to pull Joy away but didn''t know what the president was thinking. Henry had been brought to the office by Ste. The building had been swamped with reporters, and Sam hadn''t had time to stop him. She hadn''t expected Joy to run out and call Wendy "Mommy." "Joy," Wendy said patiently. "You can''t just decide that. I''m not your dad''s wife, so I''m not your mommy." Chapter 16 The Media Finished Chase let go of Wendy''s hand and didn''t rush to help. He looked past everyone and spotted Henry in the crowd. Henry''s lips curled slightly, clearly forcing a smile. He hadn''t expected Wendy to bring Chase today. That was why he''d told Joy to call her mommy. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Don''t y Dumb He hadn''t expected to get dragged into it too. One moment they were acting like a loving couple, the next, Joy appeared-and made everything worse. pull Joy Wendy had seen enough. She gave Sam a look, and Sam immediately rushed over to pull away. "As you all saw, this child isn''t mine or Henry''s. While I was married, I never did anything that vited thew. Henry being here today is to help clear our names. We met at the hospital, that''s all-just two friends helping each other. My husband was present, too. Any other questions?" In truth, Wendy hadn''t known Henry would show up. For a split second, her mind had gonepletely nk. She''d instinctively grabbed Chase''s hand, afraid that if she let go, he might vanish. Under all those cameras, Henry had no choice but to speak. "Yes," he said awkwardly. "I didn''t expect the rumors online to spread like this. Wendy and I... our rtionship ended years ago. We''ve both built separate lives. We''d never do anything to betray our families." The chaos outside thepany finally died down. Sam led the way. Joy nestled back in Henry''s arms as the group walked into the elevator. "Who brought Henry here?" Wendy asked. Sam didn''t dare lie. "Ms. Ste." Ste didn''t think she''d done anything wrong. She rolled her eyes at Chase. "Why are you still here? If you''re going to leave, do it clean. Why hang around and make things worse? If it weren''t for you, my sister and Henry would be official by now! The Harrison family wouldn''t look down on him. This is all your fault!" No one said a word until they entered the executive office. Sam took Joy elsewhere for the time being. Only the adults remained. This wasn''t something a child should see. Ste kept needling Chase, asking why he didn''t just leave for good. Was he ying hard to get? Did he want Wendy to chase after him? Chase ignored the idiot. He found a seat and sat down. Ste followed, but before she could speak again, Wendy yanked her back and pped her hard across the face. The p stunned both Ste and Henry. Chase, on the other hand, didn''t bat an eye. Finished Chapter 17 Don''t y Dumb Wendy might love Ste. She might even still love Henry. But none of that came before thepany or her own interests. Family or lover once they crossed the line, they''d pay for it. "You hit me?" Ste was frozen. One hand covered her face, tears streaming down. "Sis, it''s because of Chase! Why did you bring him here? Don''t you love Henry? I was just trying to help you two! What did I do wrong?" Wendy sat back in her wide chair, silently watching her little sister. cry. "What did you do wrong? "Wendy, it wasn''t Ste''s fault. She didn''t mean for things to get out of hand. Joy... it''s my fault. I didn''t teach her properly. Don''t me Ste, Henry said. Chase nced at his phone. A few messages hade in from his professors, asking if he''d made his flight safely. He typed back with a sigh: Not going to Lemuria-for now. You''ll see why in tomorrow''s news. "Henry, stop talking." Wendy said coldly. "My mom and I have been protecting thispany with everything we have. And you? You haven''t done anything, and now you create a mess like this? Ste, you''ve had it too easy for too long. Do you know how much stock value thepany is going to lose because of today?" Ste blinked, not really following. "I just wanted everyone to ept Henry. I didn''t do anything to hurt thepany''s image." "I''m the CEO. If people believe I cheated during my marriage, my personal reputation alone is enough to make deals fall through. Ste, my rtionship with Chase is none of your business. If Chase hadn''t been here today, I''d be branded a cheater. Tomorrow, the shareholders would demand I step down. Do you want the Quinn family to copse because of you?" Wendy''s questions came like a hammer. Ste looked dazed, no longer holding her face-just staring at Chase. "But... but you two are divorced. All you had to do was admit it. Then you and Henry could be together." That''s my business." Wendy had never been the soft type. And she wasn''t stupid. If she really thought about it, it was clear who had set this up. "Henry, I know the Harrison family''s been pressuring you. Ever since you came back with Joy, they''ve refused to acknowledge you. I''ll figure something out. But Steing up with this n? That wasn''t the way. You''re not the kind of man who should be stuck at home." Finished Chapter 17 Don''t y Dumb So Henry wasn''t the kind of man to be caged. But he was? He was the one expected to stay home, cooking and waiting. If he hadn''t said anything to the press about working at the hospital, he''d probably be locked away again by tomorrow. "Wendy, I never meant for you or Ste to be caught in the middle. I''ll deal with the Harrison family myself. I''ll ask Joy to apologize," Henry said, already getting up to fetch her. Wendy waved him off. "Forget it. Just go. There''s still a lot to clean up." Ste didn''t want to leave, but Henry whispered something in her car and eventually got her to go, tear-streaked and unwilling. "You-"Wendy sat there, pressing her fingers to her temples. "Keep your job at the hospital for now. But you''d better bnce it with being home. If Ie home and don''t see you there, I''ll have someone fire you immediately." Chase sat up straight. Atst, some quiet. He could finally speak clearly. "First of all, we''re divorced. I''m a fully autonomous adult. You have no say that''s your house, not mine. I won''t be going back. If you need me for appearances, fine. Call me. in my job..Second, Otherwise, there''s no reason for us to talk." Wendy looked up and stared at him. "I never thought you were this kind of person." "Really? Maybe I loved you too much before. That''s why you never saw this side of me." At the word love, Wendy''s shoulders softened slightly. She let out a long breath. "I know you love me. Why can''t we just go back to how we were?" "And what about today? That just gets swept under the rug?" Wendy thought for a second. "I''ve already found a school abroad for Ste. It''s time she learned something. Mom and I spoiled her too much." "Don''t y dumb, Wendy. Don''t tell me you haven''t figured out the role Henry yed in all of this. Or is it that, in your eyes, Henry is just that perfect?" Of course she wasn''t that naive. Send Gifts Chapter 18 Chapter 18 The Business Game Wendy had already figured it out in the car. "Henry has his own difficulties." Chase nodded. After all, it was the Quinn family''s reputation that got dragged through the mud. He and Wendy were just business partners now-he had no reason to be angry over Henry. With that in mind, he stood to leave, but Wendy quickly stepped in front of him. "There are still tons of reporters outside-and probably at the house too. If they don''t see us go home together, the spection will keep going. During our ''coboration, you''re going to have to stay with me." "You-" He frowned, staring at her. Wendy just smiled. "It''s only for show. What, are you scared?" Scared? He was a man-what was there to be scared of? He wasn''t the one who''d be taken advantage of. So Wendy got back to work, and Chase was ordered to stay in her office. He called a few of his professors to apologize. "Chase, the Lemuria exchange program is a rare opportunity. They can''t keep waiting for you... is something going on over there? I can help if you need me." Trouble was sitting just feet away. Chase nced over at Wendy and lowered his voice. "No need. It''s just some family stuff. What did the hospital say?" "They''re happy you''re staying. And with Quinn Group investing because of you, keeping you is like keeping the boss. If you''re willing to go back, they''re offering to make you an attending physician-skip the residency. What do you think?" "Whatever you and the hospital think is best." "Alright, I''ll let them know." There weren''t many prodigies in medicine. Chase was one of them. Even before graduation, hospitals hadpeted for him with generous pay and benefits. But he''d chosen to marry Wendy and wasted years of his life. Even if he couldn''t go abroad, he needed to get far away from her. During the shareholders'' meeting, everyone was attacking Wendy for her private life-some even ming the fact that she was a woman. "At least I never cheated on my husband," Wendy snapped. "Chase showed up today to prove that. Or do you just not like seeing it? And let''s be honest, Mr. Zach-when ites to messy private lives, I''m nowhere near your level." Chapter 18 The Business Game: "You-1" The loudest user had been Mr. Zach. Finished Wendy smiled coldly. "I know exactly what''s going through your heads. But don''t forget-this is Quinn Group. Even if you force me out, my mother will take the reins again. If not her, then my sister. And even if my whole family dropped dead, I still have a husband. You guys? Don''t tter yourselves." "This is Quinn Group, yes. But we''ve all built it with our own blood and sweat. We''re not about to sit by and watch you run it into the ground. What exactly is going on with you and that Harrison boy?" Maine was at least reasonable. He cleared his throat. "People like us-we entertain all kinds of deals and appearances. If something happened, it''s none of our business. But the needs to stay clean." Wendy waved him off, annoyed. "There''s nothing dirty about it. Henry and I are clean." Mr. Zach wouldn''t let up. "Then how do you exin the clients we''ve already lost over this scandal?" "Exin? Wendy chuckled and raised her hand. Sam immediately handed her a folder. "Mr. Zach, you haven''t been home muchtely, have you?" "What?" The room went still. The other shareholders looked confused as Wendy nced through the folder "You bought a vi in Riverville recently. Been staying there a lot. But as far as I know, Madam Zach still lives in Dragon Bay. The security guards insist she lives with you-so, who exactly are they talking about?" Mr. Zach''s face turned dark at the mention of Riverville. Everyone else in the room turned to stare at him. Men like them usually kept secrets, sure-but they knew how to cover their tracks. They never used their own names to buy property. It was always bought under a mistress''s name, or someone in the family. They didn''t expect Wendy to dig this deep. "How did you..." The folder contained a lot more. But Wendy, in a rare good mood thanks to Chase, decided not to push it further. She closed the file and pressed it down on the table. "I know a lot more than this. And it''s not just you, Mr. Zach." She leaned back in her chair,pletely at ease. "You can all try to oust me. But my mother''s even tougher than I am." Over the years, she''d turned a blind eye to the small tricks these shareholders yed. Everyone Chapter 18 The Business Game But no one was allowed to get greedy. Too much ambition was dangerous. Finished After the meeting, everyone left with ugly expressions. Wendy had made it perfectly clear-this was a warning. Mr. Zach''s little scandal was her way of sending a message. "Cocky little brat," Mr. Zach cursed as he stormed into his office. Harry followed behind and shut the door. "How the hell did you let her find out about your side piece?" Mr. Zach was livid. "No way she knew! I was careful! Damn it. That girl''s gotta go." "You can''t. Didn''t you hear her? Even if she dies, there''s still Madam Mandy. You thinky a hand on her daughter and live to tell the tale?" "Then what do we do?" "Wait and see. you can Back in her office, the room was quiet. Wendy looked around but didn''t see Chase. She was about to go look for him when she noticed the door to the private lounge was open. She often workedte. The lounge was where she rested during overtime. The soft yellow light inside was on. Wendy stepped toward it on tiptoe. Chase was lying on the bed, fast asleep. She sat down beside him and gently traced the lines of his face. She''d always known he was handsome-and kind. That gentle face of his had a way of making people feel calm. She just hadn''t realized how attractive he looked even with that cold expression. "Stop being difficult. Let''s live well together," Wendy whispered as she bent down and kissed his cheek. "Stay with me." Chase wasn''t sure when he''d fallen asleep. All he knew was, there was now a warm body curled up next to him. He shifted slightly-and realized it was Wendy. She''d fallen asleep beside him without a single guard up. After lying still for a while, Chase got up and stepped out. What the hell was this? They hadn''t even shared a bed this many times while they were married. Now, divorced, and suddenly they were napping together? Exhausted, Chase went to make himself a coffee. Chapter 18 The Business Game Finished Sir? Sam was holding a coffee herself and turned at the sound of his footsteps. Chase gave a nod. "You''re still here?TM Sam sighed. "The media mess won''t clean itself up. PR is working overtime. I have to supervise. Isn''t the president in her office?" "She''s asleep." Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Delivering Lunch Finished Sam sighed as she looked at Chase''s noticeably thinner frame. She took the coffee cup from his hand and made a fresh one for him herself. "Madam Wendy''s temper isn''t the best, but... she really does worry about you. She was so anxious every time you tried to leave. It wasn''t until Madam Mandy''s birthday that Madam Wendy even found out." Sam cleared her throat. "Found out you were already divorced." What Sam really wanted to know was how Madam Wendy had managed to sign the divorce papers in the first ce. Knowing how much she cared about Chase, there''s no way she would''ve signed them in person. Otherwise, why try so hard to stop him from going abroad? So how did that signature happen? The rich scent of coffee filled the office. Sam handed Chase the mug and said softly, Madam Wendy is used to being in charge. You''ve lived with her long enough to know that. If you just go. along with her, she won''t give you a hard time." That was true. For years, Chase had gone along with everything, and life had gone on. If Henry hadn''te back, maybe Chase wouldn''t have filed for divorce at all. Sam went back to her work. Chase sat alone in the break room, drinking his coffee slowly before heading back, nning to wake Wendy up so they could go home. Just as he reached the door, it swung open from the inside. "You!" Wendy looked startled, still groggy from sleep. "Let''s go home." There were cameras in the building, and Chase didn''t want to argue with her here. He reached out and took her hand. He was still a man, after all. And Sam had a point-until he got what he wanted, going along with Wendy wouldn''t hurt. Because of the online rumors, Wendy was mmed with work every day. And somehow, even with all that on her te, she still found time to have the locks changed at Henry''s new ce. Apparently, someone had tried to break in the middle of the night. A thief had guessed the new house would be full of valuables after the remodel. But before he could steal anything, the security guards caught him and turned him over. Henry was fine. But Joy had been so scared, her condition got worse. Chase found out at the hospital. Since his trip abroad had fallen through, he moved a few things into the dorms. His old roommate was still there. nc stepped out of the shower and practically jumped when he saw Chase. Chapter 19 Delivering Lunch going." nc''s hair was still dripping wet as he walked over, rubbing his ead with a towel. Finished Chase gave a helpless smile. What could he even say? Who would believe that he couldn''t leave the country-because of his ex-wife? "Oh yeah, this morning when I was rounding with the professor, I saw Henry from the news again. He looked rough. Still there with his daughter getting fluids. But this time. Madam Wendy wasn''t with them." Chase took a sip of water. "She''s still got a fever? That kid hasn''t recovered yet?" "Nope. I heard a thief broke into their ce and scared her. Set her back a few days." Chase was speechless. Of course something this dramatic would happen to Henry. And given everything swirling online, it was hard not to suspect he staged the whole thing himself. But if Wendy was fine with it, it wasn''t anyone else''s business. He''d thought things between him and Wendy had finally settled. The rumors were starting to die down. PR efforts and paid influencers had shifted the narrative, and now fewer people were using Wendy of cheating. Instead, more and more people were turning on Chase. Calling him spindless. A joke of a man who couldn''t even divorce his cheating wife. The inte had no chill. They called him a leech, a kept man, a pushover in a green hat. Chase didn''t care much. Luckily, the footage of him getting out of Wendy''s car had been edited to hide his face. Only his profile and back were visible, so no one at the hospital knew about their connection. That day, Chase had a rare break. After back-to-back surgeries, he was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. With Wendy busy at the office, he figured he''d crash at the dorms for a nap. But just an hour in, his phone rang. "Babe." The second he heard the word, Chase jolted awake, disoriented. Instinctively, he replied, "Honey?" But the moment his brain booted back up, he remembered-they were divorced. "Didn''t you say you''d bring me lunch today? Are you on your way?" Last night, Wendy had curled up beside him, tired but coaxing him toe by the office tomorrow. Apparently, a partner wasing in for a meeting, and they''d raised concerns about Wendy''s personal life. Would it affect the brand? Wendy had told them her rtionship with her husband was solid Chapter 19 Delivering Lunch Chase sat up, rubbing his temples. "I''m heading out now. Wait for me at the office." "Okay, babe." Wendy hung up, clearly satisfied. Finished There was no time to actually cook now. Chase got dressed and left the dorms. He found a little private kitchen nearby and ordered a few of Wendy''s favorite dishes. Then he packed them up takeout containers. She probably wouldn''t know the difference anyway. in At thepany entrance, a new receptionist was on duty and didn''t recognize him. She blocked him from going upstairs. Chase was exhausted and didn''t want to give the new girl a hard time, so he called Wendy. "Honey, I''m downstairs. I''ve gotta head to the hospital after this-can youe down?" His voice was soft and patient. The receptionist stared at him in awe, wondering who was lucky enough to have a husband like this. Momentster, Sam and Wendy came down, trailed by a group of staff. "Honey!" Wendy spotted Chase and ran straight into his arms, throwing herself at him. Chase froze. He wanted to push her away-but he couldn''t bring himself to do it. "You''rete," Wendy said with a yful pout, sounding like a girl in love. No trace of the powerful CEO. "Sorry, traffic." Wendy grabbed his hand and pulled him over to introduce him to the visiting partners. "This is my husband." Chase extended his hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you. I''m Chase." "You two really seem to love each other," one of the menughed. "My wife hasn''t brought me lunch in years. Anyway, we''ve got a tour of the factory-Madam Wendy, we''re looking forward to working together." "Thank you for your trust." Once they''d walked the clients out, Chase handed the lunch to Sam and turned to leave. But Wendy grabbed his sleeve. "You''re already here. I won''t finish all this by myself-eat with me." 374 Chapter 19 Delivering Lunch have work at the hospital." Finished Wendy ignored him, clinging to his arm as she dragged him into the elevator. "Even if the sky''s falling, you still need to eat." As the elevator doors closed, Chase gave up. He never stood a chance against Wendy anyway. At least he had the day off. Inside the office, Sam went off to organize documents, leaving the two of them alone. Send Gifts Chapter 20 Chapter 20 I Miss You Finished Wendy''s smile faded in an instant. She watched as Chaseid out the dishes, poured her a cup of hot water-gentle and attentive as always. If she hadn''t already known Chase had the day off, she might have worried he''d try to slip away again. The two of them sat in silence. Chase didn''t have much appetite. He barely touched a few bites before setting down his cutlery. Wendy, on the other hand, ate a bit more. But when she reached. the sweet and sour ribs, she paused. She looked up at him. "You made this yourself?" Chase didn''t answer. Wendy''s expression hardened. She mmed her cutlery down. "Chase, is it that hard for you to cook a meal for me? We agreedst night, and you still went out and bought it?" For a second, Chase was stunned. She could tell? Seeing his confusion, Wendy pointed at the sweet and sour ribs. "You always use dried plums in this dish. One bite and I knew you didn''t make it. You didn''t actually think I was dumb enough not to notice, did you? Chase stared for a beat, then looked down and chuckled. Some habits really were hard to kill. Wendy loved sweet and sour ribs. And his signature touch was always soaking dried plums and adding them to the braise. He honestly thought she wouldn''t notice. Wendy had never cared about these little things. She always worked through meals, reading contracts while eating. Even when they were at the same table, they could go the whole meal without exchanging more than a few words. "I forgot," Chase said simply. "I''ve been mmed with surgeries, and you brought it up when I was half-asleep. If you hadn''t called me, I probably wouldn''t havee." The office was quiet. The only sound was the thrum of both their heartbeats. Wendy stared into Chase''s eyes for a long time, trying to find that familiar warmth he used to show her-but it was gone. "What do you want from me?" she asked. Chase didn''t understand why she was mad. This whole thing was an act. The business partners didn''t know the food wasn''t homemade. "This is a performance. We''re business partners. The act went off without a hitch. I did what asked." you Finished Chapter 201 Miss You forcing him to look at her. "I''ve kept you by my side this long and you still don''t get what I want?" "I don''t get it," Chase replied, calm as ever. "And I don''t want to." He gently pushed her hands off him and straightened his clothes. "We''re divorced. I''m helping you because I don''t want Mandy''s efforts to go to waste. I thought I made that clear." They parted on bad terms. Even after Chase left, Wendy stayed frozen in her chair. Sam came in and saw the untouched dishes on the table. She didn''t need to ask to know they''d fought again. Sam had worked with Wendy for years. She wasn''t just a colleague-she was also a friend. "Madam Wendy, you''re pushing him too hard." "What else can I do?" Wendy snapped. "The moment I let go, he''s ready to flee the country. What am I supposed to do? Why does he care so much about Henry? I never said I wanted to leave him!" Sam quietly began cleaning up the mess. "You should really think about what it is you do want. You and the mister have been married for five years, and it''s always been lukewarm between you. I remember a few years back, he brought you lunch once... and you threw it away. After that, he never came again." That was so long ago, Wendy could barely remember it. In her memory, Chase rarely came to the office. He didn''t like crowds or attention- at least, that''s what she''d assumed. "Mr. Henry''s locks have been changed," Sam said as she stacked the trash. "New security guards too. You''re trying to keep Chase, and you''re still looking after Henry. That''s a lot to juggle." She said it delicately, hoping Wendy would get the message. That night, Chase slept in the dorm. Without Wendy around, he finally got some peace and quiet. nc had gone home, so Chase had the whole ce to himself. In the middle of the night, half-asleep, he sensed someone enter the room. He figured it was just anight-duty nurse getting something, so he didn''t bother checking. A few minutester, someone crawled into his bed. Chase jolted upright. "Who''s there?!" A delicate hand mped over his mouth. "It''s me." Finished Chapter 201 Miss You "Wendy?" She smelled faintly of alcohol. When Chase confirmed who it was, she let go of his mouth and copsed into his arms. "Why aren''t youing home?" Her warm, soft body pressed against him. Chase was frozen stiff. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "You didn''te home. So of course I came to find you." Wendy lifted her head to look at him again. "Why aren''t youing back?" Chase swallowed. "We''re divorced. That''s not my home anymore." "Chase..." Wendy wrapped her arms around his neck, her breath warm in his ear. "I miss you." Chase''s whole body tensed. She leaned in closer. Her lips were about to brush his neck when her phone rang. Just like that, Chase snapped out of it and gently pushed her away. Wendy ignored the call at first, but the screen lit up. Henry. They both stared at it for a moment. Wendy didn''t lean back in. She didn''t continue. Chase looked at her quietly, then asked, "Aren''t you going to answer?" Wendy finally released him and picked up the phone. "If he''s calling thiste, something must''ve happened." "Hello?" "Wendy, Joy''s burning up again. I gave her medicine, but it''s not working. She keeps crying, asking for the prettydy. I... I didn''t know what else to do. I had to call you." Henry held the phone closer to Joy. On the other end, her raspy little voice sobbed, "Prettydy, why haven''t youe see me? I miss you..." Wendy jumped up and grabbed her coat. "I''ll have someone bring you to the hospital. I''m already here." Henry frowned. She was still at the hospital at this hour? "Cloud Hospital?" Chapter 20 I Miss Your Finished Henry looked down at the sick child in his arms. After a moment, he said, "No need. I''ll drive her. Is Chase there too?" "Yes. I''m with him." Chase was still in his pajamas, clearly not nning to move. Wendy was already throwing on her coat, ready to head out. She hung up and nced at Chase, surprised. "You''re not changing?" Chase frowned. "I''m not a pediatrician. The ER has doctors on call. Let Henry take her." "You''re not even going to check on her?" "I told you. I''m not a pediatrician." Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Don''t Push Me In the end, Wendy threw the coat over Chase and dragged him along. Finished He followed her sluggishly, and from a distance they could already hear the crying. Wendy rushed ahead. A few children were sitting quietly with their parents in the ER waiting room. Only Joy was still wailing, tears streaming as Henry tried tofort her. When he saw Wendy, it was like spotting a lifeline. But the second he noticed Chase behind her, his expression changed. Only for a second-then Henry smoothed it over and gave Wendy an apologetic look. "Sorry, Wendy. I didn''t mean to bother you again." Wendy took Joy into her arms, and the little girl immediately quieted down. She nestled against her, but then peeked out at Chase and red at him like he was the viin who''d stolen her favorite toy. "I was just around," Wendy said, holding Joy gently. "Why is she still sick? Maybe she should get a full checkup tomorrow." Henry jumped in. "No! I mean-there''s no need." Realizing how fast he''d cut in, he added, "She just got scared the other night when someone broke in. The doctor said too many tests might stress her body even more." Joy clung tighter to Wendy''s arm and whined, "Prettydy, if youe see me more, I''ll get better real fast. I miss you so much. Did I make you mad that day when I called you Mommy?" Her voice was hoarse from crying, and that soft little tone was hard for anyone to resist. Chase might''ve fallen for it too-if he hadn''t caught the quick look Henry exchanged with her. "No, sweetie, I''m not mad," Wendy said, smiling. "I''ve just been busy with work." Joy turned to re at Chase again. "Why are you with the man who hurt my dad? You forgot already? He gave Daddy a big boo-boo!" That threw Chase off for a second. The whole injury incident had never really been addressed. Online outrage about Wendy''s supposed cheating had drowned it out. She''d been too busy with damage control to care about anything else. Ste still tried to pin it on him, calling it assault. Chase shut her up with one line. Pull the surveince footage. Henry, for his part, yed both sides. He told Wendy it was an ident, told Ste he probably deserved it. A humble act-conveniently vague. Chapter 21 Don''t Push Me. Finished "Mr. Goodman, I hope I''m not intruding. You and Wendy-still at the hospital thiste?" Henry''s tone was gentle, but Chase could hear the subtext. Wendy said nothing. If not for that phone call, she might''ve coaxed Chase intoing home. She hadn''t missed that brication in his eyes just now. After five years together, she knew exactly how soft-hearted he could be. All it took was a little pout and he''d give in. Was this apetition? Chase had no interest in fighting Henry for anything. Let them be in love. Let them y house. He wasn''t going to make it easy, though-not when Henry kept dragging him into their drama and ying the victim in front of Wendy. So Chase smiled. "Yeah, she didn''t want to sleep alone, so she came looking for me." Henry''s face darkened, brows twitching upward. Wendy shot him a warning re. "Don''t talk like that in front of a kid." Chase raised a brow. "What, am I wrong? If it weren''t for that call, you would''ve eaten me alive back there. Didn''t you say you weren''t letting go?" "Chase!" Wendy instantly realized what he was doing-he was pushing Henry''s buttons on purpose. "Fine. My bad," Chase said with a shrug. "You two enjoy. I''m going back to bed. Got work in the morning." He turned and walked off. Wendy immediately handed Joy back to Henry and chased after him, pulling him aside. Her tone was colder now. "Did you really have to say that in front of Henry and Joy?" "Did I lie?" Chase asked with a tilt of his head. "Actually, I''m curious-if that phone call hadn''te through, what were you nning to do? You really missed me that much? Or did you just want someone to hold onto for the night?" His sharp tongue cut deep. Wendy couldn''t take it. Sam had been right earlier-she needed to figure out what she actually wanted. Or who. If Chase was so set on leaving, maybe she really should make a decision. No point keeping him. tethered. But until she figured it out, she wasn''t letting him go. "Go back to bed." Wendy said, turning to leave. "I''m checking Joy in for overnight observation. Chapter 21 Don''t Push Me Finished The next morning. Chase put on hisb coat and went straight to his office. He wasn''t an intern anymore-no more trial period. He skipped straight to attending physician. A line of patients were already waiting outside. He had no intention of wasting time on Henry, But the first patient to walk through the door... was thest person he wanted to see. Chase looked down at the name on the chart and felt a splitting headacheing on. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Don''t Push Me Away "Where does it hurt?" Chase asked out of habit. #Finished Henry rested a hand on the desk and stared silently at Chase for a long while before speaking. "Why are you haunting me?" "Shouldn''t I be asking you that?" Chase shot back. "If you''re really that capable, then lock Wendy down. I don''t want to be dragged back by her again and again. But if you can''t even hold onto her, don''te trying to act tough with me." "You think I can''t?" Chase let out a sigh. "Are you sick or not? If not, get out. I have plenty of patients waiting." Henry stood, suddenly leaning in close. Chase instinctively stepped back. The look in Henry''s eyes was sharp-burning with something far darker than resentment. "You''re pushing me, Chase." "What, you gonna kill me now?" Even after Henry left, Chase was still rattled by that look. There was real hatred in his eyes, and it threw him off more than he wanted to admit. How did things spiral like this? He''d thought Wendy had spent all these years hung up on Henry. They were supposed to be in love. He''d filed for divorce, stepped aside, and expected things to fall into ce. He would move on and start a new life. Wendy and Henry would get back together after five years apart. A picture-perfect ending. She didn''t even want kids-Henry had brought a daughter with him. One and done. So how did ite to this? Chase rubbed at his temple and called in the next patient. Around nine, Wendy finally left the hospital. She looked worn out. ?am took one look at her and knew she hadn''t slept. The faint smell of disinfectant clung to her clothes. Sam assumed she''d gone to see Chase. So? Sam asked. "Did you talk to him?" Wendy raised her eyelidszily. "Joy had a fever. I stayed with her all night." Sam''s smile froze. Henry again. Chapter 22 Don''t Push Me Away Finished had only had a few sips before she was already thinking about Chase. Sam had practically pushed. her out the door. And everything else that happened... Well, that followed naturally. If Henry hadn''t called- Wendy pressed a hand to her forehead. She was exhausted. Sam picked up on it quickly. "I''m still vetting candidates for that nanny I mentioned. Once there''s someone looking after Henry and Joy full-time, you won''t have to constantly juggle both ends." Wendy looked up at Sam. Sam...st night, I-me and Chase..." Sam Yale didn''t press. She never did. "You''ve got two meetings this afternoon. Now that you''re in the office, stop overthinking and. focus on your work. You and the mister are in a standoff. Don''t push too hard. He''s a man-he''s allowed to have pride. If you force it, it''ll backfire." Wendy paused, then reached for the files. Afterst night, she was sure of one thing-Chase still had feelings for her. He just wouldn''t admit. 1. i. He''d tried to leave the country twice and failed both times. He was starting to lose steam. If he couldn''t leave, then he might as well settle down and focus on work. His professor had scolded him for a solid ten minutes over the phone, saying Wendy had already wasted five years of his life-was she nning to keep holding him back? But the busier Chase was, the better he felt. The more his days were filled with work and cases, the more he felt like he was wing his way back to the surface. Like he could finally stop pacing around that tiny apartment, stuck. After his shift, he packed up to leave the hospital. He''d been thinking about it all day: if it really was impossible to go abroad, then he needed to find a real ce to live. The dorm was meant for fresh-out-of- school interns. It didn''t feel right to keep upying a spot. He''d set up a meeting with a rental agent over his lunch break-six o''clock sharp. He changed into casual clothes and checked the time. He was runningte. Hisst patient had taken a while, and now he was rushing to get out the door. So fast, he didn''t even watch his step. His foot caught on the edge of the stairs, and his whole body lurched forward- "What''s the rush?" Chapter 22 Don''t Push Me Away from running up. Posted "You" Chase steadied himself and instinctively held her arm. "What are you doing here? "Came to take you to dinner. Why are you in such a rush? Chase didn''t answer. After everything that happenedst night, he knew exactly where Wendy stood. Henry or not, she didn''t want to let him go. And what really tied his stomach in knots-was his own heart. He knew Wendy and Henry had been tangled up for years. And still, when she came around all jsweet and soft, he faltered. "Thanks. But I''ve got ns." Chase kept his tone calm as he gently let go of her arm and headed. toward his car. Send Gifts 10 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Don''t Push Me Away Again Wendy frowned. "You just got off work, what else do you have to do?" "I''ve got ns." "With who?" Finished Chase stopped walking and turned to look at her. "Do I need to repeat myself again? We''re already divorced. I don''t owe you any exnations about who I''m seeing Hearing that, Wendy, who was already on high alert, immediately rushed forward, grabbed Chase, and forced him into the car. "We''re still in the middle of a partnership. I just managed to get the trending news under control. and now you''re going to see someone you shouldn''t? What if something negative gets leaked again: What happens to Quinn Group then? Chase, you can''t be this selfish." Before Chase could even reach for the door handle, Wendy had already gotten in on the other side and locked the car. The small space now only held the two of them. Chase turned around with a hint of anger, his eyes colder than before. "If I get caught in some scandal, isn''t that just perfect for you? You can announce to the media that I cheated. Use that to go public with our divorce. You protect Quinn Group and make your thing with Henry look less shady. Isn''t that exactly what your PR team originally nned?" Wendy was stunned. It was true. The best way to divert public attention was with a new headline. The PR team''s first proposed n was to leak something negative about Chase. But she had turned it down. She hadn''t expected Chase to know about that. "So you knew everything from the beginning?" Wendy leaned back in her seat. "You knew I was just using this partnership as an excuse, and you still went along with it? Chase, you have the nerve to say you don''t love me anymore?" Chase looked drained. He didn''t try to open the door again. Instead, he sent a message to his real estate agent, rescheduling the appointment, "I love you." He turned and looked at her. "Wendy, I''ve always loved you. I still do. But holding on to that love for so long is exhausting. And on top of everything else... whatever. What''s the point? We''re already divorced. None of it matters now. There''s one thing I really don''t get. If you still have feelings for Henry, and we''re already divorced, why not just get back together with him? He had asked her that question many times. And every time, she couldn''t give an answer. That night, Wendy still dragged Chase out for dinner. Surprisingly, they didn''t argue. Chase was Chapter 23 Don''t Push Me Away Again she got a call, she hung up without hesitation. Finished Whether she Sam had told her-what Chase cared about was her attitude. made up her mind or not, she had to act like a wife in front of him. Sustaining a rtionship over time was draining. Wendy realized that a little toote.. Sam had hired a nanny for Henry and Joy-someone to take care of their meals and daily routines, someone with a medical license who could immediately step in if Joy had any health issues. But this person wasn''t just a nanny. She was also one of Sam''s eyes and ears. Sam wasn''t ordinary. She had graduated from a prestigious university and had been recruited by Wendy even before graduation. Within the industry, no one could rival her. She also knew all about Wendy and Henry''s past. And because of that, Sam could tell-Henry wasn''t as simple as he looked. "I got it. Just keep watching them," Wendy said over the phone. "If the Harrison family makes any move, I want to know. Henry''s always been the Harrison family''s heir. That engagement was never just about love-it was for the family. There''s no way he''s out of the picture for good. Something''s off." After hanging up, Sam looked around the empty assistant''s office and sighed. Love made people stupid. This should''ve been obvious from the start, but Wendy was only just figuring it out. She gathered her things and headed to find Wendy. They had a dinner meeting to attend. "Everything''s ready. The contract''s been drafted in two versions. Whatever the other party requests, we can revise it on the spot. Legal will be there too. If any changes need to be made, it can be done right then and there. What matters now is whether we''ve cut our price low enough." In the car, Wendy had her eyes closed. For once, she wasn''t frowning. She even looked a little rxed. Lately, Chase had been surprisingly cooperative. He ate and slept at home, though his things were still at the dorm, and even when he slept at the house, it was always in the guest room. That was, until Wendy casually remarked that Henry had once slept in that room. Chase had stood frozen in front of the guest room door, then turned around and stormed back to the master bedroom in a huff. Wendy, standing in the hallway, hadughed. She''d never realized that Chase could be so dramatic, so expressive. Turns out Chase had a temper. He got annoyed. He could throw fits. Chapter 23 Don''t Push Me Away Again Finished Sam had said a whole bunch of things, but when she turned to check, her boss clearly hadn''t heard a word. She was leaning against the window, smiling to herself like a lovestruck idiot. "I said." Sam waved the folder in front of Wendy''s face. Wendy finally snapped out of it. Business was handled. Time for a bit of personal talk before the dinner. It wouldn''t hurt to loosen up the mood. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Embedded yers Finished "Has Chase been sleeping at home againtely? I haven''t seen you heading to the hospital these past few days," Sam asked casually. Wendy nodded. "Yeah. He''s beening straight home after work. He''s still reluctant about cooking, but it''s better than before." Told you, Sam said. Chase doesn''t not have feelings for you. Actually, his feelings for you run deep. These past five years, it''s been you draining that rtionship." Wendy nced at her phone. There hadn''t been any recent texts between her and Chase. Even when she did send one, he would respond with just a few words. But she found that strangely amusing. On the other hand, there was Henry. Apparently Joy had used Henry''s phone to message her, calling her Mommy and asking why her pretty mommy hadn''te to visit. There was even a voice message attached. Wendy tapped on it hesitantly. In that sweet, childish voice, Joy called out for "Mommy." Sam immediately frowned. Wendy didn''t respond. She just turned the screen off. I''ve got Finn stationed with Henry now. Didn''t you suspect the Harrison family of stealing most of our overseas contracts over the past few years?" In the dim light of the car, Wendy slowly curved her lips into a smile. That''s right. How could the CEO of Quinn Group possibly be some lovesick idiot? Even if she had loved Henry five years ago, it had never been blind, unreserved love. Back when she dated Henry, her mother didn''t approve of him. But out of respect for Wendy, she didn''t outright go after the Harrison family either. That bit of goodwill gave them room to move under the Quinn name. They took full advantage of it-bold enough to act like her mother had already epted Henry as a son-inw and used Quinn''s reputation to pull a lot of strings abroad. After Wendy took over as CEO, she hadn''t just been reminiscing about her first love-she had noticed how the Harrison family had been using Henry''s marriage abroad to extend their reach. Then Henry got divorced and came back home. And the woman he had married? Soon after his return, herpany announced bankruptcy. It was bought out by an obscure, unknown group. There was no way that was a coincidence. Chapter 24 Embedded yers Finished "Finn wasn''t thrilled to be used the moment shended. She alreadyined that Joy is a handful, throwing tantrums every day. She said you better figure out a damn good way to make it up to her." Wendyughed and nodded. "She came back to look for a man, didn''t she? I''ll find him for her. But if even top-tier hackers haven''t been able to track the guy down, all I can do is try." Wendy''s connection with Finn went back four years. Back then, Quinn Group had justunched its IT department. They were recruiting the top tech talents from around the world. Wendy, already well-versed in the field, took an active hand in the process. While the rest of the team cast a wide, there was one person she specifically hunted down: Dr. Yardle. A legend in the industry. Unmatched. And ording to the intel Wendy had, Dr. Yardle was a woman. That''s how her first encounter with Finn happened. They''d battled it out online. Then agreed to meet at Quinn Group HQ. That was Finn''s first time seeing Wendy-the famed business prodigy, the iconic bossdy of her generation. Finn stood in the lobby for a moment. The receptionist stared at her like she was some homewrecker caught by the wife. Finn hesitated, then turned and left. I''d suggest you at least let Madam Wendy know I dropped by." That was her only parting She was already halfway out the door. The heat outside was oppressive. Finn clenched the tiny white porcin vial in her hand-then rxed her grip, as if afraid of hurting the fragile remains of someone who could never return. She lowered her gaze to the gleaming marble floor. At that moment, her phone buzzed with two soft chimes. "Tracking disabled." Finn raised an eyebrow. She pulled out her phone,unched her anti-tracking script, and within five seconds had the origin IP location. With a meaningful nce back toward the building, she smirked. "Well, well," she murmured. "Pretty quick." Chapter 24 Embedded yers Back inside, the receptionis scoffed and muttered, "Like I''d tell Man Wendy you ca She spun around and immediately called the aura office By the time Wendy and Sam came down the front desk call we sell ongoing Wendy didn''t enjoy wooping on her employees personal calls-butaneering proate calle wille working the front desk? Unprofesional She walked up and knocked hard on the counter with her knuckler The receptionist looked up and ready reamed when the realized who it was Vaters Wendy" Sac stepped forward. Who was at the front desk just somer now? The recepticon panicked and vammered. -No one No visitors today. Nobody came to see Matam Wendy! Wendy narrowed her eyes slightly Bettured Ever, Sao was siready on her phone tracking the signal. The person had been there just atures agere They were will dose-stron the we Sato capped Wendy''s shoulder and leaned in "Didn''t go far. Right across the way? Juven as they turned to lease, Wendy''s voice dried back Personal calls on work time? That''s twenty points off your performance se Find gently se dosen the porcin vial and keps one hand on her phone. The trace signal was dosing antar by bot She canally cleaked her beaton again. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 The Hacker in the Window Finished At the same time, just as Sam reached the caf entrance, she was surprised to see the tracking signal disappear. "Tracking address has expired." Finn had already spotted her target. She leaned her chin against one hand, sipping her lemon water as she openly studied Wendy from across the room. Huh. Gics really were something. How could two people look so much alike? Wendy wanted her tech. Finn could help. As long as Wendy could pay the right price. The caf door chimed as Sam walked in, already pocketing her phone. She didn''t notice Finn sitting there, just gave the ce a quick once-over and gestured. "Signal dropped over there." Unlike Sam, Wendy saw her right away-teal dress, seated by the window, eyes fixed on her phone, wearing a half-smile. The whole scene looked like a painting. Something about it felt familiar. A sudden stab of pain hit her temple, sharp and fast, before fading just as quickly. Whatever it stirred up inside her got shoved down hard. Finn watched her walk closer, step by step, until Wendy stopped beside the table. "You wanted to see me." Wendy didn''t even bother asking. It wasn''t a question.. Between the IP vanishing and the reverse trace screen Finn had so conveniently left visible, Wendy already knew. Finn was the one who''d pinged her, and Finn was Dr. Yardle. "Want something to drink?" Finn didn''t bother being coy. She pulled her lemon water closer and said, "I was gonna go to your office, but your receptionist wasn''t thrilled to see me. And if I''m being honest, it looks like she doesn''t only answer to you." Sam stood there frozen while Wendy sat down without hesitation. Finn took another sip. "If I were here to talk business, you''d have just lost me. All thanks to your front desk." Wendy stared at her for a long second, then turned to Sam "Forget docking her bonus. Fire her. Right now." "Wait-what?" Sam hadn''t caught up yet, but Wendy''s tone was enough. She pulled out her phone and made the call. 17 Chapter 25 The Hacker in the Window Finn looked up again. "Make hers soda water. Coffee''s not great for her reflux. "Um-" Wendy didn''t care what she drank. Her focus was locked on Finn. "You''re here to talk tech?" Finished Finn shrugged. "Not exactly. I came on my own. Didn''t expect your receptionist to block me, and I definitely didn''t think you''d trace me here." Her eyes glittered with something close to approval. "You''re the first person to ever track me. And I even noticed it right away. No one found her unless she wanted to be found. "Say what you want." "You want my tech? Fine. I want a seat in Quinn Group''s R&D department. Total autonomy. No one breathing down my neck." Sam leaned her elbow on the table, rapping her nails lightly. "You''ve got nerve. Do you even know what Quinn Group''s R&D is worth?" Finn didn''t flinch. "I know tech better than any of you. And I want Quinn Group at the top just as much as you do. My ambitions won''t hurt you-but you''d better think this through." She tilted her head, eyes locked on Wendy. "Without me, it''ll take Quinn Group at least ten years to lead the domestic market. I''m not the one who needs a job. You''re the one who needs me." "Don''t overy it!" Finn didn''t respond. She just flicked through something on her phone. A secondter, Sam''s voice rang out again in disbelief. "Sam. Your car''s about to get towed." "What?" Sam blinked at her. Finn pointed out the window. "Brand new sapphire-blue Porsche. One of a kind. Hard to miss." Sam turned to look and jumped out of her chair. "Sh*t!" Someone really was towing her car outside Quinn Group. Chapter 25 The Hacker in the Window Finished Meanwhile. Wendy suddenly remembered she hadn''t told Chase she had dinner ns. She pulled out her phone to call him. Chase had ns tonight too. Lately, things between him and Wendy had started to feel like they did right after they got married. Wendy was loving it. But Chase felt like he was walking on a knife''s edge. Being around someone you hadn''t fully let go of-every single day-made it way too easy to fall again.. Especially now that Wendy wasn''t the same person she used to be. She noticed when he was upset. She noticed when he smiled. She seemed to care about every little thing he did. Honestly, in the past few weeks, she''d shown him more attention than she had in their entire marriage. If this had been five years ago. Chase would''ve been thrilled. Now? Now he was terrified. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Private Tables Finished But when it came to a couple that had already gotten divorced, all Chase could feel was unease. "Waylon!" He hadn''t even made it to the private room when he saw someone on the phone outside. Chase called out, excited. The man raised a hand in greeting. "Yeah, I got it. Keep an eye on him. Don''t act unless I say so." Waylon hung up and walked over, looking Chase up and down. He knocked Chase on the forehead twice. "You haven''t changed a bit these past few years-except you look a lot duller. What, married aged you that fast? getting Waylon was Chase''s childhood friend. They''d grown up in the same courtyard. Later, Waylon enrolled in the police academy while Chase went to med school. There was even a time Chase had considered switching to forensic science-just so he could help this big brother of his. The Watering Hole was a private dining club-only ten tables per night, and all tucked away in separate rooms for privacy. It was a favorite for people in business: great food, total discretion. Waylon had just returned from an assignment overseas. He''d been gone half a year. "Forget me," Chase said, a little embarrassed. "You''ve been gone for months. You even got a tan. What took so long?" "That case dragged like hell. Still unfinished, actually. Guy slipped through our." Waylon lit cigarette and studied Chase. There was something off something shifty in the way Chase avoided his eyes. "You got something to tell me?" They''d kept in touch every month, even when Waylon was abroad. But Wendy had never even heard of him. Back then, she hadn''t cared about Chase''s life or friends. There were several times Chase had wanted to invite Waylon over for dinner and introduce him to his wife-never got the chance. And now... Chaseughed weakly. Waylon never missed a thing. "I got divorced." Waylon''s expression hardened. "That woman from Quinn Group? I thought you really liked her. What happened?" He''d seen something about the Quinn Group scandal in the news-rumors of cheating? Chapter 26 Private Tables Noticing Waylon''s sudden sharp look, Chase quickly waved his hands. "No, no, it''s not that. We didn''t have anything left between us. I didn''t want to stay married anymore. She didn''t get involved with that guy until after we split. Don''t get mad." Waylon burst outughing. "Look at you, rushing to defend her before I even said a word." Finished He flicked his ash into the tray. "Divorce isn''t the end of the world. I didn''t think you should''ve married her in the first ce. You had a schrship to study abroad, remember? That marriage cost you your shot." Chase nodded. "I''m working at Cloud Hospital now. "Good. A man should have his own career. The server brought their food while the two kept chatting. Waylon told him about his time abroad, the kind of danger he couldn''t talk about publicly. Now that he was back, his family didn''t want him out risking his life anymore. The Fred family, like the Quinns, was one of the city''s old-money families. They''d been in business for generations. Waylon was the only one to take the civil service route. His family had never stopped him. "What about Lemon? Haven''t heard anything about her in a while." Waylon''s younger sister ran the family''s entertainment investments. She rarely showed up at events, but Chase had seen her at a few banquets he''d attended with Wendy. "She''s abroad for a summit. Should be back next month." They were reminiscing over childhood stories, neither aware that, at the end of the hallway, Wendy was also in a private room at The Watering Hole-right in the middle of sealing business deal. Her team and the otherpany''s PR teams were deep in the drinks already, both sides doing their part. Wendy hadn''t needed to lift her ss once. Between her and Sam ying tag team, the terms were pretty much finalized. Even the legal team was working between bites, editing the draft contract live. Quinn Group''s deal teams were always top-tier. The manager of The Watering Hole had been attending Wendy''s table personally. When he saw her, it jogged his memory-he''d just seated someone else familiar not long ago. Remembering recent headlines, he put two and two together. As he set down fresh dishes, he lowered his voice and said, "Ma''am, your husband''s here too. He''s in room 230," Wendy dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin and raised her eyes. Very few people knew it, but The Watering Hole was a Quinn Group asset. Chapter 26 Private Tables Finished She''d opened this club to catch thetest gossip and intelligence. To the public, the owner was someone from out of town. But in reality, only the manager Ash knew Wendy was the true boss, "With who?" Ash hadn''t recognized Waylon-he just knew the guy looked important. "Some man. Got here early. Carried himself like someone in politics." Chase knew people like that? Wendy was silent for a beat, then nodded. Were Both sides of the table being handled by pros-no need for the bosses to dirty their hands with drinking. Wendy and Sam kept the pacing tight, and her legal team was always ready to jump in. This was how Quinn Group did business. Send Gifts Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Caught in the Act. While the servers switched out dishes, the women slipped out to freshen up. Finished Zynn, the head of PR for Quinn Group, sipped some hangover medicine and reapplied her. lipstick in the mirror. "The mor Group bidding should''ve been settled ages ago. If no one had meddled and jacked up the price, it wouldn''t have dragged this long. Wendy, do you have anyone in mind yet?" Wendy leaned against the marble sink, eyes fixed on her phone. She''d texted Chase several times without a single reply. She knew he was also at the Watering Hole. She wanted to go check on him. "There are a few, but none feel solid. Dawn''s still digging." Zynn added. "Did I ever tell you? A few days ago I saw someone from the Harrison family- Larry, I think? Met with one of mor Group''s main event nners in private." Wendy looked up, one hand resting on the counter. "No. You didn''t." Zynn paused, tapping her forehead. "Must be all the wely. It was justst week-some PR industry mixer. I was there with Eileen. Saw a guy from a distance that really looked like your Mr. Henry. Tried to go check, but he was gone by the time I got there." After a few rounds with some investors, she finally found out it wasn''t Henry, but his cousin Larry -the one currently running both of the Harrison family''s investment firms. Another Harrison. Sam stepped out of the restroom and, while washing her hands, said to Wendy, "Finn said your Mr. Henry went out just now. He was carrying a thermosCsays he made some remedy for hangovers." "You brought Finn back?" Zynn sounded shocked. Sam shrugged, drying her hands with a paper towel. "What choice did we have? Our Madam Wendy got herself ''divorced!'' If Finn hadn''te back, Wendy might not even be able to find her man." Remembering that Chase was also at the Watering Hole, Wendy frowned slightly and warned Sam. "Enough gossip. You all head back-I''m going to 230." Sam had been nearby earlier too and heard Ash mention Chase was in 230. She hadn''t thought it strange at the time. Chase and Waylon weren''t drinking. One was headed back to the Fred estate and the other back to his ex-wife''s house-neither of them could afford to get drunk. Right then, there was a knock on the door. Chapter 27 Caught in the Act "Come in." Finished The door swung open, and Wendy leaned against the frame. Her gazended on Waylon first, then shifted to Chase. She gave him a slight smile. "Having dinner here and not even saying a word?" Chase was surprised. He hadn''t expected her to track him down. But Wendy was even more surprised. Fred family? "Finished eating?" She walked over and sat beside him, casually taking his hand. "I''ve still got a while. You should go on home first." That did it-Waylon shot straight up. "You said you were divorced." Wendy''s smile flickered with a chill. Chase wasn''t sure what to say. He turned to Wendy instead. "You''re here for a business dinner?" "Yeah." She looked across the table. "Aren''t you going to introduce us?" Chase had no choice. "This is my childhood friend, Waylon. And this is my... wife, Wendy." Since they were in a public venue, and potential partners might be nearby, he couldn''t say ex-wife. Wendy had bet he wouldn''t. She nodded politely at Waylon. "Nice to meet you." "I''ve heard of you. I was out of town when you two got married. My sister Lemon went to the wedding-maybe you met her." The small talk was forced. Chase stood up and pulled Wendy out into the hallway. Once they were alone, she grabbed his chin and kissed him before he could say a word. She''d only had a little to drink. Her breath was warm and fragrant, while Chase waspletely sober. "Why didn''t you answer my texts?" Wendy backed him into the wall, making sure he couldn''t run. Chase looked around nervously, worried someone mighte by. "My phone died." He wasn''t lying. He rarely used it during the day, and by the time he''d checked it in the private room, it was already dead. He figured Wendy would be outte with business Chapter 22 Caught in the Act Finished She gave a low hum, let go of his cor, and stood on tiptoe to nt another kiss on his cheek. "I''m in 260. Wait for me and we''ll go home together." "We''ve already eaten. You''ll be a while." "I don''t care. You''re not allowed to leave. By the way Waylon really your childhood friend? You''ve never mentioned him." Chase''s heart twinged. He hadn''t brought it up because he''d never had the chance. Wendy never cared about anyone in his life. His silence seemed to say enough. She cleared her throat and added. "The Fred family does a lot of business with Quinn Group. We''ll probably see more of each other." She was in a good mood. Just as she leaned in to kiss him again, footsteps echoed down the hall. "Wendy?" It was a man''s voice-gentle, surprised. Wendy froze and slowly turned around. Henry stood at the end of the hallway, pale and awkward, holding a thermos. He lookedpletely stunned. "Henry? What are you doing here?" Wendy took a step back. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Not Just a Friend Finished Chase let out a quietugh. He knew it whenever Henry showed up, Wendy would always stop. whatever she was doing. Oddly enough, that made him feel a little satisfied. Letting Henry witness that kiss? That had to sting Henry nced at Chase first, hesitated, then moved closer to Wendy and said, all aggrieved, "I heard you were out drinking for work, so I made you something for your hangover. Didn''t expect. Chase was here taking care of you too." "He wasn''t. He was just having dinner," Wendy said quickly, distancing herself. She didn''t want Chase tangled up in the power ys of the business world. "Oh, I see. Well, here-take this." Henry shoved the thermos into her hands, visibly more cheerful now that she''d made the distinction. "Did you guys eat enough? If not, I can go make you some noodles." That cozy little offer was more than Chase could take. He turned to go back to his private room, but before he could, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. Waylon stood there, one hand on the doorframe. The m echoed down the hallway, startling everyone. Chase looked unfazed. Waylon''s temper had always been like this-quick and loud, especially when it came to someone messing with Chase. That was just how he''d always been. Whatever kind of rtionship Chase and Wendy had now, in that private room, they''d still been introduced as husband and wife. And now here was some other guy rushing in with soup and puppy eyes. Waylon didn''t even need to ask. Anyone with a brain could tell what this Henry guy was about. When Wendy saw Waylon, she actually felt relieved. She couldn''t afford to start trouble with Henry herself-but the Fred family? They could do whatever they wanted. Even at its peak, the Harrison family had to respect the Freds. And Henry? He wasn''t even close. Henry, clueless, didn''t recognize Waylon. He backed up instinctively. Waylon gave a sharp smile, showing his teeth as he eyed the thermos in Wendy''s hands. "Damn. Buddy''s got a househusband now? What kind of VIP treatment is this- someone shows up at a business dinner with some remedy for hangovers. Must be nice." Wendy said nothing. Henry''s face flushed red at the jab. "I''m not a househusband. I''m.. I''m just a friend." "A friend!" Waylon walked over and snatched the thermos out of Wendy''s hands, dangling it in the air. Then exin this. You''re not a househusband, but here you are showing up like one. Me and my buddy are here, handling business. What are you doing here?" Chapter 28 Not Just a Friend Finished Henry''s voice tightened. "You and Chase are divorced. And now you''re still ying the happy couple for Quinn Group? That guy calls you sister-inw like it''s nothing." Wendy shot him a look and tugged on his hand. "Don''t be jealous. I''ve gotta keep Quinn Group steady. That''s my mother''s life''s work-I can''t let it fall apart. And besides, I''ve got you, don''t I?" "What the hell is going on?" Back in the private room, Waylon shoved Chase down into a chair and red at him. "You said you were divorced. Who the hell was that guy? And don''t tell me he''s not a househusband, because he is obviously a pushover." Chase L outughing and poured him a cup of tea. "Didn''t know you had such a silver tongue." Waylon wasn''t having it. Don''t change the subject. Talk, or I''ll dig it all up myself. Send Gifts Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Drunken Games Finishe Waylon didn''t even blink. If he wanted to dig into someone, he''d have answers in less than an hour. "All right, all right. It''s Wendy''s first love-Henry. He went abroad back then, and Wendy married me while she was heartbroken. Yeah, we''re divorced. That drama online about her cheating? It hurt her public image, sure, but the bigger issue was Quinn Group. It''s her mom''s legacy. Mandy''s been nothing but good to me. Now Wendy and I are just... business partners." Waylon clicked his tongue twice. "You''re too soft. You don''t belong in the business world. That Henry guy''s got that look in his eye, like he''s itching to take over. And you''re just stepping aside?" Chase took a slow sip of tea. "What else was I supposed to do? Refuse to divorce her, cling to that husband title just to gross them out? I''ve already wasted five years." "You sure you''re done? Then why didn''t you leave for Lemuria?" Of course Waylon knew. Chase didn''t bother hiding it. "Quinn Group had that PR crisis. Figured I''d wait till it blew over. The internship at Cloud Hospital is rare-I could use the experience. Helps long-term." Waylon stared at him, hard, like he was trying to see if Chase really meant it. Later, when Chase went to pick Wendy up, the dinner was wrapping up. mor Group''s reps had already left, and only a few Quinn Group people were still around, cleaning up thest details. "The contract''s signed. The rest is on the project team. Qingqing, you handle oversight," Wendy said, her fingers lightly pressing to her temple. Her cheeks were a little pink-looked like she drank more than she nned. "Got it. I''ll call the driver to pick you up." Sam said, already reaching for her phone-until she noticed Chase standing in the doorway. She quickly tucked the phone Oh. Mr. Goodman''s away. here. Perfect timing. We''re all squeezed for space in the car anyway. Could you take Madam Wendy home?" Chase stood there silently. He''d been about to believe they were calling a driver. Good thing he''d overheard it. Sam had been with Wendy for years. She wasn''t just loyal-she knew exactly who the right man was. Wendy moved to stand but stumbled. Sam caught her quickly. One nce down, and she could tell Wendy was faking it. Her grip was firm. She wasn''t drunk at all. ssic. The old three-parts-drunk routine. Only someone like Chase would fall for it. Chase stepped in, slipping Wendy''s arm over his shoulders. 1 Chapter 29 Drunken Games "I got her. You all head home safe." Thanks, Sam replied. Finishec Wendy''s legs buckled like they couldn''t hold her up, so Chase didn''t argue. He just scooped her up and carried her out. Zynn, nursing a tomato juice, watched them go. She hadn''t said a word all night. "See? Told you. Wendy''s got better taste than people give her credit for. Liking Henry back then? Fine. But after being with Chase, no way she''d settle for leftovers." Sam wasn''t in a rush to leave either. She called the manager and ordered a bowl of noodles. No one really ate during these dinners. The food went cold while everyone was too busy drinking, smiling, and hammering out contract terms. You didn''t even realize you were hungry until it was over. She snorted. "Everyone thinks Wendy''s still hung up on Henry-even Henry thinks that. But if she doesn''t act like it, how''re we gonna handle the rest of this y?" Zynn chuckled and raised her tomato juice like a toast. "And you called Finn back just to have her y housekeeper? That''s dedication." "The Harrison family''s been buying up IT firms abroad. Their surveince and tracking gear''s been impossible to crack. We need someone stronger. Turns out, the hacker''s already in our own backyard." Zynn clinked sses with Sam''s lemonade. "Women shouldn''t have to fight each other. But in this world? We don''t get to coast. You saw those mor Group guys, didn''t you? Looked like they were ready to eat us alive." Everyone was just trying to survive. That''s all it was. Chase carried Wendy home. She reeked of alcohol, needed a shower, needed help changing. He frowned, hesitating. He held back for as long as he could, then finally started helping her out of her outeryers. Only her underclothes were left when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her lips were bare, no more lipstick, just a soft pink tint. She opened her eyes and smiled. "Chase, am I pretty?" He swallowed hard but said nothing. Of course Wendy was beautiful. She wasn''t the kind of beauty that blended in- she stood out, radiant and wild. She didn''t just age gracefully. She became more captivating, more refined. Even after five years of marriage, she hadn''t lost her glow-if anything, she''d only be more \\maic. Chapter 29 Drunken Games What happened next felt inevitable. Finished Chase was a man, and the woman he''d loved for years was right there in front of him. Even if they were divorced. Even if he knew it was dangerous. He didn''t say no. Later, Wendy fell into a deep sleep,pletely exhausted. And Chase sat alone on the living room couch, staring off into the dark, unable to sleep at all. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Shifting Ground Finished Chase was a doctor. He rarely smoked. But every now and then, when his mind was a mess, he''d light one or two to ease it. Tonight, there were no cigarettes. Just the silence, and a loneliness that settled in like fog. If he didn''t get what Wendy was doing by now, he''d really be an idiot. She wanted to get back together. She wanted to fix things, to make it right. She''d been putting in real effort, making changes. Trying to win him back. And Chase... he wasn''t made of stone. He had started to waver. But Henry-Henry was still a thorn in his side. Always there, always a shadow. Chase let out a long breath. If that''s how things were now, he''d just take it day by day. And if he was right, then the one chasing now... was Wendy. So the one with something to worry about... was Henry. Sure enough, Ste was sent overseas. She cried, begged, made a scene, but it didn''t matter. Wendy had made up her mind this time. She even had people escort her onto the ne. "Ste''s gone?" Wendy asked as she signed thest of the documents and closed the folder. Sam nodded. "She put up a real fight. Swore she wasn''t getting on that ne. But she called Mr. Henry before boarding, asked him to talk you into letting her stay. I don''t know what he said to her, but she suddenly gave in. Hung up the phone and walked straight to the gate." Wendy paused, clearly surprised. "Is Henry home? Tell Finn to send me the call recording." "He''s not. Lately, he''s been out all day with Joy. They don''te back tillte afternoon." Out all day with Joy? Wendy narrowed her eyes. "Have someone look into what Henry''s been doing. And that woman he married- Cory, was it? Find out where she''s been. If we can track her down, we''ll know what the Harrison family''s really hiding." "On it." Sam could tell Wendy was in a good mood, so she didn''t rush to leave. 126 PM Chapter 30 Shifting Ground the gown and tux, send them to the office. We''ll head over together." Finished "Yes, ma''am." Wyvern Group was one of the few state-backed chemical product giants in the business world. Their chairman and his wife had started thepany from nothing, building it from the ground. up. Fifty yearster, they were still together. Back when she was still with Henry, they''d attended the wife''s birthday banquet. Wendy had been touched by the couple''s story, how they''d been together through it all. She even told Henry she wanted something just like that-growing old together. Things changed. Either the person beside them changed, or their heart did. She opened a drawer and stared down at the diamond ne inside. It was a birthday gift from Henry, their second year together. She''d treasured it for a long time. She used to wear it, up until a couple years into the marriage. That''s when Chase gave her at ne too. She didn''t wear Chase''s, but she took off Henry''s. That was her way of staying loyal to her marriage. It was what she''d been taught-loyalty, no matter what. But now? Now it wasn''t about obligation anymore. She loved Chase. And not because she had to. Not because she was supposed to. Because she really did. She pressed a button on the office phone. "Have someone order a pair of rings. Use mine and Chase''s measurements." The Wyvern Group banquet was being held at Rose Manor-a venue so exclusive that Quinn Group had only ever used it once, for their ten-year anniversary. Behind the massive iron gates bloomed a sea of roses, so dense you could smell them from the road. Every shade imaginable, blooming wild and full. They were famous for their wine, too-no average customer could book this ce. That''s the kind of influence Wyvern Group had. On the day of the banquet, Chase only had one surgery. He was in a good mood. Lately, he''d been feeling Wendy''s attention in ways he hadn''t for years. And honestly? He was kind of d he hadn''t gone through with leaving. nc was finishing up rounds with their attending. On his way out, he passed Chase''s office-just in time to see him grinning at his phone. "Hey, someone''s in a good mood. A few days ago you looked like someone kicked your dog. I Chapter 30 Shifting Ground nc plopped into the chair across from him without waiting for an invitation. Finished Chase had just finished replying to Wendy''s message. He set the phone down and spun his pen between his fingers. "It''s been all right. How''d you feel assisting in this afternoon''s surgery?" "Not bad. Doc was walking me through it step by step. I''m so jealous of you, man. Your hands don''t even shake. I''m gonna go practice some moreter. You heading back to the dorm tonight?" "Not tonight," Wendy showed up at the hospital on time. Before Chase could get out of the building, she called Henry, It was a big day. She needed to make sure Henry didn''t show up and ruin it. Lately, he''d been going out more and more, often taking Joy with him. If he were just meeting with the Harrison family, he wouldn''t bring a kid along. But ording to Finn, every time they came back, Henry looked pissed, and Joy wasn''t in a great mood either. Henry could fake it for Finn. But Joy was just a kid. The past few nights, when Finn went to bring her milk, she could hear Joy arguing with Henry. "I don''t want to see her again." Send Gifts Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Secrets and Roses Who could she be? Jule # Fin Finished There were too many secrets hidden within the Harrison family. Henry carried plenty himself. If Wendy wanted to uncover them all, she couldn''t alert Henry, nor could she afford topletely fall out with him. The only one being wronged was Chase, kept in the dark without a clue. But that was exactly why it was safest for him not to know. With that thought, the call finally connected. "Wendy." Henry''s voice was as gentle as ever, as if five years hadn''t left a single mark between them. Wendy froze for a second, then quickly collected herself. "Are you at home?" "Yeah, I am. Watching TV with Joy. Oh, right-Wendy, I''ve been thinking about what you saidst time about sending Joy to school. I think you''re right. We should do it." Wendy let out a breath of relief. "Good. I''ll have someone get things ready right away." They chatted a bit more. Once she was sure Henry was home and had no ns to leave today, she felt reassured. As Chase came out, she ended the call with a tender expression. But the moment it hung up, her face shifted. She sent a message to Sammy: Go live. Sammy, still at the office making preparations, saw the message and quickly contacted someone to start preparing Joy''s enrollment documents. "You''re up early," Chase said, which was rare-he''d only started speaking to Wendy a little more. recently. Smiling, Wendy walked over and hugged him before he could pull away, taking his hand. "And you''re rarely up this early. You usually drag things out as long as you can." Things weren''t like they used to be. At the Rose Manor, with sses clinking andughter flowing, no one would dare spoil the mood. Wyvern Group was at the top of its field-no one in the industry would dare offend them. Rumor had it the Harrison family was set to partner with Wyvern Group. All the details had been ironed out. Only the signing remained. Wendy came here with a purpose. She just hadn''t expected to run into Waylon. "Waylon?" Wendy had been in the middle of talking to a business partner. Chase, wandering around Chapter 31 Secrets and Roses while on a call. He seemed frustrated. Finished Waylon usually avoided events like these, but with an invitation from the head of Wyvern Group, the Fred family couldn''t refuse. With Feng Ning still abroad and his parents off traveling, Waylon was the only one in the family with the status to attend. He wasining to a coworker when he heard Chase''s voice. He turned, saw him, and quickly wrapped up the call. Waylon got up, drink in hand, and walked over. "You''re here too." Their sses clinked. Chase nced toward Wendy. "Tagging along with the Quinn family, putting on a show." "You''re prettymitted to the role. The view outside was stunning. Leaning against the second-floor balcony railing, one could see a sweeping field of roses. Under the night sky, it looked cerie and beautiful all at once. Chase took a sip of his drink, feeling oddly content. He hadn''t felt this good in five years. Wendy came looking for him, gently wrapping her arms around him from behind. Chase didn''t push her away. Still holding that position, he pointed. "See that? That rose field is rare in this country. The estate owner clearly put in a lot of effort." Wendy stood beside him, arms resting on the railing. After a long pause, she said, "Yeah... those roses... you gave them to me years ago." "You still remember." Wendy hadn''t forgotten everything Chase had done for her. If she truly didn''t care, she wouldn''t have agreed to a divorce. She wouldn''t still hesitate to let him. go. "I''ve got something to take care ofter. Since Waylon''s here, hang out with him. Don''t wander off on your own." Wendy took his hand, their sses touching, the deep red liquid swirling inside. With the night as her backdrop, Wendy looked heartbreakingly beautiful. Chase found himself staring. It was Wendy who snapped out of it first, rising onto her toes and nting a kissced. with wine on the corner of his lips. "You can stare all you want when we get home." She was about to leave when Chase suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Wendy, you- Chapter 31 Secrets and Roses As expected, the Harrison family was the first to present their gift. It was Larry again, representing them. #Finished "Looks like Zynn was right. Right now, the only one calling the shots in the Harrison family is Larry. Let''s see what kind of gift he''s brought," Sammy said, slipping away from a group of colleagues. She smoothed her hair and turned to Wendy. "I heard the Harrison family spent a fortune on this. They bought the most expensive piece of jade at an overseas auction." Larry bore a slight resemnce to Henry. Chase nced down at him, only to find Wendy gazing at Larry with an oddly dreamy expression. A bitter pang twisted in Chase''s chest. Just as he was about to walk away, Wendy suddenly reached. out andced her fingers through his. "He looks a lot like Henry when he was young." Wendy tilted her head and smiled. "Back then, I didn''t know you yet." Was that supposed to be an exnation? Chase tried to pull his hand away, but she was holding on tight-he couldn''t break free. "Mr. Zachary, Madam Finley, happy golden anniversary. This screen was something I happened upon abroad. It''s carved with peacocks-very symbolic. The more I thought about it, the more I felt it suited the harmony between the two of you." Chapter 32 Chapter 32 A Counterfeit Gift Wendy raised an eyebrow-it really was valuable. Finished This screen wasn''t just something that would go for a high price at a foreign auction; even domestically, it would fetch over a hundred million. And they''d just given it away like that for the sake of a business deal? Clearly, the Harrison family was determined to lock in their partnership with Wyvern Group. Mr. Zachary was equally stunned. For most, a gift worth hundreds of thousands or even a million would be plenty. But who the hell gifts a screen worth over a hundred million in jade? That was practically a national treasure-how could he possibly ept it? He tried to decline several times but failed. In front of everyone, Larry''s assistant pulled off the red silk covering. "It''s definitely high-grade jade," Chase said, nodding "You know jade?" Wendy asked. Chase replied, "Back in college, one of my roommates had a crush on a girl and dragged all of us into signing up for a jade appreciation ss. He gave up after two sessions when she turned him down. But I figured since I''d already enrolled, I might as well stick it out-I ended up taking the whole semester." What he didn''t mention was that the professor had praised his eye for detail and said he had real talent in the field. The screen looked gorgeous at first nce-luxurious and refined. But when you really studied it, the craftsmanship was too wless. It simply didn''t match the capabilities of the era it imed to be from. Which meant one thing-it was a fake. "The jade''s good, and it''s carved from a solid b," Chase said. "But it''s definitely not the original." Wendy looked at Chase with growing admiration and curiosity. He had so many unexpected talents. Uncovering them one by one was proving to be quite the thrill. "Oh, I see." Wendy turned back with a smile. "Larry spent a fortune on a counterfeit and used it as a gift for Wyvern Group. That takes guts." Chase didn''t really care about the business politics. All he knew was that Wendy was in a great mood-and she seemed even happier after learning it was a fake. No matter how expensive the gifts that followed, none could top that jade screen. These days, few people actually kept screens in their homes. It would be used purely as a collector''s item. When it was Quinn Group''s turn, Wendy led Chase forward. Sammy carried the gift box, handed it to Wendy, and stepped back. Chapter 32 A Counterfeit Gift Finished "Mr. Zachary, this is a tonic my parents brought back from the south. It''s nothing fancypared to the other gifts, but I heard Madam Finley''s been feeling unwelltely. This bird''s nest tonic should help." Wendy''s gift wasn''t expensive, but it was practical. After seeing all those watches and jade pieces, Mr. Zachary was genuinely pleased. He quickly had someone store it away and pulled Wendy aside, praising her several times. Then he looked over at Chase. "Chase, I haven''t seen you in two years. You don''t usually apany Wendy to events like this." Chase offered a few politepliments in return. "Mr. Zachary might not know this," a voice said behind them. It wasn''t loud, but just loud enough for the nearby guests to hear. "Word is Mr. Chase and Madam Wendy are in the middle of a divorce. Tsk, and it''s all because of my dear cousin." This was a golden anniversary party. Everyone in attendance was either married or paired up properly. Even if they had affairs outside, they wouldn''t bring them here. Now someone was openly revealing that Chase and Wendy were only pretending to be a happy couple-and dragging Henry down with them. It wasn''t hard to guess who it was. Wendy and Chase turned at the same time to see Larry wearing a pleasant smile. But the malice in his eyes practically oozed out. "He look like Henry used to?" Chase asked Wendy in a low voice. Wendy let out a soft hum and gave his hand a squeeze. "Getting jealous again?" Chase immediately tried to pull his hand away, but Wendy didn''t let go. "Oh, is that so?" Mr. Zachary''s tone hardened. Wendy quickly turned back. "Henry''s always running his mouth. Back then, sure, I didn''t end bing your daughter-inw, and I never will. My husband''s standing right here-what nonsense is that?" Plenty of people in the distance were watching the scene unfold. up Word had it that Larry was on track to rece Henry as the next heir of the Harrison family. But then Henry came back with a kid. Even if the family didn''t approve, they couldn''t deny the bloodline. Henry had been visiting the Harrison estate more oftentely-probably trying to mend fences. After all, the Harrison family empire had been built by Henry''s parents. Larry''s folks only ran one of the branchpanies. No matter how hard he tried, he''d never get into the main office. That''s why Larry was so desperate to ruin Henry''s reputation-to make sure he''d never have a way back in. 9:41 PM ? ? Chapter 32 A Counterfeit Gift Wendy to step down. Finished Waylon was still drinking in a corner. He had just started to rise when he saw Wendy brush it all off so effortlessly. She really does have some skills," he muttered. "No wonder Chi Yun was into her." The banquet wrapped up around ten. As guests began to leave, Wendy and Chase-both of whom had been drinking-were driven home by a chauffeur. Just as their car pulled out of the estate, they spotted Waylon standing beside his vehicle, seemingly on the phone with his driver. Wendy thought for a moment and lowered the window. "Waylon, it''s still early. Want to go grab a drink somewhere?" Waylon looked past Wendy at the man sitting beside her. Chase had drunk quite a bit. He was a little dizzy now, but the second he heard the name "Waylon," he forced himself to stay alert. Send Gifts Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The Invisible Hand "Where to?" Waylon asked calmly as he got in the car. After a moment of thought, Wendy chose The Watering Hole. It was the safest option. It waste, and they''d all had drinks. Hunger was starting to kick in. The manager ordered dishes Wendy and Chase liked, then asked about Waylon''s preferences. "You don''t just treat me to dinner without a reason," Waylon said, casually seated, sipping half a cup of tea. "I''m not particrly fond of you, but Chase likes you. So go ahead-what do you want to ask?" Waylon hadn''t gotten to where he was purely through the Fred family. He had skills of his own. Chase sat in the middle, ying mediator-Wendy on his left, Waylon on his right. "Come on, don''t be so formal," Wendy said. "You''re Chase''s big brother, so that makes you mine too. It''s just dier." Waylon raised his hand to cut her ofl. "Chase probably hasn''t told you what I''m like, I hate bearing around the bush." Since he''d put it that way. Wendy didn''t bother with pleasantries. "I heard you were investigating a case overseas for half a year. Was it about Moses?" Waylon''s brow furrowed. "You''ve heard of it?" "I''ve heard more than that. I was the one who funded Moses''s overseas investments." Wendy kept her gaze lowered as she sipped tea. After a long pause, she finally looked at Waylon and smiled. "What, you didn''t discover Quinn Group when you dug up the roots?" For once, Waylon looked serious. He straightened up.. "You invested in Moses? That''s impossible. My people didn''t find any trace of that." "Exactly why I asked you here. I''m guessing you didn''t just miss me-you probably didn''t find the Harrison family either." There had been no sign of Quinn Group or the Harrison family in the reports. Waylon was sure of it. "You tampered with the records?" The edge in Waylon''s tone made it clear he was getting angry. Chase was just about to jump in when Wendy spoke first. Chapter 33 The Invisible Hand Finished "Do you have any idea what that means? That''s obstruction of justice!" Waylon mmed the table, no longer bothering with politeness. Wendy simply smiled and patted Chase''s hand. He quickly poured Waylon more tea. "Come on. Waylon. Don''t get mad. Just hear her out." Waylon shot his brother a re but swallowed his temper. "Fine. Talk." I was the one feeding you information from the beginning. Otherwise, how else would you have found Moses''spany so fast? And yes. I erased my name and the Harrison family''s to help you see if there was a mole on the inside "You mean... "There''s a leak in your team." The private room fellpletely silent. Waylon was stunned. The hot tea went down his throat before he even realized, scalding him into a sharp gasp. "Hey, slow down!" Chase jumped reaching for more tea. But when he looked up. Waylon was coughing hard and fumbling for a ss of juice. "Drink slow. You okay?" Wendy sat there calmly. Only after Waylon finished coughing did she continue. "There was another reason I erased those names-so you wouldn''t tip off your target. Chase didn''t understand much about the business side, but Waylon was paying close attention. He listened as Wendy exined everything at length. The food arrived, but Waylon didn''t even notice. "Chase, what kind of woman did you get involved with?" She was way too sharp. No wonder Chase couldn''t handle her. Waylon let out a long sigh, silently cursing his entire investigation team. Duped by a woman. thinking the Moses case had gone so smoothly when in fact the evidence had been handed over by Wendy. And the escape routes? All cut off by her, too. "What do you want?" Waylon asked, cutting to the point. But before Wendy could answer, Chase stopped them both. Food''s all here. Let''s eat while we talk" He didn''t touch his own te-he just made sure both sides were taken care of. Wendy''s mood only got better when Chase served her food. And in such good spirits, she was even more agreeable toward Waylon If it weren''t for Chase, there was no way she''d have let Waylon get this close to her ns. But Chapter 33 The invisible Hand After the meal, she didn''t reveal much more-just invited Waylon to visit her ce sometime Henry hadn''t attended Wyvern Group''s anniversary banquet. He''d stayed home with Joy and spent most of the night furious. Normally, he put on a good face in front of Fiona, buttely he hadn''t even bothered. Anything could set him off. He''d already smashed more than a few porcin vases around the house. Fiona called Wendy toin. "Let him smash them. He can just buy new ones. It''s not like he can''t afford it." Wendy flipped through a contract Across from her sat the legal team, revising a use. One of them looked up at Madam Wendy''s casuallyvish remark, then quickly lowered his head again. "I''m just saying. how did you ever fall for someone like that? All looks, no substance. I saw some papers on his desk the other day-the prices on them were insane. Honestly, if he''s in charge of the Harrison family, they''re doomed Wendy paused mid-page. Contract? Send Gifts Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Hidden Hands and Cracks in the Mask "What contracts?" Finished Fiona listed a few names from memory. Wendy immediately looked up the files- sure enough, those were all partners Larry had been negotiating with recently. Matters of the branchpany had nothing to do with Henry. So why did he have draft copies of the contracts? "Look closely at the details. Pay special attention to the pricing." Fiona was in the kitchen. Henry wasn''t home at the moment, and only Joy was watching TV in the living room. Fiona pulled aptop from the hiddenpartment in a cab and held it in her arms as she talked to Wendy over video. "Henry''s been spending more time in the studytely. It''s hard for me to get in. Oh, and there have been a lot of phone callstely. If I answer, they just hang up. But if Henry or Joy picks up, they talk for a long time." "Keep an eye on it." Whoever was behind Henry... wouldn''t be able to stay hidden for much longer. Just before clocking out for the day, Wendy shut herptop and was about to go pick up Chase. But before she could even move, Henry called-he was already downstairs at her office. Joy wanted to have dinner with her, so Wendy had no choice but to agree. What she didn''t expect was for Chase to arrive at the building lobby first. He had attended a lecture at the university earlier and wrapped up long ago. After meeting a professor at the hospital, he headed over to Quinn Group. He didn''t want to go upstairs and be a topic of gossip, so he waited in the lobby. Lately, Wendy would alwayse down to meet him after work-he thought he''d surprise her for once. Instead, it just ended up hurting. "Wendy." "Prettydy!" Henry walked in holding Joy''s hand. Joy ran over happily and threw herself into Wendy''s arms. Wendy smiled and scooped her up, gently pinching her cheeks. But as she turned her head, she spotted Chase standing up, frozen in ce. What was Chase doing here? Panic rose in Wendy''s chest. She didn''t know how to exin it. But she couldn''t let Henry notice anything off either. Henry, seeing Wendy frozen, turned and noticed Chase''s sour expression. 9:42 PM c Chapter 34 Hidden Hands and Cracks in the Mask Finished But Joy didn''t give Chase the chance to answer. She clung to Wendy''s hand and shouted, "No! I don''t want the bad man toe! Bad man will hurt Daddy! I want Daddy and Pretty Lady to go!" Wendy didn''t know how to exin it and could only stand there holding Joy''s hand. Chase gave a bitter smile. "Forget it. I was just passing by. You all go ahead. I won''t intrude." With that, he turned and left. He thought maybe-just maybe-Wendy would run after him likest time. But even after sitting in his car for a long while, all he saw was the three of them-that happy little family-getting into Wendy''s car and driving off. Of course. Whether Wendy liked him or not, Henry would always be her first choice. Forget it. He didn''t want to go home tonight. He stepped on the gas and drove straight to the building where Waylon worked. He couldn''t get in, so he parked nearby and gave Waylon a call. Waylon was still busy with a case but stepped out to keep himpany for a bit. "Waylon, tell me... are women really that good at pretending?" Afterst time, Waylon had gained a bit more understanding of Wendy. Especially considering what she''d told him about the Moses case and its ties to the Harrison family, he could understand why Wendy was trying to maintain her connection with Henry. Still... Waylon nced at Chase. Maybe Wendy wasn''t telling Chase the truth because she was trying to protect him. Things were tooplicated. Chase was too naive to get involved. Waylon didn''t dare say too much. "She''s someone you like. You should trust her," was all he could offer. Trust? One was his first love-his crush. The other was someone who had finally stirred his heart after five long years. Which one would he end up losing to? Would he always be the one who came up short? "Is that it, then? Just gonna give up because I''m scared to lose?" After dinner, Henry took Joy home and invited Wendy upstairs for a bowl of sweet soup. 9:42 PM c d Chapter 34 Hidden Hands and Cracks in the Mask Finished "So you''re the nanny Sammy hired. First time we''re meeting, I think." Wendy took a sip-and nearly saw stars from how sweet it was. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Fiona''s sharine smile with its hidden edge. That woman had done it on purpose. "Yes. My sry maye from Madam Wendy, but I report everything to Ms. Sammy." "Do your job well. It''s almost New Year. There''ll be bonuses." "Yes, ma''am." Fiona turned and left. Henry stayed to chat with Wendy for a bit, steering the conversation-intentionally or not- toward Wyvern Group. "I heard my parents scolded Larry. Apparently, he said something inappropriate in front of Mr. Zachary and his wife. The deal that was supposed to be signed is now on hold. My dad spent a fortune on that jade screen... and now it''s all wasted." Joy bounced up the stairs to take a bath, leaving Henry and Wendy alone, suddenly talking business. So much for the idea that Henry had no connection to the Harrison family. He clearly had plenty. The incident had only just happened, and Henry already knew the details. "Mr. Zachary really wasn''t happy," Wendy said with a helpless smile. "You know how things are with Chase and me... I brought him along to stabilize Quinn Group''s stock. Those shareholders. are just waiting for me to mess up. One word from Larry, and all my work was for nothing." Send Gifts 20 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 The One ce Without Walls Henry immediately looked heartbroken, taking Wendy''s hand. "I''m so sorry. This is all Larry''s fault. But I can''t say anything right now. You know I''ve lost my voice in the Harrison family. Larry''s already in charge of several branch offices. But I-Wendy, I really want to help you." His head was lowered, but there was a sh of light in his eyes. Wendy finally understood what all his emotional circling had been about. Henry wanted back into the Harrison family. Wendy gently cated him for a while before leaving. From beginning to end, Fiona only lexchanged a few words with her-no eye contact, no obvious signals. Henry didn''t notice anything. Back in her car, Wendy called Chase. He didn''t answer. She sighed. After working so hard to win him back, Henry''s sudden appearance had undone everything. She''d nearly had him-and lost it all in an instant. She hadn''t expected Henry to show up at her office. In such a sensitive moment, he should have beenying low at home, not stirring up trouble at Quinn Group. Even less did she expect Chase to be there too. But sighing wouldn''t solve anything. If she wanted to be with Chase, she needed to sort out this mess fast. Still, she hadn''t expected how different Henry would be after five years. Back then, the Harrison family had tried to use her rtionship with Henry for leverage. But Henry never let them. He didn''t want her to feel pressured and never asked her for anything. Now? It was different. Henry wanted back in. He wanted control. And he wasn''t shy about asking. The Harrison family. Henry. She was getting close to the heart of the secrets. When she got home, she expected to find the ce dark and empty. But the moment she opened the door, a warm yellow light greeted her. Surprised, she stepped inside. Chase was sitting in front of the TV watching an auction. He turned his head at the sound of the door 1 Chapter 35 The One ce Without Walls "You''re back," he said with a smile. Wendy froze, caught off guard, keys slipping from her hand at the entrance. "You...." Finished Knowing Chase, he should''ve gone straight back to the hospital dorms. He would''ve stayed cold toward her for at least a few days. So why had hee home? Chase took her coat with a simile and hung it up. "Have you eaten?" Wendy hesitated, then shook her head. "The soup''s just about ready. I boiled some noodles too-made you chicken noodle soup," Chase said, not asking about Henry, not asking what she ate or didn''t eat. He just walked into the kitchen. He wore his loungewear, carrying the scent of home-warmth and wood. Wendy''s heart softened. instantly. So it had always been there, hadn''t it? Her feelings for Chase. There was too much chaoside. Danger everywhere-open attacks, hidden threats. Whether from rivals or within her ownpany, she had to stay on guard at all times. Only when she was with Chase did she ever lower her defenses. He was herst safe harbor. No matter what, she couldn''t let Chase go. Even if he misunderstood her rtionship with Henry. Even if they were already divorced. She would never let him walk away. No one else could bring her peace like Chase could. Chase still felt the sting in his chest, but Waylon had been right-he was a man. And a man couldn''t give up so easily. He wasn''t blind. He could see Wendy didn''t feel nothing for him. He and Henry werepletely different people. And if there were feelings between them, why should he back off? Why should he give up? Even if all he had were five years of unresolved heartache, he couldn''t walk away now. If the time came when things truly couldn''t be salvaged.... he''d go. But not before. And he hoped that day would nevere. He was stirring the soup when he felt arms wrap around his waist from behind. Chase chuckled, finding Wendy''s clinginess almost childlike. "Stop it. Go wash your hands and change. It''s almost. done. Wendy rose onto her toes and kissed the back of his neck, soft lips brushing his skin-barely Chapter 35 The One ce Without Walls "Chase, don''t leave me." At those words, Chase nearly lost it. His eyes went red in an instant. The rising steam from the soup filled the kitchen, blurring his vision and making his eyes water. But he didn''t let her see. Only when she''d gone to the bedroom to change did he finally lift his hand and wipe away his tears. Turns out, getting what you''d hoped for could hurt more than anything else. But... if she didn''t want him to leave, then what about Henry? Over dinner. Waylon-shockingly-said a few nice things about Wendy. He didn''t call her "that woman" for once. He said Wendy was a strong woman, and there were some things she simply couldn''t say. Business wasn''t so ck and white. If you love someone, you have to trust them Trust. Could there still be trust between him and Wendy? Normally, when they had dinner together, Wendy would be glued to her phone or buried in contract drafts. Buttely, she''d been paying more attention to his mood. She''d even started telling him about work matters. And Chase wasn''t as clueless as people thought. He was sharp-he picked up on things fast. "You shouldn''te to the office for a while," Wendy said, sipping her soup as she nced up at him. Chase paused, lowered his head, and gave a soft "Okay." She reached over with the back end of her fork and lifted his chin. And just as she expected-his eyes were already slightly red.. Send Gifts Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Once More, For Real Wendy''s heart ached. Finished "Don''t overthink it. Lately, I need a few tabloid headlines-things involving Henry. I don''t want you feeling hurt, and I don''t want you dealing with office gossip either. You''re not good at handling that stuff. Let me take care of it." "Wendy, I... actually still want to study abroad." It was the first time Chase brought up leaving the country directly-no more disappearing in secret. He was telling her openly, face to face. Wendy nearly dropped her fork in anger, but she held herself back. She could feel the change in Chase. If it had been right after the divorce, he probably would''ve already bought a ne ticket and vanished after what happened today. But here he was-sitting with her and talking about it. "Chase, I know what your dream is. But don''t you think our rtionship still isn''t fully repaired? Leaving now wouldn''t be good for either of us." Chase was calm. "Fixing our rtionship doesn''t depend on me. Studying abroad won''t change me at all. But it might give you space to really think." "Let''s drop it for now." Wendy looked away and scooped some mashed potatoes onto his te. "Eat first, Chase. I don''t want to fight with you." Fine. After all this time, he still hadn''t managed to leave. It was clear Wendy couldn''t ept the idea of him going to study abroad-not now. It wasn''t the right time. Thinking that, Chase smiled faintly.. Over the next few days, Wendy acted like she was afraid he''d disappear. She stopped going to social events and came straight home after work. She even brought Sammy over to the house with her. It was Saturday, Chase''s day off. Wendy went to the office early to work overtime and told him she''d be backter with Sammy for dinner. Chase quickly went out and bought groceries. "Henry wanting back into the Harrison family won''t be easy." They sat at the dining table, dinner not yet served. "Right? He really knows how to make things difficult for me," Wendy snorted. "Same as always." She leaned on one hand, watching Chase busy himself in the kitchen, eyes thoughtful. "What do you think Bruno and Millie asked of Henry? Don''t tell me they want him to marry you." She nodded toward Chase. "The Harrison family already knew you two were married. They even showed up at the wedding, crying in front of everyone like it was some kind of tragedy. Said you Chache 39 Coe Navy For Dra Finishe Wendy always felt quilts whenever that wedding came up. They had only invited the Hanson family out of courtesy. Who would''ve thought they''d actually show up? Back then, Madam Mandy had bortiden hem from daring. The Harrison family hadn''t liked Wendy much either Thought she was too ambitious-another Mandy in the making. Their precious son would never be able to handle someone like her. That''s why they if taken Henry away might alter the car ident. Who would''ve guessed they''d baw like that at the wedding? And Henry-he was already engaged Held beaved Wendy first. Wendy''s face went cold, "Soves. Ell give Benn some hope But really. I think he''ll be easier to control if he goes back to the barson family Las reckless and impulsive-this whole thing is clearly Brune and Millie''s smoke screen. Benny mas be useless, but he''s still their real son." The kitchen was open to the dining room, so even though Wendy and Sammy weren''t talking directly to Chase, he could hear evers werd as he moved around with dishes in hand. Any of these conversations would be trade secrets in the business world Sammy''s phone buzzed a few times. She looked down throws using in surprise. "They found her." Sammy looked up. "Just like you thought-shes in the country. At Cloud Hotel." Cloud Hotel-one of the Harrison family''s ultra-luxury hotels Just one might could cost tens of thousands. Chase didn''t understand. He just kept cing dishes in front of them reminding them to eat Sammy, however, was clearly distracted. "She''s still alive, which means Henry kept her that way. No wonder Fiona said Henry and joy have been leaving the house a lottely-and every time, neither looked too happ If a woman holding leverage had shown up, who''d be happy about i Wendy wasn''t letting this woman slip away. That night, Wendy curled up in Chase''s arms. Half-asleep, she suddenly murmured About the wedding. I''m sorry." Chase hugged her tighter. "I forgot all about it." But she knew. Chase hadn''t forgotten. 942 PM c d Chapter 36 Once More, For Real Finisnec Wendy nuzzled into his chest. "When all this settles down, let''s have another wedding. Or maybe just a small banquet, like Mr. Zachary. Something simple." No more Harrison family. Never again. Chase only smiled. He didn''t really believe that day would evere. As expected, gossip about Henry and Wendy exploded. People said they were going in and out of Quinn Group together, and that Wendy and Chase had divorced because Henry came between them. Every nce thrown Henry''s way now carried a nasty edge-as if he were some homewrecker. No matter how gentle Henry pretended to be, how well he yed the part, even he couldn''t keep smiling through that. Send Gifts Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Smoke, Mirrors, and Strategy Every time Henry came home, he flew into a rage. Through the audio recordings Fiona had sent, Wendy could hear his furious voice nearly breaking through the speakers. "Why hasn''t Wendy announced her divorce from Chase? Why is she letting everyone think I''m the one breaking up a marriage?" Zynn had attended several dinnerstely, and everyone seemed eager to gossip. She did her job well, repeating exactly what Wendy instructed-making her rtionship with Henry sound as ambiguous as possible. The gossip spread like wildfire. Online rumors surged again. But this time, Wendy didn''t pull Chase in to y along. She didn''t want him dragged through the mud. Love or not-it was clearer than ever where the line stood now. "Henry''s about to crack, but Bruno''s feeding him incentives. There''ve been more contracts.nding on his desk, while the projects Larry was handling? All canceled. Each for a different reason," Sammy said, crossing her legs and spinning her chair with a grin. "Henry really is ruthless. He''s using Wendy and Quinn Group to get back into the Harrison. family, while quietly tanking Larry''s deals to make their parents think Larry''s ipetent. Leaving them no choice but to rely on him." "Men," Zynn muttered. "Absolutely vicious." Then Sammy added, "Dawn''s staking out that woman at Cloud Hotel." "Keep a close eye on her. Don''t let her slip away. I''ve got a feeling Henry won''t let her live much. longer either." Zynn''s eyes widened. Come on, seriously? That''s his daughter''s birth mother. You think he''d actually go that far?" A marriage with no love couldn''t be salvaged by a child. And Henry was never the merciful type. "Get ready. You''re headed to Townsville. One week for a joint consultation. It''s an important case. A patient under two years old-very rare. The files have been sent. Read them when You''ll confirm the surgical details on arrival, and operate the next day." you can. Chase''s name was on the team list, along with Mr. Lance and nc. Mr. Lance would lead the second surgery. Chase was his first assistant, and nc. still an intern. 9.42 PM d'' d'' Chapter 37 Smoke, Mirrors, and Strategy A few veteran specialists were also listed. Both hospitals clearly treated this seriously. Finished It was rumored the child had extremely powerful connections-so powerful, no one even dared to name them. That night at home, Chase told Wendy about the trip. He thought she''d be upset, but she surprised him. "Just make sure you rest well." "You''re not mad?" Wendy looked amused at his caution. "Why would I be? I didn''t want you going abroad because our rtionship isn''t stable yet. But if we remarry one day, and you still want to study overseas, I won''t stop you. This is just a work trip. I get it. It was rare to see Wendy so understanding. She was almost a different person these days. Chase felt relieved and smiled. But in truth, Wendy thought the timing was perfect. Thanks to her and Sammy''s efforts, the Harrison family had finally agreed to let Henry return- and were even nning a birthday banquet for Joy. The invitation had already arrived at Quinn Group. It specifically requested that Wendy attend with her husband. But Chase clearly didn''t want anything to do with the Harrison family. If she didn''t bring him, people would think their rtionship had soured again. A business trip was the perfect excuse. Wendy quietly let out a breath. "No need to prepare a suit for Mr. Chase. He''s going on a trip. Leaves tomorrow." Later, in her study, Wendy called Sammy on video chat. "He''s leaving for ten days. Perfect timing to avoid the Harrison family banquet. Pick a good gift for Joy- make it extravagant. Useless, but expensive." "Got it," Sammy replied, scrolling through luxury gift sites. "I found a diamond princess gown. Every diamond is hand-set. Price tag: three million. Definitely useless and expensive." Wendy didn''t hesitate. "That''s the one." This was a gift for the Harrison family. It had to bevish. The more she spent, the more it would look like she valued Henry and Joy. There were important guests scheduled for the evening too. Chapter 37 Smoke, Mirrors, and Strategy Finished know why and didn''t ask. He went to the kitchen to pour some herbal tea. But just as he reached. the study door, he heard Wendy''s voice on the video call. "Yeah, I''m worried Chase might overthink it. I don''t want him around the Harrison family either -there''s not a single decent person among them. They ruined our wedding once, and now they want to humiliate him again. His trip makes it easier. Saves me from making up an excuse." "Pull the three million from my personal ount. Don''t touchpany funds." Chase stood in the hallway for a moment. Now he understood why she''d agreed so quickly. But she wasn''t wrong. He really didn''t want to see any of them.. Once it went quiet inside, he knocked on the door. "Don''t stay up toote. I''ve got an early flight." "Okay, I''m heading to bed now." Joy''s birthday banquet was also Henry''s grand return to the Harrison family. It was bound to be a spectacle. What Wendy didn''t expect was for the entire Harrison family to line up outside greeting guests like it was a wedding- The moment she arrived, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her to the front, forcing her to stand at the entrance and greet guests alongside them. Send Gifts 20 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Uninvited Guest Finished Henry didn''t say a word-just stayed beside Wendy with a smile on his face. "Wolves and tigers all around," Zynn muttered, arms crossed as she leaned beside Sammy. "Isn''t this just their way of making Madam Wendy admit she''s with Henry?" Sammy had her period and was craving sweets-she''d already eaten several pieces of cake before the banquet even began. Her mouth was full of cream. "Knew it was a trap. No way around it. What did Dawn say?" Zynn replied, "Said the woman never left her room all morning. Didn''t even order breakfast. But yesterday afternoon she went shopping and bought an evening dress." "Henry still can''t bring himself to go all the way. If it were Wendy, that woman would''ve never made it back into the country." "You think everyone''s like our boss-leaves no loose ends? Hah. The only one she let slip away was Henry. And now that he''s thriving again, I bet she regrets it." Sammy, however, didn''t think it was a bad thing. Without Henry''s return, Wendy and Chase might have kept dragging things out. Chase would''ve never left on his own, and Wendy wouldn''t have realized how important he was to her. So in Sammy''s eyes, Henry was the glue holding them together. A temporary break didn''t matter. What mattered was that something had shifted. Wendy finally broke free and returned to Sammy''s side, rubbing her wrist where someone had grabbed her-bright red. Sammy quickly handed her a ss of juice. "The ''bride'' is finally free." Wendy gave her a re. If her mother found out about this, who knew how furious she''d be. Luckily, her mother had no interest in attending any Harrison family event. Her wrist stayed red for quite a while. Wendy kept to a quiet corner, shielded by Zynn and Sammy so the Harrison family wouldn''t spot her. "Has she left yet?" Wendy asked. Zynn nced at her phone and shook her head. The banquet was about to begin. Was that woman really noting? 9:42 PM Chapter 38 Uninvited Guest Finished tossed her aside. Henry rushed back to the country with his daughter. A woman handpicked for an arranged marriage was never going to be simple. There was no way she''d quietly let the Harrison family use her and walk away unscathed. Wendy wasn''t worried. She was certain that woman would show up. She''d even left a door open for her. Since Cloud Hotel was a Harrison family property, Wendy couldn''t nt someone directly inside. So she quietly booked several rooms on the same floor and slipped Dawn into one. On stage, Bruno and his wife stepped forward. The banquet was about to begin. Chase arrived in Townsville with his entire mind focused on the consultation work. He didn''t even have time to call Wendy. He worked nonstop from morning to night, and had just changed. at the hotel when he was invited out to dinner. "Old-school professors really are something. Did you see today''s surgery n? Kinda risky." nc said. "The child''s too young. Every option is risky. But if they don''t operate, the kid won''t be able to stand or walkter. He''s only two." nc was curious. "Who is this kid anyway?" Chase had overheard his mentor mention it-it was supposedly Pride Group''s grandson. Pride Group was a giant in the building materials industry, To this day, over 70% of construction materials still came from them. Their influence in real estate was enormous. A CEO''s grandson... naturally meant serious status. "Rich people really do live differently. Even experts who haven''t operated in years were brought back for this. Money moves mountains." "Money''s often a key that opens doors. But as doctors, we treat everyone the same." They were eating at a small local restaurant near the hotel. Townsville''s cuisine skewed sweet, which Chase enjoyed. nc, not so much-he barely touched anything. Just then, a loud argument broke out at the next table. It escted fast-bottles flying through the air. One smashed against the wall right behind Chase, sending shards of ss slicing across the back of his neck. Blood began to drip instantly. "Hey!" nc shot up, pointing at the other table. "What the hell?!" 9.42 PM c C Chapter 38 Uninvited Guest The shouting continued. It turned into a full-on brawl. One man was punched hard and copsed, lying on the floor foaming at the mouth. nc was busy tending to Chase''s wound and hadn''t noticed. But Chase had. He didn''t care about his own injury. He rushed over and knelt beside the man. "Sir? Can you hear me?" Finished The man clutched his chest and struggled to breathe, lips turning dark purple. Chase immediately recognized the signs-heart condition. He began checking the man''s pockets for medication. But after a thorough search-nothing. He turned to nc. "Call an ambnce." He also asked the restaurant staff to call the police. The ambnce arrived quickly. Chase and nc got in too. Chase had performed basic first aid at the scene, but by the time they were in the vehicle, the man''s breathing was still dangerously shallow. "Man, even on a business trip this happens... Hey, you should disinfect your cut too," nc said, noticing the blood that had dried on Chase''s neck. stung now-but he just shook his head. Chase reached up and wiped at it. It stung now- Chapter 39 Chapter 39 The Storm Unleashed The family of the man quickly arrived, and from the staff''s exnation, they learned what had happened, Chase, seeing them arrive, immediately left with nc. At first, he thought it was just a small matter. The troublemaker had been detained, and Chase focused all his attention on the uing consultation But just two days before leaving, ne suddenly burst out of the bathroom, holding his phone. "Look online! They''ve posted about you saving that guy!" It wasn''t unusual for doctors to have their rescue efforts posted online. Chase was talking to Wendy on the phone at the time and only brielly nced at the screen, but he didn''t expect the headlines to be like this: "Unprofessional doctor causes death during rescue!" "Does this doctor deserve to continue practicing medicine?" "Townsville doctor''s rescue efforts led to death!". "Hello? What''s going on?" Wendly, hearing the sudden silence on Chase''s end, quickly started checking the news for ''Townsville. Chase furrowed his brow. His emergency procedures had been wless. The man had suffered a heart attack due to being struck, and the doctor''s rescue had failed, which had been officially reported. So why was this being posted online? Wendy called out again on the phone. "It''s fine. I... my teacher''s calling. I''ll call you backter," Chase said, quickly hanging up the phone. Clearly, Wendy had seen the trending topic. She immediately instructed Sammy to look into what was happening. The next day, Chase was supposed to be performing surgery, but the situation had escted so much that the deceased man''s family was causing a ruckus near the hospital, demanding an exnation from him. Ultimately, the team decided that Chase would step back from the final surgery, nc was furious. "These people are just looking to extort money," nc stormed around their dorm, looking at the hatefulments on his phone. He was so angry, he almost wanted to turn the microphone on and shout back. 0.42 PM d Chapter 39 The Storm Unleashed Finissec "Whatever. My rescue methods were professional, no problem at all," Chase said nonchntly. "Nothing to hide," he added. "I''m not worried about these rumors." But nc sighed after a moment of silence. "You have no idea how powerful public opinion can be. Just listen to what the teacher says. There were still some reasonable voices online. Medical students reviewing the footage and monitoring angles deduced that Chase had acted with proper force, and the way he handled the situation wasn''t likely to cause death. But what people wanted to hear wasn''t justice-it was scandal. The righteousments quickly got buried under the noise. Crash! Wendy threw something across the room. Sammy stood outside the door, feeling helpless, and turned to Maggie. "Go get a new ashtray. Don''t go in just yet." Maggie turned and walked away. After a few moments of silence, Sammy knocked and entered. "Did you find anything?" Wendy was standing by therge window, smoking. Her expression was hidden from view as she stared out. Sammy walked up to her desk, crossing her arms in front of her. "I found something. The doctor''s conclusion is that the man died from a heart attack. ording to the local police report, the man had congenital heart disease and should''ve had his medication with him. But from the video, I saw that no medication was found on him when they started the rescue. Zynn has already got the inte army involved." Wendy turned, her face grim after a long pause. "Save all the evidence from those instigatingizens. Get the legal department ready. We''ll sue them all." "Understood." Wendy tapped her fingers on the desk, thinking about Chase''s helpless voice on the phone earlier. A wave of difort washed over her. "Book me a flight. I''m going over today." Chapter 39 The Storm Unleashed Finised Chase, now removed from the final surgery, was alone in the dorm. Contacting Wendy now would only worry her, so he buried himself under the covers, trying to sleep. By around 4 PM, the surgery had already concluded, and nc rushed in, frantic. "Not good, Chase. The family of the deceased is making a scene. They''re demanding the hospital hand you over." nc hurried to help Chase up.. Chase was groggy and barely moving, his actions slow and mechanical as he dressed. When they reached the front lobby, Chase finally understood the seriousness of the situation. The family had started causing a ruckus. Before long, someone noticed Chase, and hospital security quickly surrounded him, blocking the family from getting any closer. "It''s your for f it weren''t for you, my husband would still be alive!" "You''re a quack! Do you even have a medical license? You killed him!" "Who would let someone like you treat them? You''re going to get people killed!" A group of people gathered around, shouting usations. Even with Chase''s calm demeanor, it was impossible not to feel ufortable. nc stood in front of him, shielding him from the crowd. Soon, someone from the hospital stepped forward. "After our investigation into Dr. Chase''s procedures, there''s no fault on his part. The patient was breathing when he was loaded into the ambnce, and the surgery was fully recorded. We can show you the footage, but you refused to watch." "We don''t want to see your lies. You''re all just covering for this doctor!" "You''re protecting him!" The shouting continued. Chase stood there, feeling like a circus animal surrounded by spectators. Send Gifts Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Stormbreaker Finished Just then, arge group of people suddenly emerged from behind, separating the dead man''s family from the gawking crowd. Chase turned around, confused. Wendy was standing at the entrance. She had arrived in a rush-her ck dress clung to her figure, a zer draped loosely over her shoulders. She removed her sunsses, and the first thing she saw was the exhaustion on Chase''s face. "Wendy." Chase hadn''t felt wronged-until he saw her. Then the ache came all at once. Healing people had always been his dream. He''d poured his heart into this career. He hadn''t even cared about his own injury at the time-he''d rushed to save someone. And now, he was being treated like a criminal. Wendy walked straight up to him and took his hand. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I missed you." Wendy made no effort to hide it. She interlocked their fingers, then turned to face the dead man''s family. "The police are outside, and the legal team is here too. For ndering and defaming my husband, I''m pressing charges." The rowdy family members immediately fell silent. They''d assumed Wendy was bluffing. "You''re just a woman, what do you know? My brother is dead! It''s your husband''s fault! What, you don''t want to paypensation now?" So that was the real reason they were here. Wendy raised a hand. Police officers andwyers stepped forward. The moment they saw the police, the family panicked. The dead man''s older brother pointed at Chase and yelled, "Officer, arrest him! He killed my brother! What are you waiting for?!" The lead officer walked right-up to them. "Based on our investigation, the online rumors were false. Surveince footage and witness. testimony confirm that Dr. Chase''s emergency treatment was sound. The ambnce had a recorder, and the patient was still breathing at the time. In fact, he even thanked Dr. Chase. For your defamation and disorderly conduct, you''ll being with us." The entire groun was swiftly taken away Chapter 40 Stormbreaker The legal team arrived a stepte and came to Wendy''s side. # Finishe "Everyone responsible for stirring things up online-track them. Not a single one gets away" Wendy said. "Yes, ma''am." The chaos and crowd quickly dispersed, leaving only hospital stall, who were visibly impressed by Wendy''s presence. Once they confirmed she was Chase''s wile, no one said anything more and quietly left. But nc had been standing there staring since the moment Wendy arrived. He''d seen her at the hospital before-everyone knew she was a major benefactor. And Chase. Chase was her husband? Wait-wasn''t he the guy people said got cheated on? "No way. You''re married to that Quinn Group?" nc pointed at Chase, jaw nearly on the floor. Wendy beside him, Chase felt his heart settle. He nodded with a smile. nc nudged him with a shoulder. "You serious? I''ve been gossiping to you all this time, and your never told me? You owe me dinner, man!" Wendy hade, so Chase naturally stayed by her side. "Later," he promised. In the car, the moment Chase buckled his seatbelt, Wendy reached over, took his chin in hand, and turned his face toward her. She''d spotted the cut on his face earlier but had waited until the crowd was gone to deal with it. "You got hurt and didn''t even tell me?" Wendy frowned. The red gash was stark against his skin-impossible to miss. "It''s nothing." Chase said, holding her hand to keep her from fussing. "You came all this way just for this?" To Wendy, anything that involved him-was never a small matter. At some point, that had changed. Wendy quickly snapped out of it and scolded him. "I knew something was wrong with your voice that day. So tell me-why didn''t you say anything. about getting hurt or being used?" Chapter 40 Stormbreaker down to it, I''d take it to court. The hospital knows I didn''t do anything wrong! Chase was confident-but not telling her meant he didn''t trust her. Finisced To Wendy, all it took was a phone call. Awyer, a police officer-that''s all it would''ve taken to fix everything. But he had chosen to struggle through it alone. The Cloud Hospital team was staying another day, so Wendy stayed the night too. Sammy had booked her a room. After dinner, Chase didn''t return to his dorm. Come on, I should head back. I''ve got to pack, he said, trying to wriggle out of her arms. Wendy wouldn''t let go. "I let you out of my sight for a few days and you''re already hurt and dragged into a mess. Looks like I can''t let you go on trips anymore." Chase panicked and quickly exined, "It was an ident!" Seeing him flustered, Wendy huffed. "You got hurt and didn''t even tell me. How am I supposed to feel okay with that?" She just wanted him to tell her everything. But Chase stubbornly stayed silent. "Wendy, legally speaking, we''re divorced. I''m allowed to make my own decisions." The moment he said it, he regretted it. Things had just started to warm between them, and now he''d brought up the divorce.. Sure enough, Wendy''s face changed. She let go of him. "You just had to pick now to piss me off?" Send Gifts Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Crossroads Finished There was a long pause before Chase reached out to take Wendy''s hand-only for her to brush him off. He knew her too well. He''d said things like this more than once, and she would definitely be bothered by it. "It was my fault," he said, "but it''s still the truth." Back at Cloud Hospital, the matter was finally settled. Under interrogation, the deceased man''s family admitted they were trying to scam money. The posts online hade from them too-they just hadn''t expected the bacsh to get so out of control. Chase was given two days off. Still feeling guilty over upsetting Wendy in Townsville, he decided to make lunch and bring it to her at work. He hadn''t expected to see post after post online from people begging for forgiveness. Only then did he realize Wendy had preserved evidence of every hatefulment, every instigating post-and had had legal notices sent out to all of them. Now those same people were all pleading for mercy, hoping Chase would be lenient. So Wendy had done all this. Chase felt regret creep in. He shouldn''t have said such hurtful things. Especially not after Wendy had flown across the country to defend him-and he''d turned around and reminded her they were divorced. He prepared all her favorite dishes. Hopefully it would soften things a little. Wendy had been in back-to-back meetings all morning and only just returned to her office around noon. She hadn''t even taken a sip of water when she was informed that Henry was already waiting in the lou "What''s he doing here?" Wendy''s irritation red the moment she heard Henry''s name. Sammy reminded her, "You forgot? The Harrison family had him take over as general manager at their entertainmentpany. He''s in charge of negotiating the endorsement deal for our jewelry line." Wendy sighed and rubbed her temples. She had forgotten. Chase hadpletely gotten to her. Their night in Townsville hadn''t ended well. Chase went back to his dorm, and she stewed in Chapter 41 Crossroads online frenzy and paid for the bots... was Henry. Finisnec Sammy had traced it fast. Before Henry could clear his name, his involvement had already been uncovered. Still, Wendy decided to y it cool. "Got it. I''ll head over." When Chase arrived at Quinn Group, the receptionist recognized him and sent him straight up to the executive floor. Wendy and Henry were still in the lounge, Sammy with them. The receptionist notified Maggie. who answered the call. "Sir." Maggie''s short hair and clean-cut style gave her a sharp look. She wore tailored cks and heels, her red lipstick just the right shade. Chase smiled. Hello, I''m here to bring Wendy lunch." Maggie instinctively nced toward the lounge before quickly looking away. "Please wait in her ollice." Naturally, the executive office was luxurious and full of natural light. Chaseid out the lunch on a small table and even brewed a pot of tea for her. Inside the lounge, Wendy and Henry were all smiles on the surface-but undercurrents surged beneath. "Just the entry-level line? Wendy,e on. That''s not fair. I thought you''d give me the high-end line. This is my first project sinceing back into the family," Henry said, trying to sound aggrieved but clearly dissatisfied. Greedy, as always. Wendy sneered internally but kept her face unreadable. "Henry, you know perfectly well-the Harrison family''s entertainmentpany isn''t even top-tier in the industry. Meanwhile, Quinn Group''s jewelry ranks top five globally. I''m at businesswoman. Giving you the entry line is already generous. The luxury tier was assigned a long time ago." Seeing her displeasure, Henry tried to recover. "That''s not what I meant. I just wanted to do something impressive to help you. But if that''s the arrangement, then I''ll go with it." They were just confirming some details today-not signing anything. Wendy wasn''t in "Do you have a lunch meeting? If not, let me take you out," Henry offered with a smile. any rush. Chapter 41 Crossroads "Sir is here. He brought you lunch. He''s waiting in your office." Chase is here. Wendy''s eyes lit up. So he finally gave in. She was pleased. But with Henry right there, she had to y her part. She frowned and muttered. "Why''s he here again?" Of course. Henry wanted to seem understanding. He quickly reached out to soothe her. "Don''t get upset. This is all business, right? Might as well keep up appearances-no need to let the shareholders see through things. Go ahead. I''ll head out first." He picked up hisptop and left. Wendy didn''t go back to her office right away. "How''s the search going? The woman who didn''t show up that day-where did she go?" Down the hall, just as the elevator doors closed on Henry''s retreating figure, Wendy''s expression turned cold. She had expected drama. Joy''s biological mother would have shown up to stir trouble. But Wendy had waited until the banquet ended-and still, the woman never appeared. Only after checking with Dawn did she learn the woman had indeed left the hotel that day. But where she''d gone.. no one knew. Now someone had vanished right under their noses: And they needed to find her- fast. "We''re still looking." Sammy replied, keeping her voice low, afraid of setting Wendy off. "She must''ve realized Henry was going to make a move. That''s probably why she fled that day. As long as she''s alive, we''ll find her." Wendy stood at the door, gazing toward her office, fingers twitching slightly. "Make it fast. A dead woman''s no use to us." Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Unspoken Allegiances. "Yes, ma''am." Finished While Wendy was out, Chase took the opportunity to tidy up her desk. She usually didn''t like the cleaning staff touching her things-busy as she was, her desk was always covered in scattered pens. and documents. Chase didn''t mind risking a scolding. He used the chance to clean up. One document had been left open in the center. Chase reached for it to close it- only to see his name on the page. It was Sammy''s report on Henry hiring bots to smear him online. The report made it clear: Henry had deliberately rgeted him, trying to escte the incident. Chase stared at it in silence for a moment before calmly closing it and setting it aside. Honestly, he wasn''t surprised. Henry''s hostility toward him was no secret. Buying bots? That was minor. At least he hadn''t hired someone to kill him. That, Chase figured, could be considered merciful. He nced at the time and began unpacking lunch. Just as heid everything out, Wendy walked in-and the first thing she saw was Chase''s calm, gentle profile. Her heart instantly softened. The anger she''d been carrying for days started to melt. Still, she kept her face cold. "Why''d you bring me lunch?" she asked, sitting down. Chase smiled and handed her a fork and knife. "I figured you''d be stuck in meetings all day and wouldn''t have time to eat. I''ll stay and have lunch with you, then I''ll go." Wendy scoffed but didn''t hesitate to start eating, She''d rushed through the morning with only a cup of coffee. After several back- to-back meetings, her head was spinning. If she didn''t eat now, she''d probably pass out by afternoon. "Still mad?" Chase asked, testing the waters. Wendy nced at him. "Does it matter whether I''m mad? I''m just a divorced ex- wife. Why should you care how I feel?" Chase stayed quiet. She wasn''t making this easy. The meal ended in a bit of a hurry. Chase packed up the empty containers and left the building. As he buckled his seatbelt someone knocked on his window. 9:42 PM c c Chapter 42 Unspoken Allegiances He turned his head. Henry. es for puedes Chase''s eyes narrowed slightly, thinking of the report just seen. Finished "Mr. Chase," Henry said, leaning on the window. "You really don''t know when to quit. I thought after the divorce, you''d disappear. What are you still doing here?" Chase replied, "Not quite as impressive as you. You disappeared five years ago, and yet here you are again. I have to say-Wendy really is a soft-hearted woman." "I''m not like you." Henry was full of confidence. "You''re here ying house, cooking and delivering lunch like some housewife. I''m here for business. Wendy and I-we''re the ones who really belong together." So that was it.. Wendy had found out Henry was behind the smear campaign-yet she still had to work with him. Chase''s expression tightened slightly. Henry noticed and looked pleased. And suddenly, Chase remembered something Waylon had said: You need to trust the person you love. Wendy hadn''t chosen to get back together with Henry. She was still entangled with him. That had to mean something. If Henry really mattered that much to her, she wouldn''t have flown across the country to clear Chase''s name, He couldn''t let insecurity win. "Mr. Henry, I think you''re the one acting like a housewife," Chase said, tapping his fingers lightly on the steering wheel. "If you''ve got feelings for someone,e fight for them fair and square. Don''t act like a petty coward. What do you think you''re doing, hiring bots? That''s it? If you''ve got guts-try showing up at her door and winning her over." Henry froze for a second. "You-" "What, wanna ask how I found out?" Chase leaned his head to one side. "Did you forget I''m Waylon''s little brother? I was getting torn apart online-did you think my brother would just sit back and watch? Everyone got served with legal notices. Guess who''s missing? You. Want me to send yours now?" Henry clenched the car door hard, face darkening. "Don''t think just because you''ve got Waylon backing you, you''re untouchable. You won''t be on Chapter 42 Unspoken Allegiances So?" Chase tilted his head, lips curling in a slight smile, thinking of Madam Mandy Finisheit Madam Mandy had always disapproved of Henry, She''d stood in their way from the beginning That hadn''t changed in live years. If anything, she seemed to prefer Chase now. In the end, he still had to rely on his mother-inw''s favor Chase asked, "Did Madam Mandy sign off on that?" Henry''s expression stiffened, She was his biggest hurdle and always would be. "Wendy runs Quinn Group now. Madam Mandy''s stepped back. If I want to be with Wendy, 1 don''t need anyone else''s approval." Chase pried Henry''s hand off the car and started the engine. Then I wish you luck." Driving away, Chase couldn''t help thinking about how long he''d been going back and forth with Wendy and how he hadn''t visited Madam Mandy once. With all the turmoil Quinn Group was facing, she had to be anxious too, He''d been pretending with Wendy on the outside. But deep down, his desire to leave her... was wavering. If that was the case, and Wendy was too busy to visit her mother, then he could go on her behalf. He had the day off, after all. Chase bought some herbal tonics and headed straight to the Quinn family residence. Madam Mandy had always liked Chase. Since stepping down, she spent most of her time gardening or attending exhibitions. She barely got involved in thepany anymore. Even when the air rumors blew up, she only asked Wendy a few symbolic questions, Send Gifts Chapter 43 Chapter 43 The Mother-in-Law''s Favor Finished Several shareholders had tried gossiping to Madam Mandytely, but she knew her daughter''s personality better than anyone. If Wendy had made this decision, she must''ve had her reasons. The butler opened the door and was surprised to see Chase-delighted, even-and quickly weed him inside. "Madam,e take a look who''s here." Someone had recently gifted Madam Mandy a cat. With Wendy busy running thepany and rarelying home, the house had grown cold and quiet. The cat was meant to keep herpany. It had deep blue eyes and an unusually gentle temperament. Madam Mandy had grown quite fond of it and often held it in her arms. Hearing the butler call, she came out holding the cat. "Mom." Chase greeted her, carrying a gift bag filled with her favorite supplements. "Oh, Chase! You''re here!" Madam Mandy was overjoyed. She walked over and freed one hand to take his. "What brings you here today? Peony! Brew some tea!" Back when Henry got stabbed, Chase had been scheduled to go abroad. But Madam Mandy had seen the news online-Wendy bringing Chase to thepany-and knew he must''ve stayed. She had called him twice afterward. Once he''d been in the operating room; the other time, they only chatted briefly. Peony, the new maid, didn''t know Chase very well and made the pu-erh tea Madam Mandy. preferred. "I had the day off," Chase exined. "Wendy''s stuck in meetings, so I thought I''de see you. When did you get a cat?" He reached out and stroked the kitten''s head. The little thing immediately started rubbing against his hand, then jumped down from Madam Mandy''s arms, shook its fur, and trotted off. Madam Mandy wore silk, so cat hair didn''t really stick. She patted herp andughed, "The house was too quiet. I figured having a cat around would help pass the time. Are you staying for dinner?" Chase thought about it. Things between him and Wendy were still a little tense. Even if he went home, he wouldn''t know what to say. Staying here might actually be better. Besides, Madam Mandy and Wendy likely had business matters to discuss too. With that in mind, he nodded. Chapter 43 The Mother in Law''s Favor had the butler call Wendy and ask her toe home. Henry was, in fact, rattled by what Chase had said earlier. Madam Mandy''s dislike of him had never been a secret. She''d looked down on him from the start, and nothing had changed. Lately, every time he saw her, she gave him the cold shoulder. He''d thought Joy might win her over, but even when he brought Joy to visit, Madam Mandy had been distant-barely acknowledging the child''s attempts to please her. He couldn''t understand what Chase had that made her like him so much. Still.... Henry stood beside his car, staring up at the Quinn Group tower. As long as Wendy still had feelings for him, did it really matter whether Madam Mandy approved? Back in her office, Wendy was watching the security feed at thepany entrance. She saw Henry approach Chase-and watched him storm off, cursing under his breath. "Chase has grown a spine," she said, sipping her coffee. Though only toward outsiders. With her, he was still the same thoughtful, gentle Chase. That night at the hotel, he''d said something he shouldn''t have, and the mood between them had gone cold. But clearly, Chase wasn''t indifferenthe''d even cooked for her to ease the tension. As long as his heart was still with her, that was enough. "Aren''t you curious what Henry said to your Chase?" Sammy asked from across the desk, binding documents. She nced up at Wendy. "Chase has changed- he''s bold enough to divorce you and nearly ran off to another country. Wendy leaned back in her chair. It was the rare half-hour break before her next meeting, "Henry probably just dredged up our mast to mess with Chase. It is what it is-he can''t change the past. And Chase knows that. She paused. You really don''t n to tell Chase your n? I don''t think he''s that fragile. He won''t run from a fight." Wendy thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "It''s not the same. I know Chase isn''t scared-but business isplicated. It''s not like surgery, where you can just diagnose and treat. It''s full of traps and politics. He''s not used to this world. Better he doesn''t get dragged into it." Seeing Wendy''s determination, Sammy said nothing more. She just sighed. Chapter 43 The Mother-in-Law''s Favor serious threatand the case Waylon was working overseas was part of it. Finished Henry returning to the Harrison family''spany was just the first step. Next, they''d start trying to swallow Quinn Group whole.. If Henry wanted to pull that off, he''d have to use his rtionship with Wendy. "Tell Fiona to watch him closely. From now on, whenever Henry goes out, someone follows." Wendy''s expression darkened again as she thought of the missing woman. "We somehow managed to lose a whole person. What good are any of you?" Sammy had failed once. She didn''t dare talk back. She silently left to make arrangements, During Wendy''s next meeting, the butler called to say dinner was ready at the Quinn estate. Maggie answered the call and passed on the message after work. Wendy checked the time and decided to stop by a mother''s favorite pastries. Chapter 44 apter 44 Who She Chooses to Sit Beside Chapter "Got it." Finished While Wendy was gone, Sammy mentioned, "Waylon stopped by this afternoon. Didn''t ask to see you. Sammy knew who Waylon really was-and she also knew Wendy had met him privately once. Wendy paused in her steps and turned to look at her. Sammy added, "He didn''t say anything, but Maggie told me he left right after she mentioned you''d be in meetings all-afternoon. My guess is, he came to see you." Why would Waylone find her? Other than the time they crossed paths at the restaurant, they hadn''t met privately. Even at the Rose Manor, it was just a fleeting encounter. Wendy''s eyes shifted, a guess forming in her mind. "Understood. You can get off now." 0, She didn''t have Waylon''s number. If she wanted to reach him, she''d have to go through Chase. On the way home, she stopped to buy some of her mother''s favorite desserts. The thought of going home made her feel surprisingly light. She used to resent Chase for borrowing money from her mom. Onlyter did she learn he never actually used any of it. In fact, before he nned to leave, he returned everyst cent. Even if Chase had used it, she realized now-it wouldn''t have mattered. Her words back then had been cruel. The more she thought about it, the more she regretted them. She''d make it up to him from now on. She''d never say something like that to hurt someone she loved again. Just as she was about to pull up to the house, her phone rang. The central screen disyed Henry''s name. She braked hard and pulled over to the side of the road. "Wendy, I made your favorite dishes. Want toe eat?" Henry''s voice was upbeat. Wendy rested her forehead on the steering wheel, clearly annoyed, though her tone remained polite. "My mom asked me toe home." Chapter 44 Who She Chooses to Sit Beside Finished Chase had just used Madam Mandy against him earlier that day. Now, hearing her name again, Henry''s voice turned sharp with resentment. After a pause, Henry finally let out augh. "I see. Well, go ahead and keep your mompany. Maybe I''lle with you next time. I''ve never formally paid my respects-seems pretty rude of me. Especially after what happenedst time... I''m sure she was shaken." He deliberately brought up the time Chase stabbed him. "Mm. I''m hanging up." Wendy was eager to see Chase. She had no patience for Henry. But she was curious-what had put him in such a good mood? The partnership between Quinn Group and Harrison Entertainment wasn''t finalized, and Henry still hadn''tnded a suitable celebrity for the endorsement. Just as she entered the house, she nced at a message from Zynn-and instantly understood Henry''s excitement. So the Harrison parents'' disappointment in Henry had all been an act. Right after Henry came to discuss business with her, the Harrison family transferred one of their top-tier male celebrities to Henry''spany-obviously backing him. They were trying to inte Henry''s status by giving him star power. Henry hadn''t been happy about only being offered Quinn Group''s lower-end jewelry line. He didn''t dare show it too inly, but he clearly wanted a higher price. Zynn: "The artist transferred to him is Franklin-an A-list actor whose recent films and TV shows have all been huge hits. He''s one of the hottest names in the industry right now, and the most. valuable male artist the Harrison family has." Wendy handed the dessert box to the butler and lowered her head to reply to the message. "I''m back." Chase was still in the clothes he wore during the day, sleeves rolled up-it looked like he''d been helping in the kitchen. Just like always, Wendy lowered her head to respond to messages and handed her coat to Chase. It was so routine, so natural, that Chase''s chest clenched. But the very next second, Wendy leaned over and kissed him on the check. "Why''d you decide toe eat at home tonight?" Chase''s frustration disappeared instantly. It was different now. Wendy wasn''t cold anymore. Compared to her work, she seemed to care more about him. Chapter 44 Who She Chooses to Sit Beside a while, I''d beat him to it," Chase said, his tone teasing. This was the first time he openly mentioned Henry to her-a direct challenge. He was testing her heart. Finished Wendy replied, "He''s noting. She tugged Chase inside. "My mom never liked him. Not a chance." They walked to the living room, where a cat was sprawled across the couch. Wendy frowned. She had no love for animals. Ever since she took over Quinn Group, she could barely take care of herself-let alone a clingy, delicate creature like a pet. She had almost lost her husband, after all. "When did we get a cat?" she asked, frowning. Madam Mandy came downstairs. At home, she was dressedfortably-silk pajamas, no jewelry, her hair loosely pinned up. The usual chill in her expression had softened considerably. "You don''te home, and I''m not allowed a pet forpany?" she said, sitting at the head of the table. "The ce is too quiet. Not even a trace of warmth." Traditionally, when they came to the old house, Madam Mandy sat at the head. Wendy and Chase always sat across from each other. But tonight, Chase had barely sat beside Madam Mandy when Wendy slid into the seat next to him-and even took the half cup of tea from his hands to sip from. Seeing that, and the flicker of affection reappear in Chase''s eyes, Madam Mandy couldn''t hide the smile tugging at her lips. Send Gifts Chapter 45 Chapter 45 No Room for Henry It looked like her daughter wasn''t foolish enough to let go of someone who truly loved her. As long as things between them eased up, Madam Mandy would feel reassured. Her tone softened slightly. "Chase says you''ve been really busytely. Is it still that resort project? I thought that had already been finalized." Before dinner, Peony brought over bowls of soup-small servings for all three. Wendy took a sip, easing her upset stomach before responding. "That''s just one part. The resort''s already in motion. But there are other projects, too. The shareholders weren''t happy about the recent scandals, so I''ve got to give them something to chew on. Otherwise, they won''t stop hounding me." Madam Mandy snorted. "Well, whose fault is that?" This was how their mother-daughter dynamic had always been. Chase was used to it-and always yed peacemaker. "By the way, Waylon came to see me at the office today." Wendy said casually while drinking her soup, not looking at him. Chase looked surprised. "What for?" Wendy shook her head. "Not sure. I was in meetings after you left. Maggie said he didn''t ask for me, but once he heard I''d be tied up for hours, he just left. My guess is he probably needs help on a case." "Then you should call himter. Don''t dy if it''s important," Chase said. Whenever Waylon came up, Chase was more anxious than anyone. Madam Mandy didn''t know much about this Waylon they were talking about-just assumed he was one of Chase''s friends. Waylon did have a tough case on his hands, and he was short on experts. He wanted help from Fiona-after all, a top-level hacker like her was rarely avable. After dinner, they didn''t rush home. Since the estate had rooms ready, they nned to stay the night. Wendy and Madam Mandy went to the study to discuss business. Chase showered and settled in the living room, flipping through the hospital group chat. Mostly gossip from nurses-nothing worth reading. He scrolled for a bit, then put the phone down. Peony brought over a ss of milk. 943 PM . Chapter 45 No Room for Henry 3 Finishes The butler had briefed her earlier that Chase and Wendy were technically divorced-but clearly on their way back together. Chase should be treated with full respect. Chase gave her a warm smile. "Thank you." Peony blushed and quickly turned to leave. In the study, Madam Mandy got to the point. "So, what''s the story with you two? If u really like Chase, then stop letting Henry hang around. All those recent messes were stirred up by him. I''ll never let that man through the Quinn family''s front door." She was still the head of the family-and made that very clear. Wendy leaned back in the cushy chair, eyes closed, and gave a quiet "Mm." "I hear you''re nning to work with the Harrison family. Shareholders have beenining to me, saying you''re using thepany for personal favors." That got Wendy to open her eyes and chuckle at her mom. As expected, Madam Mandy followed up with, "I know you wouldn''t do that. You wouldn''t let feelings interfere with business. Even if you handed Henry a car or a house, you''d never usepany assets to help him." Wendy leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk and her chin on one hand. "See: Only a real mom understands me. Those shareholders just want to stir up drama-like gossiping. aunties." Madam Mandy tapped her fingers on the table. "So, tell me do you still like Henry? I told you back then, he''s not a good man. You didn''t listen. Took the long way around and dragged Chase through the mud with you." Wendy didn''t like the sound of that. Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean, dragged through the mud?" "Am I wrong?" Thinking about all the pressure Chase must have been under, and everything Henry had done sinceing back, Wendy swallowed whatever rebuttal she was going to make. All she could say, almost sheepishly, was, "I''ll treat him well." "You better." That night at the estate, the two of them were well-behaved. Nothing happened. Still, Chase found their rtionship to be... strange. Chapter 45 No Room for Henry And almost all of it was initiated by Wendy. Back then, she was always tired, workingte, usually sleeping in another room. Now, they were sharing a bed again-and Wendy even chatted with him about work. That would''ve been unthinkable before. Finur Since Waylon couldn''t reach Wendy through Chase, he had no choice but to stop by the office again. The second time, he finally caught her. "Waylon, you could''ve just called me," Wendy said politely, waving Sammy off to make coffee. "You could''ve found my contact info easily." He raised his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. "Didn''t feel right. If I need a favor, it should be official. Besides... I''d rather Chase not know. I figure you feel the same." Wendy nodded. "Of course." In that case, there was no choice but to show up in person. Sammy came back with the coffee and was about to leave again when Wendy stopped her. "Get in touch with Fiona. Tell her Waylon needs her help. If Waylon''s asking, she can''t say no Send Gifts Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Not That Simple "Yes, ma''am." Funsled Waylon felt uneasy. Fiona was the real deal-highly capable, but people like her tended to have strange tempers. He couldn''t imagine how Wendy had managed to recruit her in the first ce, let alone control her. "If you ever need anything again, Waylon, just call me directly. We''re getting close to year-end- it''s only going to get busier around here." Sammy came back, standing at the door without stepping in. "Madam Wendy, I''ve contacted Fiona. She said she''s avable anytime. Also, Mr. Henry is here. He brought Franklin and is waiting in the lounge." At the mention of Henry, Wendy instinctively nced at Waylon. Sure enough, Waylon frowned, his gaze growing more probing. He didn''t say anything in front of Sammy. "Got it." After the office door closed again, Waylon spoke, his tone still irritated. "You and Henry..." "It''s just business." Wendy actually took the time to exin. No way was she letting this cause unnecessary drama-Waylon was close to Chase, and if she wanted to patch things up with Chase, Waylon''s opinion mattered. Besides, she expected to see Waylon more often in the future. No need to let Henry sour things. She knew exactly which side weighed more. Still, the tension in Waylon''s brow didn''t ease. Clearly, he was worried about his hopeless younger brother. Waylon had already said a lot to Chase-whether Chase had really listened was another story. "You know how Chase is. You two are divorced now. If you take even one step back, he''ll walk away without a second thought. I''m not going to vouch for you." Wendy smiled. "That won''t do. I still need your help, Waylon. What I''m doing aligns with what you want. If I can help you, then I hope you''ll help me too-with my rtionship." Waylon didn''t answer. This woman... she really didn''t miss a beat. He couldn''t win an argument with a businessperson. Defeated, he left. As he passed the lounge on the same floor, he noticed the door was open. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Henry sitting beside a good-looking man. Must''ve been the artist his assistant had mentioned. Waylon didn''t follow entertainment news, so he didn''t recognize him. 50:43 PM & C Chapter 46 Not That Simple top-tier. Lemon would probably know better. Just before the elevator closed, he snapped a quick photo and sent it to Lemon. Lemon was puzzled. Waylon: "Who is this?" Lemon zoomed in, stared at the blurry shot, and finally responded: Finished Lemon: I think that''s Franklin, signed with the Harrison family. He''s beenpeting for roles. with Avery. What, did you poach him? Don''t dump him on me!" Waylon: Shut up." Halfway across the world in a conference room, Lemon stared at those two words and blinked, unsure what his older brother meant. Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Chase had grown more confident. Even if he couldn''t study abroad, this life wasn''t bad. But he also knew he had his limits-and as a doctor, there was not room for mistakes. If he wanted to improve, going abroad was a must. nc kept sneaking into his office to rest. "Hey, that clingy ex is back again." It was lunchtime. Wendy hadn''t replied to his texts-probably caught in a lunch meeting. Chase. didn''t want to interrupt, so he followed nc to the cafeteria. ne shoved his phone in Chase''s face. "Seriously, what''s with this guy? Is being a side piece really that rewarding?" He didn''t hold back at all. Since they got back from Townsville. nc had hounded Chase for the full story- every detail. Chase had told him everything: the marriage, the divorce, Henry being the ex who came back from abroad. So whenever nc said "side piece," there was only one person he could mean- Henry. Chase reached out, grabbed nc''s wrist, and pushed the phone away with augh. Entertainment news. A photo showed Wendy and Henry walking out of Quinn Group together, chatting andughing as they got into a car. Judging by the time, they were probably having lunch together. Chapter 46 Not That Simple Chase picked up his phone and checked again-still no reply. Of course she wouldn''t text her ex-husband while sitting next to her first love. "Look, I''m telling you, the way she rushed in to save you? That was not the reaction of someone who doesn''t care," nc said, mouth full of bok choy as he scrolled. "She''s totally still into you" "If she''s into me, then what''s with all this bonding time with Henry?" Chase askerl. "Pfft. That''s just for show. Come on-Henry''s just a memory, a mistake. Everyone has one. Look at this photo! They''re walking shoulder to shoulder, but look how much space there is between them. If she really liked him, wouldn''t she be holding his arm?" Could that be true? Chase pulled up the photo himself and took a look. There was quite a bit of distance between them. Then he thought about how affectionate Wendy had beentely-especially every night-and his ears turned a little red. "What''s with that look?" nc squinted at him. "What''s going on in that brain of yours?" Send Gifts Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Hidden Scars. Chase pushed the phone away from nc. #Finisiled "Finish your food. Isn''t your mentor taking you into surgery this afternoon? Save some time to review the case." While they were chatting, both of their phones buzzed several times at once. At the same time, the hospital''s emergency broadcast red overhead. It was a Code Blue. Chase and nc exchanged a nce, dropped their utensils, and bolted toward the OR. They didn''t expect the patient to be a child. And the closer they got, the more familiar the child looked. One nce at the bloodied leg and unconscious face, and Chase froze-was that Joy? Henry''s daughter? But the woman who brought her in wasn''t Wendy. "Car ident victim! Get imaging ready, stat!" A team rushed the girl into the radiology room for scans, while others began locating the primary wound site based on visible bleeding. The woman who had brought the child stood nervously in the hallway. A nurse came out and asked, "Does the child have any history of allergies?" The woman looked panicked, eyes darting as if she were trying to avoid someone. She paused, then shook her head. "No. She''s lived abroad since birth. She just came back this year. No allergies." The nurse made a note and followed up, "Any drug allergies?" This time, the woman looked genuinely unsure. The nurse frowned. "We''ve located the source of bleeding, but we need to operate immediately. If you don''t know her drug allergies, we''ll have to do a series of skin tests, and that will waste time. Is the family aware?" The woman hesitated, stammering. The nurse grew suspicious. "And who are you to the child?" This time, the woman raised her voice. "I''m her mother. Her biological mother." "A real mother wouldn''t be clueless about her child''s medical history. Anyone else at home? If you can''t answer clearly, I''m calling the police." The nurse pulled out her phone, ready to dial. Chase, watching through the observation window, saw the whole scene. So this some load''s historical mother Chapter 47 Hidden Scars Finisies Ever since Henry brought Joy back, no one had mentioned this woman. Joy always called Wendy Prettydy and didn''t seem to remember her real mom at all. After some thought, Chase picked up his phone and called Wendy. Whatever beef he had with Henry, this was about a kid-and that was different. "Wendy." As soon as the line connected, Chase kept his eyes on the woman. Something about her seemed off. Shifty. Guilty, even. "What''s up? Miss me already?" Wendy sounded rxed. One of her most difficult projects had. finally made real progress. She was nning to take a few days off to spend with Chase. Maybe once she got back, they''d even remarry. But after what Chase said next, her smile faded. Her entire expression turned serious. "You said Joy was brought in by a woman? What did she look like?" The woman had deep-set features, looked possibly mixed race, and spoke fluent English. Other than not knowing much about her daughter, there was nothing overtly suspicious. "Wait for me. I''ming right now." Before Chase could even exin that Joy''s injuries weren''t too serious, Wendy had already hung 1. up. Chase chuckled bitterly at his own bleeding heart. That woman was technically his rival in love, but here he was calling his ex-wife to report it. From the sound of it, Wendy was panicked. She''d hung up before he could say Joy was stable. She really cares. He found himself wondering-if he and Wendy had a child, would she react the same way? Back when they got married, Wendy had made it clear: it was a contractual marriage. No kids. And to protect Wendy''s image, Chase even had to say publicly that he didn''t want children. As a result, many people assumed Chase was infertile. Wendy quickly contacted Sammy and rushed to the hospital. "How did Joy end up with Shanelle?" Joy''s biological mother''s original name was Shanelle. Her family had immigrated overseas, and she seemed to have changed her name after that. "No idea. Where''s Fiona? She didn''t say anything about Joy being out?" Wendy asked. They were in such a hurry, they didn''t even bring a driver. Sammy drove while Wendy sat in the back. Chapter 47 Hidden Scars two hours ago, a woman picked Joy up. Joy said she knew her." "And Fiona just let her go? Didn''t even confirm with Henry?" "She did. Henry said it was fine." So Henry was in contact with Shanelle. Her absence at Joy''s birthday party must have been part of some deal. Wendy said, "This time, we''re bringing that woman in. Waylon''s still looking for people too." The Moses case was tied to the Hudd family-and the Hudd family was at the root of it all. Waylon hadn''t been able to catch them overseas, and suspected someone had helped them escape. That''s why he came back. "You know, your ident years ago-it wasn''t a coincidence. Back then, Moses was at the peak of his power. You were standing in his way, so they tried to take you out to pressure Madam Mandy. But your husband showed up and saved you. That''s why Henry was suddenly shipped overseas. That''s right. It wasn''t until Wendy took over Quinn Group that she began to uncover the massive secret her mother had left buried. Send Gifts Chapter 48 Chapter 48 The One Line You Can''t Cross Finished For years, a shadowy force had been hindering the Quinn family''s growth. At first, Wendy didn''t suspect the Harrison family-but it always seemed that, by coincidence or not, the Harrison family was present every time something went wrong.. Then came the revtion: Moses''s downfall overseas, the Hudd family''s marriage alliance with the Harrison family to preserve Moses, and finally, the Harrison family absorbing Moses''s subsidiary before Waylon''s sweep shut it all down. Wendy had long suspected that her car ident wasn''t just an ident. She was always a careful driver. Even if they had eloped and run away from home, it shouldn''t have resulted in something that serious. "Once we find Shanelle, everything will be clear." From the rearview mirror, Sammy nced at Wendy. After some hesitation, she spoke. "You''re angry about this because it involves Mr. Chase, right? I''ve always kept a cold front with him because I was worried the people behind all this would figure out how much I cared. I was scared they''d go after him. Butst year.." Last year, something did happen to Chase. He''d been targeted even while staying safely at home. At the time, Chase had been making soup for Wendy. Somehow, he fell asleep on the couch. By the time Wendy rushed home with her team, he had already lost consciousness. The in the kitchen had been left on. The house was filled with carbon monoxide. Chase had gas passed out and the door couldn''t be forced open, because one spark could''ve blown everything 1. up. Wendy had been overseas. By her original itinerary, she wasn''t due back until the next day. But she''d wanted to surprise Chase, so she changed her flightst minute. When shended and couldn''t reach him, she knew something was wrong. Using the door code, she got in and saved him. If she hadn''te back early, she would''ve returned to find Chase dead. Someone hadid hands on Chase-and that was a line Wendy could never allow crossed. She could handle all kinds of corporate warfare. She was a businesswoman and had pulled her own underhanded tricks. But she never yed with lives. Touch her reverse scale, and she would strike back.. From that day on, Wendy had grown colder toward Chase. If Chase were observant and smart enough, he might''ve figured it out. Sammy continued, "Later, we found traces of sedatives in his tea. You and Chase were on great 9:43 PM c d Chapter 48 The One Line You Can''t Cross Finisnec Even now, the memory made Wendy''s blood run cold. If she hadn''t changed her flight, would. Chase already be dead? And if someone had broken in violently, she might not have even seen his body. Later, she asked Chase if he had ever taken any sleeping pills. He said no. The only pills in the house were Wendy''s-and he had never touched them. Someone had drugged Chase''s tea, waiting for him toe home and drink it. That person knew the door code. She''d gone over it again and again. The only ones who knew that code were her mother, Sammy... and Henry. Back then, Wendy hadn''t been this suspicious of Henry. She couldn''t believe it. But as the investigation progressed, she learned just how colorful Henry''s life abroad had been- nothing like the miserable story he''d told.. After marrying Shanelle, Henry essentially ran all her business dealings. Moses''spany, on paper, belonged to someone else-but Henry was the real boss. And someone like him? Taking a life wouldn''t be hard. "Don''t worry too much," Sammy said. "Henry''s here in the country now, right under your nose. It''d be harder for him to touch Mr. Chase. And since you''re divorced, you''re not really an obstacle to his ns anymore. He probably won''t make a move." Wendy leaned her head into her palm and sighed. "Can''t say for sure. I won''t let Chase leave my side. That alone might make Henry see him as a threat. Otherwise, why stab himself and frame Chase? Ste was the only idiot who couldn''t see through that. By the way, how is Ste doing overseas?" "The branch office says she''s been going to ss, behaving. When she''s not at school, she''s out shopping. As per your orders, we haven''t cut off her spending." Wendy sighed. Ste was still her sister. She couldn''t bring herself to go too far. "Keep an eye on her. Don''t let her contact Henry again. I saw it back then-Ste always had a thing for him. I just didn''t think, after all these years, she still hadn''t moved on." They reached the hospital. Wendy rushed to the OR looking genuinely worried. The head nurse recognized her immediately-one of the hospital''s key investors- and hurried over to update her on Joy''s condition. The injuries weren''t severe, but Joy was small. She''d need proper rest and recovery. She was currently undergoing stitches and wouldn''t be out for another half hour. 23 Chapter 48 The One Line You Can''t Cross From the way she asked, the head nurse assumed she was here to catch someone cheating. She pointed toward a woman waiting anxiously outside the OR. "That''s her. Looks like a foreigner. Said she''s the child''s birth mother. But she didn''t know anything useful. We were about to call the police." Wendy raised a hand to stop her. She studied the woman carefully, recognizing her from the photos. "She really is Joy''s biological mother. She just doesn''t know much because she''s been out of the picture for years. You can go." "Yes, ma''am." Wendy whispered a few words to Sammy, who headed toward the observation room, while Wendy approached the woman. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 The One Who Ran Finished Shanelle sensed someone near and looked up-only to see Wendy. A sh of disgust crossed her face before she quickly turned away, pretending not to recognize her. "Shanelle. You know who I am, don''t you?" Wendy began calmly. "I don''t know you," Shanelle said with a forced air of confusion. "Who are you?" Wendy smiled and didn''t rush. She sat down beside her. "Shanelle. Former board chair of Zhaohua Group. Dered bankruptcy two years ago. Henry''s ex-wife, Joy''s biological mother. Eric''s-" "What do you want from me?" The moment Wendy mentioned Eric, Shanelle''s entire demeanor changed. Wendy shushed her, pointing discreetly at a few people nearby who were pretending to be busy but were clearly watching them. There was a subtle edge in her tone, like a hunter with her prey already cornered. "Keep your voice down," Wendy said, not even looking at her. "You''ve been sneaking around since. you came back. You really thought no one knew you were staying at the Cloud Hotel?" "What do you want?" Shanelle clenched her jaw, "Henry and I are already divorced. Everything belongs to him now. If you''ve got a problem, talk to him. I only came back to see my daughter. Why are you alling after me?" "You only came to see your daughter?" Wendy''s gaze flicked toward the OR, where the surgical light was still on. Her voice dropped. "Then why do you have leverage on Henry? That evidence- you''re still holding onto it, aren''t you?" Shanelle''s face paled. She couldn''t find a way to respond. Wendy turned and smiled faintly. "Why else would you be the only one who survived after your family''s bankruptcy? Your parents are both dead. But not you. Because you ran-with Henry''s evidence. Shanelle, you''re a lot smarter than your parents ever were." News of her parents'' deaths had never made it back to China. If people knew that Henry married a woman whose family was destroyed, his reputation would be in shambles. And sitting across from her now was the woman Henry had pined over for five years. He didn''t just want Wendy-he wanted Quinn Group, too. Shanelle had assumed Wendy would end up just like her. But now, it was clear. Wendy was not someone easily defeated. In the observation room, Sammy had no trouble finding Chase. Chapter 49 The Die Who Itan the patient was Joy-and he wanted to make sure she was okay "Mr. Chase," Sammy said behind him. Chase paused and turned around to find her standing by the chair, formal as always, hands folded He stood and walked with her toward the stall locker room. "What are you doing here?" Chase asked. "Madam Wendy asked me to tell you-don''t go back out there yet. You should keep your distance from that woman." Chase let out a tired sigh. He really didn''t want to be involved. "I know. If she says she''s Joy''s biological mom, then she must be Henry''s ex-wife. Has nothing to do with me." Sammy raised a brow at his misunderstanding and couldn''t help but say, "Madam Wendy is trying to protect you." Over the course of five years, aside from the first year when Wendy was distant, Chase had always been protected-whether he realized it or not. Wendy had stopped him from working outside because she was worried that people might use his job to hurt him. The incident with the deceased patient''s family was proof enough. Chase frowned. "Protect me?" Sammy realized she''d said too much. Still, she straightened her posture and continued, "Anyone connected to Mr. Henry-Mr. Chase should stay away from. Also, Madam Wendy won''t be home for dinner tonight." "Got it." Sammy left after quickly checking in on Joy''s condition, but not before giving Chase aplicated look. Left alone in the locker room, Chase sat quietly, dazed. He didn''t understand the business world. He didn''t realize that Wendy''s coldness had been a form of protection. He only knew that her rtionship with Henry wasn''t as simple as it seemed, For so long, he''d been trapped in his own assumptions. It was only recently that he''d begun to see things clearly. If Wendy didn''t love Henry... then she had to have a reason for everything she did. Chase couldn''t figure it out yet-but he decided not to overthink it. Chapter 4 The One Who Han The surgery didn''t take long. The doctor came out and said it had gone well. Joy would need a few days of recovery and should be closely monitored. "When she wakes up, she''ll be in pain and probably cry a lot. You can give her painkillers, but keep the crying under control-it''ll affect the healing. Make sure someone''s watching her," the singeon said. He didn''t know Wendy or that she was one of the hospital''s investors. He simply delivered the post op instructions and leht. But the nurses? They recognized Wendy-and couldn''t help watching her curiously. "Sammy, bring in a caregiver and move Joy to a private room," Wendy ordered. "Yes, ma''am," Joy was still asleep. This wasn''t the time to say too much. With Henry not yet arrived, Wendy took Shanelle downstairs to the cafe for a quiet conversation. Send Gifts Chapter 50 Chapter 50 The Bait "What do you want to know?" Shanelle asked bluntly. Finished Wendy took a sip of her lemon water, gazing out the window at the worried families pacing back and forth outside the ER. She suddenly remembered the day Chase was trapped at home-the panic, the helplessness, the silent prayers she whispered outside the OR door as he was wheeled in. That whole nightmare had a root cause. And it probably wasn''t this woman sitting across from her. Shanelle wasn''t that ruthless. If she were, Henry never would''ve had the life he had now, "I just want to make sure you''re safe," Wendy said. Shanelle raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You want to protect me? Spare me. Weren''t you Henry''s first love? He''s been hung up on you for years. Even having a kid didn''t change that. Now you two are finally back together-what does any of this have to do with me?" Another Chase, Wendy thought. Another poor soul kept in the dark. "You''re not safe around Henry. Right now, he''s cooperating because you''re holding evidence over his head. But once he gains full footing with the Harrison family, that evidence will be your death sentence. Shanelle, I''m telling you-work with me. Waylon invited Chase out for dinner. Lemon had just returned, so she joined too. Since Wendy wasn''t going to be home that night, Chase agreed. "Chase!" Lemon gave him a quick hug. "Long time no see! You''re looking better than before. My brother said you were totally falling apart." Waylon smacked her on the head. Lemon let out a dramatic "Ow!" and scurried to sit down. They were eating Western cuisine, Waylon''s favorite. Chase wasn''t picky. "What''s with you tonight?" Waylon asked, sizing him up. "You look like something''s weighing on you." Chase hesitated for a second before saying, "Joy was brought into the ER today. The person who brought her... was Shanelle." Waulon straightened in his cast. "You mean Henry''s ev-wife?" 9:43 PM & The Batt Chapter 50 The Bait "Probably, I''ve never met her. But she looked mixed. I saw the signature on the surgical form-it said Shanelle." Waylon''s eyes narrowed. His tone darkened. "So she really is back. I''ve been trying to track her down. Why didn''t you say something sooner?" "I didn''t know she was someone you were after," Chase replied, helpless. "But Wendy saw her. Said she wouldn''t be home tonight. You and Wendy on the same side or something?" "You could say that." Waylon said, sipping tea. He had to workte and wasn''t drinking. "Someone''s targeting Quinn Group," Waylon continued. "And the mastermind behind it all happens to be the same person I''ve been hunting for years. So yeah, shared goal." That exined it. Wendy had poured everything into Quinn Group. Even the shareholders couldn''t take her down. And yet, someone was still trying toe after her. "You''re toote," Chase said, almost smug. "Wendy''s already got her. You probably won''t find her. now." Waylon gave him a look. "Whose side are you on? "I''m neutral." Lemon quickly jumped in. "Chase, I heard you and Wendy have been fighting ever since Henry came back. Even got divorced? That''s crazy. Henry won''tst. The Harrison family''s on our radar too." Neither sibling wanted to say too much-but they wanted to reassure him. Chase smiled. "Rx. I''m not that fragile anymore. Yeah, the marriage is over. But I haven''t left because I''m not done yet. I''m not about to let someone I love get taken from me that easily." "You really got divorced?" Lemon was shocked. Chase nodded. "Yeah. Divorced, but not separated. It''s..plicated." No one knew exactly when Shanelle slipped out. By the time Henry got to the hospital, only Wendy was there. He went straight to Joy''s bedside, looking at his sleeping daughter with growing panic. "What happened? I thought.. I thought my friend picked Joy up. How''d she end up in a car ident?" He nced sideways at Wendy, testing the waters. "Did you see my friend?" Chapter 50. The Bait Farished "No. I only got here in time to sign the forms. The nurses were freaking out. Said someone dropped the kid off and ran. They thought it was the person who hit her. Now that you''re here, I figured I''d ask if we should call the police." "No" Henry immediately objected, clearly rattled. He reached out to stop her. "It was my friend, yeah, but I had something at work and asked her to look after joy. The ident wasn''t her fault. No need to call the cops" A few momentster, when Wendy still looked worried, Henry asked again. "You''re sure you didn''t see her?" "No. Why?" "Nothing. Just making sure." Still uneasy, Henryter slipped away to "check with the doctor and cornered a few nurses in the hallway to ask questions. But Wendy had already prepared them. All of them said the same thing: they never saw anyone, and Wendy was the one who signed the forms. Even the surgical documents had been reced with a new one. Sure enough, the signature was Wendy''s Chapter 51 Chapter 51 A Web of Lies It seemed Wendy hadn''t seen Shanelle. Finished Henry stood in the fire escape, a cigarette pinched between his fingers. The Harrison family''s situation still hadn''t stabilized. He couldn''t make a move against Shanelle yet, but he absolutely couldn''t let Shanelle show up in front of Wendy either. Otherwise, all that evidence would end up in Wendy''s hands. He wasn''t stupid. He could tell Wendy''s attitude toward him had changed. After five years, even if there were feelings left, they were mixed with self-interest. That was why Wendy had never agreed to let him endorse Quinn Group''s luxury jewelry line. Madam Mandy had also yed a role in that When he finished his cigarette, Henry stood there for a long time, letting the moke clear to make sure there was no lingering smell before heading back. Standing at the hospital room door, his hand gripped the handle for a long time before he finally made up his mind. Even if he couldn''t marry Wendy, he had to at least secure Quinn Group''s support. It seemed Madam Mandy couldn''t be allowed to stay. He pushed open the door, his face once again wearing an expression of concern, and walked toward the hospital bed.. While he was putting on his act, Wendy wasn''t idle either. She was instructing the nurse on how to take care of the child and listing all the things to watch out for. Henry walked in just in time to hear her. "Wendy, I really have to thank you. The nurse said if you hadn''te in time to sign for the surgery, the child might''ve been in real danger," Henry said, putting on a weak, helpless tone. I''m sorry to have dragged you into this. You should go back. You''ve got more important things to do." After finishing her instructions to the nurse, Wendy finally turned to look at him. "It''s nothing. There''s no way I could ignore it when something happens to the kid. Don''t worry," she said. She ended up staying until evening. Henry walked her out. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure nearby. He had actually wanted to keep Wendy around longer. Once Joy woke up and started crying, Wendy would definitely have stayed tofort her. But now that person had shown up. He couldn''t let Wendy see her. Be careful on the way back. If you''re busy tomorrow, don''t worry about visiting Joy. Work is important... No, what am I saying, you and the child are the most important," Henry said. Wendy said a few more things before getting into the car. 943 PM. Chapter 51 A Web of Lies Finishes Sammy had already gone back to thepany to deal with things. Only Wendy had stayed at the hospital. Lately, the shareholders had been unhappy about how often she left thepany. If they found out she left again today because of Henry''s kid. they''d definitely make trouble. Luckily, the recent projects had all started to move forward. Those old fossils were too busy chasing profits to keep a close eye on her. As she drove around the corner, Wendy stopped, leaning forward against the steering wheel. Just as she expected, Henry hadn''t gone back inside. A woman stepped out from behind the tall, dense greenery near the hospital entrance. It was Shanelle, still wearing the same outfit from that morning. She probably hadn''t left at all. "What are you still doing here?" Henry snapped when he saw her, dragging her into a hidden corner. "You insisted on seeing the kid, and look what happened. Joy ended up in the hospital. What kind of mother are you?" Shanelle looked guilty and said in a low voice, "Joy insisted oning to find you. You were busy today, and I didn''t want her to bother you. She pulled away from me and ran into the street. She got hit by a car. Has Joy woken up yet?" "Not yet," Henry said impatiently. "Don''te back here for a while." Shanelleughed coldly. "You don''t want me around because your first love ising to visit, right? I get it. Joy''s always going on about that Prettydy, saying I can''tpare to her. I even saw her today-your famous Quinn Group CEO. I have to admit, she really lives. rumors. But you? You''re not good enough for her anymore." Her words shredded his pride. Henry couldn''t take it. He shoved her hard. up to the "What do you mean, not good enough? We were childhood sweethearts. We were meant to be together!" Shanelle gave him a contemptuous once-over. "You? She''s the CEO of Quinn Group now. And you? What are you? Besides, Wendy''s married. You really think you can win her back?" "Get back to the hotel and stay there, Henry snapped, unable to listen anymore. Before she left, Shanelle pointed at him and said, "Don''t forget what you promised me. I''ll be waiting at the hotel." Then she walked away. From murderous look in Henry''s eyes when he stared at Shanelle. r spot at the corner, Wendy had watcheShanell She hadn''t missed the malicious, Clearly, Henry had been wanting to get rid of Shanelle for a long time-he just hadn''t had the opportunity yet.. 9:43 PM c C Chapter 51 A Web of Lies Finis lec He was surrounded on all sides. No wonder he was so desperate to secure a partnership with Quinn Group. Even getting their lower-end jewelry line to Franklin would be a victory. In the entertainment industry, lowering yourself like that wasn''t something many dared to do. Wendy started her car and pulled onto the main road, following after Shanelle. "Just stay quietly in the hotel. I''ll take care of the rest," Wendy said, eyes on the road ahead.pletely unmoved by Shanelle''s anger. Shanelle turned to nce at Wendy. The woman was stunningly beautiful. It was no wonder so many men fell for her. Shanelle still remembered that when she married Henry, she had loved him for a while, thinking that a marriage with at least a little affection would be a good thing. Send Gifts Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Secrets Revealed Finished Later, Shanelle found out that Henry was good at pretending. All the tenderness and care had been to get shares of thepany, to push her out of the picture. But Henry had always kept someone in his heart. His first love, Wendy. After learning about this, Shanelle had searched online for news about Wendy and found that she had married Chase in a sh marriage. From the videos and photos, Wendy was the kind of beauty that looked perfect from every angle. How could anyone not be moved by a woman like that? "I''m warning you, don''t get too close to Henry. You''ll end up finding nothing, and he''ll turn around and bite you instead. I''m a living example," Shanelle said. Wendy scoffed. "I''m not as stupid as you." Shanelle was angry, but it was useless. She had been stupid-stupid enough to lose herpany and her parents'' lives. Before getting out of the car, Shanelle stood outside the passenger side door, leaning down to look at Wendy. "Don''t forget what you promised me-you said you''d help me get revenge for my parents. Wendy raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Revenge is your business. I''m just giving you a chance. Whether you can grab it is up to you." "I''m going to make Henry pay!" When Wendy got home, Chase wasn''t there. She was a little annoyed. Sure, she''d said she wouldn''t be home for dinner, but did he really have to stay out sote? On the other side of the city, Chase had been having dinner with Waylon for a long time. Chase didn''t want to be the kind of man who lived in the dark. Earlier, Sammy had said that Wendy had always been protecting him. But he was a man-how could he let a woman shield. him? He wanted to know everything. He wanted to help Wendy. After a long time, Waylon finally told him about the disputes between Quinn Group and the Harrison family. "It''s not just about these recent things," Waylon said. "Their problems go back to the previous generation. Chapter 52 tiectets Revealed nced ar Chase through it and said, "Do you know why Madam Mandy never approved of them being together?" Chase shook his head Lemon closed herpact mirror and said lightly. "Because Wendy''s father''s death... is connected to the Harrison family" "What?" Chase was stunned. His hand clenched on the table, "In the industry, it''s still a secret, I only found out through my brother." Wendy''s father had died when she was six or seven. The police ruled it an ident, but Wendy''s. mother had never epted it. Back then, Quinn Group and the Harrison family were open rivals, fighting over business and clients, with no mercy whatsoever. There had even been bloodshed. "No one knows exactly what happened anymore. But you just need to remember; as long as Madam Mandy is alive, she''ll never allow Henry and Wendy to be together." In a sh, an image of Henry''s sinister face appeared in Chase''s mind. Knowing Henry''s character, he wouldn''t want anyone standing in his way. He might even try to harm Madam Mandy. Suddenly, Chase grabbed his phone and rushed out. "Hey, where are you going!" "Home!" Waylon and Lemon exchanged a helpless look. "Why did you tell him so much?" Waylon sighed, putting some food on Lemon''s te. Wendy didn''t want Chase to know these things. Lemon picked at her sd, barely eating, propping her chin in her hand as she stared at the door. "Honestly, I always thought Chase was a great guy. Wendy just got to him first. Since she did, she better treat him well. Waylon nearly spat out his water in shock. "You... you like Chase?" Lemon rolled her eyes. She didn''t know if her brother was smart or just in dense. Back when they had been neighbors, she had constantly run over to Chase''s house. Did he really think it was Chapter 52 Secrets Revealed If he couldn''t figure that out, he probably wasn''t getting a girlfriend anytime soon. Forget it. Anyway, I agree with Chase. He''s a man. It''s not right for him to hide behind a woman. Wendy kept the truth from him to protect him, but honestly, letting him know is the real way to protect him." Wendy had just gotten home and was working in the study when she heard the beep of the door unlocking. A momentter, Chase blew into the house like a gust of wind. He didn''t even change his clothes-he just burst straight into the study. "You''re back," Wendy said, typing away on her keyboard, not even looking up. Chase strode over and hugged her from behind. Wendy''s hands paused. "What''s gotten into you?" she asked with a softugh, turning around to hold his hand. Her smile was warm as she tilted her head back to look at his jaw, brushing it lightly with her fingers. "Missed me? Or are you mad you didn''t see me at the hospital today?" Chase shook his head, resting his chin on top of Wendy''s head, messing up her hair. Wendyughed and pushed him away. "Stop it. I have a meeting soon." "I missed you," Chase said. In the past, every time he tried to say something emotional, Wendy would brush it off. He used to think she didn''t need his love. But after what Lemon had said tonight, he realized Wendy''s protection had started long before he even knew it. Send Gifts Chapter 53 Chapter 53 No More Hiding Finished It seemed like after that time Wendy had been drugged at home, she had deliberately distanced herself from Chase, even starting to sleep in separate rooms.. The grudges between the Quinn and Harrison families had begun with the previous generation, and now they had reached a point where they could never be resolved. Even without Wendy and Henry, the two families would have remained bitter enemies. Since that was the case, Chase could only find a way to make Wendy feel at ease. "Thank you for protecting me." Chase said softly, almost like he was acting spoiled. Wendy''s body stiffened. She instinctively felt Chase might have learned something. She looked at him suspiciously. "Who did you have dinner with tonight?" "Waylon." She had figured. Chase didn''t have many friends. That nc he''d met at the hospital in Townsville barely counted as a colleague. If there was anyone he could call a real friend, it was only Waylon. A chime sounded from herputer. It was Sammy reminding her about the meeting. Chase let go of her, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head lightly. I''ll go shower and change. I''ll make you some milk too, "Okay." Theputer screen lit up. Sammy appeared in pajamas. Since it was an internal meeting, no one cared about appearances. Zynn and a young man ?ame online too-the man looked so much like Zynn he could have been her male version. Another screen stayed dark-it was Fiona''s. "Madam Wendy. I''m sorry about losing the targetst time. I won''t let it happen again. I''ll stick to Shanelle like glue," Dawn said after unmuting. Wendy raised her hand to cut him off. "With Henry helping her, it''s easy to slip away from you. Stay sharp. Henry''s level has clearly gone up after all these years abroad." Zynn chuckled. "See? I told you. If you just call her ''Wendy'' instead of ''Madam Wendy,'' she immediately forgives you. She likes cute boys." Everyoneughed. Meetings like these weren''t formal, and they knew Wendy''s personality well enough to joke around. Dawn stayed silent. Sammy unmuted. Shanelle''s moved to another hotel. Henry visits every three or four days. Shanelle''s still very cautious-she doesn''t use anything Henry brings and throws it all away." Chapter 53 No More Hudding had to sneak out herself to throw things away. Staving cautious is a good thing." Finished As for Eric Hospital''s domestic headquarters, we haven''t found out the official name yet. Harrison family''s parents have been at headquarters these past two years. We haven''t heard anything about them visiting otherpanies. But there''s something to watch out for-Larry. I suspect he''s nning to move against Henry." Henry had just returned to the Harrison family, Larry''s position was already shaky, and he was desperate to get rid of Henry "Then we''ll wait and see. Henry won''t go down without a fight. Chase came in carrying the bird''s nest. The meeting wasn''t over yet. Suddenly, the silent Fiona finally unmuted. Joy''s been hos these days, and I''ve been running meals back and forth. Now Waylon''s calling me for help too. What am 1. some kind of clone? Can''t you people think about how tired I am Fiona started ranting the moment her mic came on. Chase hesitated at the door, unsure if he should walk in. Wendy spotted him, smiled, and waved him over, patting the seat beside her. Everyone caught a glimpse of the man''s coat and immediately greeted him politely. Chase wasn''t used to being treated like this and awkwardly greeted them back. Wendy didn''t mind him being there at all. She casually spooned up some bird''s nest and ate while praising Chase''s cooking skills. The others looked on enviously. "Man, having a family really is different. Here we are working overtime and eating instant noodles, while she''s got bird''s nest made for her." Zynn joked. Chase didn''t really know Zynn. At thepany, he usually only met the people from the secretary department. As for the young man, he didn''t recognize him at all. But Dawn immediately recognized Chase-the ex-husband Madam Wendy had caught at the airport. Dawn wisely kept his mouth shut. "That''s it for now," Wendy said. "Fiona, go help Waylon. We can''t let real business fall behind. Henry won''t bother you for now. I''ll arrange for Joy to stay in the hospital a few more days so you don''t have any trouble." Chapter 53 No More Hiding Hearing Waylon''s name, Chase tilted his head slightly While the meeting wrapped up, Wendy sat casually with one leg propped up on the chair, eating the bird''s nest. She fed Chase a spoonful too. "What are you thinking about? What did you talk about with Waylon today?" "You" Chase didn''t hide it. "Waylou said you''re amazing, Lemon said you''ve been protecting me. I don''t know who to believe." Wendy''s hand froze. She turned to look at Chase. He was smiling warmly, clearly waiting for her to exin. Wendy felt a twinge of frustration. She had known Waylon couldn''t keep a secret. She should never have told him. Setting down the bowl, Wendy said, "There are some things I didn''t want to tell you. It''s just disgusting business stuff. It has nothing to do with you." "Of course it does, Chase said, holding her hand firmly. "I''m your man. Anything rted to you is rted to me. Send Gifto 20 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 No More Secrets The room was filled with a faint scent. It was hard to tell where it came from, but after sniffing carefully, it seemed like it was from Wendy''s body-the scent of her body wash. Chase had never really paid attention to things like that before, buttely, with his rtionship with Wendy improving and sharing a bed every night, even their scents had started to blend together. This was the kind of love he had once begged for and couldn''t get. Now it was right in front of him, and he couldn''t help but fall deeper. Hearing his words. Wendyughed. She pulled away from Chase''s hand and pinched his check. "Now you know you''re my man? Wasn''t it you who wanted to divorce me? Didn''t you say back in Townsville that we were already divorced and it didn''t matter anymore?" "That was just me being mad," Chase quickly apologized. Wendy had always been someone who held grudges. In the business world, no one dared cross her. Only at home would Wendy show a bit of her temper to Chase. Wendy gave a small huff and didn''t know where to begin. "You already know about me and Henry back then. It was just a rtionship, nothing serious. If my mom hadn''t been so against it, I probably wouldn''t have gotten so rebellious. Part of the reason I kept getting tangled up with Henry was because of that." Wendy''s expression; serious as she spoke about her father''s death. It was a knot in her mother''s heart-and hers too. "Lemon mentioned a rumor in the business world that your father''s death was connected to the Harrison family. Is it true? Chase asked. Wendy knew Lemon''s background well. The Fred family''s status in the business world was no lower than the Quinn family''s, and with Waylon''s connections, it wasn''t surprising that Lemon had found out. Wendy nodded. "It''s true. My mother and I have both suspected it for years. We just never had. any proof. My dad must have known some secret that got him killed. I''m still investigating even now. That''s why I''m willing to cooperate with Waylon-if he can help me find the truth about my father''s death." This was the burden Wendy had carried alone for years. Chase had never known. Seeing her now, Chase felt a deep ache in his heart. He pulled her into his arms, "In all these five years, you never told me," Chase said. Curled in Chase''s embrace, Wendy felt the warmth of someone who shared her scent, her voice muffled like a child who could never let go of a nightmare without the truth. "It''s not that I didn''t want to tell you. I was afraid it would make you worry." 9:44 PM c c Chapter 54 No More Secrets Finishes In this way, the secrets between husband and wife were finallyid bare. Chase thought of his own mother, and suddenly, it didn''t seem like there was anything left worth holding back. "Wendy, back at the airport, when I said you didn''t understand anything- Chase''s voice caught in his throat. His eyes turned red, and he didn''t know how to begin. "I haven''t visited my mom in a long time. Will youe with me tomorrow?" Wendy nodded. "I have no secrets from you anymore. From now on, no matter where I go or what I do, I''ll tell you everything. Waylon was right-you''re not as fragile as I thought. I can''t keep shielding you forever. We''re a team. We should trust each other." The next morning, Chase got up carly and prepared a lot of things, even buying a bouquet of flowers. Wendy drove, nning to head toward Chase''s mother''s neighborhood, but Chase changed the destination to a different address. From the rearview mirror, Wendy could see the back seat was piled with things. Now that Chase had a stable job and good pay, anything he needed, he could buy himself. He insisted on saving money, taking care of household expenses on his own. It was all about a man''s pride. The car wound its way up the mountain and finally stopped at the gates of a cemetery. Wendy sat in the car, stunned, and said nothing even as Chase took her hand and led her out. But Chase was in a good mood. He didn''t me Wendy for not knowing his mother had passed away. Every year, he hade to visit alone. Today, finally, he had brought his wife-divorced or not with him. He was happy. He led the way to his mother''s grave. He carefully ced everything down, while Wendy held the bouquet. Chase wiped the photo on the tombstone clean and smiled. "Mom, your daughter-inw is here to see you. Aren''t you happy?" "It''s always just been me. But now you can see I didn''t do too badly after all." Wendy''s chest tightened painfully. She took several deep breaths to hold back her tears. Like Chase, she knelt down, cing the bouquet carefully in front of the grave, and looked at the kind, smiling woman in the photo. "Mom," Wendy said softly, her voice catching. It took her a long moment to steady herself. "Mom, I''m sorry I didn''te to see you sooner. That was my mistake." Now she understood what Chase had meant at the airport when he said she didn''t understand. As a daughter-inw, she hadn''t even known when her mother-inw had passed away. Every time Chase had visited, she had only handed him a card, never once apanying him. 944 PM ? ? Chapter 54 No More Secrets Finished Wendy held Chase''s hand, her voice trembling. "It was my fault. Chase has suffered a lot these past years because of me. I didn''te to see you either. But from now on, I''ll take good care of him. I''ll visit you often too." Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Pursuing the Truth Finished They stayed in front of the grave for a long time. As the weather grew colder, Chase was worried Wendy would catch a chill, so he said goodbye to his mother and brought Wendy back to the car. Once inside, Wendy couldn''t hold it back anymore. She hugged Chase tightly and burst int tears. "Why didn''t you tell me? Every time you said you were going home, you meant here?" Chase hummed softly, not showing much emotion, and gently patted Wendy''s back tofort her. "It''s okay. This is still my home. After death, dust returns to dust. As long as Mom is here, it''s home. It''s the same." "When did it happen?" Actually, not long after Chase and Wendy got married, his mother had passed away. It had nothing to do with anyone else-her health had simply declined too much, her organs aged beyond saving. So Chase had never med anyone. Without any other rtives, he had handled the entire funeral alone, and finally chose this ce. A small, lonely cemetery. It was all Chase could afford back then, paid for with his schrship money. He hadn''t used at single cent from the Quinn family. After crying for a while, Wendy sniffled and immediately called Sammy. "Boss, where are you? A whole van full of people is waiting for you at thepany for the meeting! Do you know what time it is?" Sammy started rambling the second she answered. Wendy, keeping herposure, managed to suppress all traces of her crying. "I''m at my father''s cemetery. Find the best avable spot near his grave. Get someone to pick a good date and time. I''m moving my mother-inw''s grave next to his. I''ll send you the address shortly." Hearing that, Chase tried to stop her, but Wendy didn''t give him the chance. Sammy, stunned, froze mid-scribble. She hesitated. "Madam Wendy, your mother-inw? Sir''s mother... passed away?" No one had ever mentioned it. When had this happened? Wendy confirmed softly. "I''ll exin when I get back. For now, just get it ready. It has to be the best spot, close to my father''s, easy for visitingter." "Understood. I''ll get on it right away. Thepany meeting?" 944PM Chapter 55 Pursuing the Truth "I''m heading back now." Today was Chase''s day off-he didn''t have to go to the hospital. But for Wendyf it was still a workday. On the way back, Chase tried to persuade Wendy. She''s already passed. Where she a buried doesn''t matter. As long as there''s love, it''s enough." But Wendy didn''t agree, "My mother-inw deserves the best. It was my mistake not to know before. From now on enemy holiday. I''ll apany you to visit her." What Chase really cared about was Wendy''s attitude. He hadn''t expected her no change anything, Seeing that he couldn''t talk her out of it, Chase said nothing more. The just sent Sammy mother''s birthdate as Wendy had asked. Sammy responded with condolences It waste-many years toote. But for those still living, it was better than never Chase thought about what Wendy had said earlier at the cemetery-that she wouldn''t let him face everything alone anymore-and a quiet smile spread across his face. After so many years, he had finally gotten everything he had ever hoped for Wendy drove straight to thepany. Chase originally wanted to take a cab home, but Wendy clutched his hand tightly and refused to let go, pulling him along upstairs. When she tried to bring him into the meeting room, Chase hesitated. "Is this really okay? You''re having a meeting. Why should I be there?" "It''s about you today." "About me?" When Wendy pushed open the meeting room door, Chase saw not only Sammy and Zynn, two familiar faces, but also Waylon and one of his colleagues. The young man beside Waylon stood up to greet them, but Waylon stayed seated. "We''ve been waiting a while," Waylon said. "Sorry." Wendy said. "We went to visit my mother-inw today. We''re a littlete." Waylon nced at her. Even he knew Chase''s mother had passed away. Visiting a mother-inw meant paying respects to the dead. He said nothing about it. "I still have people waiting at the office, Waylon said. "Today you said you want to investigate the Chapter 55 Pursuing the Truth Chase sat beside Wendy, feeling a bit uneasy. Finished Back then, he had nearly died of gas poisoning at home. Later, they found out someone had put sleeping pills in his tea. Chase had never figured out when he had drunk it. Wendy hadn''t pushed the investigation at the time-she had just grown colder toward him. And now, after two or three years, she wanted to dig it up again. "Yes. I suspect the Harrison family is involved. If possible, please open a joint investigation," Wendy said. Waylon twirled a pen in his fingers but didn''tment. Sammy quickly exined the situation. Back when it had happened, Waylon had been working out of town and wasn''t familiar with the details here. But he and Chase had always stayed in touch. When Chase said he was sick, Waylon hadn''t thought much of it. Only now did he realize-Chase had escaped death by a hair''s breadth. If Wendy hadn''t changed her flight and returned early, Chase might have ended up as nothing more than a handful of ashes. Send Gifts Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Husband and Wife Joining Forces "I understand the situation, Waylon said, "but it''s been so many years. If you want to open a joint investigation, you''ll need solid evidence Otherwise, I can''t establish a task force." Sammmmy had already gathered a lot of information, not just on Chase''s case but also on Wendy''s father''s case. Waylon and his colleague took the documents and flipped through them for a long time. Finally, Waylon looked up at Wendy "You''ve dug up quite a lot. Your evidence matches what we have on our side. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you''ll never lose. As for my rtionship with Henry, let''s not even get into that. Quim Group and Harrison family have been rivals for years.. It I hadn''t kept some things in my pocket, the Harrison family would''ve chewed me up and spit out my bones a long time ago? Waylon handed the files back to his subordinate and waved them out of the room. "I don''t know about others, but you you''re definitely not simple. Lemon said she admires you a Wendy smiled and took a sip of coffee. Lemon''s word carries a lot of weight in the Fred family Ton. Your and Lemon have supported each other to get where you are today. I know a lot of the Fred family''s branches have tried to trip you up. Now that we''re allies, we should help each other" "What do you want to do?" "It''s time to put some pressure on the people behind the scenes" The meetingsted more than an hour. After Waylon and his people left, Wendy insisted Chase stay and work overtime with her. She wouldn''t let him go home alone. Wendy knew Chaise still carried a lot of pain. She didn''t want him to face it by himself. "Cloud Hospital''s leadership is about to have an opening. I want you to fill it," Wendy said. At lunch, Sammy had ordered private catering to the president''s office. Chase and Wendy sat across from each other. Hearing her words, Chase choked on his food. Wendy quickly set down her utensils and patted his back. Seeing Chase''s face turn red, Wendyughed. "Come on, it''s not that big a deal. You''re scared over something this small?" Chase drank some water. "It''s just... I''m just a doctor. Shouldn''t the council appoint someone. from their side?" Wendy raised an eyebrow. Tm the major investor. I control the council. If I say who fills the spot, that''s who it is. Honestly, I have my reasons for choosing you. Eric Hospital''s headquarters in the country is hidden among various hospitals. I want you to help me keep an eye on things." Chapter 56 Thusband and Wife Joining Forces cause suspicion. Lanckily, after Chase''s divorce, he started working at the hospital. With him, Wendy could invest discreetly, using Chase''s name to slowly get a foothold. If Chase held a high position in the medical field, he could help a lot. Hearing that he could help, Chase was less resistant, "But I still want to work on the frontlines," he said. Wendy smiled. "Easy. The council opening is for an honorary chairperson. It''s just a title. You can still treat patients as usual" It was a perfect solution. Chase agreed to do whatever Wendy arranged. "Actually, more importantly," Wendy said, squeezing his hand, "with you as chairperson, I can see. you whenever I want. If the council calls a meeting, even if you don''t want toe, you''ll have to." "Don''t mess around, Chase said, half amused. Talking about the hospital reminded him Henry''s daughter Joy was still hospitalized. Chase hadn''t gone to work the past few days, so he didn''t know her current condition. Originally, after Wendy left the hospital that day, she said she would visit Joy. But with everything at thepany, she hadn''t had time. "I almost forgot," Wendy said, wiping her mouth. She called Sammy in. "Go check on Joy''s condition. It she needs anything, send it over. Also, tell the council we found our honorary chairperson. Submit Chase''s name for review." Sammy nced at Chase. "Yes, Madam Wendy." This clearly showed that Wendy and Chase no longer had secrets between them. Wendy wasn''t just protecting him anymore. She was pulling him into the game with her. With husband and wife working together, things would be a lot easier. News of Chase bing honorary chairperson spread quickly at Cloud Hospital. Most people recognized his ability. Of course, there were a few jealous voices, iming Chase only got the position because of his looks or connections. Chase ignored all that. When his mentor heard he had epted the chairperson position, he called Chase in to talk. "Chase, didn''t you n to study abroad? Taking the chairperson title means you won''t be able to 944 PM C Chapter 56 Husband and Wife Joining Forces Chase nodded. "Thank you for always supporting me. I still have a lot to learn and will study abroad when the time is right. But for now, I want to help my wife." Everyone in upper management knew about Chase and Wendy''s rtionship. His mentor wasn''t surprised. Looking at Chase''s expression, his mentor sighed. "As long as you''re clear about what you''re doing. Marriage needspromise. You seem much more energetic than before. Looks like you''ve found the right bnce. I won''t say more. Just handle your work and family well." Send Gifts 20 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 New Responsibilities, Old Resentments. "Thank you for your concern, Professor, Chase said. Finiste He still kept some things in the dormitory. When he had night shifts, he would stay there to rest.. That afternoon, after getting his sleeve wet during rounds, Chase returned to the dorm to change shirts. nc was sitting on the bed. "Good afternoon, Chairman," nc joked. "Man, I''m lucky to be sharing a dorm with the chairman. One person rises to power and the whole group benefits. Don''t forget me when you''re sessful." Chase changed clothes without looking up. "What nonsense are you talking about?" "You earned the chairman spot on your own. I respect that," nc said. "But listen, Dr. Simon''s not too happy. I heard he pulled a lot of strings trying to get the honorary chairmanship, even treated the previous chairman to dinner." nc sat up straight and held up a number with his fingers. "He sent a lot of expensive gifts too. But in the end, the position went to you. Dr. Simon''s been grumbling around the hospitaltely. Don''t take it personally." "I don''t care," Chase said calmly. "Being chairman or not doesn''t really matter to me. I only epted because sitting in this position means I can help the one I love. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have bothered." ne raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Madam Wendy really worked her magic for you, huh?" "We''ll talk about it another time," Chase said. Dr. Simon had been at Cloud Hospital for over twenty years. He had worked hard for decades. and had only be a department head ten years ago. Originally, the chairman role had nothing to do with him. But with just a few years left before retirement, Simon thought that if he retired as a chairman, his benefits would be better. So he made some moves behind the scenes. He spent money, gave gifts-but in the end, the rolended with the young neer Chase. Naturally, Simon wasn''t happy. These days, whenever he saw Chase around the hospital, his face was ice cold. But Chase had never cared much about how others viewed him. He wasn''t familiar with Simon. and had no dealings with him before. Even during rounds, they didn''t cross paths much. Unfortunately, fate wasn''t kind. A recent case required both their departments to work together, so they often ended up in the same meetings. Even in the elevator, they bumped into each other. "Well, well, Chairman Gu, Simon said mockingly when they met by the elevator. "Got appointment letter already? What are you doing stilling to meetings?" your Chapter 57 New Responsibilities, Old Resentments Finisond Chase was dressed simply, a white coat over his shirt, one hand in his pocket, the other casually texting Wendy back. "I left the letter in my office. A still attending consultations, Chairman is just a title. Chase) answered politely. Simon rolled his eyes, hands shoved into his coat pockets, giving Chase a long, disdainful look. "Young people really are different. Madam Wendy just visited not long ago, and now, surprise. your appointmentes through. Looks like being good-looking is still the ultimate shortcut, no matter the gender." Hearing that, Chase frowned, about to respond, but the elevator doors opened. A crowd of nurses and doctors rushed in. Chase was squeezed to the back, separated from Simon by a wall of people. Whatever he wanted to say, he swallowed back. At the consultation meeting, the senior doctors discussed a case. "Surgery is necessary. Conservative treatment is no longer effective. But the patient is elderly, so recovery will be challenging. We''ve sent the surgical n to everyone. Dr. Chase will be the primary surgeon for the tumor removal. After that, orthopedics will take over. Dr. Simon, any objections?" Simon barely nced at the documents, tossed them aside, leaned back in his chair, and stared at Chase. "Objections? What objections could I have? Our glorious Chairman Gu will lead the surgery. We orthopedic folks will just follow orders. I only hope our young chairman doesn''t get so excited that his hands start shaking." Everyone could hear the sarcasm dripping from Simon''s voice. The department head quickly tried to smooth things over. Come on now, Dr. Chase''s appointment letter just came down. Let''s congratte him!" The senior professor sitting at the head of the table shot Simon a nce but ignored his jabs. "Chase," the professor said, "everyone here is your senior. After the surgery, you should treat everyone to a meal. It''s tradition." The professor had been a mentor to Chase, guiding him through the unspoken rules of the hospital. He was giving Chase a way to save face. "Of course," Chase said. "Once the surgery''s done, tomorrow night at the Watering Hole." Simon snorted disdainfully. He tossed his pen onto the table. "Dr. Chase sure is generous. Treating us to the Watering Hole? We poor little doctors can''t afford to step foot in that ce. A pot of tea costs thousands." Even several attempts to ease the tension couldn''t calm Simon down, and eventually, the meeting Chapter 58 Chapter 58 A New Chapter Begins +8 Pearls Cloud Hospital had always been full of young people. Most of the older doctors were retired professors rehired part-time. Someone like Simon was the exception, not the rule. Everyone else had no real opinions about Chase bing chairman. When they got in the car, Wendy seemed a little upset. "What, now that you''re chairman, you have to avoid suspicion? You won''t even let me show up at the hospital anymore?" Chase sat in the back with her, and once the driver confirmed the route, he raised the divider for privacy. "It''s not that," Chase said. "The appointment letter just came down today. Let''s keep a low profile for a few days. After that, it''ll be fine. Oh, tomorrow after surgery, I''m treating the hospital staff to dinner. I was thinking of booking the Watering Hole, Do you want toe?" Wendy propped up her chin, looking at him. This was the first time Chase had invited her to meet his colleagues and friends. She had never had that opportunity before. She really wanted to go. "I want to, but I can''t," Wendy said. "I have a business trip. Lemuria''s branch operations have been suspended. The acting director couldn''t trace the cause, so Sammy and I have to go. Probably about a week. If you have any trouble while I''m away, just contact Maggie or Zynn. They''ll help you." Chase said, Be careful out there. I''ll pack your bags when we get home. It''s just a dinner, it''s okay if you can''te." But Wendy wasn''t pleased. "I wanted to go with you, to let everyone know you''re my man." She pinched Chase''s chin, forcing him to look at her. "Don''t think I don''t know. The nurses at the hospital are all crazy about you." It was rare to see Wendy get jealous. Chase quite enjoyed this little show of possessiveness. He grabbed her hand and pulled it down. "Everyone knows I''m married." The custom-made rings hadn''t arrived yet. Wendy thought to herself that they needed to remarry as soon as possible. She couldn''t let others keep staring at her man. She hadn''t realized before their divorce just how much attention Chase attracted. It was better to keep him firmly tied to her side. The Watering Hole, hearing that Chase was hosting a dinner, immediately reserved thergest private room for him and even asked about food preferences. It was his first time treating, so everything had to be perfect. This naut maening Chandrase Wandu in the sinart hafore handing to the haenital 8:29 PM Chapter 58 A New Chapter Begins +8 Pearls After bing chairman, aside from holding a title at the council, not much had changed. He still did his rounds and prepared for surgery. "Yesterday the department head and professor talked to Dr. Simon for a long time," nc said, sneaking over. Today''s surgery had nc as second assistant, and he was pretty excited to be working alongside Chase. He looked around to make sure no one was nearby before continuing, "I heard it didn''t end well. Dr. Simon even threatened to resign, and the department head spent forever trying to talk him down." As Chase scrubbed up, he said calmly, "He won''t quit." Simon was already close to retirement. Being chairman would''ve boosted his retirement benefits, but ut Simon''s surgical skills were average. No one was going to rehire him once he retired. If he quit now, no other hospital would want him. In other words, Simon didn''t dare resign. "The professor said the same thing. Let him rant if he wants. By the way, I heard you''re treating everyone to dinner. Can Ie?" nc grinned.. Chase shook his hands dry and said, "I don''t have many friends at the hospital- just you. If you don''te, I''ll be bored to death. Even if you''re busy, I''m dragging you along." Today''s patient was a longtime visitor to the hospital,ing back for years but never quite meeting surgical criteria-until now. With Chase''s expertisebined with the senior professor''s oversight, they could push the sess rate to seventy percent, finally making surgery possible. If sessful, the patient could live several morefortable years without pain. Outside the operating room, the patient''s family waited anxiously. Chase remained as serious as ever during surgery. Unlike some doctors who chatted during procedures, Chase was fully focused, every bit of his attention on the patient, cutting off every possibleplication at the root. Three hourster, his part of the surgery ended. Chase was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked inside and out. "The first stage of surgery went well. Now we wait for orthopedics to finish before closing up. You guys handle the sutures. I''ll step out," Chase said to the assistants. They were students trained by the senior professor, and suturing would be done under close supervision. Chase''s task as lead surgeon wasplete. After changing clothes, Chase had no outpatient duties that afternoon, so he decided to rest in the office the council had prepared for him. 8:29 PM Chapter 58 A New Chapter Begins He hadn''t even seen it yet. The previous chairman had taken everything when he left, and Wendy had insisted on redecorating so Chase wouldn''t have to use someone else''s leftovers. Everything had been reced to match Chase''s style. +8 Pearls When Chase opened the door and walked in, he almost thought he had stepped into his own home. He sat down at the desk. Stacks of materials about hospital operations and personnel were piled neatly-things he needed to familiarize himself with as chairman. But his mind was still full of images from surgery-blood, wounds, stitches. He couldn''t focus on paperwork. Chase pushed the documents aside and simplyy down on the desk to rest. Send Gifts Chapter 59 Chapter 59 A Life Lost After such intense mental strain, it was easy to fall asleep once he rxed. Chase was jolted awake by the urgent ringing of his phone. Sitting up, he paused for several seconds before realizing it was his phone ringing. He pulled it out and nced at the screen. It was the professor. "Professor, what''s wrong?" "Get back here now! Simon made a mistake during surgery-he hit an unremoved thrombus and ruptured a blood vessel. The patient''s bleeding uncontrobly. Blood pressure and oxygen levels are crashing. We need you back to try and save them!" Chase jumped up and ran downstairs. "On my way. Have them prep adrenaline. I''ll inject it as soon as I get there." Simon''s unstable emotions had finally caused real trouble. During surgery, despite the senior professor trying to calm him, Simon lost his temper. His heavy hand directly sliced a blood vessel. The patient was elderly, already struggling with unstable blood pressure and oxygen levels. Now with massive bleeding, it was a race against death. Simon attempted some emergency measures, but they didn''t work. By the time Chase changed back into scrubs and rushed to the OR, the patient''s heart monitor showed a t line. Chase paused for only a second before stepping up, exchanging positions with Simon without a word. Simon''s face was ashen, soaked in sweat. It was his mistake. Every second of it recorded on the operating room cameras. The senior professor standing nearby would testify to it. If they couldn''t save the patient... His career would be over. But Simon was too proud to ask Chase for help. He could only stand there and watch as Chase calmly took over and ordered the adrenaline injection. A surgery that was supposed tost five hours with a seventy-one percent sess rate dragged into nine hours because of Simon''s blunder-and in the end, they still lost the patient. 8:29 PM Chapter 59 A Life Lost 0 Chase said nothing, quietly stepping off the tform. No one could save Simon now. +8 Pearls The senior professor led Simon outside to announce the patient''s death, while Chase sat silently in the locker room, hands scrubbed clean of blood, exhausted and slumped in a chair. The fatigue from hours of surgery clung to him. He hadn''t expected Simon''s resentment to cost a life. In truth, once Chase finished his part of the surgery, the patient had basically been saved. Orthopedic surgery was supposed to be minor. But still... nc came in, standing behind him. "The patient''s family is crying outside." "After today, Simon can''t stay at the hospital," Chase said quietly. The hospital would have to exin the failure to the family, but they couldn''t admit it was due to a doctor''s personal emotions. They would have to find reasons within the patient''s con tion. It wasn''t about evading responsibility-it was about survival. If word got out that a doctor''s bad mood had killed a patient, Cloud Hospital''s reputation would be destroyed. Chase''s first meeting as chairman came sooner than expected. Drained, he sat at the head of the conference table, familiar colleagues on both sides. Each department head began presenting their opinions. "Simon''s emotional instability is a real problem. But he''s been at Cloud Hospital for decades. Directly firing him... maybe we could transfer him to logistics instead? No more surgeries." The senior professor mmed his hand on the table. "That was a human life!" Someone from anesthesiology spoke up too. "After the first half of the surgery, we basically dered it a sess. That old man had beening to this hospital for five or six years. He He even used to have his daughter-inw bring snacks for the staff. We can''t just brush this under the rug." Everyone argued back and forth until finally, someone turned to Chase. "What does the chairman say?" The senior professor adjusted his sses. "The surgery was recorded. It''s clearly Simon''s fault. The hospital can''t take the me. But Simon... he''s finished." "No transfer to logistics," Chase said coldly, his voice carrying a chill as he lifted his eyes to stare at everyone who had tried to defend Simon. "We are doctore. From the moment we stand on that onerating table, we hold lives in our bande 8:29 PM Chapter 59 A Life Lost Simon." +8 Pearls The firing would require formal procedures, even notification to Wendy''s side. The celebratory dinner Chase had nned never happened. When he returned home, the darkness of the empty house weighed heavily on him. He hadn''t been at Cloud Hospital long-just a few months. He didn''t know the patient personally. But from what he had heard, the old man had been kind, never giving anyone trouble, never bothering the nurses. Such a good person. Chase had given him a path to survival, a chance to live out his final years peacefully. And still-it had ended like this. His conflict with Simon should never have cost someone else their life. At that moment, Chase realized maybe it wasn''t so bad to sit in the chairman''s seat after all. At least he could stop mistakes like this from continuing. During the meeting, many people had said Simon had "worked hard" for the hospital and deserved leniency-that he should be given some easy logistics job for hisst few years before retirement. But Chase couldn''t agree. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Drawing a Clear Line Chase really wanted to curse someone, but his upbringing wouldn''t allow it. He simply said, did that old man deserve to die? + +8 Pearls "Home yet?" Wendy''s voice was soft, with the sound of wind in the background. She had probably just finished her work and hadn''t reached the hotel yet. Wendy had already heard about today''s events from the hospital and called Chase tofort him. "You did the right thing, Wendy said. "No one should have to pay for someone else''s mistakes. Don''t put pressure on yourself." Chase leaned his head against his hand, feeling heavy. "I''m not feeling pressured. I just made the right decision. I just didn''t expect it would cost an old man his life. The others said he was a really good person." "That''s not your fault either," Wendy said, standing near a flowerbed outside the hotel. She waved Sammy upstairs, choosing to stay outside and keep talking to Chase. "Feeling down? Didn''t go out to eat?" Chase said, "After something like that, no one had the mood. I canceled the dinner at the Watering Hole. I''m home." "You still have to eat," Wendy said. "I''ve already signed off on Simon''s termination. Don''t dwell on it." They talked for a long time, but even after hanging up, Chase didn''t turn on the lights. He let himself slowly drift into sleep in the familiar darkness of the house. He was exhausted and fell asleep on the sofa. A loud knock woke him up. Checking the clock, it wasn''t even half past eleven. He''d barely slept for half an hour. Rubbing his eyes, he got up to answer the door, wondering who it could be. When he opened it, he found Simon standing there. At first, Chase hadn''t wanted to get into anything with Simon. Even when Simon had been cold and sarcastic, Chase had kept his manners. But now, Chase''s face turned cold and he moved to shut the door. "How do you know my address?" Simon was carrying several bags-it looked like he was trying to bribe him. He fawning smile,pletely different from his usual scowl. I... I asked around in Administration. I..." gave Chase a 0 +8 Pearls Chapter 60 Drawing a Clear Line "Say what you came to say," Chase said coldly. HIN Simon''s face stiffened. He carefully set all the things down on the ground. "These... Look, I''m getting old. If the hospital fires me, no one else will take me. I admit it was my fault-the surgery failure, I''ll take responsibility. I can personallypensate the family. Can you not fire me? I''m willing to transfer to logistics. It was all my fault, Chairman, please" Chase lifted a hand to cut him off, not listening to another word. "Your termination papers are already processed. You''ll receive them in a few days. Whatever settlement you reach with the family is your business, but the hospital won''t be keeping you." Simon''s face darkened. The hallway lights dimmed too, throwing a shadow over his features. "Chairman, you know the saying-leave room for mercy," Simon said. Chase sneered, leaningzily against the doorframe. "Is that a threat?" Simon shook his head. "No, no, just saying... You''re awfully young to be a chairman. If I send certain documents up the chain for investigation, do you think you''ll hold onto this position for long? Better to settle this quietly. No need to make trouble for each other." Still unrepentant, even now. Chase''s expression turnedpletely cold. He kicked Simon''s gifts aside with his foot. "Go ahead. Sue me." His mood had already been bad from today''s events. Now, seeing Simon trying to bribe his way out of trouble, Chase felt nothing but disgust. He wasn''t even sleepy anymore. He showered, changed clothes, and sat down to read. Since bing honorary chairman, Chase truly felt like time was no longer enough. Besides treating his patients every day, he had to deal with endless administrative work-including cleaning up the mess Simon had left behind. It turned out Simon hadn''t only tried bribing Chase. Over the next few days, various people came by trying to plead Simon''s case. After all, the patient''s family had epted a settlement and didn''t n to sue. The hospital had paid a lot, and the family had taken the body and left. Some people argued that since the family wasn''t pressing charges, maybe they could just demote Simon quietly and move on. But Chase refused to back down, Now, even those who had once supported Chase started whispering that he was heartless, criticizing him behind his back. nc overheard a lot of the gossip and even got into a few arguments because of it. But nc was only an intern-he still needed the senior professor''s backing. If he reallu 8:29 PM Chapter 60 Drawing a Clear Line Still, it made him furious. "Enough," Chase said with a smile. "I''m not bothered. Why are you all so worked up?" +8 Pearls Since the big dinner at the Watering Hole had been canceled, Chase arranged a small gathering instead, inviting only a few trusted doctors and nurses-including the senior professor. The professor had mentored many of the interns and had also worked closely with Chase these past few months. Send Gifts Chapter 61 Chapter 61 A Gift from the Heart +8 Pearls "I agree with Chase," the senior professor said, sipping his tea. "Someone like that can''t stay in the hospital. Who knows what kind of trouble he''ll cause next time." The Watering Hole had prepared dishes tailored to everyone''s preferences, and Ash himself brought out the tes, giving Chase full respect. For nc and the other young ones, it was their first timeing to such a ce. After a while, the senior professor turned back to Chase. "I heard Simon went to find you? Tried to bribe his way back?" "Yeah, he showed up," Chase said. "But I didn''t even let him in." The senior professor chuckled. He knew Chase''s temper and wasn''t surprised he didn''t even open the door. "No point letting him in. I don''t take bribes, and there''s nothing to talk about between me and Simon," Chase said. nc added, Dr. Simon''s temper was always bad. I heard from orthopedics that ever since he didn''t get the chairman position, he''s been giving everyone attitude- even the patients." Anyway, Simon was definitely done at the hospital. Whatever people said about Chase behind his back, he didn''t care. Wendy''s business trip finally ended, and she brought back a lot of gifts for Chase. If it had been the old Wendy, she would''ve just asked Sammy to buy some fancy luxury goods, things that would sit unused in the storage room. But this time was different. Wendy truly cared about Chase now-and she hadn''t forgotten how he had tried several times to go study abroad in Lemuria, only to be held back. This time, she had brought him something much more meaningful. "I''ve been getting a lot of giftstely," Chase joked as the driver carried everything into the house. "But none of their stuff made it inside. Only yours did." Wendy leaned casually against the door. "Oh? What, you trying to keep me outside too?" Once the driver left, Wendy threw her arms around Chase''s neck and pouted. "Tell me, what kind of gifts were they? Did anyone send you a pretty girl?" "I already said," Chase smiled, "my fierce wife is at home." 8:29 PM Chapter 61 A Gift from the Heart +8 Pearls business. Anyway, Simon''s getting fired no matter what. It''s got nothing to do with you. No point keeping a doctor with no ethics." She let go of him and dragged Chase over to open the presents. Each was small, none bigger than a sheet of A4 paper, but they were heavy. What is all this?" Chase said, amused at the secrecy. He tore open the packages-and his eyes lit up. Medical textbooks-in their originalnguage. These kinds of books were almost impossible to find in their country. They weren''t avable in stores and could only be found in specialized medical schools in Lemuria. Not just anyone could get them. It was obvious-Wendy had stayed an extra day just to track these down. "You went looking for these yourself?" Chase asked. Wendy nodded, bracing her hands against the table beside him. She pointed at two particr books. "These ones? You can''t even buy them at stores. I had to find students about to graduate and have them take me to the professors. We had to get official permission just to buy them." This was the first time Wendy had ever prepared a gift with so much heart. It wasn''t like those expensive clothes or jewelry-this was something Chase truly loved. Wendy''s thoughtfulness meant more to him than anything else. And these were exactly what he needed most. "I really love the gifts you got me," Chase said warmly. "But you don''t have to work so hard next time. I''d rather see youe home sooner. The soup''s ready, by the way-let''s eat." Sammy and Zynn had stopped by too, bringing a few things to thepany and thening over to join them for dinner. "I''ve heard forever that sir''s cooking is amazing. First time I get to try it. It''s way better than the Watering Hole, Zynn said after a few bites. Wendy picked up a piece of food for Chase and nced at Zynn. "Can''t even keep your mouth shut while eating?" "Doesn''t matter what I say," Zynnughed. "His heart''s all yours." Sammy chimed in too, mentioning that during the Lemuria trip, they''d had a scare-someone had tried to block their car in the street. 8:29 PM Chapter 61 A Gift from the Heart 48 Pearls truth to his usations? The recent problems all point toward the top levels. We fixed it this time, but... if we can''t catch the real culprit, it''ll happen again." Wendy said, "Catching people is the police''s job. We''ve already reported it and given a warning." "It''s tough, though. The headquarters is so far away. Even when you showed up in person, they barely listened. Looks like the acting director''s time is up," Zynn said. Chase made sure thedies ate well, and after dinner, he cut up some fruit and set it out on the coffee table. Then he sat nearby, flipping through the precious medical textbooks Wendy had brought him. Send Gifts 278 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Side by Side 0 +8 Pearls Seeing how much Chase genuinely loved the books, Wendy finally rxed. All that trouble she went through had been worth it. "Leave things as they are for now," Wendy said. "Keep checking. Send the personnel information to Waylon." Chase closed the book. "If I''d known, I would''ve invited Waylon over for dinner tonight. You two could have talked things over. I totally forgot." Before Wendy could answer, Zynn immediately cut in. "Don''t, don''t, don''t. I have nothing to say to Waylon. If you invite him, I''m leaving." Chase was confused. Was there bad blood between Waylon and Zynn? Sammy couldn''t help butugh. Back when Zynn first joined thepany, the PR team hadn''t been fully set up. She had to handle a lot herself. A few times, while negotiating deals over dinner, she''d been harassed by drunk men. Zynn, being Zynn, never tolerated it and fought back. And every time, it just so happened Waylon was nearby investigating homicide cases. "Wait, Waylon was with Major Crimes. What''s that got to do with you getting harassed at a dinner table?" At the mention of it, Zynn''s face turned sour. "Because every time I reported it, Waylon was nearby investigating murders. He kept insisting I was tipping people off and dragged me in for forty-eight-hour investigations." It was all years ago. Even Chase hadn''t known. No wonder Zynn couldn''t stand Waylon now. Just hearing his name gave her a headache. A few days ago, when Waylon came to thepany for a meeting, Zynn had originally been scheduled to attend. She took one look through the meeting room door, saw Waylon inside, and immediately turned around and left the building. Chase, sensing gossip, couldn''t resist grabbing his phone and texting Lemon. Waylon would never tell him anything, but Lemon? She would spill everything. "Tomorrow I''m going to Cloud Hospital for a meeting," Wendy said. "After New Year''s, Cloud Hospital ns to go public. Everyone needs to get ready. Next year we''ll be standing fully in the spotlight-it won''t be easy." 8:29 PM d Chapter 62 Side by Side council-worst of all, with a man. He imed that''s why Chase had been pushed into the chairman''s seat. The person he nameri just nced nervously at Wendy, then immediately had Simon dmgredi out of the building by security. That council member had been ced at Cloud Hospital by Wendy long ago. Otherwise, with Henry and Joy needing treatment so often why would they alwayse to this hospit Wendy had long been nning to expand into the hospital sector but she had needed to keep a low profile. Without Chase''s help, it wouldn''t have been nearly so smooth. "You were fired with my approval Wendy said slowly, watching Simon being dragged to the door. "I reviewed the surgery footage myself. If in wasn''t for the hospital''s reputation. I would''ve handed you straight over to the patient''s family instead of learing you stand here and screanm about injustice." Simon''s face went white, but he still cast a resentful look at Chase "As for Mr. Chase''s appointment, Wendy continued I signed off on that too. Based on evaluations from both the school and the hospital. I believe Mr. Chase is more than qualified for the position. Dr. Simon, you''re just an ordinary person. You probably don''t even understand whan it means to be a genius in the medical field." Ordinary people would never understand how naturally Chase excelled-or how much effort he put in behind the scenes. After being so firmly crushed, Simon had nothing left to say and was dragged our. "Cloud Hospital will be going public next year." Wendy said to the board. "The council''s influence will be significant. Everyone, prepare yourselves." After the meeting, Chase was about to leave when he risked a nce at Wendy, only to be caught by her gaze-and instantly rooted to the spot. Wendy smiled. "Mr. Chase, please stay behind. Regarding Simon''s case I need you to prepare a full report. Stay and tell me everything. And leave yourptop here. Everyone else gave Chase sympathetic looks, but no one realized how thrilled he actually was "This is the first time I''ve seen you working seriously," Chase said, striding over to Wendy He picked up a strand of her hair and kissed it lightly. "You''re so sexy when you''re being serious. Wendy was charmed by his directness and wrapped her arms around him. "Why do you think I pushed you into this position?" Wendy said, arms draped over Chase''s shoulders. Chapter 62 Side by Side He instinctively nced up at the security camera in the corner. off." Wendy turned his head back with her hand. "Focus. I already turned the cameras "Madam Wendy, I thought you put me here because you recognized my abilities," Chase whispered in her ear. "Not because of... pillow talk." +8 Pearls They rarely had moments like this. Wendy always regretted that. Because of the Harrison family, she had to keep their love hidden. Only when it was just the two of them could she let it show. In truth, she wished the whole world could know they were deeply in love. Send Gifts Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Brewing Storms +8 Pearls "Both are good," Wendy smiled at him. "Your abilities and your pillow talk are equally impressive." Chase headed downstairs for his rounds. Wendy, without him noticing, had already left the hospital. She touched up her lipstick in the car mirror, unable to wipe the smile off her face. She was very satisfied with how things were going. If they could just finalize their remarriage, everything would be perfect. But... Thinking of Henry, her expression darkened. Henry was an extreme person. Back when he thought Chase was standing in his way, he had been willing to hurt himself just to frame Chase at the Quinn family''s old house. Being targeted by someone like Henry usually didn''t end well. She couldn''t afford to let Chase be a target. The car started moving. As they pulled out of the hospital parking lot, Wendy spoke up. "Go to Ster Hall." Ster Hall was an exclusive private club, membership by invitation only. The first requirement to join was a worth over ten million. Every applicant''s assets had to be verified. The staff at Ster Hall were highly trained-they memorized all members'' photos and could recognize their cars on sight to ensure the highest level of service. When Wendy''s car pulled up, a valet immediately opened the door with practiced politeness. "Madam Wendy." "Which room?" Wendy asked as she walked inside. The attendant waited by the door. "Room III, madam. They''ve been waiting for about ten minutes." He led her down the hallway, then knocked once before stepping back. Privacy was absolute at Ster Hall. No one entered a room without being called. Wendy pushed open the door. Inside the massive private suite, a woman sat at aptop. "Was it really necessary to be so shy?" Wendy said. Chapter 63 Brewing Storms 8 +8 Pearls for days. I finally shook them nearby. Using your name to get in threw them off. They''ll never guess we''re connected." Fiona lifted her head and smiled. Seeing that Fiona was still busy, Wendy didn''t rush. Since there wasn''t much happening at thepany today and Sammy could handle things, she ordered a pot of tea and sat nearby scrolling through her phone, asionally chatting with Chase. "Drinking tea now, olddy style?" he teased. Wendy replied, "Chase says coffee''s bad for the stomach. I haven''t eaten yet, so tea it is." Fiona clucked her tongue. "You''re so in love now. Why did you even y hard to get before? Weren''t you the one head-over-heels from the start?" She sat up straighter, staring at Wendy for a long time. "You know, you and Henry are actually pretty simr. Both extreme. When you love, it''s all-consuming. When you stop loving, you want to destroy. You''re dangerous, woman." A knock interrupted them. The server brought in the tea Wendy loved. But it didn''t stop there-one by one, more staff carried in tray after tray of dim sum: dumplings, pastries, everything you could think of. The table quickly filled, tes even stacking on top of each other. Once the room was clear again, Wendy red at Fiona, ready to punch her. "Henry''s not feeding you at home or something?" "I heard the tea snacks here are amazing. Couldn''t waste the trip," Fiona said, stuffing a spare rib into her mouth. Besides, Henry''s been too busy toe home anyway. Oh right-did you see? Henry''s caught up in a new scandal." Wendy hadn''t paid much attention, but she had heard. Henry had taken over the Harrison family''s entertainmentpany and had been swamped. Scandals were par for the course. Wendy only knew because Henry had personally called to exin. "Entertainment industry is a mess," Fiona said. "But the actress involved with Henry is pretty popr right now-two big dramas airing at once. I even watched a few episodes. She''s good." Henry''s call had been an attempt to soothe Wendy, telling her not to be angry about the gossip. Wendy had found itughable. Tabloids loved evanneration. The cu +8 Pearls Chapter 63 Brewing Storms The media even dragged Wendy''s past with Henry into it, painting a picture to help "clear up misunderstandings." In reality, the whole scandal was a move to reframe Henry''s personal image- using Wendy as part of the story. It only made Wendy even more disgusted. "Found him," Fiona said, after polishing off her second te of dumplings. She pushed theptop forward and sighed. "You owe me big for this. The guy Waylon''s after is seriously good with IT- he covered his tracks almost perfectly." It had taken her two days to track him down. Speak of the devil- A knock came at the door. Waylon walked in, dressed in a in white T-shirt and jeans. Fiona gave him a once-over. "I mean, seriously, Waylon? Heir to the Fred family, captain of the Major Crimes Unit, and you show up dressed like that? Your entire outfit probably cost less than a hundred bucks." Waylon frowned, clearly in no mood for jokes. Send Gifts Chapter 64 Chapter 64 No More Ordinary Games. "You don''t get to control what I wear," Waylon said bluntly. So stubborn! Fiona snapped theptop shut. "Fine. Then don''t expect me to find your guy." Waylon fell silent. He looked at Wendy, hoping she''d step in. Wendy shrugged helplessly. "She''s her own boss. She never listens to me." Left with no choice, Waylon apologized. "Next time I see you, I''ll be in a fully tailored suit, head to toe. Don''t worry, missy. Now, did you find him or not? If I don''t catch this guy who''s killed three people, I really might have to go back and inherit the family business." Fiona snorted at how miserable he sounded. She pointed at theptop. Waylon grabbed it and looked: the screen was ck except for a single blinking red dot. After a few minutes, the dot began moving, slowly revealing surrounding streets on the map. Waylon recognized it immediately-this was the target''s location. He hugged theptop and headed for the door. "Thanks." "It''s not cheap to hire me," Fiona called after him. Waylon paused at the threshold. "I know. I''ll find your guy Fiona''s expression shifted slightly, her voice softening. "Thanks." "You''ve been searching for so long. Still hanging on, huh?" Waylon said. Fiona sipped her tea. "Everyone needs something to hold onto. Otherwise, what''s the point?" ''Later." Waylon left as quickly as he''de, leaving the two women to rx, enjoying their afternoon tea in no rush. "You know who Waylon''s after?" Fiona asked. Wendy shook her head. She remembered Waylon had mentioned borrowing Fiona''s skills once. That same night, Fiona had hacked into the entire Major Crimes Unit Chapter 64 No More Ordinary Games Waylon had almost called her to yell. +8 Pearls But Waylon hadn''t actually said much. Fiona had dug through all the case files on her own and started tracking the suspect. Waylon respected her abilities. But even someone as wild and free as Fiona had things she couldn''t let go of. "I checked Waylon''s case files," Fiona said. "If I''m right, this is rted to the Harrison family''s old case. I suspect the person they''re after is a hired killer-an S- level mercenary. I dug through his bank records and found a car under his name." Without herptop, Fiona used her phone, pulling up a license te number and handing it to Wendy. One nce-and Wendy sat bolt upright. She would never forget that te. It was the car that had killed her father. Wendy turned to Fiona, her voice low. "You''re saying... this guy is tied to my dad''s death?" Fiona motioned for her to stay calm. It wasn''t certain yet. But they were connected. The suspect had bought the car brand-new, kept it for two months, then sold it off. A few monthster, that same car was stolen-and not long after, Wendy''s father was killed. It couldn''t be a coincidence. There was no such thing as coincidence in this world. "That''s why you took this job so seriously," Wendy realized. Fiona tucked her phone away. "I know this has been stuck in your heart for years. Not just for you -Madam Mandy too. I wanted to help." Wendy didn''t know what to say. Between them, thanks were unnecessary. After a long pause, she finally smiled. "Order whatever you want. It''s on me." Fionaughed. "Thanks for the treat, Madam Wendy." Honestly, with the sry Wendy paid Fiona, she could easily afford her own Ster Hall membership. But Fiona had no interest in luxury spending. She was always on the move, living light. If she could freeload, she would-no need to waste money. The truth about her father''s death had weighed on Wendy''s heart for years. She knew it wouldn''t he uncovered in a day so she had never ruched anuan 8:30 PM Chapter 64 No More Ordinary Games +8 Pearls "And that''s why you put Chase at Cloud Hospital," Fiona said thoughtfully. "Because it was that hospital that initially treated your father-and insisted on issuing a death certificate right away. You''ve always had doubts." So many of the pieces tied back to the same people, the same ces. Wendy wasn''t stupid. But Henry had always treated her like just an ordinary woman, thinking he could fool her. It was time Henry realized: Wendy was never ordinary. As the heir to Quinn Group, she had never once allowed herself to be underestimated. "This will take time to investigate," Fiona said. "Don''t rush it. Chase is already the honorary chairman-it''ll be easier to look into things now. But... have you told him everything yet?" Wendy shook her head. She was still hesitating. Waylon had warned her before: Chase was never weak. He wasn''t some fragile flower to be hidden behind her back. Protecting him too much was just another kind of prison. Send Gifts Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Catastrophe After a while, Wendy''s phone buzzed. She nced down and smiled-it was a message from Chase. She chuckled softly before murmuring, "But I think I finally know how I want to face all of this." Chase was still busy at the hospital, wrapping things up before he could leave. That night, he didn''t have dinner with Wendy. Instead, he ate with a few hospital executives. This kind of social obligation used to have nothing to do with Chase, but now things were different. "I said it before," the senior professor said to another department head, "Simon never had the right temperament to be a director. You wanted to promote him, and I didn''t say anything. Look how it turned out. Good thing Madam Wendy didn''t press the issue." The other man took a sip of wine and sighed. "There wasn''t much choice. You know how it''s been here-after everything that happened, having any veteran left at all was rare. We were relying on Simon." Simon''s surgical skills were always mediocre, so he rarely operated. After the mess he caused this time, even his few remaining supporters couldn''t cover for him. "But Chase," the department head said, ncing over, "this whole thing wasn''t really your fault. Madam Wendy didn''t give you a hard time over it, right?" Chase shook his head. "No, she didn''t." When Chase got home, Wendy was already asleep. Lately, she had been exhausted-constant business trips, juggling the hospital''s affairs. Chase wished he could shoulder more for her. But as a newly appointed chairman, he wasn''t nearly as effective as Madam Wendy yet. After showering, he climbed into bed and gently pulled Wendy into his arms. Half-asleep, Wendy stirred and hugged him back. "Why''re you back sote? What''s there to even talk about with them?" "They''re hospital leadership. I have to keep up appearances now," Chase said, kissing her forehead. "I told you not to wait up." Wendy had trouble falling asleep tonight, thoughts weighing heavy on her mind. She had just dozed off when Chase came home. "I need to tell you something." Wendy murmured, trying to sit 1. up. But Chase pinned her back down gently. "Tell me tomorrow. Not now." 8:30 PM Chapter 65 Catastrophe Finished Meanwhile, rumors about Henry''s affair with an actress were everywhere. Even the Harrison family sent people to ask about it, terrified Henry would lose his marriage to Wendy. At thepany, Wendy received several calls a day from Henry. Sometimes she was in meetings and had her assistant answer; Henry would just call back again and again. It made Wendy question her past judgment. How had she ever fallen for someone like him? It was baffling. "From now on," Wendy instructed, "send all Henry''s calls straight to the secretary''s department. I''m not taking them." Sammy gave her a look, nodded, and jotted it down. "By the way, the Harrison family project has officially started. The contract isn''t signed yet, but Henry''s been asking repeatedly to finalize the signing and arrange a press conference. How do you want to handle it?" Zynn, ever the bold one, spoke up before Wendy could. "We''re not ying PR games with that stupid entertainmentpany. If they want a press conference, they can do it at their own office. We''re not going." Everyone looked toward Wendy, waiting for her verdiet. Thanks for your advice. Wendy stared at her phone, seeing Henry''s nonstop bombardment of messages, one after another without a pause. She had a splitting headache and tossed the phone to Sammy. "Do what Zynn said." After the meeting, most of the staff left, leaving just the core group behind. "You''re done pretending?" Sammy asked. Zynn chimed in, "What''s the point? Henry''s not even worth the trouble. He''s no match for you, Madam Wendy. Just be done with it." But Wendy shook her head. "We''ll keep pretending-for now. But it''s time to cool things down a bit. After all, Henry and I aren''t really together. I''m not his property. If he keeps acting like this, Chase will get angry. Plus... there''s the matter of the scandal." The scandal bothered Wendy more than she let on. Henry had always been obsessed with maintaining appearances in front of her. This time, he let a public scandal happen. Wendy found it suspicious-and worth investigating. "How''s Dawn doing? Still tailing Shanelle?" Wendy asked. Zynn nodded and gave a brief update. "Shanelle hasn''t left the house. After Joy''s ident, she wanted to visit the hospital, but per your instructions, she''s stayed hidden. Safer that way." 8:30 PM F d Chapter 65 Catastrophe Finished What Wendy was really curious about, though, was what evidence Shanelle held -something so dangerous that even the Harrison family was too scared to kill her. The entire Hudd family had been wiped out overseas, graves not even in the country. Shanelle had no one left to rely on-only enemies. Send Gifts Chapter 66 Chapter 66 A New Alliance. A life like this really wasn''t much fun. Finished "For now, put the Harrison family''s coboration on hold," Wendy said. "Focus on the partnership with the Tourism Bureau instead. That''s where the real priority is. And we need to elerate Cloud Hospital''s preparations for going public. If we don''t get everything on track by next year, Chase''s chairman position won''t hold much weight." "Madam Wendy," Maggie knocked at the door, "Ms. Lemon is here." Ms. Lemon? For a second, Wendy didn''t react. They usually called Waylon by his first name. Ms. Lemon must mean Lemon. "Bring her to my office. I''ll be right there." Wendy rarely met with Lemon. They had no real personal rtionship, only exchanging polite nods and a ss of wine at business events. For Lemon toe in person meant something important. The Fred family was a major force in the entertainment industry-way beyond what the Harrison family could ever hope to match. When it came to choosing a spokesperson for Quinn Group''s luxury jewelry line, anyone with a brain knew where the smart choicey. "Madam Wendy." Lemon was already sitting there, typing away on her phone. She didn''t even look up when Wendy came in. "Had dinner with Chase the other day. Your name came up. My brother doesn''t hand outpliments easily, but he went on and on about you. Chase almost got jealous." The second Chase was mentioned, it shifted from business to personal. Wendy walked around to look at Lemon. She''d heard they used to be neighbors. Lemon calling Chase "gege" sounded more like the way you''d call someone you liked-not a real brother. So Lemon had once liked Chase? Wendy felt a twinge of lingering anxiety. Thank god she''d moved fast. Otherwise, Chase might not have be-well, her ex-husband. Wendy sat down and smiled. "Really? Chase often talks about you too. Said you were a little troublemaker back then, not half as pretty as you are now. You could pass for one of your own stars." 8:30 PM Chapter 66 A New Alliance I''m here. I think we''re on the same side." Finished "Oh?" Wendy feigned innocence, waiting for Lemon toy her cards on the table. Lemon didn''t mind. She knew Wendy''s reputation. Her brother had warned her repeatedly before she came not to bring any diva attitude, because Wendy was just as much a highborndy as she was. If they both acted spoiled, there''d be no partnership. But Lemon was no fool. She had ruled the Fred family branches for years-no one dared to challenge her authority. She wasn''t going to mess this up. "Fine," Lemon said. "Let''s work together." Wendy nodded with satisfaction. "Good. But there''s something I want to know." She leaned forward, locking eyes with Lemon. "Do you like Chase?" Lemon paused. For years, people said Wendy didn''t really love her husband, that she and Chase had divorced because she was having an affair with her crush, Henry. Lemon herself had privately criticized Wendy''s taste. But now, seeing Wendy''s sharp reaction at the mere mention of Chase, it was clear-Wendy cared deeply. Lemon admitted it straightforwardly. "Yeah. I liked Chase when we were kids. I always thought we''d end up together. But when I came back from studying abroad, he was already your husband. Don''t worry though. I''m not the type to interfere. Chase loves you. Now I just see him as an older brother." Wendy hadn''t expected Lemon to be so open. It made things easier. Since Lemon was Waylon''s sister, it was obvious she knew about the investigations too. "I''m sorry to ask something so personal," Wendy said, extending her hand. "But I believe we''ll work well together." Lemon smiled and shook her hand. "I believe that too." "There aren''t many women in business. And men always look down on us." Wendy leaned back. "Henry thinks I''m an idiot. Thinks that a little affection would make me forget the Harrison family''s schemes against Quinn Group. Let''s show them how wrong they are-show them what women in business can really do." "Agreed." Henry and Franklin had visited Quinn Group several times already, but the contract never got finalized. Meanwhile. Lemon only had to show up once-and immediately secured their ton 8:30 PM Chapter 66 A New Alliance That was the difference between them. Finished At the hospital, Chase saw the news blow up online. The Fred family''s entertainment division hadnded the deal first-not the Harrison family. He thought about it, then sent Lemon a congrattory message. Lemon replied: "Thanks to you, Chase. If it weren''t for your connection, Madam Wendy wouldn''t have agreed to work with me." Chase: "The Fred family has always been at the top of the industry. Wendy isn''t someone who acts out of personal feelings. You earned it." Lemon: "Wendy even asked today if I liked you. I said you''re just my brother now. But honestly? I should''ve said I still like you." Chase tensed up and quickly replied: "Don''t joke like that. Wendy''s pretty stubborn." Lemon: "Rx. I''m not getting between you two. Anyway, gotta run-meeting''s starting." Send Gifts Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Lies and Promises Chase had long noticed that Lemon liked him. But from the very beginning, he had only ever seen Lemon as a little sister. He never had any siblings of his own. Back when they were neighbors, Lemon and Waylon were always hanging around his house, bumming meals. Maybe it was because they''d met too early-some people were simply destined to be family, not lovers. That night when Chase got home, the TV was ying news about the Quinn Group''s new partnership with the Fred family. Wendy nced at the screen and said casually, "The Harrison family must be panicking by now. Henry''s been calling me nonstop. I''ve been forwarding everything to the secretary''s office. He''s probably starting to realize it''s over." Now, Wendy could talk openly to Chase about her tactics with Henry. Chase understood clearly- Henry, in Wendy''s eyes, was nothing but a tool to be used and a case to be investigated. There were no lingering feelings left. Or maybe there were just not enough to outweigh everything the Harrison family had done over the years. Wendy wasn''t someone who confused right and wrong. After dinner, they nned to watch a new movie together. Neither of them had the time to go to the theater anymore, so at-home movie nights were all they had. Chase was in the kitchen slicing fruit while Wendy picked out a film. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Wendy''s heart skipped. She had a feeling it was Henry. She quickly texted Fiona: "Is Henry at home?" Fiona replied: "Nope. Was just about to tell you. He left about thirty minutes ago, carrying a pot of soup. Probably going to see you?" Wendy: Couldn''t you have warned me before I died?" Fiona: "Sorry. Got distracted gaming. This was the kind of "high-caliber talent" Wendy paid a fortune to employ. Wendy sighed. Chase was about to go answer the door when she caught his arm and gave him a 8:30 PM & d Chapter 67 Lies and Promises "It''s Henry," she whispered. Finished Chase nodded in understanding. He nced toward the door and then motioned toward the bedroom. "I''ll go hide?" Wendy nodded. "Whatever you hear, don''te out. Henry won''t hurt me. I can handle him." Chase kissed her forehead. "I trust you." Then he slipped into the bedroom and quietly shut the door. Wendy waited a few seconds before going to open the front door. "Wendy!" Henry looked frantic. He charged inside the moment the door opened, grabbing her hand. "You''re still mad about that tabloid scandal, aren''t you? I''ll have thepany issue a public rification right away!" Wendy pretended to be furious, yanking her hand free without saying a word. Henry, still anxious, followed her into the living room, cing the soup pot onto the table. He nced around quickly-no sign of Chase. Good The fact that Wendy was still upset about the rumors proved she cared. In Henry''s mind, Chase was already half out of the picture. "Don''t be mad," Henry pleaded. "It was just a stupid tabloid thing. That actress only came to my house to help look after Joy while she was recovering. Thepany needed some buzz, so we used it for publicity." The excuse was weak at best. Henry did have feelings for Wendy. But he was also a man-and he had all the arrogance that came with it. In Henry''s world, men were allowed to have multiple lovers. In his mind, since he and Wendy weren''t legally married, he wasn''t even cheating. Meanwhile, inside the bedroom, Chase sat quietly, watching the private feed Fiona had just sent over. Twenty minutes ago, Henry had sworn the scandal was fake, that he and the actress barely spoke. And then, right after, he and that woman disappeared into the bathroom together. Of course, it wasn''t a coincidence that the video had surfaced so quickly. Wendy had orchestrated the whole thing. Chapter 67 Lies and Promises Finished "Really?" Wendy said, tilting her head at Henry, pretending to be hurt. "You''re telling me you two had nothing going on?" "Of course not!" Henry said immediately. "You''re the only woman I''ve ever loved. How could there be anyone else?" In the bedroom, Chase listened to this ridiculous speech, finding it almost funny. Once, he had said those same words to Wendy too. The difference was, when Chase said them, he had meant every word. Henry, though? Chase had seen the video too. Wendy had generously shared it with him. Sitting alone on the bed, Chase watched Henry, out there pledging loyalty, while he-her actual husband... no, her ex-husband-hid away like some secret lover. Who said life wasn''t interesting? For the first time, Chase truly understood the saying. The joy of battling others is endless. Send Gifts Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Trust and Promises Finished Henry lingered outside for a long time before finally leaving, convinced he had smoothed things over with Wendy. He even managed to get her to drink the soup he brought. Not long after, he got a call from hispany and rushed off. The moment the door closed, Wendy ran into the bathroom and threw up everything she had just forced herself to drink. Then she stood at the sink, washing her hands over and over. When Chase opened the bedroom door and came out, Wendy was still scrubbing furiously. Her hands were already red and raw from the hot water. The room was silent except for the sound of running water and her frantic movements. "That''s enough," Chase said softly, wrapping his arms around her from behind and shutting off the faucet. "You''re already the cleanest girl in the world, our Wendy." Wendy lifted her head. In the mirror, their eyes met. Chase saw her eyes red and swollen, tears still trembling in hershes before spilling over. "I know the Harrison family was involved in my father''s death," Wendy said hoarsely. "But I still have to pretend with Henry. I''m scared my father is watching from above... and hates me for it." "Never," Chase said, kissing her temple and holding her tighter. "He would be proud of you. You''re bearing this pain to uncover the truth. I know it, and your father and mother know it too." Wendy broke down in his arms, her sobs soft and helpless-so different from the strong woman she showed to the world. "I don''t understand why," she cried. "Why did I ever get involved with Henry back then? Why didn''t I see it sooner?" Chase gently stroked her hair. "Your mother told me. In the beginning, you didn''t know the truth about your father''s death. She hid it from you, afraid the hatred would destroy you. Later, when you took over Quinn Group, you found out on your own-and you cut off any lingering feelings for Henry. You''ve already done more than enough." Wendy sobbed for a while longer, then raised her head stubbornly. "No. I wasn''t good enough. I took too long to fall in love with you. I made you suffer so much. If only I had known earlier-" "If you had known earlier," Chase said gently, "you wouldn''t have married me out of heartbreak when Henry went abroad to get engaged. We might never have even begun." Sometimes, the wrong roads led to the right ce. Maybe the start wasn''t perfect. But they were both moving steadily toward a better ending. Wendy nced at the insted thermos on the table, feeling sick just looking at it. Without hapitation, cha thraw it into the teach. Cha would raka it At Chapter 68 Trust and Promises "Henry''s starting to panic," she said. Finished They didn''t let it ruin their evening. They still curled up on the couch and watched a movie. Wendy picked a suspense thrillertely, it had be their little tradition. On free evenings, they would guess the killer from the very beginning, peeling backyers of clues together. Whoever guessed wrong had to grant the winner a favor. They unfolded the sofa into a soft bed, lying side by side, Chase feeding Wendy slices fruit. "You can tell Henry''s getting desperate," Chase said. "And the best part-your partnership with Lemon is solid." Wendy huffed. "Lemon, huh? Saying it so sweetly. Just admit you two were childhood sweethearts." Chase dodged when she yfully pinched him,ughing. Just because we were neighbors doesn''t mean we were meant to be anything more. She''s always been like a little sister." While Chase talked, Wendy was already deep into the movie, quickly identifying the prime suspect before We Could even make a guess. "If I''m right this time," Chase said, "we''re going on a honeymoon abroad." "Deal" Wendy agreed. Their first wedding had been grand but rushed, nowhere near the dream wedding Wendy had imagined. On the very first day of marriage, she had left for work, leaving Chase alone. He had lived in the shadow of that cold start for five long years. Now that they were starting over, Wendy wanted to do it right. Once everything was settled, she wanted to marry Chase again-properly. That wouldeter. Two hourster, the movie ended. Chase had guessed correctly. He wasted no time, scooping Wendy up into his arms and carrying her to bed. Theyy face to face, noses brushing "Don''t forget what you promised me," he whispered. "After New Year''s, make time for our honeymoon" "I won''t" 8:30 PM. Chapter 68 Trust and Promises Hearing that title made Wendy blush, remembering the day at the hospital. "Never. You pick the destination, we''ll go wherever you want." Finished The next day was a rare day off. Chase didn''t have to go to the hospital and could apany Wendy to the office. Chase''s visits to Quinn Group had be more frequenttely. No one dared to say anything anymore-especially the board members. They had once gossiped about Wendy supposedly cheating, but now it was clear: the bond between Wendy and Chase was stronger than ever. Ms. Zach, who had once gotten a warning from Wendy, couldn''t hide her sour expression every time she saw Chase. Chase didn''t care what anyone thought, but he was curious enough to ask, "Ms. Zach?" Wendy sneered. "What else? He''s a nt from the Harrison family. Been here for years. I don''t see any need to get rid of him. It''s better to keep him around and monitor the Harrison family''s moves." Send Gifts Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Hidden Threats 11 Finished Sammy came in with a stack of documents just as Chase finished making a coffee and ced it in front of him. "Henry came to see mest night," Wendy said casually as she signed the paperwork. Officially, he was trying to exin away the tabloid rumors. But really, he just wanted to ask about our partnership with the Fred family. He knows he doesn''t stand a chance now, so he''s pulling the emotional card instead. That''s why he showed upte at night with soup At this point, Henry still hadn''t fully won Wendy over-and it was driving him crazy. Every conversation between them now was tense, no matter how much he tried to hide it. Sammy chuckled. "Makes sense. Henry originally had his eye on the luxury jewelry line. The first time he failed to get it, he thought he still had a chance. He probably didn''t expect you to turn around and give it to Lemon so decisively. No wonder he''s panicking" But more than the business loss, Henry was panicking because he could feel it- Wendy didn''t love him anymore. Not the way she used to. "Even back then," Wendy said lightly, "I would never have done anything to hurt Quinn Group. By how''s Ste doing abroad? She hasn''t been answering my callstely." the way, Chase nearly forgot the Quinn family still had a youngdy living overseas. Ste had once liked Henry too-deeply, foolishly, and without reservation. Wendy, seeing how na?ve her sister was, had made the hard decision to send her abroad a few months ago. "She''s fine. Same routine: sses, shopping trips with other girls who went abroad, Overall, nothing out of the ordinary. Although..." Sammy hesitated, then added, "she did open a livestream ount. Calls herself a beauty influencer. She''s got a few hundred thousand followers already." Wendy''s hand paused mid-signature. It made sense. Ste had always loved fashion and beauty. She wasn''t much of a businesswoman, but she had impable taste and unlimited money. Buying a little poprity was easy. After thinking for a moment, Wendy said, "Let her be. Just remind her-no matter what she does, she is not to drag Quinn Group into it. If she brings any negative attention to us, I''ll cut off her card immediately." "She''s signed with a small MCNpany. If I had to guess, the owner behind thatpany is Henry," Sammy said. "You know Ste''s feelings for him better than anyone." Of course Wendy knew. Their sisterly bond was strong, but Ste had always idolized her. That kind of admiration could sometimes snill over into other areas including romantic feelings toward the neonle Wendu 8:30 PM dd. Chapter 69 Hidden Threats muished It was a textbook psychological issue. Luckily, Ste had never tried to steal Henry away. She just desperately wanted her suster to end up with the man she loved. Now, to help Henry win Wendy back, Ste would do anything Henry asked. Such a foolish little girl. I''ll keep an eye on it for now," Wendy said quietly. "Got it." The room fell silent again. It was a rare weekend where not many people were in the office Wendy stared at the files but couldn''t focus, her mind stuck on Ste and Henry "I remember when I first started interning at Cloud Hospital, Chase said, breaking the silence "Joy was sick back then, and Ste came with Henry for her appointments. It was obvious to me even then-Ste liked Henry. Guess I wasn''t wrong." Wendy leaned on her hand, looking tired. "How could it not be obvious? I even hinted to her a few times that I was done with Henry. But... you wouldn''t believe it. The first person Henry contacted when he came back to the country-it wasn''t me. It was Ste." He knew she was married. Ste was his only remaining entry point. If Henry couldn''t win Wendy back, he would have tried to move on Ste instead. But by then, it would have been simple. Ste''s feelings for Henry were entirely based on her attachment to Wendy. Once Wendy cut ties, Henry would lose all meaning to Ste too. "I tried sending her away to keep them apart. But in the end... forget it. We''ll just take it one step at a time. As long as she doesn''t involve Quinn Group, it''s manageable." Chase sipped his coffee, savoring the bitterness that somehow still tasted rich. After a while, he spoke again. "Henry runs an entertainmentpany, right? When did he start managing influencers too?" "In this era, every entertainmentpany has their stable of online influencers. I even considered expanding Quinn Group into media, but we''ve never touched that sector. And now.. with the Fred family backing us, there''s no need." -hould hit 400000 000000 8:30 PM. Chapter 69 Hidden Threats Wendy shot him a look. "What, excited to see Lemon?" "Don''t start" Chase had hoped to enjoy a quiet afternoon off lounging in the office with Wendy. But just after lunch, as they were resting in the break room, the hospital called. There was an emergency case requiring a joint consultation, and Chase had to go in Send Gifts Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Hidden yers Chase immediately got up, threw on his coat, and rushed out. After he left, Wendy stayed lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Ste was going to be a problem. She had never liked Chase to begin with-if Wendy told her they were getting back together, Ste would definitely turn her anger toward Chase. But what could she do? How did she end up with such a silly little sister? Wendy sighed. It was partly her fault too. She hadn''t guided Ste properly when she was younger. If only she had taught her the difference between loving someone because of Jadmiration and truly falling in love, maybe things would have turned out differently. The patient who had just been brought in was in critical condition. They said he had fallen from a stage during a concert, and a massive chandelier hade down on top of him. A steel rod had pierced through his body-miraculously missing the heart and keeping him alive. "What''s the situation?" Chase asked as he entered the meeting room in his white coat. All the departments were already gathered. Chairman, take a look at the scans. It''s not good." ? The new acting head of orthopedics, Bernard, handed him the images. With a name like Bernard, most people would''ve guessed it was a woman. But it turned out Bernard was a man in his thirties, looking just as clean-cut and refined as his name sounded. This was Chase''s first time meeting him. Apparently, Bernard had originally been the one in line for the department head role. But Simon had bought his way into the position instead. Bernard didn''t seem to mind much, The moment Simon got dismissed, Bernard was promoted. If Bernard had taken over orthopedics earlier, a lot of trouble-and a hefty settlement-could''ve been avoided. One wrong step, and the hospital had paid the price. "It''s a transverse pration," Chase said after a nce. "With this kind of injury, we''ll have to crack the chest. Every department needs to work out a joint surgical n. How''s the patient? Still conscious?" Bernard nodded. "He was still conscious when he arrived. Because the steel rod wasn''t removed, 1 L:11 Chapter 70 Hidden yers Finished In the end, Chase would still have to be involved. Everyone got to work immediately, finalizing a n in record time. Time was critical. While scrubbing up, Bernard stood beside Chase. The two of them-tall, broad- shouldered, long-limbed-looked like mirror images. "Never seen you before," Chase said. Bernard smiled. "I usually work the night shift. Simon didn''t like me much. He probably saw me as a threat to his position. After he became department head, he reassigned me to nights. It''s been about a year." That exined a lot. Someone with Bernard''s skills would normally have been more visible. If Simon had been manipting things behind the scenes, then no wonder. "Mr. Lance mentioned over dinner a few nights ago," Chase said, "if you''d been appointed head of orthopedics from the start, none of that mess would''ve happened. He really trusts your abilities. I just didn''t expect our first surgery together would be something this risky." Bernard held up his hands, smiling. "Madam Wendy''s the one who brought me to Cloud Hospital. I''ve been here five years, much longer than you-but clearly not as capable." Chase blinked in surprise. He hadn''t expected Bernard to be one of Wendy''s people. "You''re saying " They had finished scrubbing up. Otherwise, Bernard would''ve shaken Chase''s hand right there. "I was scouted while I was still in medical school," Bernard exined. "Sent here by Madam Wendy to intern. I''ve been working my way up ever since. Cloud Hospital has had her people embedded for years-even before she invested officially. You''re not the only one she ced here. Just didn''t expect her to sneak her husband in too." More nurses came in to scrub, and Chase snapped back to focus, walking toward the operating room alongside Bernard. "You mean," Chase said slowly, "before Wendy even invested, she had already nted people inside?" Bernard nodded. "There''s a lot I can''t say. We just follow orders. Oh, and I''ve already informed Madam Wendy-the ident today is connected to the Harrison family." Chase frowned slightly. He had arrivedte and hadn''t gotten a full briefing yet. From the nurses'' chatter, he had gathered that the patient was a celebrity-someone who had fallen during a live performance and been impaled. Chapter 70 Hidden yers The surgery started at five p.m. and dragged into the night. It wouldst over ten hours. Every department stood on high alert. Finished Chase''s part of the operation was scheduledter, so for now, he changed into his scrubs and waited in the observation room, watching through the ss. First up was orthopedics, opening the chest cavity and locating the injuries. Even through the ss, Chase could see Bernard''s precision. His movements were sharp, clean, and strong-the kind of skill that set true surgeons apart. "Way better than Simon," Chase murmured to nc, who was standing beside him. "His hands don''t shake at all, and the positioning is perfect." nc nodded. "Man, I wonder how long it''ll take before I''m that good. But I guess... me and bone saws just aren''t meant to be." "Your mentor will rmend a department when the timees," Chase said. "If not, I''ll help you." nc leaned closer to the window. "This guy looks kinda familiar. Good-looking, too. Almost like a celebrity." Send Gifts Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Brewing Storms Finished "He''s actually a celebrity. They said he got injured during amercial performance, fell off the stage. "What?!" nc couldn''t believe it. He hurriedly pulled out his phone to check. After a bit of searching, he found the information. "Fenon International... the Fred family''spany? They''re one of the biggest yers in entertainment! I can''t believe it''s one of their artists!" Fenon International? Lemon''spany? Chase had never paid much attention to the entertainment industry. He hardly recognized any celebrities. nc, still talking, handed him the phone. Chase stepped out into the hall to make a call. The line connected quickly. Through the receiver, he could hear the sound of wind-Lemon was outside somewhere. After saying a few words to the people around her, her tone turned cold, and after a few seconds, she finally spoke. "Chase, I was just about to call you. One of our artists got hurt and was rushed to your hospital. The orthopedic team''s already started surgery. It''ll take all night- won''t finish until dawn." Lemon made a hand signal to the people near her, sending them off to patrol the event grounds. "I have a feeling the Harrison family is behind this. This was supposed to be a small jewelry showcase, part of our coboration with Quinn Group. We were only disying previous high-end pieces. This venue''s been hosting events for over a decade without a single ident. So why now, and why us?" "Does Wendy know?" Chase asked. "She''s on her way here now. How''s the patient?" Lemon asked, voice tight. The red celebrity''s status wasn''t small. News had ready exploded online. Quinn Group and Fenon International''s PR teams were scrambling to handle it, but before they even got started, the Harrison family had already deployed online trolls. Negativements flooded the inte, burying any attempts at damage control. "For now, it''s hard to say. He was still conscious when brought in. My department''s handling the final stage of surgery. You guys should brace yourselves-and be careful." "Got it. Thanks for everything. Whatever happens... he needs to make it through alive." Tll do my best." As a doctor, Chase would do everything he could to save a life. But sometimes, even that wasn''t enough 9:24 PM Chapter 71 Brewing Storms After hanging up, he immediately called Wendy. She picked up in seconds. Finished "You heard already? Bernard-the new orthopedic head-is my person. You two should work well together. Remember to rest when you can. A surgerysting more than ten hours... don''t exhaust yourself. And whatever happens, try to keep the patient alive." Her voice was calm-cold, even. Whenever things got serious, Wendy''s default was to stay detached. "I know," Chase said. "You''re heading to Lemon?" "Yeah. If this really ties back to the Harrison family, we''ll need evidence first. Waylon''s already here. It''s officially a major criminal case. You''ll probably finish surgery by early morning? I''ll send someone to pick you up." The surgerysted over ten hours. By the time Chase finally stepped out of the operating room, his scrubs were soaked through with sweat, and he nearly cked out. A nurse had to steady him. Two people stood by the OR doors-an agent and an assistant. Both rushed over the moment they saw him. "Mr. Chase, how''s Avery doing?" The injured artist''s name was Avery. Chase hadn''t paid much attention when looking at the charts. earlier. nc had been the one who pulled up his photos online. "For now, his condition is stable. We''ll know more after he regains consciousness. His lungs were damaged, so recovery will take time. We''ll finalize the treatment n after a full evaluation. No immediate danger for now. He''ll be moved to ICU soon- Soon-one of you can stay and keep watch. The agent sent the assistant to handle the admission paperwork. After signing some forms, Chase changed out of his scrubs and beaded outside with the agent. "My boss said to have a driver ready to take you over, the agent said as they walked. "They''re still at the event venue. Ms. Lemon''s brother is there too." Chase nced at the time. He''d been on his feet from afternoon to dawn. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, dizziness crept in. He didn''t argue, just quietly followed. As they reached the car, Chase asked, "I heard rumors the Harrison family might be involved. Why are you all so sure?" 9:24 PM DI Chapter 71 Brewing Storms Seeing that, Chase reassured her, "Don''t worry. I know everything." Finished After a pause, the agent said, "It''s because the Harrison family was hosting a birthday banquet next door-Millie''s birthday party. It was too close to ignore. Ms. Lemon couldn''t help suspecting them. That exined it. Chase suddenly remembered: yesterday, when Henry came by delivering soup, he had casually mentioned Millie''s birthday. He had invited Wendy to attend, but she declined, iming she had to work overtime. It was painfully obvious now. The Harrison family''s schemes had gotten so tant that they weren''t even trying to hide anymore. Wendy had learned her lesson-no more stepping into their traps. Last time at Joy''s birthday party, they had tried to paint her as part of the family, practically standing her at the entrance like a trophy. Wendy wasn''t about to fall for that again. Henry didn''t need to bait her anymore. There was no point putting up any more fa?ades. Now, coldness would get better results. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Tangled Threads Finished The moment Chase got in the car, the driver hit the gas and sped him straight to the venue. This venue was famous for hosting all kinds of exhibitions-luxury jewelry shows, fashion events. you name it. It sat in one of the city''s most luxurious districts, where every inch ofnd was worth a fortune. Mostpanies couldn''t even get a spot here. In all the years it had operated, this ce had never once had an ident. And yet, today, during a coboration between Quinn Group and Fenon International, something had gone disastrously wrong. The second Chase saw Avery''s injuries on the operating table, he knew-someone had wanted Avery dead. That steel beam had missed his heart by a hair''s breadth. It wasn''t luck. It was pure, deliberate danger. Outside the venue, police tape cordoned off the area. Chase was about to speak at the entrance when Waylon came striding out, phone pressed to his ear, talking in a low, fast voice. He spotted Chase immediately, lifted the police tape, and waved him through. "I know, the pressure from upstairs is gonna be massive, Waylon was saying into the phone. "But I want to see if he can survive Lemon and Madam Wendy teaming up. They''re going to the main station tomorrow to have a ''chat'' with the higher-ups." "We''ll see if Cain can hold out. Yeah, I''ll be thereter. Talk then." Waylon ended the call and nced at Chase, seeing his exhausted face. Without a word, he led him into a private room. Inside, the table was piled high with food-steaming dishes still fresh from the kitchen. Lemon and Wendy sat side by side, heads close together, deep in conversation. They looked up when the door opened. Wendy waved him over. "Right on time. The food''s average here. Just grab a few bites." Chase nced at the table, stacked high with tes, and wondered what Wendy''s definition of "a few bites even was. "How''s Avery?" Wendy asked immediately. Lemon had already gotten a call from Avery''s agent saying he was stable for now, but she wanted confirmation. "He''s out of immediate danger," Chase said, sitting down. "But his injuries are severe. He''s probably going to be out for six months to a year. He won''t be doing anything physically strenuous anytime soon-not that he would''ve, as an entertainer." Lemon cursed under her breath. It was rare for Chase to hear Lemon lose her temper. Around him, she always acted sweet and 9:24 PM Chapter 72 Tangled Threads Finished "Zynn and Sammy are still in meetings," Lemon muttered, pouring herself a cup of tea. The online storm''s out of control. Avery''s fanbase is massive-there''s no shutting this down easily." Waylon chimed in between mouthfuls of food. "Maintenance records show that chandelier was checked two months ago. No way it aged enough to snap like that. Somebody tampered with it." The venue''s head of maintenance swore that everything was inspected regrly. That chandelier falling wasn''t an ident. "The surveince cameras were also moved deliberately." Waylon said. "I think someone inside. got bribed. We''re questioning security staff now." Chase wasn''t surprised. He hadn''t eaten all day, barely drank water, stuck on standby for the entire surgery. Now, finally sitting down, hunger hit him like a truck. Wendy barely touched her food but kept piling food onto Chase''s te, worried he''d starve. Today I worked with Bernard," Chase said quietly to Wendy. "He told me he''s one of your people. Guess Madam Wendy has a soft spot for med students, huh? Met him before me?" Wendy smiled faintly. It wasn''t quite like that. She''d met Bernard after Chase-at a time when she was heartbroken from Henry''s betrayal and had begun quietly taking over Quinn Group. Her investigation into her father''s death had naturally led her to Cloud Hospital. She''d handpicked Bernard, a top student, to quietly embed inside the hospital. Five years ago. "I still like you more, Wendy whispered, smiling as she kissed him lightly. Waylon rolled his eyes at the flirting and shoved food onto Lemon''s te to distract himself. "What now?" Lemon asked grimly. "Chase can handle the hospital, but what about outside? I''m worried they''ll bury this." "If they do," Wendy said calmly, then it''s time for some serious PR. I never thought we''d pin this. on the Harrison family anyway." She wiped her mouth and turned to Waylon. "What''s your take?" Waylon leaned back in his chair, lighting a cigarette. The faint curl of smoke framed his sharp features. "What do you want me to say? The crime''s beenmitted. All we can do is catch whoever''s Chapter 72 Tangled Threads Finished Chase frowned. "He''ll wake up today, but his condition''s fragile. I don''t rmend questioning him yet. He hurt his lungs-too much stress or fear could seriously set him back." Waylon threw up his hands. "If we can''t question him, how the hell are we supposed to investigate?!" Watching her brother lose his temper, Lemon smacked him lightly on the arm, then turned back to Chase. "Avery''s assistant will be at the hospital. If you need anything, you can reach out to him." Send Gifts Chapter 73 Chapter 73 A Glimpse Behind the Curtain. "Got it, Chase said. Finished It was nearly dawn by the time they finally left the venue. The manager of the hall personally escorted them out, his face full of worry as he spoke to Wendy. "Madam Wendy, we will take full responsibility for this incident. Avery''s medical expenses are on us. The boss would like to invite you to dinner as an apology." Chase stood quietly by Wendy''s side, not saying a word. Wendy turned and gave the manager a calm nce. Her voice was light, but carried a weight that made the air tense. "That won''t be necessary. Your venue''s menu could use some updating-nothing impressive. Tell your boss that right now, it''s not about whether I care. It''s about whether Ms. Lemon does. Instead of inviting me to dinner, you''d better figure out how to clean up this mess for her." She casually pointed toward the entrance where a surveince camera hung. Her slender fingers. waved slightly-and just like that, every eye followed her gesture. "If "If your cameras don''t work, might as well take them all down," she said casually, and with that, she pulled Chase into the car without looking back. Chase leaned over once they were inside and said gently, "No need to waste your breath on him. Waylon already said they probably weren''t involved." In the backseat, Wendy finally let her exhaustion show. She sent a message to Sammy, telling her to cancel the rest of the public rtions meetings and let everyone rest. "I know," Wendy said tiredly. "Waylon said the security team was likely bribed. Otherwise, how the hell could someone swap out parts and there not be a single trace on camera? Management failure is still their responsibility. Now bothpanies are getting hammered by fan outrage. We just calmed the gossip about my so-called affair,her usually and now this." Her voice trailed off, weariness clouding sharp tone. Chase pulled her close, cradling her against his chest. "Rest a bit. I''ll wake you when we get home." "Mmhmm." Wendy closed her eyes, letting herself lean into his warmth. Even through the faint scent of hospital disinfectant clinging to him, she foundfort. After a while, she whispered, "You must be exhausted too. I''ll stay up with you." Chase chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "I''m your man. Of course, youe first. Don''t worry about me. I caught a two-hour nap earlier. That was a lie, and they both knew it. Chase hadn''t rested at all. The whole night, his mind raced-running through surgical 9.24 PM 0 Chapter 73 A Glimpse Behind the Curtain shing through his mind every time he closed his eyes. mished The driver parked in front of their building. By then, Wendy was fast asleep. Chase carefully carried her out of the car. "Take the day off. Thanks for today, Chase said quietly to the driver. "Of course, sir. The driver watched them disappear into the building, feeling aplicated swell of emotions. Not too long ago, he''d witnessed some tense fights between Madam Wendy and Mr. Chase-talks of divorce, tears, mmed doors. It had seemed inevitable they''d split. Yet here they were now. He couldn''t help but feel a little envious. Ordinary folks like him worked just to survive-no time for love, no energy for fights. But Madam Wendy and Mr. Chase... they were different. Kind-hearted. Meant for something more. He silently wished them happiness. Inside the apartment, Chase gently set Wendy down, took off her coat, and wiped her face with a warm towel. Wendy had left in such a rushst night she''d barely touched her makeup-just thrown on sunsses and gone. Now, fresh and clean, she mumbled something in her sleep and instinctively curled into the nkets. Chase smiled faintly and kissed her forehead before stepping into the study. He powered up hisptop and began methodically documenting every step of the night''s surgery -sending detailed reports to the heads of each department. If anyplications aroseter, they would need a precise record to track the source. While he worked, emails slowly trickled in. To his surprise, the first reply came from Bernard, Attached to the email was a Facebook contact request. Chase added him, and they exchanged a few quick messages. Bernard: "Chairman''s still awake?" Chase "Just finished up. You too?" Bernard: "Yeah. Got dragged out for an early breakfast. Oh, by the way, I noticed something odd 9:24 PM Chapter 73 A Glimpse Behind the Curtain Chase sat up straighter, eyebrows knitting together. Finished Every nurse at Cloud Hospital was handpicked from top-tier schools. Getting hired here was like winning the lottery: thepetition was fierce. Those who made it were the best of the best. Bernard seemed to sense his confusion and called him directly. Chase quickly closed the study door so Wendy wouldn''t be disturbed. What''s going on?" Chase asked. On the other end, Bernard stood outside a breakfast shop, steam rising from his mouth in the chilly morning air, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. "Usually, ER nurses adapt fast no matter how bad the trauma. But today... Bernard paused. "One nurse. Her movements weren''t just slow. It was like she was deliberately wasting time." Chase frowned. "Couldn''t she just be inexperienced?" Bernard exhaled a long breath. That''s what I thought. But after the surgery, I asked the head nurse about her. Turns out, she''s been here for over a year. Send Gifts Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Draw the Line So... it was intentional? Finished Both sides fell silent for a moment. From Bernard''s side of the call, a man''s voice floated over, asking who he was talking to. "Our hospital''s chairman," Bernard said simply. The man let out an "oh" and seemed to tug Bernard into a quieter room. "Eat first. You can sleep when you get home." "I just thought I should tell you before I forgot, Bernard said. "I think her name''s Nance." Got it. Thanks," Chase replied. Bernard chuckled, his voice muffled as someone shoved a dumpling into his mouth. "No problem. I''m getting paid by Madam Wendy after all. Gotta do my job properly. Gotta go." The call ended. Across from Bernard, the man raised an eyebrow. "That Madam Wendy again?" Bernard shook his head. "No, her husband. "Huh? She''s married? You never mentioned that." "Yeah, for a while now. Our honorary chairman. Guy''s a real prodigy-surgical skills are insane." Wendy woke upte, sunlight already filling the room. She looked over to find Chase still sound asleep beside her. Moving carefully so she wouldn''t wake him, she slipped out of bed. There was a ton to deal with after yesterday''s chaos. She had nned to hold an emergency meeting first thing-but somehow, she had slept right through the morning. Heading to the study, she noticed Chase''sptop still open. There were emails pulled up-looks like Chase and Bernard had already been in contact. Wendy sat down at the desk, resting her chin on one hand, lost in thought. Bernard had been ced at Cloud Hospital years ago, a quiet piece on her chessboard. She''d deliberately kept him in the shadows, knowing that if she moved too early, the Harrison family would catch on. That''s why she had let Simon take the spotlight first. 974 PM Chapter 74 Draw the Line suspect a thing. Still... Wendy let out a soft sigh. Would there ever be an end to these battlest By the time she set up for the video conference, Chiuse was awake. He whipped up a quick breakfast for her, cing it on the desk before quietly taking a seat nearby. "You should stay home today." Chase said. Wendy gave a small nod. "I''ll just call into the meeting. want to hear what the PR department has nned. Lemon''s team has already started damage conul. If we hit this from both side we should be able to stabilize things for a while.""" She understood Henry''s move clearly. He hadn''t meant to create a full-scale disaster. He just wanted rattleLemon a little-send a warning shot. But he forgot one thing. This was Lemon. The Fired family wasn''t just any entertainment empire-they had deepromsinthiscity. Despit the sharks circling for years, Lemon had sat firmly in the heir''s seat without hinging an inch. In sad everything about her capability. Wendy didnl? adimire many people. But Lemon was different. Womeninthe business world understood each other in a way men never coulit. I''m heading on the hospitalter," Chase said. "Avery should regain consciousness today. The stable. Wervion cam tile his statement. If not... we''ll have to adjust the treatment n ontin It would all dependem how Avery''s body handled the trauma. Still, no matter how yed out-there was no excuse for what Henry had done. Targeting an innocent man paras geen authem? It was despicable. Chase hesitated for a mumem then asked quietly. "Wendy... have you ever hurt anyone?? Wendy didn''t even blinit. She mudded 9:24 PM 0 Chapter 74 Draw the Line After a pause, she added slowly, "Plenty of people, actually. Including you." Chase smiled. "I don''t count. I went willingly." In this world, you didn''t rise without making enemies. Wendy wasn''t naive about it. Finished Most of the "dirty work" wasn''t done by her own hand, anyway-that was what Dawn was for. Few people knew that Dawn was Zynn''s younger brother, and even fewer knew he reported directly to Wendy. "But," Wendy said firmly, "I''ve never hurt innocent people. Not like Henry, Businesspetition. is one thing-but dragging outsiders into it? I would never." That was enough for Chase. He smiled, relieved. In the afternoon, they went their separate ways. Chase had barely been gone five minutes when there was a knock at the door. Wendy, thinking he must''ve forgotten something, got up from the study to answer it. But when she opened the door, she froze. "Henry?" There he was looking urgent, carrying that familiar, nervous energy he always had when he needed something. "I heard about the incident at the show," Henry said quickly "The news is everywhere. I just wanted to check on you." He shifted as if to step inside. But Wendy didn''t move aside. She stood firmly in the doorway, leaving no space for him to enter. Henry frowned slightly, sensing something was off. "I''m in the middle of a conference call," Wendy said coolly. "Now''s not a good time." "Oh... right, Henry said, stiffening awkwardly. Still, he couldn''t help ncing inside-and sure enough, his eyesnded on a pair of men''s slippers sitting by the entrance. His smile faltered. And Wendy caught in all Chapter 74 Draw the Line "Is there anything else?" Send Gifts Chapter 75 Chapter 75 What He Can''t ept. Chase had been back recently? "Then... have you eaten yet? I can make you something." Henry tried again. Wendy said she had already eaten. In the end. Henry left unwillingly. After closing the door. Wendy looked down at the pair of men''s slippers Chase had left by the entryway. It seemed Henry had noticed. She figured he would soon start acting like a cornered dog. Henry was a man and a very arrogant one. He had always thought that no one could rece him in Wendy''s heart. But now, Wendy clearly prioritized her career over love, and she was no longer the college girl who could be coaxed with a few sweet words. If Henry wanted to be the master of Quinn Group, it wasn''t going to be easy. Wendy squatted down and put the slippers away. She was curious - just how desperate would Henry get now? "I''m back." Wendy said as she unmuted her mic during the video conference. "Henry just stopped by. Said he saw thements online and was worried about me, so he came to check on me." Zynn couldn''t help butugh. "What,ing to admire his ''victory"?" "This guy really doesn''t know how to act reserved," Sammy shook her head and said to Wendy, "Waylon still hasn''t found the problem. The security team''s statements arepletely synchronized. Now he''s starting to suspect that the entire venue staff might bepromised." While Chase wasn''t home, Wendy lit a cigarette. White smoke slowly rose up, and the study quickly filled with the scent of tobo. Chase was a doctor. Normally, he didn''t like the smell of smoke, so Wendy had gotten into the habit of not smoking at home. When she workedte in the office, she would sometimes sneak one or two cigarettes to ease her stress. that phony Wendy closed her eyes, the image of Henry''s fake concern still in her mind. urgency, mixed with smugness, as if he was waiting to see her copse in despair, so he could. swoop in like a "savior" and fix everything. The thought disgusted her. Once he''s a *Fenon International''s PR team has a simple n. They''ll wait for Avery to wake up. little better, he''ll record a video to post online. No matter how much we exin, it''ll never be as powerful as hearing it from Avery himself," Zynn said. Chapter 75 What He Can''t ept Finished At the hospital, Avery indeed hadn''t woken up yet. The effects of the anesthesia had worn off, but the pain was unbearable, and even in unconsciousness, Avery''s brows were tightly furrowed. Doctors from various departments had already checked him. No new bleeding points. His body. was slowly healing. Just... he hadn''t regained consciousness yet. Maybe it was because of his personal constitution. Waylon had been at the hospital for hours. He had just gone outside for a cigarette when he saw Chase finishing his rounds. "Still not awake?" Waylon asked, frowning. Chase listened to Avery''s breathing through a stethoscope. Breathing was shallow, but unobstructed. "Everyone''s body reacts differently to anesthesia, Chase exined. "Avery is an entertainer. He doesn''t do much physical training, and his cardiopulmonary function is probably weaker than average. Give it more time." Other interns finished the rounds and left the room. Waylon made his subordinates leave too, leaving only him and Chase. "You sure he''ll wake up?" Waylon asked, worried. Chase shook his head. "There''s no injury to the brain, so there''s no chance of him bing a vegetable. But... the human body isplex. I can''t guarantee anything. Based on all tests so far, there''s about a seventy percent chance he''ll wake up." Seventy percent. For a doctor, seventy percent was already a very high probability. No doctor. would ever promise one hundred percent. Even the sess rate for a simple appendectomy was only ny-eight percent not even ny-nine. "Alright. I''ll trust you," Waylon said, rubbing his forehead in frustration. He walked to the window, cracked it open for some fresh air, and looked back at Avery. "Lemon told me yesterday that Avery is Fenon International''s top idol. He''s got over ten million fans. If he doesn''t wake up, both Quinn Group and Fenon International will be in for hell." Chase didn''t understand much about the entertainment industry, but he could see from Wendy''s constant frown that this was very serious. "The doctors have done everything possible," Chase said. "Now it''s up to Avery''s will to survive. From the current heart monitor data, everything looks stable." The hospital room was filled with the smell of disinfectant. All the machines attached to Avery beeped and clicked steadily, like an eerie symphony. "You guys should also investigate from other angles, Chase suggested. "Don''t put all the pressure on Avery. Honestly, the way the ident happened, it all took only a second. Even if Avery wakes Chapter 75 What He Can''t ept Finished Actually, the reason Waylon was so obsessed with Avery waking up was because of what Avery''s assistant had said. They had already taken the assistant''s statement. Lemon had personally verified it. The assistant wasn''t just any staff member And at the moment of the ident. Avery hadn''t just fallen. He had shouted first- like he had been pushed. he lived with Avery, took care of all his daily needs. Avery was dancing on stage. He was a singing-dancing artist. There were about fifteen backup. dancers behind him. It was chaos when he fell. No one could immediately tell who had pushed him. Send Gifts 298 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Setting the Trap At that time, only Avery could see everyone else''s view was blocked. That was why Waylon needed Avery to wake up and give a statement. "So, this whole series of coincidences was a tually man made. Someone knocked him off the stage first, making him tall directly under the crystal chandelier, so he would be hit." Waylon nodded. "That''s right" No wonder Waylon had been keeping people stationed around Avery "If that''s the case, Avery definitely saw the culprit, at least saw who pushed him... then, Avery is in some danger. Given Henry''s nature, if one strike didn''t seed, there would definitely be a follow-up. Since Avery wasn''t dead, there was a high chance he would reveal who the attacker was. Henry would surely make another 0. Chase said, "I suggest you find someone to guard Avery twenty-four hours a day. Our doctors and nurses can''t stay in the room all the time, and the assistants also need to rest. We can''tpletely protect him." "I was thinking the same thing. Since he''s still unconscious and could be in danger at any time, I''ll have Ryan guard him and cooperate with you." "Me?" Waylon grabbed his shoulder and lowered his voice. "We''re preparing to set a trap. By the time Waylon left, it was already seven o''clock, and the sky had darkened. Chase once again checked all of Avery''s data. Everything was within normal ranges. Only then did he push the door open and leave. Outside the door, two nurses were chatting. Chase hugged the clipboard with the checkup sheets and handed it to a nurse. "This patient needs intensive care. Check his data every half hour and log everything. It''s best not to leave him alone" "Okay" not only The hospital nurses still listened to Chase very well. After all, he was Mr. Chase now good-looking but also capable, and he treated them kindly in daily life. Who wouldn''t like someone like that? Chase got dressed and left. He went downstairs into the underground parking garage but didn''t get into his own car. Instead, he got into another silver mid- sized van that looked like an ordinary van. As soon as the door opened. Chase slipped inside. 9:24 PM Chapter 76 Setting the Trap staring at a screen. "Everything''s installed. Can you see clearly from the angles you gave me?" Chase asked. That afternoon, before leaving, Waylon had given him a task. Finished Waylon shared the same view as Chase: since Henry hadn''t seeded this time, in order to prevent Avery from waking up and revealing the attacker, Henry would definitely find a way to kill Avery. Stationing a few people to watch Avery could indeed protect his safety, but before that, they had to find out who would make a move. Waylon''s group of colleagues stood out too much. On the other hand, Chase, as a doctor, didn''t attract much attention. So Waylon gave Chase a few miniature cameras and had him ce them at specific points. This way, the entire ward would be under their surveince they could both catch the attacker and protect Avery''s safety. There were also colleagues upstairs waiting in the fire escape, pretending to be family members. of patients. They all wore Bluetooth earpieces. As soon as they spotted someone approaching, they would immediately move in to capture. them. Cloud Hospital was a private hospital and didn''t allow random people to enter. Actually, when Chase came that afternoon, he had already noticed that there were quite a few of Avery''s fans and media reporters gathered at the main entrance, all waiting for firsthand news. Several people disguised themselves and tried to sneak in, but they were stopped by security. Before getting off work, Chase had also told security that no one was allowed in - even if the police came to make an arrest, they had to ask him first before letting them through. Cloud Hospital had always operated like this. Otherwise, why would those wealthy people choose. toe here? "I can see clearly. You did a good job." Waylon waved his hand, and someone immediately handed. Chase a cup of coffee. The closer it got to the end of the year, the colder it became. They said it would snow over the weekend. Even sitting together in the van, it was still freezing cold. Fortunately, the coffee was hot. Chase held the cup with both hands, warming himself, and watched the surveince footage with Waylon. A little over ten minutester, the first person entered the ward -a nurse. She just looked around, recorded all the data on the sheet, confirmed that Avery''s vital signs were stable, and then turned and left. Chapter 76 Setting the Trap Finished Chase said, "Actually, not really. You can tell just by looking at her eyes she''s a fan of Avery. That''s why she fought to get assigned to the ICU to watch over him." Waylon was speechless. Even though the Fred family was in the entertainment business, Waylon, the rightful heir, didn''t understand it at all. What was so attractive about men drawing their eyebrows and wearing makeup? He had no idea what these girls liked about that. Just looking at Avery''s features, he was indeed a handsome and good-looking young man, but he still didn''t understand why so many people liked him. Half an hour passed while they watched. Chase was just about to send Wendy a message to tell her he was with Waylon when his phone suddenly vibrated. Everyone''s phones inside the van were on silent. From the outside, no one would be able to guess. there were people inside. "Are you noting back yet?" Wendy''s voice was a little hoarse, like she had spent the whole. afternoon in meetings, talking too much. "It''s already sote. I checked with the hospital. You''re off work." Send Gifts 298 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Breach at the ICU Chase covered the microphone and said. "I''m with Waylon. We''re in the hospital''s parking garage. I''ll head back a littleter." Wendy paused. "Waylon? He didn''t give a statement?" Chase said. The patient hasn''t woken up yet. Waylon thinks someone wille to clean up, so he had me set up some stuff in the ward. We''re getting ready to catch them." Catching criminals was dangerous work. Wendy wasn''t happy that Waylon had pulled Chase into it, and her voice turned a little cold. "Why are you following them? If they''re catching someone, don''t you dare just stand there watching the drama." Chase said, "I know. I won''t cause trouble. I''ll leave in another half hour. Don''t worry." "Okay." If a suspect really showed upter, he would only hold them back by staying. So before the operation began, he nned to leave, and he made sure to remind Waylon: if they were going to catch someone, keep the noise down. Chase made a loop around and drove to a private kitchen restaurant to pick up Wendy''s favorite. food, then headed home. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Wendy sitting on the couch picking out a movie. She was dressed in simple home clothes, her hair tied up, sitting cross-legged on the couch. She looked rxed andfortable. At times like this, she didn''t have a trace of the strong,manding woman about her. She just looked like a wife who had been married for years. If Wendy had been like this from the beginning, maybe they wouldn''t have wasted those five years. In Chase''s heart, there was some regret. Once time was missed, it could nevere back. The shadow left by those five years would neverpletely fade. But at least now, everything was moving in a better direction. "Why are you just getting back? Didn''t you say half an hour?" Wendy turned her head and saw Chase carrying several food boxes. "You went to the Watering Hole?" As she spoke, Wendy got up and walked over. Chase was about to head to the kitchen to get tes, but Wendy wrapped her arms around his waist. "Mr. Chase helped catch criminals today. So impressive!" Chase still had his coat on and both hands full of food. With Wendy hugging him, he could only lift his arms awkwardly, unable even to stroke her shoulders. "Stop it. I haven''t even changed yet." 9:24 PM 0 Chapter 77 Breach at the ICU Wendy hugged him for a while before letting go. Chase set the food down on the table and turned to take off his coat. Wendy had already started unpacking the food. Finished "Waylon just asked me to help out. I also suspect Henry will make a move. What do you think?" Chase asked Wendy. After all, in Wendy''s heart, Henry was different. No matter how ugly things had gotten, at least the Henry from before had truly loved her. Wendy''s expression didn''t change at all. She picked food for Chase and said slowly, "Maybe. Based on what I know about Henry, he would never leave himself with no way out. No matter what part of the n went wrong, he would always have a backup solution." Chase hadn''t expected Wendy to still rate Henry so highly. He raised an eyebrow. Wendy looked up and met his eyes. "You have to admit, if Henry had stayed in the business. world, his position today might have been on par with mine." "But I can''t agree with the methods he uses to achieve his goals. Maybe that''s why people who walk different paths can''t walk together." Maybe they had never been on the same path to begin with it was just a coincidence that they had walked together for a while. "Avery still hasn''t woken up?" "Yeah. All the vitals are stable, but for some reason, he just hasn''t regained consciousness. Waylon''s worried he might turn into a vegetable and never speak again. I told him not to worry. After all, the brain wasn''t injured." Wendy said, "If he really can''t wake up, that would be a huge problem." After dinner, the two of them started watching a movie. Chase deliberately stayed upte, wanting to wait for news from the hospital. Tomorrow was a workday, and Wendy was already dozing off in his arms. Chase thought, Maybe they won''t catch anyone today, and was about to carry Wendy back to the bedroom when the phone rang. Wendy instantly woke up. "Hospital, Chase said. The caller ID showed the name of the doctor on duty tonight. Chase immediately picked up. "Chairman, about Avery in the ICU- "He woke up?" Chase asked. The doctor said, "No. His breathing suddenly failed, and he''s been sent to the emergency room." Chapter 77 Breach at the ICU fine. Why would his breathing suddenly fail?" Finished "We haven''t found the cause yet, but he''s in the emergency room now, and a big group officers came in to make arrests. We... what should we do?" of police Sudden respiratory failure. Waylon going in to catch someone... Could it be... Was the problem with the nurse? Chase immediately got up. "I''m heading to the hospital now. Who''s the lead surgeon?" "Lilian. The patient''s already been sent into the emergency room. nc is assisting. "Okay. I''ll be there in twenty minutes." Wendy had alsopletely woken up. She changed clothes with him, getting ready to go to the hospital together. "The nurse has a problem," Chase and Wendy said at the same time. Chase drove, while Wendy sat in the passenger seat. Send Gifts Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Breathing Crisis Finished "The surgery went very smoothly. The venttor was working normally too. Other than rejection, there''s basically no way for respiratory failure to ur. Unless... the nurse messed up the dosage, causing passive respiratory arrest." Wendy didn''t know medicine, but she was quick-witted. When the patient was rushed to the emergency room, Waylon immediately went in to catch the suspect. That meant the problem must havee from thest nurse who entered. Forty minutes ago, Chase had just checked the data for thest time, confirming that Avery would. definitely wake up tomorrow, and finally felt relieved. He hadn''t expected.... "I already suspected there were people nted inside the Cloud Hospital nursing team, but I didn''t think Avery would run into it this time," Wendy said, looking at the road ahead. Even in the darkness, her eyes seemed to shine. "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?" Wendy said, "I wasn''t sure who it was. After all, I don''t spend much time in the hospital. If I told you without being certain, you might''ve paid extra attention to the nurses exposed it." and that would have "The lead surgeon is Lilian, the director of the emergency department. Her operating skills are reliable. "We''ll see once we get there." The two of them sped all the way to the hospital. Chase went up first. Wendy waited ten minutes before following, taking the chance to call Waylon. Sure enough, Waylon had caught a nurse. Waylon had been watching everything from the van. He hadn''t initially suspected this nurse, but after she went into the ward and administered medication to Avery, Avery''s breathing had started to fail not long after, and all the equipment began ring rms. Waylon immediately rushed in to arrest her. The nurse hadn''t even realized she had been caught. She was still at the nurses'' station scrolling. on her phone when she was suddenly surrounded. Chase changed clothes as soon as he arrived at the hospital and headed straight for the operating room From the observation room, he could see every detail of the surgery. Another colleague was already there and moved aside when he saw Chaseing. Chapter 78 Breathing Crisis "Chairman." Finished Chase gave a small sound of acknowledgment and stared intently at Lilian''s surgical movements, worried there might even be an issue on Lilian''s side. He now felt like no one around him could be trusted. Fortunately, nc was assisting. If anything went wrong during surgery, nc would notice it immediately. "What exactly happened?" Chase asked. Dr. Wanda shook his head and said he didn''t know. Wanda was also on duty tonight. He mentioned that he had nned to go check on Avery soon since, after all, Avery was a public figure if something happened to him in their hospital, it would destroy their reputation. But an emergency with a child hade up, so he had to rush over to assist. The child had just started an IV when themotion broke out. When Wanda came out of the emergency department, all he saw was a group of police officers surrounding Winnie and taking her away. "It was Winnie?" There was disbelief in Chase''s tone. Winnie had assisted him in surgeries several times. He had never noticed any problems before. He hadn''t thought that Winnie would be the traitor. Wanda nodded. The police didn''t say much. They just took Winnie straight away. I could tell nie looked a little guilty, so I hurried to call you. Chairman... should you go ask them about it?" Not only should he ask he needed to go see for himself. The surgery didn''tst very long. After two hours and fifty minutes, it waspleted. Avery was sent back to the ward and even briefly woke up as soon as he arrived, staring nkly at the ceiling before falling back asleep. Lilian removed her mask and said to Chase, "He was given medication to speed up breathing. But with his current condition, speeding up his breathing would cause respiratory failure. His lungs were injured, so the oxygen couldn''t keep up." "Thank you for your hard work, Chase said. Lilian waved it off. "It''s nothing. I was scheduled to be on duty tonight anyway. I just didn''t expect. I heard it was Winnie who administered the medication? Are you sure it wasn''t a mistake? Winnie''s been working here for three years without any incidents. She was even being considered for promotion to head nurse. How did she end up getting arrested?" "Arrests are the police''s business. Our job is to ensure the patient''s safety. You''ve worked hard tonight. Go change clothes and rest. nc,e here for a moment." 0:25 PM 0 Chapter 78 Breathing Crisis "What''s wrong?" Finistid Chase led nc upstairs, heading straight for the office. When he pushed the door open, he saw that Wendy was also inside. She hade up using the private elevator, so she hadn''t attracted much attention. "Madam Wendy is here too, nc said. He already knew about their rtionship, so he wasn''t surprised. "How''s the patient?" Wendy asked Chase. Chase said, "The surgery was very sessful. He even woke up for a few seconds. Looks like once the anesthesia fully wears off tomorrow, he should regain full consciousness." Wendy finally rxed. As long as the person was fine, the rest was up to Chase to handle. Although Wendy was an investor in the hospital, Chase was the honorary chairman. She wouldn''t interfere with his decisions a man needed to maintain his dignity in his field. Chase updated nc on the situation with the police. nc was so shocked that he stood there frozen for a long while. Send Gifts Chapter 79 Chapter 79 The Testimony "You mean, Winnie was trying to kill someone? If that''s proven, her nursing license will be revoked!" Emished At this point, it wasn''t just about revoking her nursing license - Winnie could also be facing criminal charges for causing a death. "For the next few days, don''t follow your mentor around. Stay in Avery''s room twenty-four hours a day. It''ll count as overtime. You can either take overtime pay or time offter. Avery''s assistant Neil is also there. You two can take shifts guarding him." nc immediately nodded. "Got it. I was nning to go home next month anyway. I''ll just use this overtime for time off." "Fine. However you want to arrange it, I''ll approve it. But you absolutely must keep watch. Tomorrow Waylon wille to take Avery''s statement." "Understood. After giving instructions, nc headed downstairs. Wendy and Chase didn''t want to bother going elsewhere either. The office was connected to a rest area, where Wendy had long since prepared a small bed and living essentials. Wendy was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. She grabbed Chase by the cor and pulled him into the back room. "Madam Wendy had this room prepared long ago. Were you nning to move in with me someday?" The moment Chase pushed open the door and saw the bed, he couldn''t hold back augh, hugging Wendy by the waist and whispering softly. Wendy yawned. "As long as you want to, anytime is fine." She grabbed his cor again, her eyes. burning as she stared at him. "You better make sure no one other than the two of us ever sleeps on this bed." Everything in the room had already been prepared, down to matching couple''s pajamas. Chase hadn''t expected Wendy to have such a youthful, girlish side. The two of them changed clothes and fell asleep together on the small bed. Early the next morning, Wendy woke up first. After getting dressed neatly, she slipped out while the hospital was still quiet and headed for the office. Chase woke up drowsily when he heard movement. He reached out to the side and, sure enough, the bed was empty. "Up so early?" Chase rubbed his eyes and sat up. Wendy was standing in front of the mirror, applying lipstick. She took a step back and said, 9:25 PM Chapter 79 The Testimony more obvious that you''re my kept man?" That sounded a bit harsh.. Finished Chase got up, walked behind her, and hugged her waist, bending down to kiss her. "It''s fine. You''re fairer than me anyway. I''ve been living off you for years now, one more time won''t make a difference." In the mirror, Chase''s half-squinting eyes made it obvious he still wasn''t fully awake, but it was clear he was joking. Chase only got up half an hour after Wendy left. They had both been working nonstoptely and were feeling pretty exhausted. He quickly washed up and got dressed, then headed downstairs for rounds, Avery and Neil were both in the ward. When Chase walked in, Neil immediately stood nc remained on the sofa, ying a game without even lifting his head. up, while "Dr. Chase. Neil knew Chase was the neighbor and good friend of their boss. It was said their rtionship was very close. Chase gave a small grunt of acknowledgment, walked over, and checked on Avery. He lifted Avery''s eyelids to check his pupils were reacting to the light, indicating he was starting to respond to external stimuli. At this rate, he would definitely wake up today. Chase withdrew his hand and turned to Neil. "Rx and sit down. I know Lemon well. You don''t have to be so tense." Neil thought, It''s because you know our boss that I''m this nervous. But Neil had been a celebrity assistant for years and naturally knew how to handle people smoothly. "Yes, I know. Boss mentioned you before." Oh What did This... your boss say about me?" Chase asked, smiling. Seeing Neil''s awkward expression, Chaseughed. "I''m just joking. I know Lemon very well. If he had anything bad to say about me, he''d say it to my face, not behind my back. We grew up. together. Our rtionship is solid." Neil finally rxed a little and anxiously asked. "The wholepany''s waiting for news. Will Avery really wake up?" 9:25 PM Chapter 79 The Testimony As he spoke, Chase sat down across from Neil. The private VIP ward was almost like a small apartment two separate rooms. Finished everything was fully equipped, with The room with the hospital bed was mainly filled with medical equipment, and the bathroom was attached for easy ess. There was also a slightlyrger bed for caretakers to rest on. The other room had a sofa and a table with chairs, intended for visitors. At the moment, nc was still sitting on the sofa ying on his phone, while Neil and Chase sat at the table. Neil said, "The event hall was pretty chaotic that day. Just before Avery went on stage, his earring went missing. The earrings were jewelry sponsored by the Quinn Group. They had to be worn on stage. I hurried back to look for them, but after searching everywhere, I still couldn''t find them. When I returned, I just happened to see..." He bit his lip, as if trying to recall the details. Chase remembered what Waylon had said that from Neil''s position, it would have been impossible to see who had pushed Avery off the stage. It was because Avery had shouted something that Neil had been so sure someone had tried to hurt him. Send Gifts Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Dangerous Visitor Finished "Just say it." Chase reassured Neil. "It''s absolutely safe here. nc is one of us. I''m friends with your boss and with Waylon. Wendy is my wife. I''m genuinely trying to help you." Hearing Chase say that, Neil finally rxed. "From my angle, I really couldn''t see who pushed Avery, But....there was only one person near the edge of the stage at that time. And after Avery fell, everyone else panicked, because the crystal chandelier fell too. But that person... wasn''t surprised at all. He just stood there, coldly watching" Ever since that moment, Neil had felt something was wrong with that person and had told Waylon about it. "His name is R? The dance troupe this time was newly selected. We weren''t very familiar with. them. We only rehearsed together for about three days before the performance." Since they had a target, Waylon would definitely be following up. Neil didn''t need to do anything more. After sitting for a while longer, Chase reminded nc to check Avery''s vital signs and then left. "Mr. Chase." He hadn''t even reached the office yet when he heard a familiar voice behind him. Chase''s steps. paused. It was Henry. He had actuallye to the hospital? Chase turned around and saw Henry standing behind him, dressed in a high-end tailored suit, hist hands casually stuffed in his pockets. Looking at him now, it was easy to see why Wendy had once been attracted to Henry''s face. he did have a deceptive appearance. But the man''s vicious heart was enough to make anyone sick. Chase pushed open the office door, and Henry followed him inside. That custom-made suit looked familiar. If he remembered correctly, on his own birthday, Wendy had given him an identical set- same brand, color, and size none of it had belonged to him. That suit was still hanging in the storage room. Clearly, Henry suited that style very well. Back then, Wendy had still been pretending, hiding any trace of how much she cared. Chase couldn''t me her for it Chapter 80 Dangerous Visitor Henry came in and closed the door behind him. Outside, people were praying and hoping for a chance at survival in the hospital halls. Yet someone like Henry was always standing in their way. "Mr. Henry, you''re at the wrong ce today. I don''t believe you have an appointment with me." Chase said bluntly, not bothering to be polite anymore. He even spoke with a new sense of confidence. After all, now he knew he weighed much more in Wendy''s heart than Henry did. And... If Henry saw him as an enemy, it meant Wendy was safer and could do more things behind the scenes. Helping Wendy made him happy Henry pretended not to hear, pulled out a chair across from Chase, and sat down. "Mr. Chase, I thought you would be at Lemuria by now, not still here. getting in the way of Wendy and me. Getting in the way of what? A rtionship? Where did Henry get the confidence to use that word? Chase didn''t bother tearing down Henry''s forced calm. He just said. "If your rtionship could be so easily blocked by me, then frankly, it must be pretty fragile." "Wendy loves me: If it weren''t for you, we would already be together. Since you''ve clearly seen. how little you matter to her, why don''t you leave?" Henry''s voice suddenly grew harsher. "Or do you want me to give you a little push?" If Chase hadn''t woken up this morning beside Wendy in the same bed, he might have been fooled by Henry''s self-assured tone. Honestly, Chase couldn''t figure it out. Wendy had been treating Henry coldly for a while now. Because of Henry''s gossip scandals, Wendy had been pretending to be angry, barely even answering Henry''s calls anymore. They were usually handled by her secretary team. Was Henry getting desperate? Or didst night''s incident give him a sense of crisis? It seemed Henry wasn''t as invincible as he thought he was. "Mr. Henry, did youe to the hospital for something? I still have rounds to do. If not, I won''t 9:25 PM Chapter 80 Dangerous Visitor Chase had no intention of directly answering him. Henry dropped the pretense. Finished "Wendy''s fashion show with the Fred family was disrupted. A celebrity was injured. Wendy''s been busytely, so she asked me toe check on things. Dr. Chase, please show me the way." Chase felt a jolt of shock. He looked carefully at Henry and caught a flicker of anxiety in his eyes. It seemed that since Winnie hadn''t seededst night, Henry had decided to take matters into his own hands. Chase was genuinely curious how Henry nned to act. Thinking it over, Chase took out his phone to call Wendy. Henry immediately tried to stop him. "Wendy''s still in meetings. She doesn''t have time to answer your call. This is a hospital. ording to Fenon International''s agreement with Waylon, without their permission, no one except medical staff is allowed near the patients. You say Wendy sent you it?" don''t I at least need to verify Henry frowned. "I just want to take a look from a distance. I''ll leave once I confirm he''s fine. Avery... he''s really okay?" "His condition is stable. The surgery waspleted two days ago." "I heard Avery was rushed back into surgeryst night. Mr. Chase, it''s not that I doubt your medical skills. I''m just worried about Avery''s situation." The news of Avery being rushed into emergency surgeryst night had been tightly contained. Not many people knew. The doctors on duty had all been warned that leaking any information. would be considered obstructing an investigation. Send Gifts Chapter 81 Chapter 81 She Valued Him Chase wondered, How does Henry find out Avery was taken into the emergency roomst night? Finished "If you''re asking, all I can say is Avery''s stable now. He will wake up today. But if you won''t let me call Ms. Quinn, then I''m sorry-I can''t take you to see Avery," Chase said. Henry sat there staring at Chase for a long time before finally getting up. "Chase," he said, "you''re so dull, no wonder Wendy doesn''t like you." But whether Wendy liked him or not didn''t matter at this point. At the very least, it was clear she no longer had feelings for Henry. After Henry left, Chase immediately called Wendy. She was indeed in a meeting, but it wasn''t her secretary who answered the phone. The secretary''s office had already received Wendy''s instructions. Whenever Chase called, no matter what she was doing-unless it was something that absolutely couldn''t be interrupted- they were to transfer the call to her directly. That alone showed how much she valued Chase. So the moment they got the call, it went straight to Wendy''s phone. "Why are you calling me now?" Wendy asked. Chase nced at the door, making sure Henry had already left and wasn''t eavesdropping. Only then did he speak. "Henry came by just now." Wendy was reading documents, but upon hearing that her interest was piqued. She waved her hand to dismiss the people in front of her, swiveled her chair to face the window, and smiled. "Let me guess," she said. "Henry wanted to see Avery, right? And the fact that you''re calling me me. Did he tell you I asked him to go visit Avery?" means his excuse was Her guess was spot on. "So I called to ask," Chase replied. "Ms. Quinn, did you actually give him that order?" Wendy said, "Let''s not even get into the fact that Avery''s signed with Lemon and has nothing to do with me. Even if I wanted to visit Avery, I could''ve told you directly. Why would I send Henry? Did you let him?" As far as Henry knew, her rtionship with Chase wasn''t that clear yet. Even if he had seen a pair of men''s slippers at her ce, he probably just thought Chase was being clingy-he would never imagine it was Wendy who insisted on the rtionship. It was hard to tell whether Henry was just overconfident or if he really didn''t understand Wendy. at all 925 PM I 0 Chapter 81 She Valued Him Finished "Of course not," Chase said. "I had nc and Neil stay with Avery the whole time. Henry didn''t get the chance." "That''s good," Wendy said. "That nurse, Winnie, already confessed. She was paid off. But if Henry dared to make a move, he definitely covered his tracks. Waylon probably won''t be able to find. anything solid." "It''s fine. As long as we have a breakthrough, we''ve got a shot. Oh, and starting today, to prepare r the IPO, I''m going to review all past patient records from Cloud Hospital. Among them..." He trailed off. Wendy understood immediately. Among those records would be her father''s. If there was going to be an investigation, it could start with Chase. All the nning they''d done for so many years was finally starting to show results. Now that Chase held the honorary chairman''s position, they finally had a chance. Quinn Group had barely stayed afloat all these years thanks to Wendy and Mandy''s efforts. But now, it was time to strike back. "You''ll definitely have people trying to interfere while you investigate those old cases," Wendy said. "Don''t worry about any of it. If there''s trouble, push it all on me. Just focus on your part." Henry never got a chance to see Avery at the hospital. Not long after he left in frustration, Avery woke uppletely. All the department heads came to check on her. After they confirmed her condition, they left one by one. In the end, only Chase and Lillian stayed. It had been Lillian who performed the emergency surgery the night before, and now she had a full grasp of Avery''s condition. "Right now, it doesn''t seem too serious," Lillian said as she looked at Avery. "But the damage to your lungs is severe. Recovery may take quite a while. You''ll need to coordinate with your manag to arrange your schedule. The other doctors will brief you on the rest." After speaking, she nodded to Chase and left the room. Thank you, Dr. Goodman," Avery said. Her voice was still weak, and she didn''t have the strength. to move. Lying in bed, she tilted her head toward her assistant. "Let the boss know I''m awake. Tell him I''m fine." Neil rubbed his eyes. "We should still go with Dr. Goodman''s judgment. Don''t worry about it. I''ll call the boss now." 9:25 PM 0. Chapter 82 My Cold Ex-Wife Refused to Move On Chapter 82 The Bigger Picture Finished After speaking. Neil opened the door and walked out. nc stood up from the couch and walked over. "He''s already awake, so I don''t have to stand guard 24/7, right? If you need me. I''ll just bring myptop over. I still need to revise my thesis- the professor said there were problems," he said. In fact, Avery was even more in danger now that he was awake. After seeing Henry today, it was clear that no matter what, Henry would make sure Avery died. That being the case, there was absolutely no way to leave Avery alone in the hospital room. After thinking for a moment, Chase said, "Then go run into any back and get yourptop. If y issues with your thesis, let me know-I can help. You go ahead. I need to talk to Avery." nc nodded, opened the door, and left. "I know you can''t say much right now," Chase said, "but Mr. Fred has been trying to get a statement from you. You were unconscious thest few days when he came by, but now... Before Chase could finish. Avery nodded and said clearly, "I know this has something to do with the twopanies. I did see who pushed me off the stage. Please ask the doctor to call the police. I can give a statement anytime, but I might speak a little slowly." Chase contacted Waylon. Waylon had just stepped out of the interrogation room and was lighting a cigarette in the hallway. When he heard that Avery was awake, he immediately called over two officers and rushed to the hospital. As they drove, the officer at the wheel nced at him and asked cautiously, "We all know this has to do with the Harrison family. Why can''t we make Henry cooperate with the investigation?" "I told you, we can''t alert the enemy," Waylon said irritably flicking the cigarette butt out the window. "There are too many people involved. It''s not just the twopanies. We''ve got restrictions here in the country. We''re not like those overseas, doing whatever we want." The officer nodded. "It just feels so frustrating. We know it''s Henry, but we can''t touch him." "We''re not the only ones frustrated. A lot of people have been wronged because of Henry. That''s exactly why we''re holding back for the bigger picture," Waylon said. The special task force is already up and running. We''ll get him sooner orter." Waylon went straight to find Chase once he arrived at the hospital. But Chase was on rounds with a group of interns, and the office was empty. Waylon stepped into the stairwell to make a call. "Yes, I''m at the hospital now. As long as this thing is connected to them, I''ll file for a search immediately. But right now, we still don''t have evidence," he said into the phone. As he talked, he faced the corner of the stairwell. Footsteps passed behind him, light and quick. Waylon turned instinctively and froze. That profile looked familiar. 9:25 PM Chapter 82 The Bigger Picture Waylon hurriedly ended the call, hands a little shaky. Finished Chase had just finished checking on a few patients and was standing in the hallway with the interns, giving them reminders on what to look out for. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Henry''s figure pass by the far end of the corridor again. Chase''s brow furrowed automatically. Didn''t Henry already leave? Why is he back at the hospital? "Dr. Goodman?" one of the interns called out when they noticed Chase had zoned out. "We''ll keep a close eye on the patient for the next 24 hours. Is there anything else we should pay attention to?" Chase snapped out of it and shook his head. "Out of your whole group, only two of you will get to stay in the hospital long term. The final decision isn''t up to me- it''s up to your mentors. They''ll also be grading your work. That''s all I can say. If you need to revise your thesis, you better start now. With that, he tucked one hand into his pocket and handed the patient files to a nurse with the other, then turned and walked toward the figure he thought was Henry. The hospital corridor was still crowded. Through the blur of people, he could only make out a vague silhouette. It did look like Henry-but something was slightly off. And the closer he got, the clearer that feeling became. Chase finally stopped when he was about a meter behind the man. It wasn''t Henry. The man only had a simr build. If Chase guessed right, it was Larry. Larry was Henry''s cousin, and the one in charge of the other twopanies under the Harrison family. To put it inly, he was now Henry''s biggest rival. Why is he here at the hospital? Is he involved in this incident? Chase moved to catch up again, but suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist hard. Startled, he almost fought back, but the person hushed him. "Waylon?" Chase looked closely. As expected, it was Waylon who had grabbed him. Chase stopped struggling. Waylon pointed at the man walking ahead and asked in a low voice, "Was that Henry?" Send Gifts 298 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 His Recovery n Finished Chase shook his head. "From the back, it looked like Henry, but it definitely wasn''t. I know Henry too well. That person should be Larry. Do you know him?" he said. Waylon froze for a second, then suddenly remembered Henry''s cousin. "What''s he doing at the hospital? Isn''t this the floor where Avery''s room is?" he asked. "That''s right. And the direction he was heading should be Avery''s room. But right now there are people everywhere inside and outside, so even if he came, he wouldn''t be able to get close," Chase said. News of Avery''s hospitalization had been tightly sealed. But there was no such thing as a wall without cracks, and when it came to celebrities, that saying became even more full of holes. From the day Avery was sent to the hospital, the lobby and even this floor had been filled with disguised fans and media. But this hospital paid great attention to patient privacy. Even if they managed to get inside, they couldn''t get anywhere near Avery''s room. "My colleague is already taking Avery''s statement. I heard his lungs are badly damaged. He might speak very slowly. Do you think this will affect his acting in the future? Lemon told me he still has a lot scheduled this year. If he can''t join the projects as nned, he might have to pay a lot in penalties." Chase and Waylon walked back to his office together. After sitting down, Chase finally said, "Speaking as a doctor, I''d suggest he rest for a year before working again. Otherwise, his body will take a serious hit. It might not show now, but ten years from now it''ll be obvious." Waylon frowned the moment he heard that, clearly getting more irritated. "Of course, I know that for people like them, taking a year off is basically disappearing from the industry. We''ll have to wait until next week to create a recovery n before we know how long it''ll take for him to return. My advice is- don''t rush things," Chase added. Waylon crossed one leg over the other. "You know I never wanted to deal with the family business. But every time I go home and see Lemon sitting on the couch with that worried look, I can''t just do nothing. I keep thinking I should do something to help." "Same with Wendy, he continued. "She''s stuck between Henry and the others. Even if I don''t like it, I can''t say anything, because I know she has big things to take care of. I can only help her within the hospital. Once I leave, I''m just a nk sheet. About forty minutester, Waylon''s phone rang. The statement had been taken. "Til leave someone here to watch over Avery," he at the station and won''t be able to meet with you id. "The rest is up to you. I''ve got a lot going on If you need anything, talk to Lemon. The two of them will probably be having meetings together a lot." 9.35 PM Chapter 83 His Recovery n Finished In response to Avery''s fans going crazy, the twopanies decided to shoot behind-the-scenes clips of Avery''s time in the hospital. Thankfully, Avery agreed. A weekter, departments began drafting his recovery n. For a celebrity like him to be staying in the hospital, it also helped raise the hospital''s reputation. "The agency''s always been good to me. Even when there''s trouble, they stand on my side. Since. that''s the case, I can''t let my personal issues damage the agency''s name. That wouldn''t do me any good either." Avery told Neil. After work, Chase came by as usual to check on things. "You''ll get your recovery n tomorrow," he said. "Just follow it. It might take another month before you''re fully discharged. After that, you''ll have toe back for checkups every two months. Your agency asked me when you might return to work. I told them-one year." Neil reacted strongly. "No way! A year? He still has a bunch of endorsements left to film this year! Then he''s supposed to join two productions. Both film crews have been waiting for him, and it''s really hard to get into those groups!" Avery waved his hand, telling him not to panic. "I''ll do whatever the doctor says," he replied.. "I know you''re in a hurry, but you can''t ignore your health." Chase said. "You''re still young. Any damage now might not show, but give it five years, not even ten, and it''ll start surfacing." "Got it," Avery said. Wendy was still working overtime at the office. Chase ordered food and went over to keep herpany. He also go He also got desserts and coffee for the rest of the team who were still working. Before this, Chase had never done things like that. He never saw himself as the boss'' husband. He pushed open the office door. Wendy was in a video meeting, speaking a foreignnguage Chase couldn''t understand at all. She looked up and saw him, smiled, and pointed to the couch, signaling for him to sit and wait. Chase had brought work too. He thought the recovery n for Avery could still be improved a bit. Send Gifts Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Their Protection Finished If it had been someone else, Chase probably wouldn''t have needed to handle this. But the sooner Avery got back to work, the better it would be for Wendy too. "Alright, let''s leave it like this for now." After the video meeting ended, Wendy stretched and walked over to Chase. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sat in hisp. "Aren''t we off work already? Why are you still busy with all this?" Chase quickly caught her and said with a smile, Ms. Quinn, aren''t you working too? I''m only still at it because I''m trying to keep up with you. The food''s getting cold. How about giving me the honor of eating first?" "Approved." The meal was made up of their usual favorites, nothing special. Ever since Chase started working full-time, he rarely had the chance to cook at home. Lately, with everything going on, her at thepany, him at the hospital- they only saw each other when they went to bed. "Waylon already got Avery''s statement. I think we''ll catch the person who pushed him soon. But honestly, I''m not getting my hopes up. Winnie didn''t bring up Henry at all, which tells me Henry never showed his face from the beginning." Wendy nodded. That sounded just like Henry. No matter what he did, he always stayed in the shadows. He might fund things behind the scenes, but he would never be the one everyone saw. "I saw Larry at the hospital today." Chase paused for a second, unsure, then added, "Well, I think I did. The figure looked just like him. It wasn''t just me, Waylon saw it too." Wendy said calmly, "With everything that''s happened, Larry probably wants it to be Henry more than anyone. He thinks if Henry really pulled something like this, the Harrison family would kick him out. But he''s never understood-this is exactly who Henry has always been." "So Larry''s the obvious pawn," Chase said. And honestly, just apletely pitiful one. Avery''s recovery n had been revised over and over until they finally settled on something. When Lemon called to ask about the timeline, Chase answered firmly. "I can''t shorten it any further. You all want Avery to make a full recovery. If he starts working now, it''s not impossible-but if his bodypletely breaks down a few years from now, are you just going to abandon him then?" 19:25 PM Chapter 84 Their Protection Finished Lemon flipped through the files on her desk, pages fluttering one after another. Her secretary pointed out the ce to sign, and she scribbled her name down, holding the phone between her cheek and shoulder. "Of course not! We''re not heartless. It''s just that he''s got a lot of ns lined up. If he can''t show up. I''ll need someone to take his ce. It''s a hassle, sure, but you''re right, Chase. Healthes first. Let''s do it your way. "I''ve alreadypressed his recovery period down to six months, Chase replied. "As long as he recovers fast enough within that time. They talked for a while longer-first listening to her vent, then discussing Avery''s condition- before ending the call. Lately, Chase hadn''t been seeing patients downstairs. He was holed up in his office, preparing for the hospital''s IPO. He had to go through every year''s medical records, one by one, to make sure there were no issues. before they could pass review and submit the application. He already knew what year his father-inw''s car ident happened. He just hadn''t gotten to it yet. He had heard about the surgery from one of the old professors, who said everything went fine- the man was already breathing again at the scene. But ording to eyewitnesses, the guy hadn''t even died. When they put him in the ambnce, he was still able to open his eyes. The two sets of ounts didn''t match at all. No one knew who to believe. But Wendy definitely sensed something wasn''t right, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. "What do you know about Paul''s death?" He asked the question on his day off. After visiting Mandy, he went home and made dinner for Wendy. No one had brought up herte husband in a long time. When Mandy heard the question, she froze for a moment, and the smile faded from her face. "What made you suddenly bring that up?" she asked, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders and looking up at Chase. "I said a long time ago there was no need to investigate that anymore. Did Wendy ask you to look into it?" These two women were both powerhouses in the business world. The way they showed love to their family was through protection. Wendy had learned that from her mother. Back when Wendy was cold toward Chase, Mandy had done the same. Chapter 84 Their Protection Finished had even kidnapped Paul. And after that, Mandy started distancing herself from him. She wouldn''t take him to business events, and people began to gossip that their marriage was falling apart and heading for divorce. Send Gifts Chapter 85 Chapter 85 We Will Find the Truth But all the way until Paul died, Mandy had never shown any intention of leaving him. Finished That proved there was nothing wrong between the two of them. The rumors were all just outside noise. "The hospital is about to go public. I''ve been reviewing every case file one by one, and I came across Paul''s car ident record," he said, his voice calm. "But then I remembered Wendy once told me that a witness saw Paul with his eyes still open when he was loaded into the ambnce- he was clearly still alive. The hospital, though, imed he died on the spot. The statements don''t match. I can''t determine yet if it was the hospital''s fault, so it needs further investigation." Mandy knew that was just an excuse. Such a clumsy excuse could never fool her. Now that Chase and Wendy''s rtionship was starting to thaw, and Chase was still technically her son-inw-just not remarried-there was no harm in telling him about the Quinn family''s matters. "Right after it happened, Mandy said, her voice low. "I immediately had people look into it. The hospital probably had someone from the Harrison family involved." So it was true. Mandy lowered her eyes, looking a little sorrowful. Just like that celebrity who had an incident recently-even under your noses, a nurse still managed to give him an overdose. Back then, things weren''t as advanced as they are now. Even if you investigated, you wouldn''t have found anything. I had to let it go. I didn''t want Wendy to carry hate in her heart, so I told her the hospital wasn''t to me." She never expected that Wendy would keep digging on her own, even after all these years. If she had known, she would''ve told Wendy earlier that Paul''s death was tied to the Harrison family. Maybe then the whole running-away thing wouldn''t have happened. "So you knew everything all along. Mandy Chase nodded slowly. "Got it. I''ll have someone look into it. But after all these years, most of the nurses back then aren''t even around. It''s going to be hard to trace anything. It might take more time." Marady let out a long sigh. I''ve been retired for so many years now. I never got involved in mpany matter. But I''ve never been able to let Paul''s death go. If we can really find the truth. Before she could finish. Chair mached out and gently held her cold fingertips. "We will find the truth. No matter how long it takes, the truth wille out! Chase came hots carrying groceries. Wendy was still in the study working overtime. As soon as she brand the door, she called out, "Who did you go see? Why are you back "I west to see another woman!" he shouted back $25 PM D Chaster E5 We Will Find the Trut The two of them exchanged a couple yful jabs before the sound of notifications began chiming from Wendy''sptop. She immediately jumped into a video call with the higher-ups: herpany. Scenes like this were once unimaginable. Before, every time he came home, it was either darkness or cold silence Even if Wendy there, she''d never look at him. The two of them had lived under the same roof for five years, yet felt like strangers. Not even as close as roommates working on a shared project Chase headed straight to the kitchen, washing vegetables and getting dinner started. Every now and then. Wendy''s voice came from the study, talking in her meeting. This was the home he had always dreamed of Wendy stayed in her meeting until right before dinner. Chase sliced up some fruit and brought it to the study. But when he tried to leave. Wendy grabbed his hand, not letting him go. "Alright, I get it. I''ve already handed over the Dragon Bay project to Ms. Zach, she said into the mic "She lost a project recently, and Dragon Bay''s one of our major pushes for next year. The entire team''s assembled and under her lead now-don''t let her screw this one up. She muted her mie, turned her head, and gave Chase a pout. "Stay with me a bit, don''t go yet "Stop messing around, the soup is still simmering" Chase chuckled, kissed her on the cheek, and nudged her hand away. "Dinner will be ready soon. Just finish up quickly." "Aye aye, captain." During dinner, Chase brought it up. "I dropped by Mandy''s ce today. The house felt a bit empty Maybe it was because the two of them rarely visited anymore. The whole house felt cold and Idris Mandy didn''t like socializing much either-she spent most of her time cooped up indoor Tasked her about Paul''s death. Mandy didn''t look too happy. She admitted that she did lie to you back then. She said Paul still had his eyes open when they put him in the ambnce, like he was oking for something. That matches what the witness said. She looked into it for a long time. The only thing she told me was- there''s something wrong inside the hospital" She Wendy narrowed her eyes couldn''t fool me But ever since I took over the hospital, I''ve ever found anydang wrong Bernards been there for years too, and he didn''t uncover anything err You Can I just put him there to work? He''s been quietly investigating people for me all time. But none of Charro were the unea I''m looking for 9:25 PM c My Cold Ex-Wife Refused to Move On Chapter 86 Chapter 86 She Will Be Fine Wendy''s expression looked slightly downcast. Finished "It''s okay. We''ll find out. We haven''t seen Paul''s medical records yet. Once we do, I can use the number on the file to look up the surgery details. If I check the surveince footage, I''ll definitely find the problem. As long as the lead surgeon is still at the hospital, I''ll find him," she said calmly. The only concern now was that too much time had passed. The people who had worked for the Harrison family back then might have already left. But Wendy believed that person wouldn''t have left. The Harrison family only had a foothold in the hospital because of the people they had secretly ced inside. To be the lead surgeon for Paul, that person must have held a high position. Someone at that level wouldn''t leave easily. "I''m going on a business trip next week. After I get back, I''ll finalize the details of the partnership with Henry. He''s been kept waiting long enough. This is the perfect chance to secure the contract. I''ve already pushed the price down low enough. Honestly, for Henry, this isn''t a great deal," she said. But Henry had no choice. He wouldn''t even dare to mention the price if he wanted to stay on Wendy''s good side. Wendy was working with Lemon just to bring down the value of Henry''s artists. In Wendy''s eyes, Henry wasn''t a born businessman. Hecked the sharpness a businessman should have. It felt like Henry had made it this far purely on talent. If he had taken over the Harrison family''s businesses earlier and gone head-to- head with her sooner, maybe the Harrison family would''ve been wiped out by now. "Are you seriously going that far?" Chase asked. Wendy nced at him. "There''s no family in business. Besides, Henry and I ended years ago. I don''t feel anything for him now. Even if we were still friends, in the business world, one of us would have toe out on top. I don''t really get this stuff, Chase said, but Henry always gave me the feeling that he''s not the one pulling the strings. I mean, with his intelligence, he couldn''t n something like this." That was right. Chase just thought Henry was too dumb. Take that time when Henry tried to see Avery. He actually used Wendy as an excuse. Maybe he was trying to provoke Chase, but Henry didn''t consider that Chase might call Wendy to confirm. In the end, Henry didn''t see Avery and even lost the upper hand in his mind game with Chase. "I saw this stubborn look in Henry''s eyesst time. I don''t think he''s still in love with you," Chase said. "Maybe he regrets not being with you back then. Or maybe it''s your current status that 9:25 PM Chapter 86 She Will Be Fine "I know," Wendy replied. She knew feelings could wear out over time. Finished Over the past five years, because of Chase, her love for Henry had faded and shifted toward someone else. It was the same for Henry. It was even possible that Henry had never truly loved her in the first ce. He wasn''t born to be a businessman, but he wasn''t exactly a noble gentleman either. "I started feeling this way after meeting Mandy," Chase said, putting down his fork. "Whenever I mention Mandy in front of Henry, his expression turns weird. It''s just like when he set me up at the Quinn residence. That vicious, sinister look. I''m worried something might happen to Mandy." "She''ll be fine," Wendy said. "He can''t get close to Mom. Do you know what kind of people work at the Quinn residence? Even the butler, Louis, is not someone Henry can handle." The Quinn residence had deep roots. Forget the Harrison family, even Waylon probably couldn''t get close to Mandy. Since Wendy said that, Chase stopped worrying. Before Avery was discharged, his condition had remained stable. Waylon also tracked down the person Avery had mentioned-the one who pushed him off the stage. Smack! Waylon threw a file on Wendy''s desk. They were in Wendy''s office. Everyone was present. Lemon opened the file and skimmed it. ording g to the man''s confession, he had acted alone out of jealousy. It was a convenient excuse-because if it had really been just jealousy, then Winnie wouldn''t have. shown up at all. "ording to our investigation, Winnie''s dad, David Wilson, was in debt. Coincidentally, the day before Winnie made her move, most of that debt was paid off. That matches her statement-she said once it was done, the rest of the money would be transferred to her ount. But we checked. Winnie''s bank records, there''s no sign of that payment," Lemon said. Standing beside Wendy, Chase thought for a moment. He recalled how stressed Winnie had seemed in the hospital. "Maybe she wasn''t lying," he said. "She looked miserable the past few days. Probably because of her dad''s situation." Waylon took a sip of coffee and winced at the bitterness. He put the cup down and looked at Chase. "Then maybe whoever promised the money backed off when Winnie got caught. They''re probably scared we''d trace the bank records and find them." 925 PM & Chapter 86 She Will Be Fine Send Gifts Chapter 87 Chapter 87 It Was All Maniption Finished Originally, Winnie was only a little scared. But the moment she opened the closet and saw the medicine, she was truly terrified. "Winnie never told them her locker number, but they still knew. And this drug... Waylon''s expression turned serious. "Before taking action, she checked the hospital''s pharmacy system and confirmed that this bottle really dide from the hospital." So there''s something wrong with the pharmacy? now. Chase stayed silent for a moment before he finally spoke. "After the incident, it just so happened that I was about to start reviewing major cases from the past years. I wanted to thoroughly. investigate all of Cloud Hospital''s systems, but I''m the only one doing it. It''ll take time. Right the only person at the hospital we can truly trust is Bernard. The two of us just can''t handle everything. Wendy said, "The pharmacy''s more important. Something like this might happen again. I think we should first confirm this person exists, and keep an eye on them in secret." "I''ll take care of it with Bernard, Chase replied. "I want to officially keep nc at the hospital. nc has the ability, and with him around, it''s one more person who can help." "You can arrange things at the hospital. I''ll support you fully." Watching the two of them work together, Waylon felt a little uneasy. Maybe it was because he rarely saw Chase so serious, and Wendy always looked cold. Together, the two of them gave off a kind of intimidating, unstoppable force. He still remembered that not long ago, Chase had been sitting at the Watering Hole with a bitter. face, saying he was already divorced and that Wendy didn''t love him. But now.... This wasn''t so bad either. Someone had to handle these things While they talked, Lemon had carefully finished reading the written statement. Once the room nt quart, she dosed the file and looked up. "You and Henry are going on a business trip. Isn''t it and of dangerous! I keep feeling like Henry has other intentions." Wendy and Henry were going on a trip for a jewelry department coboration. Originally, Henry wasn''t can than that, but for some reason, night before departure, he was suddenly added Ife find called to say that to show how much he valued the project, and as the general manager, would gu Beads Jaudionton was a special city for them-it was the ce they had once pmanno va zun away Bo Har? caos dary survey made at but now, because of work, they had a chance to go alir Wirzady kaarw Henry just wanted to stir up old memories. Chapter 87 It Was All Maniption Finished "It''s fine. I''ll be taking Sammy and Jeremy from the jewelry department. With them around, there won''t be much trouble." She reached back and held Chase''s hand. "I don''t have many good memories of Henry left. Looking back now, it was all maniption." Chase naturally trusted Wendy and didn''t n to interfere with the trip. Seeing that Chase had no objections, Lemon nodded. "Natalie''s side is ready to start filming anytime. Are you sure you want to shoot the two jewelry lines'' endorsements at the same time? Isn''t that a little risky?" "What risk?" Wendy spread her hands. "With Franklin and Natalie''s poprity. I can''t lose either way. The only difference is how much I make. I honestly don''t care about this bit of money." The endorsements would only give the Quinn Group''s jewelry department a small boost. Even without them, Quinn Group''s jewelry remained firmly in the industry''s top three-unshakable and untouchable. Before the trip, Wendy also called a separate meeting with Sammy and Jeremy. Jeremy Brown, the new director of jewelry design, was a neer with sharp instincts. To be exact, Wendy had taken a liking to thepetition entries he had submitted during his time at the design academy. They perfectly matched Quinn Group''s aesthetic. Since the former design director had to leave due to immigration issues, and after much discussion, they chose Jeremy. Jeremy had zero work experience, but when it came to design, he was a true genius. Back in his sophomore year, countless designpanies had already reached out to him. After rounds of selection, right before graduation, he chose the Quinn Group. What do I do on this trip?" Jeremy still didn''t really understand how business trips worked. He thought it would be like meetings where everyone threw out opinions that didn''t matter to him and weren''t actually used-but he still had to listen. army replied. "As the new design director, of course you''reing, but you don''t need to do anything Just shut yourself in and draw, or go out to find inspiration All expenses during the trip need receipts. Thepany will reimburse you. We chose Jashonton because next quarter''s jerry radube will be held there, and your designs need to fit the city''s style" ong only half-understood, but he nodded and said he''d cooperate. The grooral manager from Hype Entertainment going with us has aplicated rtionship wah M. Quinn You don''t need to worry about him Just focus on Franklin'' Sammy said. Jerry red at Wendy She was leaning back in her chair, replying to messages. Sammy went sati. "You''ve seen Franklin''s photos and I sent you the award show video Franklin''s pretty rarygang The gewelry for the lower end line needs to be softer, less cold and edgy 9:26 PM [. Chapter 87 It Was All Maniption Finished Talented people always had a bit of an attitude. Luckily, Wendy understood that well. Sammy added, "That''s all. Just one more thing, try not to let Ms. Quinn and Mr. Harrison be alone together. You know what I mean, right? Send Gifts Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Her Bodyguard Jeremy frowned. "What''s this?" Finished "You already know Ms. Quinn has a husband. Mr. Harrison is her ex-boyfriend," Sammy said. Jeremy was speechless. Since when do employees need to know their boss''s entire dating history? Sammy sighed helplessly. "I have too much to manage. It''s hard to keep an eye on Ms. Quinn all the time. If you notice Mr. Harrison crossing the line, just find a way to get her out of there. Don''t worry about the aftermath, I''ll handle it." This time, Jeremy understood. Finding inspiration wasn''t the real reason for the trip. The main. purpose was to act as a bodyguard. "Alright, got it," he said. nc''s thesis had been revised by Chase, and his promotion was approved quickly. In the end, he stayed in Chase''s department, which felt like a perfect fit for him. Bernard and Chase were checking the pharmacy''s ess logs and happened to see nc''s promotion paperwork. Both Chase and Wendy had signed it-only nc''s signature was missing. "Can we trust nc?" Bernard asked. "nc is simple-minded but very reliable, Chase replied. Bernard nodded. "I heard you two were roommates during your internship. If you think he''s solid, he probably is." "You put too much trust in me sometimes." Overtrust wasn''t something that usually applied to Wendy. She had studied under Mandy for years and knew that in business, there was no such thing asplete trust. Luckily, everyone in Quinn Group now had been promoted by Wendy herself. As for those loyal. employees Mandy left behind years ago, most had either retired or moved overseas with their families. Few remained in thepany, and even fewer held key projects. "nc isn''t the focus right now. The real priority is finding whoever''s messing with the pharmacy," Bernard said to Chase. "Your surgical skills are well-known, but I''ve been at Cloud Hospital longer. I''ve seen more of its problems." Back when Wendy first ced him in the hospital, Bernard had started learning how to deal with trouble. His position wasn''t very high, so he had to rely on strategy and rtionships. Bernard actually had great rtionships in the hospital. When Simon became head of orthopedics, many of Bernard''s close contacts opposed it.. 9:26 PM Chapter 88 Her Bodyguard Finished But Wendy thought it wasn''t the right time and didn''t want Bernard exposed too early, so she used her own means to keep it quiet. After all, the money Simon had used still came from Wendy. "Look at this person." Bernard pointed at the surveince footage from the pharmacy. Several angles failed to catch the drugs that showed up in Winnie''s locker. camera After watching for a long time, Bernard finally spotted a blurry figure nearby. "Lots of people came and went that day, but most didn''t head in that direction. Only this one did. Does she look familiar to you?" Since taking office, Chase had reviewed all personnel files. He had a general impression of everyone, especially those in critical departments like the pharmacy. Staff there couldn''t be sloppy. Even with all the monitoring, something still went wrong. "I think her name''s Madeline Lane. From the camera angle, they could only see her back. But the ne on her neck looked familiar. Chase stood up and checked her personnel file. As expected, in her ID photo, she was wearing the same ne. "I remember thinking that ne looked nice. I was nning to get one for Wendy," Chase said. He hadn''t expected that a random thought would help him remember someone. Bernard leaned back in his chair. His eyes were strained from watching the footage, so he raised a hand to cover them and closed his eyes. "Do you want to call her in for questioning?" "She''s been in the pharmacy for four years with no problems. If I call her now, it''ll tip her off. Besides, that footage isn''t solid evidence. Let''s wait a bit longer." Bernard kept his eyes shut. Didn''t you say you suspected Ms. Quinn''s father''s death was rted to Cloud Hospital? Madeline wasn''t even here back then." "Exactly. That means Madeline is, at most, an aplice, not the mastermind. We still need to find the one behind it all. After so many years, I''m sure that person holds a high position in Cloud Hospital now." Bernard finally opened his eyes and looked at Chase. "You''re the honorary president-that''s second only to Ms. Quinn. After that, aside from the board of directors, it''s the senior leadership. And those positions all go to people who''ve been around for years. Fits your theory, doesn''t it?" "Let''s keep watching." Wendy went on a business trip with Henry. He didn''t bring anyone else-not even an assistant. But Franklin waspletely different. He brought his manager, assistant, and even a professional makeup artist. 9:26 PM Chapter 88 Her Bodyguard. still brought a whole entourage. Finished On the ne, Henry tried to talk to Wendy about the past. He said he had truly lost consciousness when his parents took him away. Otherwise, they would''ve already been married, living happily in Jashonton. Send Gifts Chapter 89 Chapter 89 It Means Nothing Finished "I believe that with our abilities, we could live well even without support from our families. Henry said as he imagined the futur Wendy stayed calm the entire time, asionally ncing at her phone. Before boarding the ne, she had received a message from Chase, putting her mind at ease. This trip was bound to attract media attention. Not to mention Franklin. the celebrity-just the public exposure of Wendy and Henry alone was enough. Wendy worried that Chase might feel ufortable seeing the news coverage. Snapping back to reality, Wendy looked out at the night sky through the window. It was a moon- viewing flight, and the nighttime atmosphere in the ne had its own charm. If the man she loved were beside her, it might''ve felt even more immersive. Wendy spoke slowly, "Saying this now means nothing. You were taken, and I was pulled out of the car. Just seconds after I left, the car exploded. You keep asking me if I still have feelings for Chase. Even if we''re divorced and have no romance left, my gratitude toward him hasn''t changed." Henry hated hearing Chase''s name more than anything at a time like this. He was a man who never should''ve appeared in their lives. If it hadn''t been for Chase, Henry would''ve been with Wendy long ago after returning from abroad. But on the surface, Henry remained calm. Smiling, he said. "That''s true. I also appreciate Mr. Goodman. If not for him, I might never have seen you again. Wendy. I''m just saying, you and Mr. Goodman are divorced, and I''m back. We should continue forward on the path we nned. We can''t waste any more time." Sammy and Jeremy sat right behind Wendy. Hearing such unfiltered words of affection, the two exchanged a nce. But since they were on a ne at night, they couldn''t disturb others. "Mr. Goodman and Ms. Quinn are divorced?" Jeremy asked quietly. He had seen Chase at the office before. Every time Chase came by, he went straight to Wendy''s office. The two would stay inside quietly all afternoon, then leave together in the evening. Chase even brought snacks for everyone in the office whenever he visited. No matter how you looked at it, their rtionship seemed strong-nothing like a couple that had split. Sammy lowered his voice. "Don''t worry about what Mr. Harrison said. Just focus on your mission." Jeremy nodded. "Got it. Three more hours tillnding. I''m going to sleep for a bit." 9:26 PM Chapter 89 It Means Nothing their body clocks. Finished Chase hadn''t felt the house this quiet in a long time. Ever since he and Wendy reconciled, no matter howte he worked, Wendy still came home to rest. And he always left a light on, waiting for thedy of the house. This business trip wouldst longer than usual. Strangely, Chase was starting to feel separation. anxiety. He read for a long time before finally getting a message from Wendy. She had checked into her hotel and told him not to worry. Indeed, he was worried about Wendy. After all, with someone as extreme as Henry, no one could. predict what he might do. But Chase didn''t reply. He wanted her to think he was already asleep. Ever since he found out that Madeline was involved, he and Bernard had increased their surveince on her-bringing nc in as well. In fact, nc, who had just be a full-time employee, was more suited for this task than either of them. To Madeline, nc was just a kid-friendly, always bringing snacks to share with the team. They had bumped into each other often during night shifts, and over time, got to know each other. So Chase made nc official and pulled him into their circle. Since Wendy wouldn''t be home for a while, Chase wasn''t in a rush to go back either. He took everyone out to eat at the Watering Hole. Waylon came over from the bureau, and Bernard''s boyfriend, Clement Murphy, came too. "No wonder you had me watch over Avery. This case is huge! You should''ve told me earlier. Avery''s out of the hospital now. Is he safe out there?" nc asked. Waylon replied, "He''s got people protecting him, and his apartmentplex isn''t somewhere just anyone can get into. He''s a big-name celebrity, so of course he''s in a top-tier ce." nc let out a quiet "Oh. The life of the wealthy was just different. Clement was fully up to speed on Bernard''s situation. "I think Bernard mentioned Madeline before-wasn''t it a few months ago?" Clement said suddenly. Bernard turned to look at him, frowning. "When did I say that?" Chapter 89 It Means Nothing Finished Madeline. There was a severe case, someone had a heart attack at home. You told me she was slow with the meds, and youined to me about it." It was such a small thing. If Clement didn''t genuinely love Bernard, he wouldn''t have remembered it at all. Bernard himself had forgotten. After thinking for a while, Bernard finally recalled the surgery. "It was an emergency night shift. The patient already had heart problems, and working overtime for too long triggered a heart attack. By the time they got him to the hospital, he was barely hanging on. It was a race against time, and Madeline was moving ridiculously slow. She has no professionalism at all." Send Gifts Chapter 90 Chapter 90 He Missed Her Finished The surgery in the cardiology department had nothing to do with Bernard; he had simply seen. the scene from the observation room. At that time, Bernard wasn''t yet the director, and he had no position to speak like that. He only. went home and muttered a few words to his lover. "What about the patient?" Waylon asked. Bernard shrugged and said, "From what I know, he died. It was already toote to save him. He stopped breathing in the ambnce, and even after administering adrenaline and other emergency measures, it didn''t help. Waylon thought for a moment. "Can you help me check if this person''sst name was Zach?" Chase, who had been looking down at his phone, finally looked up at him. "Do you know him?" It wasn''t that Waylon knew him, but the manner and timing of the death, along with the hospital where they received the news, were all too coincidental. This person had originally been a financial director at apany, also connected to the Harrison Group. Waylon had just followed the lead and found a link to this person, and within a week, he was dead. It felt too coincidental to Waylon. "Alright, I''ll look it up for you." This meal was also meant to make nc understand what he would need to do in the future. Wendy and Chase would let nc go without proper treatment. After the job was done, whether nc wanted to stay at Cloud Hospital or go to a better facility, Wendy would find a way. Jeremy finally understood where Sammy''s concern hade from. Henry seemed to want to be with Wendy at all times. Originally, there hadn''t been a meeting at lunch, so the few of them were eating in Wendy''s suite, discussing the current trip. "Mr. Jeremy, you don''t have a girlfriend?" Sammy asked, curious. "Then why do you always go home so early?" Jeremy replied, "I don''t like drawing at the office when I don''t have inspiration. I''d rather go home since I don''t have to clock in." Sammy nodded. "That''s true. Who would want to stay at the office?" Chapter 90 He Missed Her home." After this business trip, Jeremy had gained a better understanding of thepany''s upper management, as Sammy had been talking about the people there to help him integrate faster. It was at this moment that Henry knocked on the door. "Oh, you''ve already started eating. I was about to ask you toe out." Henry smiled at Sammy, who opened the door, then walked in,pletely ignoring the eye-roll Sammy gave him. Even Jeremy couldn''t help but want to curse. Maybe Wendy''s distaste for Henry was so subtle that Henry hadn''t noticed how unwee he was. He came right in, pulled out a chair, and started chatting with Wendy. After the door closed, Sammy and Jeremy exchanged a look. "I know a nearby restaurant, a very unique fusion ce. I''m sure you''ll love it. How about we go tonight?" Henry asked. Wendy remained calm and silent, but Jeremy spoke up. "Ms. Quinn, don''t forget about your dinner with Mr. Caesar from Typhoon Corp tonight." That was indeed the real matter, not something Jeremy had made up. Typhoon Corp was a leading force in the literary industry. Though the age of print media was over and new media had taken over, Typhoon Corp still stood at the top of the literary world. The new president of Typhoon Corp was Wendy''s childhood friend. Their rtionship was very close, and it was the first time they would meet after he returned to take the role. "I almost forgot," Wendy said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. She turned to Sammy. "Caesar doesn''t like spicy food, remember to tell the restaurant." Sammy nodded. "Got it. The restaurant is Cdon Restaurant, ranked first in Jashonton''s I food list. Mr. Caesar should like it" At this point, Henry''s expression finally turned sour. Wendy instantly understood that the restaurant Henry had wanted to take her to must have been Cdon Restaurant. Thinking about how Henry had repeatedly provoked Chase, seeing Henry ufortable now made Wendy feel a little better. "Well, I''m sorry, but I''ll try the food today. If it''s good, we can go together tomorrow. The business trip is ending, and it''ll be nice for ourpanies to have a celebratory dinner." Henry was speechless, pausing for a long time before nodding. "Alright, I''ll follow your lead." 9:26 PM - Chapter 90 He Missed Her the media industry; they had expanded into an entertainment conglomerate, managing everything from novels toics and beyond. They had already gone global.. Wendy hadn''t seen Caesar in several years. Finished Thest time they met was probably at her and Chase''s wedding. She had been in a state of despair and wasn''t in the mood to entertain guests, even forgetting whether she had spoken to Caesar. Dinner wasn''t business-rted, just two old friends meeting. Before going, Wendy made a point of calling Chase. "I didn''t dare call earlier, in case you were in surgery. You should be off work by now, right?" Wendy said as she bent down to get into the car. Chase replied, "Still at the oflice, watching the surveince with nc, Are you sure you''ll be back the day after tomorrow? I''ll pick you up." "It shouldn''t change." "Okay." Lately, Chase hadn''t really wanted to go home. Mainly because it was empty and cold, and every time he returned, he kept thinking about what had happened between him and Wendy in bed. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much he missed her. Send Gifts 298 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Her Childhood Friend 74%0 +8 Pearls Chase postponed his return home, waiting until he was tired before heading back, taking a shower and. going straight to bed. He was just worried about Wendy''s situation. There hadn''t been any media reports about her and Henry, which meant Henry probably hadn''t found a chance to be aloite with her yet. From the looks of it, Wendy should be safe. Sammy really was an exceptional personal assistant. "I''m about to have dinner with Caesar from Typhoon Corp," Wendy said. "He''s my childhood friend-I''ve known him since we were six or seven. He even came to our wedding. Not sure if you remember him." Chase searched his memory for a long time but couldn''t recall anything about Caesar. "I don''t remember," he said. "There were too many of your friends and rtives at the time. Mandy only introduced me to a few of the regr ones. You didn''t bring me to meet the others, so of course I wouldn''t know him." Typhoon Corp''s headquarters was also in their area, and Jashonton was there on a business trip, so this worked out. "I''ll introduce you when we get back," Wendy said. "Caesar has a great personality." Wendy had already arrived. She said a few more words to Chase before hanging up. Caesar had been back in the country less than ten days and was already in Jashonton on business. His appointment hadn''t gone smoothly. There was a lot of trouble behind the scenes. Meeting with Wendy in Jashonton was also his way of showing thanks. "Wendy," Caesar said with a smile as he waited at the entrance and saw her getting out of the car. He opened his arms, and Wendy stepped into his embrace. "It''s been a while." "It really has," Caesar said. "Everything wrapped up a while ago, but I still haven''t had time toe back. The main office won''t fully relocate until next year. I still need a bit more time." They got a quiet private room. The dishes had all been pre-ordered by Sammy, based on their preferences. "No one from the Meyer family dares say anything anymore, right?" Wendy asked, raising her champagne ss. Caesar''s eyes smiled as he looked at her, with more admiration than usual. "Anyone who had something to say is dead. They can talk all they want underground." The Meyer family situation was messy. Caesar had grown up with Wendy, but his parents had died young, and thepany had ended up in the hands of distant uncles and aunts. He was sent abroad and essentially kicked out. Chapter 91 Her Childhood Friend Thepany had always been his, but even after graduating, he''d been blocked from returning. Without Wendy''s help, Cesar probably wouldn''t have gotten Typhoon Corp back.. 74% +8 Pearls "My mom always said your aunts and uncles were no good. I was still a kid when your parents passed, couldn''t see what was really happening, and couldn''t do anything to help you. So being able to help now, within what I can do, l''in honestly d," Wendy said. "Either way, I''m back now," Caesar replied. "I don''t care about the rest of the Meyer family. There''s just one thing, my little sister." Wendy nodded. "Charlotte Meyer. I''ve been looking into her whereabouts for you. I also asked Mr. Fred to help. We should have news soon." "Mr. Fred? Waylon from the Fred family?" Caesar looked surprised. "You know him? Isn''t he the one with the weird temper who never goes to parties and shows no respect to anyone? He doesn''t even touch business matters." "It''s a coincidence. He''s my husband''s neighbor. We''re both looking into the same thingtely, so I guess you could say we have amon goal. "Your husband-oh, right, I almost forgot you got married. I even came back for the wedding. But you had such a gloomy face the whole time and didn''t say a word," Caesar said with a chuckle. He hadn''t expected Wendy to be doing this well, better than he had imagined. "There were a few ups and downs," Wendy admitted. "Do you remember Henry?" "That brat from the Harrison family? When I was overseas, we stayed in touch. When you were dating Henry, I had a bad feeling. What happened Wasn''t he married abroad?" told me you "He''s divorced and came back with a daughter. It''splicated. We''ll talk more when you''re back for good." "Alright. But let''s talk business. I came back this time to work with you." Wendy flew back on the same flight as Henry. Chase couldn''t pick her up-Henry might see him-so he waited at the Quinn Group instead. Maggie brought him coffee while he sat in his office reading. Lately he''d been working overtime at the hospital, watching surveince footage instead of doing surgeries. It made him realize being a security guy was exhausting too. Staring at screens that barely moved all day was hard on the eyes. After reading for a bit, he started to feel sleepy, so he closed the book and leaned back on the sofa. nap. "You guys go first. No meeting today. Everyone who worked overtime gets off early. Tomorrow, bring the PR team-we''re having a meeting with Typhoon Corp. Zynn rushed in after hearing the news. "Typhoon Corp?" he asked, confused. "What do we even have to work on with Typhoon Corp?" Sammy, her arms full, handed things to her assistant. As long as it''s against the Harrison family, we''ll work with them. The Harrison family doesn''t just run entertainment-they''ve got a culturalpany too, focused on adapting webovels into films and shows. It''s all integrated. They buy the rights, cast their own actors, and save money doing it.'' Chapter 92 Chapter 92 I Will Stay With You Zynn paused for a moment. And then? 3/4% +8 Pearls "Now Typhoon Corp is one of our own. No one in this industry has ever dared to challenge Typhoon Corp. Ms. Quinn ns to set up an entertainment division to coborate directly with Fenon International." Zynn clicked his tongue. "That''s a bold move." "Yeah. Anyway, this trip was definitely worth it. Except for Henry, we all got the results we wanted." Zynn dragged Sammy off to hear the gossip about Henny. Wendy pushed open the office door and saw Chase already asleep on the couch. Wearing high heels, she had to tiptoe her way over and sat down beside him. Chase clearly hadn''t been sleeping much while she was away-he had bags under his eyes and looked totally wiped out. That was a good sign, It meant he couldn''t be without her. "You''re back," Chase murmured as he was stirred awake by the slight noise. He squinted up at Wendy, then pulled her into his arms and let out a long breath. "Finally. Can we go home early tonight?" "Yeah. I''ll pack my things and we''ll leave." Chase tried to wake himself up. Seeing that Wendy was in a good mood, he asked about the business trip. "Same old stuff with Henry. We''re signing the contract tomorrow. But Typhoon Corp gave me a surprise- actually, a huge one. Come on, I''ll tell you more at home." Chase wasn''t familiar with the business world and didn''t know much about Typhoon Corp, but after a quick search on his phone, he saw that Caesar''s name was trending. Most of the headlines were about how Caesar had emerged victorious in the power struggle within the Meyer family. "He looks dangerous, but he''s actually pretty simple. His parents died when he was young, and his rtives sent him abroad." The entertainment news was full of juicy gossip. The Meyer family feud was like a blockbuster drama. Chase watched it for a long time after they got home, still surprised that someone like Caesar could be called "simple." "What did you do behind the scenes?" Chase looked at Wendy. If Wendy said Caesar wasn''t the type to pull this off, then someone else had to be helping him. "And that could only mean the person sitting right in front of him. Wendy took a sip of wine and smiled. "What do you mean? Caesar is innocent and harmless, and I''m the ruthless viin? Don''t forget, the Quinn Group has always been led by women. I''ve stayed in this position for years without getting sidelined by those men, and that takes strategy." Chapter 92 1 Will Stay With You 3/47% +8 Pearls "I know. That''s exactly why I love ruthless, cunning women. If you were innocent and harmless too, maybe..." He trailed off, leaving a lot unsaid. Wendy set down her ss, grabbed Chase by the cor and stared intensely at his lips. "Maybe what? Tell me. If I hadn''t forced you to marry me back then, would we have missed our chance? You never really wanted to be with me, did you?" That was the truth. Back then, Chase had just thought Wendy was fragile but tough underneath. Her tears hadnded right on his heart. But that was just sympathy and pity, not love. He knew they came from two different worlds. He would never have made the first move. Especially with his mom in bad health at the time-most of his attention had been on her. Honestly, if Wendy hadn''t pushed for marriage, he never would''ve gotten involved with her, "You haven''t been sleeping well these days. Come on, I''ll stay with you." The coboration between the Harrison family and Quinn Group was inevitable-it had already been approved by all senior executives. The new entertainment division would directly work with Fenon International. It was a clear challenge to Henry. What Zynn really wanted to know was how Wendy had managed to convince him. "What is Henry to me?" Wendy sat in the meeting room, pen still in hand. She looked up when Zynn asked and replied, "What does Henry have to do with me- or with thepany? Why should I care about his opinion?" Zynn pped slowly, expressionless. "Seriously, if Henry''s this dumb now, he probably wasn''t too bright back then either. I''m starting to doubt your taste in men." Henry had probably noticed Wendy changing. In fact, everything Quinn Group had done recently was outside of Henry''s expectations. He should''ve already known that Wendy had no feelings for him. But he was just too arrogant. "Didn''t you say not to startle him too soon?" "Exactly. If Henry asks, I''ve got a better exnation. I''m working with Fenon International to share resources in the entertainment world. Now that I''ve got the opportunity and the connections, Henry should be dying to cling to me. Why would he pick a fight at this stage?" That settled it for Zynn. Then Sammy said, "Ms. Quinn, I''ve got some early info on Larry, the man you asked me to investigate. He''s recently been getting involved with a chemicalpany and already made small gains in the pharmaceutical industry. From what I see, he''s targeting the medical field. Should we stop him?" Wendy stared at the report Sammy found, and her mind involuntarily went back to the death of her father. ri, May ?? My Cold Ex Wife Refused to Move On Chapter 93 Chapter 93 The Secret +8 Pearls After a brief pause, Wendy lifted her eyelids to look at the other person, her tone casual and indifferent. "What''s there to stop? Larry has no real ability in that area, and no connections either. Just let him go ahead. Even if he actually manages to pull something off, shouldn''t Henry be the one most worried? We don''t need to make a move. Henry will naturally clear all the obstacles himself." The reason they hadn''t turned against Henry yet was because they still hoped Henry would see the rest of the Harrison family as his biggest enemies; not them. Sammy nodded and marked an option in the nner. If that''s the case, I''ll have someone watch Larry, but we won''t interfere. That leaves Shanelle. No matter what, she just won''t speak. She refuses to tell us the secret she''s holding Wendy wasn''t surprised. That was expected. Shanelle''s whole family went bankrupt, and she was the only one who managed to escape. If it weren''t for that secret, Henry would''ve killed her a long time ago. As Joy''s birth mother, Shanelle didn''t get much love from Joy either. In fact, every time Joy saw her, she acted cold and annoyed. That information came from Fiona. Speaking of Fiona-once a top-level hacker, now a full-time nanny-she had lost her patience long ago. With so many things needing her helptely, Sammy had already helped her resign and arranged a new nanny for Henry. "Surveince over at Henry''s ce is fully covered. There''s no way he''ll notice. The new tech Fiona developed with the tech department can''t even be picked up by infrared scans. It was originally set tounch next year, but to avoid raising Henry''s suspicion we''ve dyed the release." For Henry, Quinn Group had paid a high price-manpower, money, even power itself. But it didn''t matter. Wendy thought it was worth it. "Ms. Quinn came back from her business trip and your sleep had improved," Bernard said as he walked into the office. Seeing Chase looking sharp and alert,pletely different from a few days ago, he set the personnel files on the desk. "Honestly, a few days ago, I figured I''d have to haul you to the ER myself after, the operation." Chase gave a smallugh. It wasn''t that bad. But it was true he hadn''t been sleeping well. "Mr. Fred checked the personnel files and confirmed it the guy I mentioned was one of the Zaches, Harrison Groups former finance director. He was already at retirement age, came back for one more year, and just ended up dead. They said Harrison Group paid out a bigpensation." Harrison Group wouldn''t do something that lost them money. That meant the funeral cost was much lower than the damage they''d suffer if someone found out what hannanad 14% Chapter 93 The Secret +8 Pearls "So that means Madeline must be involved," Chase said "Tell nc to keep a closer eye on her. I''ll assign- him a few extra night shifts. He''s young-he can handle it. I can''t. Bernard raised his hands in surrender. "Neither can I. My partner and I were nning a trip-we were supposed to take our year-end vacation. But if this thing isn''t handled before the holidays, I''m probably not going anywhere." It was surprising, talking about Bernard''s partner. But it was clear their rtionship was solid. "If you want to take the vacation, go ahead. I can handle things at the hospital," Chase said. "Just do what you need to do." "We''ll see." Lately, Madeline always ran into nc during night shifts. The young guy was easy to like-sweet-talking everyone, pulling snacks out of his pocket and handing them around without hesitation. A guy who knew how to work people like that could do well anywhere. nc had been spending a lot of time around Madelely, mostly because he was always on night shift. "Why are you always working nights?" Madeline asked. "Normally you can''t do more than three night shifts a week. It affects sensitivity during surgery. You just got hired full-time, didn''t you say anything to the chief?" Then she remembered that nc was in the chief''s department. So it must''ve been the chief who scheduled him. nc sat at the nurses'' station cracking sunflower seeds watching TV with the others. "Dr. Knox''s got family stuff going on," nc said. "So I take the nights, and he works during the day. Said it''llst about two weeks. I''m young, staying upte doesn''t bother me. I don''t sleep when I get home anyway." Madeline frowned. "That''s still not okay." "Madeline, you work in the pharmacy. Why are you always around during emergencies? Usually pharmacy staff stay inside and rest during night shifts. Why are you out here?" Madeline gave a stiff smile and looked away. "It''s too cold in there. The AC''s always on. It''s warmer out here. Besides, the hospital feels cold and empty. I feel better where there are more people." "No way. You actually believe that stuff? We''re in medicine, you can''t go around believing in ghosts and spirits." "Right. I don''t believe it. It''s just really cold there." nc looked like he was staring at his phone, but he was actually watching Madeline''s profile from the corner of his eye. He noticed she kept ncing toward one specific room. nc had secretly checked on theputer. The patient in that room had been in a car ident. Severe car idents could cause damage all over the body, so long hospital stays were normal. It took a long time for internal organs and bones to fully heal. Chapter 93 The Secret 174% +8 Pearis The patient in room 316 had been there over half a year. It was a woman. And almost every day, someone came to visit her. 318 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 The Inheritance Madeline''s gaze stayed locked on that room. There was definitely something wrong with Room 316 Now that they knew where the problem was, nc immediately told Chase. +8 Pearls The ident thatnded the patient in Room 316 in the hospital really had nothing suspicious about itit was just an ident. She had been caught in the middle of a six-car pileup. When she first arrived at the hospital, she was covered in blood and her heart had stopped. They barely managed to bring her back, but she had remained unconscious for over a month. "She''s been here for more than half a year. It''s time for her to be discharged," Bernard said. "I''ve already checked on her. Her major bones are starting to heal. I gave the rmendation-she should be able to leave next month and even make it home for New Year''s." Chase stared at the hospital''s surveince feed. One screen showed the live camera, another showed the patient''s profile from Room 316.. Aimee Duncan. A 24 years old woman. Reportedly, she had been a top student in the foreignnguages department. Right before the ident, she had finished an interview and was on her way back to organize her notes, only to end up in the hospital instead. By all ounts, she had nothing to do with the Harrison family. "Aimee... why does her face look familiar to me?" Chase muttered. He held the mouse in one hand and tapped the desk lightly with the other. There was something about her features. It wasn''t that he had seen her before. It was more like her face had a familiar outline. "She''s lived in Gennemont her whole life. Even went to college here," Bernard said. "Her parents are regr folks-one''s a professor, the other has a PhD in medicine, works for a pharmaceuticalpany or something." Chase nced up at Bernard. "You looked into all this?" Bernard flipped his tablet around to show the screen-it was a chat log with Sammy. Chase fell silent. Sammy really can do everything. "At this time, the Quinn Group was probably still in a meeting about their partnership with Typhoon Corp. Sammy, as the chief secretary, should''ve been with Wendy. Yet she somehow still found time to dig up Aimee''s background. "Everything points to no connection with Madeline," Bernard said, frowning. Chapter 94 The Inheritance +8 Pearls Indeed, they weren''t from the same world, but they couldn''t understand why Madeline had been staring at Room 316. It was possible she had noticed nc and was trying to steer them toward 816 on purpose, but that didn''t track. nc always worked clean, and Madeline didn''t seem like the type to y mind games. She was probably just following orders. "We''ll keep watching," Chase said. Typhoon Corp was an internationalpany with global operations. If they wanted to keep up, the entertainment division couldn''t look weak. Plus, they were working with Fenon International, and all the celebrities they dealt with were top- tier. Chase headed straight for the conference room when he arrived at Quinn Group. The meeting had ended an hour ago, but a few core staff remained. "Henry came in to sign today," Maggie was saying as Chase walked in. "He heard we''re setting up an entertainment division, and looked like he''d eaten something sour. Waited outside forever-said he had to talk to you." Maggie mmed up the moment she saw Chase, but neither he nor Wendy paid it any mind. Wendy''s eyes lit up when she saw him and waved him over. Sammy scooted over to make room. "Still not done?" Chase asked. "Just ironing out a few details," Wendy said. "We still need to loop in Lemon. I''m meeting her and Caesar for dinner tonight. If we''re going to work together, everyone should get familiar." Chase had no objections. When Maggie saw that neither of them was bothered, she kept going. "I don''t think Henry had any hope of catching you, but he still waited. Then he got a phone call and left." Sammy chuckled. "Do you want to guess who called?" "His daughter?"" "Nope. Joy''s been behaving since that car ident. She''s back in school. The call was from the Harrison family''s butler. Apparently, Larry got screwed over in a recent deal-lost seven million dors. His parents were furious and wanted Henry toe back and watch the show." Zynn, who had been half-asleep, perked up. He sat up straighter. "Wait, seriously?" seven "It''s not exactly a secret," Sammy said. "Larry thought he''d found a great opportunity, but it was actually a trap Henry left behind. Thepany was registered under Henry''s name. Henry''s broke, and million ended up in his ount. The Harrison parents still don''t know." Clearly, the conflict in the Harrison family had been brewing for a long time. Blood ties didn''t mean much. Henry didn''t trust his parents at all-let alone Larry, his cousin. "Henry''s not exactly smart," Zynn said, "but Larry''s just in dumb. No one in the Harrison family seems capable. How the hell are they still standing?" 09.21 Fri, May y Chapter 94 The Inheritance 14% +8 Pearls "Because of what Henry''s grandfather left behind," Sammy replied. "And... Well, Henry might be an idiot," but the family does have one clever person." Henry had a younger uncle-the youngest son of his grandfather, born when the old man was already in his seventies. The kid had been raised like a treasure, hidden away. He was also the son of Bruno Harrison''s favorite mistress-the one he loved the most before he died. Originally, everything in the Harrison family was supposed to go to Henry''s parents. But after the boy was born, the will got rewritten. "You''re saying someone else is fighting Henry for the inheritance?" 318 Chapter 95 "I don''t have much information on him either. Everything I know is from what Waylon told me, Wendy said casually. "This guy is mysterious, rarely shows up in the country, but he has a private residence in Gennemont-over in Goldenville." Others couldn''t tell, but Chase immediately saw the slyness hidden in Wendy''s eyes. That part about not knowing much was a total lic, Hardly anyone knew Mario Harrison lived in Goldenville. Even Henry had spent a long time trying to dig up something, but found nothing. How did Wendy find out so easily? As the saying went, the enemy of her enemy had be her friend. When she thought back to her first meeting with Mario even Wendy herself found the whole situation a bit surreal. "Speaking of it," Wendy said, clearing her throat lightly. I only met Mario by chance at a business banquet. At the time, Mario was introduced as my friend''s... boyfriend. So I believe he did it on purpose." "That makes sense," Zynn said, spreading his hands. "If Mario''s asplicated as you say, it''s only natural he''d find a way to get back into the Harrison family. Relying on so-called uncles and aunts wouldn''t cut it. Henry''s parents or his siblings? Even less likely. He had no choice but to rely on himself. That meant Mario''s situation was probably even tougher than they had thought. Sammy had finished organizing the table and walked over to Wendy, holding out the file for her to sign the conclusions from today''s meeting. She paused behind Wendy and asked curiously, "You''ve never mentioned this guy before." Wendy lowered her head and signed her name smoothly, like it was nothing. "That''s because he''s in a rtionship with the president of Typhoon Corp- Caesar," she said. Everyone in the room froze. Even Chase, sitting right next to Wendy, looked shocked. He had only just heard the name Caesar today. All he knew was that Caesar had grown up with Wendy, maybe even attended her wedding. Now he suddenly found out that Caesar was the boyfriend of Mario Harrison, the legitimate heir of the Harrison family. That couldn''t be right. Wendy touched her forehead lightly, but there was a faint smile on her lips. "Yeah, that''s right. Let''s not talk about their rtionship for now. The key point is Mario''s identity. As long as Mario exists, no matter how badly Henry and Larry fight, neither of them can be the rightful heir." Mario was the real threat. And now, that threat had be their ally. 09.21 Fri, May 9 Chapter 95 A Bold Move 1470 +8 Pearls This world was getting way too bizarre. Sammy stood there stunned, holding the file behind Wendy for a long while, until Zynn finally said, "So what-you''re nning to help Mario take back the Harrison family? That''s a pretty bold move "It''s time someone else ran the Harrison family," Wendy said calmly, twisting the ring on her finger. Her expression was cool, but full of confidence. "Whether it was the incident back then, or the crises we''re facing now-they alle from the current Harrison family. If we want to change things and uncover the truth, the easiest way is to change who''s in charge." This had clearly been Wendy''s n for a while. She had only been waiting for Caesar''s return to put it in motion. "Typhoon Corp already bought the most prime area in the city. The whole building''s theirs. Renovations are underway and should be done by the start of next year. Once Typhoon Corp returns to Gennemont, every business in the city will be on edge." "Typhoon Corp is mainly in culture and entertainment. It doesn''t interfere with traditional industry chains, so it''s not a big threat to us," Zynn said. But the Harrison family is a perfect target. And Fenon International-our biggest obstacle- just became an ally. The timing of Typhoon Corp''s return couldn''t be better." After the meeting, everyone left. Wendy stayed in her chair, waiting for Chase to ask. "Was it really just a coincidence?" Chase held Wendy''s hand, a faint smirk in his voice. You just happened to run into Mario? Wasn''t he exiled abroad? And with someone like him,ing back would''ve made waves. The Harrison family would''ve known. There''s no way you two could''ve met by chance." Besides, if this happened a long time ago, Wendy wasn''t the type to keep quiet for so long, especially not while pretending to work with Henry. Wendy gave him a small smile. Our first meeting really was at a business banquet. And yes, he was by Caesar''s side. But back then, I didn''t know who Mario really was. The second time we met was in Jashonton." The same ce she had traveled with Henry for business-at Cdon Restaurant. Henry had walked in confidently, bing a piece on Wendy''s chessboard from that moment on. In this world, opportunities were always for those who were prepared. Mario had prepared for everything beforeing back Goldenville was the ce his mother had left for him. Bruno had bought the house there to keep outsiders away. He''d always been careful. In all these years, no one had ever found out about it. So when Mario returned, he lived there in peace. Then Chase asked, "So Caesar and Mario are really..." 318 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Untraceable *8 Pearis Wendy said, "At first I didn''t quite agree. The Harrison family''s situation is tooplicated. Caesar had to fight tooth and nail just to inherit Typhoon Corp. I followed and dealt with it for over a year, and now Mario is in the picture too." For people born into families like theirs, unless they were lucky like Wendy, who was born to loving parents with no tangled interests. Else, everyone else had to start fighting from the moment they were born. Of course, you could choose to step away, take your share of thepany dividends, and live an ordinary, peaceful life. But Caesar and Mario were not like that. Everything had been theirs to begin with. So why should they be the ones kicked out in the end? Why should others squander the wealth that rightfully belonged to them while they became discarded pawns? At least Mario still had a vague im to his name. But Caesar? "The Meyers arepletely copsed now. Caesar''s the only one left. Now that the situation''s stabilized, he wants to move Typhoon Corp.''s headquarters back to Gennemont. That was actually my idea. His family business, of course it needs to be close to home." Wendy understood this better than most. The Quinn Group was also an internationalpany. But in the overseas branches, far from the center, everyone only respected the executive directors. When she, the CEO, visited, everyone just put on an act That was when Wendy first felt a sense of crisis. "All right. As long as you''ve thought it through. What can I help with?" Chase wanted to know Wendy''s next step. Wendy said, "There''s someone in the Harrison family who''s lived too long. I know you have your doctor''s ethics, but... sometimes you need to bend a little." Chase nodded, "I understand." Mario''s true identity remained a secret. Not many people know about it. In Room 316, Aimee had fully recovered. Bernard gave the final approval that she could leave the hospital and recover at home. A follow-up check in three months would suffice. On the day she left, the room, usually filled with daily visitors, was unusually quiet. Aimee left alone with her belongings, looking fairly upbeat. "I just don''t see what''s off about her." Bernard entered Chase''s office, holding the patient''s records. "She''s just a regr journalist!" Chase raised his brows. "Nothing else?" 01 C1 03.21 ru, May 9 Chapter 96 Untraceable 4.74% *d Pearls shaking her head. "Nope Her background''s squeaky clean. Except... from birth to age three, her records are encrypted. Not even Sammy and I have clearance. We''d need a pro Naturally, this kind of thing fell to Finn. had already resigned from arrison mansion. Sammy had hired someone else for the caretaker job. This time, a professional. The officendline rang. It was Sammy. Finn nced at the pitch-ck screen on herputer, where a few red dots moved slowly. While he answered the call, two of them had already exploded. "Encrypted?" Finn''s lips curved into a smile. Send it over. I''m busy catching fugitives for Waylon right now. Give me half an hour." There was a pause on the other end. "I didn''t know you were still working with Mr. Fred. "Oh, just got a new case. Said their team couldn''t get a lock on the targets. I gave it a try. Two down, three to go. Almost done." Finn''s voice wasced with amusement. Sammy sighed. "Fine. I''ve sent the file. Hurry up." All suspicious hospital personnel were sent to the Quinn Group first, then filtered by Sammy tond on Finn''sputer. There was nothing in this world Finn could not uncover. Unless... it was someone who did not exist to begin with. Finn pushed open Wendy''s door and directly threw the newly found information onto her desk, her face filled with frustration as she said, "This one popped out of a rock." Wendy was speechless. Listen to yourself, girl! She lifted her eyes and looked at Finn. But Finn did not care. She leaned over the desk. "There''s no info I can''t dig up. Unless this person wasn''t born in a hospital. Otherwise, there would be records." But Aimee had none. And no one knew why Chase was so focused on her. Now that Finn had looked into it. Sure enough, something was off. Wendy dropped her gaze, deep in thought. If even Finn could not find anything, then it probably was not just encrypted. It was wiped. "To erase birth records without me detecting it or restoring it, there are only three people in capable of that. One''s from our country; the other two are abroad. They couldn''t be connec And the one from here..." Finn''s voice trailed off. "Even less likely." .world Lo Aimee. Wendy called Chase to exin the situation. The information Finn found was not much more than what Sammy had provided, just a bit more detailed. The more they looked at it, the more they felt that Aimee''s life story was surprisingly simple. Finn can''t dig anything up?" Bernard was stunned. 03.21 ru, May Chapter 96 Untraceable 74% +8 Pearls Wendy had it on speaker. She looked at Finn with a smirk. Thetter took the phone and held it to her lips. "Mr. Bernard, are you doubting me? Want to try it yourself?" 318 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Scapegoats and Secrets 74% +8 Pearis Bernard quickly surrendered. "Of course not. No one canpete with the great Finn. But...I''m sure she''s not popped out of a rock." Finn fought back, "...Are you mocking me?" After enough banter, Wendy got back to business. "Aimee is definitely suspicious. I sent Dawn to tail her. Do you know her home address?" Chase read off the one listed in her medical file. The address led to a very average apartmentplex with a modest price tag, perfectly matching Aimee''s supposed background. Dawn had been shadowing Shanelle until recently. Now that she was confirmed safe, he was reassigned to Aimee. He did not know the reason, but if Wendy asked, he would go. "I''ve always wondered," Maggie said to Zynn as they walked to the meeting room, "You and your brother, one took your father''s surname, and one your mother''s. Isn''t that confusing?" Zynn had sleptte and looked groggy. At her question, she tilted her head and replied, "Would you mix up your son and daughter?" Maggie chuckled, "I don''t have kids." Zynn was speechless. "... We''repletely different in gender and appearance. Anyone who''s seen us won''t confuse us. As for the surname... I think my dad was told by a fortune teller"... News of Cloud Hospital going public was everywhere. As honorary chair, Chase had received tons of banquet invites, but he always kept a low profile. Aside from the asional event with Wendy, he rarely attended the others. So most invitations were declined. Between surgeries and hospital affairs, Chase had his hands full. So Wendy found him a personal assistant. "Melody Do. Your new assistant." That evening, Wendy picked him up and brought Melody along. She used to be top-tier in the secretary world, on par with Sammy. But her previouspany got into trouble. Her boss used her as a scapegoat, and she ended up jailed for six months. Wendy, who valued talent, could not let her go. Even though the secretary department was full, she thought Melody would be perfect for Chase. Cloud Hospital functioned much like a small-scale corporation. Apart from Melody not scrubbing in for surgeries, everything else was no different from managing a business. Her sry came from the Quinn Group, and Wendy offered a high number. Melody, freshly ased, expected low pay, but Wendy''s offer exceeded herst job''s by a long shot. With the right pay, loyalty followed. That was one of Wendy''s core beliefs. Melody stepped up and introduced herself to Chase. "Dr. Goodman, nice to meet you. I''m Melody. Here''s 3117 1 Chapter 97 Scapegoats and Secrets NS 74% +8 Pearls Chase, just opening his car door in the parking lot, was stunned. They had only talked about this that afternoon. Now the assistant was already here? He hesitated, then said, "Hello, hello. Um... I''ll take you upstairs then." But Wendy grabbed his hand before he could step out of the car. "I told you where the office is. Go yourself. We''ll handle orientation tomorrow. After office hours, unless it''s urgent, deal with it yourself. Don''t bother him." she said to Melody. Just as Chase was about to speak, Melody responded, "Understood." "Get in," Wendy tilted her head. Chase had no choice but to duck into the car. Lately, Wendy had been too busy to pick him up. If not for arranging Melody, she''d still be at work. It was rare for them to end early. It was already dark. With no time to cook, they grabbed dinner at a restaurant. Wendy briefed Chase on Melody''s background. "Melody was framed by her boss and sentenced to five years. When I found out, she''d already been in for five months. I hired a newwyer and got her out. So don''t worry. She''s safe. We don''t have to keep secrets from her." Chase poured her some tea, curious where Wendy found someone like Melody. "In business, there''s always shady stuff. And when things blow up, bosses always pin the me on the hands that carried it out." Wendy noticed Chase staring and added, "I''ve never done that." Wendy added, "Her previouspany dealt with pharmaceuticals, illegally importing foreign drugs, rbeling them, and selling them domestically. When they got caught, Melody, the secretary, was scapegoated. She thought the meds were made by their own factory." Wendy had taken notice of Melody initially because the secretary department had been short-staffed at the time. However, Sammy quickly found a suitable recement. Melody had actually been their first choice until she ended up behind bars. 318 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Melody in Motion "Where''s that boss now?" Out of curiosity, Chase asked, +8 Pearls Wendy lowered her gaze and said, "Whoever did it takes responsibility. Of course they''re in prison." Of course. He knew Wendy would not let those people off the hook. Wendy continued, "I was actually considering whether to find you an assistant, thinking whether it should be a man or a woman. But after thinking it through, I still believe Melody is the best fit. She''s already familiar with the pharmaceutical industry, and as your assistant, she''ll need to manage the entire Cloud Hospital. The workload isn''t something just anyone can handle. Only Melody can take full charge." "There I wonder how you''d find someone so quickly. Turns out you just nted someone you liked by my side." Chase smiled and asked, "Tell me, did you send Melody to keep an eye on me?" Wendy snapped her fingers and pointed at him with her index finger. "Right on. Melody is my nted spy. The first task I assigned her was to check your lounge every day and see if there''s anyone who shouldn''t be there." Amused by her expression, Chase grabbed her finger and kissed it gently. "The only person who could ever appear by my side... is you." Over dinner, Wendy brought up the uing New Year holiday. "There''s just half a month left. I was thinking, maybe we could take that honeymoon I owe you then." "No way. Is Mom going to spend New Year''s alone?" Chase rejected it without much hesitation. Wendy said, "We can get tickets for the day of the New Year and leave after dinner. Let''s look at the first day of the New Year. Where do you want to go?" "Two years ago, we said we''d visit Southville. Winters in Gennemont are too cold, but Southville is spring all year round. Perfect for the season." Wendy tucked that quietly into her heart. Chase nodded, "Then we''ll go to Southville." The days before the New Year holiday might be theirst moments of peace. After the New Year, everything would begin in earnest. Even Cloud Hospital was preparing to go public. Their battle with the Harrison family would have toe out into the open. At that point, there would be no turning back. No way to retreat. They had no choice but to risk it all. No one knew who would win or lose But they all had to go all in. As Chase''s assistant, Melody proved to be exceptionally capable. In less than three days, the entirepany was full of praise for herpetence. Every employee of the hospital, from board members down to janitorial staff, had their name, age, and even family situation memorized by Melody. She greeted everyone by name. 2 ! Chapter 98 Melody in Motion had to mention something, and she had already ced the results before him. 74% +8 Pearls After stepping into the chairman role, Chase had been overwhelmed and unsure what to do. But Melody organized his schedule with precision and ease. "Dr. Goodman, I epted an invitation on your behalf. The card specifics attendance with a femalepanion. I''ve confirmed the date with Ms. Quinn''s secretary, Maggie. It''s in three days. The new drugunch event for Windwell Pharma Group. You''ll be attending together with Ms. Quinn." Chase, who had never proactively epted any social invites, looked a bit confused. He nced at Melody. She exined. Windwell Pharma Group had long ranked among the top three in the domestic pharmaceutical industry. The new drug they wereunching was a targeted treatment for cardiovascr diseases. Preliminary data from trial subjects had already been posted in medical journals, showing a 56% relief rate. For this type of medication, that was a remarkably high sess rate. No hospital had secured usage rights yet. While public hospitals did not need topete, all major private hospitals werepeting to be designated providers. After Melody''s exnation, Chase understood and nodded. "Sammy told me about your preferences," Melody added. "I know you dislike these events, so unless absolutely necessary, I wouldn''t have taken this on. But for a private hospital preparing to go public next year, securing rights to this kind of drug could be hugely beneficial for the stock value." When it came to business, Chase was clueless. That was exactly why Wendy ced Melody at his side. Once the hospital went public, it would not just be a hospital. It would be a business. Chase did not know the first thing about business, but Melody excelled at it. The sry Wendy offered Melody rivaled that of most corporate vice presidents. It showed just how important the position was. and howpetent Melody truly was. "Alright," Chase said to Melody. "I don''t know business. I''ll leave it to your arrangements. You know my preferences. I trust you''ll choose the best path for Cloud Hospital." Melody replied, "Ms. Quinn''s gown is being prepared by Quinn Group. Your suit has already been shipped from overseas, and it''ll arrive tomorrow. It''s in your size. The gift for theunch event is also ready and will go through Cloud Hospital''s finance department for approval." "Good." Chase was impressed. That evening, Chase mentioned the incident to Wendy when they got home. She was not sur d at all. Wendy was proud. "Melody''s too familiar with the pharmaceutical industry. And she has incredible instincts. For instance, I had no idea what Windwell Pharma Group was, and I don''t keep track. But she does. It means she''s deeply connected within the circle Which makes that sry I gave her well worth it." Chapter 99 Chapter 99 All Eyes on the Launch 84% +8 Pearls Chase nodded as well. "Now that the hospital''s goingmercial, I''ve been stressing about what to do next. I don''t understand stocks or any of that. With Melody around, I can focus on surgery without worry" "You''re still doing so many surgeries right before the holidays?" Wendy asked. Chase looked helpless. "Birth, aging, illness, and death don''t take breaks for the holidays. I may be a doctor, but I still wish no one ever had to be sick." But that was impossible. A doctor''s job was to bnce life and death. And Chase was among the best. Wendy turned to another topic, "I''ve signed with Henry. He''ll be at thepany a lot these days. Did you see the trending search today?" How could he not? As soon as Henry signed with Quinn Group, he flooded the media with announcements. Every news outlet was talking either about the partnership or about their personal history. What drew the most attention, of course, was the couple that had been separated for years. But after all those years apart, they were now reunited only through business. Henry was divorced with a child. Wendy was already married. At the same time, Zynn had mobilized the PR team, pushing a narrative that Wendy and Chase were happily married and implying there was no way Henry coulde between them and no chance of reconciliation. It was all a ploy to provoke Henry into making a move. Sure enough, within a week of the partnership, Henry''s visits to Quinn Group sharply increased. The paparazzi camped outside caught the scent of gossip. They snapped plenty of shots of the two leaving together. "All nted by Henry''s PR team. Just ignore it," Wendy said. By now, she and Chase were at a stage ofplete trust. No more jumping to conclusions over the slightest. rumor or insecurity. Chase smiled, "It''s fine. I''vee to understand your public rtions strategies. I won''t be bothered Wendy raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean ''won''t be bothered''? You should care about me, but not what others say." As the year drew to a close, Quinn Group''s staff were working overtime to meet the Harrison Group coboration deadlines. People left the office with dark circles under their eyes, cursing Harrison Group under their breath. 09:45 Sat, 10 May Chapter 99 All Eyes on the Launch How am I supposed to enjoy the New Year like this?" 84% +8 Pearls "Same here. Our designs aren''t finalized yet, and Harrison Group has people camped out in our office. Mr. Jeremy is breathing down our necks every day. Just walking into the building gives me a headache." Grumbling was inevitable. High-intensity work bred pressure, and Wendy could feel it too. "Raise year-end bonuses by 3%. We made good money from this Harrison Group deal. After thepany''s cut, I''ll distribute the rest of my personal profits to the departments that have been working overtime." Sammy nodded and took notes. "Tonight is Windwell Pharma Group''sunch. Dr. Goodman will be leaving directly from the hospital. Your gown is hanging in the secretary''s office. Should we change now?" Everything had been so hectic, Wendy had nearly forgotten about the event. All these arrangements had been handled by Melody with the secretary''s office. Wendy and Chase only needed to show up. She would be bringing Sammy and Maggie. Chase would bring Melody. PR and business negotiations would be left to them. What mattered most were the people who might show up tonight. Lifetely had been peaceful. Wendy and Chase were finally enjoying their happiness. But the attendees tonight posed the greatest threat. Henry and Larry were both attending, each representing their ownpanies. They had prepared separate gifts. When they crossed paths at the venue, their smiles were stiff. There was no love lost there. Yet the Harrison family still pushed press releases about their close sibling rtionship. After all these years, would anyone still recognize Mario''s face? "Wouldn''t it be risky for Mario to show up at an event like this?" Chase asked Wendy in a low voice. There were too many old acquaintances here. "Rx," Wendy said. "Mario doesn''t look much like Bruno Harrison. He takes after his mother. So many years have passed. Even if he stood right here, no one would recognize him. Not with his current identity." He still could not return to the Harrison family in name. So he attended as Caesar''s boyfriend. They had been together for years. After Caesar took control of the Meyer family, he openly brought Mario home, and no one dared to gossip. Mario had lived in the Me family''s overseas residence for years. The two were inseparable. Wendy continued, "There are no elders in the Meyer family that Caesar has to consider anymore. So Mario''s identity no longer needs hiding. From what I hear, once he returns to the Harrison family, they''ll register their marriage abroad." It was a good thing. Love, regardless of gender, always deserved celebration. It was a good thing. Love, 213 09:45 Sat, 10 May Q Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Under the Surface 84% +8 Pearls "The gift has already been delivered," Melody said as she descended from the second floor. "Mr. Maurice of Windwell Pharma Group just had a baby girlst month, so we sent a toy for the child." She turned to Chase and continued, "I just spoke with him. He has a very favorable impression of our hospital. The sess rate is around sixty percent." Chase clicked his tongue. "That low?" Wendy, however, said calmly, "It''s not low at all." For investors, sixty percent was more than worth taking a gamble on. She turned to Melody. "You know what to do. Before Cloud Hospital goes public, secure the agency rights and exclusive usage approval for this new drug." "Yes, Ms. Quinn." Melody replied respectfully. Once Melody and Maggie had gone back upstairs to continue negotiations, Chase pulled Wendy aside, his expression filled with worry. "Aren''t we putting too much pressure on Melody?" "That''s the nature of project work," Wendy replied. "If it doesn''t seed, all effort is wasted. With a sixty percent chance, as long as she handles it properly, even if she doesn''t close it today, she can still push that number to seventy-five." Such a precise figure left Chase even more confused. Henry could not hold back any longer. Winess in hand, he stepped closer... What he felt, deep in his bones, was hatred. Those two were already divorced, and yet, to maintain the Quinn Group image and for the sake of public rtions, Wendy still insisted on bringing Chase to every one of these social events. But the one who should be standing beside her was him! "Mr. Goodman, I have some business matters to discuss with Wendy," Henry said bluntly as he stepped in. He was certain Wendy would not turn him down. Sure enough, Chase instinctively looked at her, and Wendy gave a slight nod. "Then why don''t you go take a break?" Chase pretended to be disappointed and turned to head for the third-floor balcony. The constant toasts and business chatter at the banquet did not suit him. He would rather get some air outside. Besides, it gave Henry his chance. "Hey, Chase, do you remember me?" A voice sounded from behind him, and he turned to find a man in a white suit, causing him to jump slightly in surprise. 172 09:45 Sat, 10 May Chapter 100 Under the Surface more striking. Chase hesitated, "You''re...?" 0470! 48 Pearls The man raised his ss and lightly tapped it against Chase''s. "Caesar. Wendy''s friend. I attended your wedding but didn''t get the chance to speak to you." So this was Caesar. The CEO of Typhoon Corp. and a close friend of Wendy. Damn, he''s good-looking. Even more so than the photos in the news. Chase released a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you." "No need to be nervous," Caesar said easily. "Wendy messaged me, said someone was pestering her, and asked me toe keep youpany." He leaned on the railing beside Chase, both of them gazing at the brightest star in the night sky. "Looks like you two are pretty close. I''m relieved." Chase finally snapped out of it. "Back at the wedding..." "I know," Caesar cut in. "Back then, you two were just ying a part. But now that it''s real between you, that''s a good thing. Wendy''s always been strong-willed. It''s hard for her to fall in love. You''re the first." Caesar turned to look at him directly. Chase chuckled, not bothered by Caesar''s well-meaning lie. "The first one whom she loved is clinging to her now. It''s not me." Caesar shook his head firmly. "No. I''ve never believed Wendy loved Henry. He approached her with clear motives. He wanted something from her. And she was in a rebellious phase. The more Mandy disapproved, the more she pushed forward. It was nothing more than defiance." It was precisely because Chase was the first person Wendy had truly loved. She did not know how to deal with it. So in the end, she chose to follow her mother''s path by distancing herself and staying cold as a way to protect the one she loved. Something inexpressible flickered in Chase''s eyes. "Is that so? That''s the first time I''ve heard it put that way." Caesar turned back to gaze over the crowd below, his expression unreadable as he took a sip of champagne. "In our circle, truly falling in love with someone is rare. Everyonees with an agenda. Except you. Typhoon Corp is relocating to Gennemont after the New Year. I hope we see more of each other." Meanwhile, Wendy was still being pestered by Henry. She could not show even a trace of impatience, and the back-and-forth had dragged on for quite some time. "I saw Larry earlier, she said, testing the waters. "Heard he''s started some pharmaceutical subsidiary? Did he really manage tounch it?" Henry gave a dismissive grunt, just about to reply when his tone abruptly shifted into something more pitiful. "Yeah. My parents already had it out for me. Now that Larry started thatpany, they won''t stop nagging me. What am I supposed to do?" What else could you do? Like I care. U9.45 Sat, fu may Chapter 100 Under the Surface 84% +8 Pearls When she was in her early twenties, she could not see through Henry''s ambitions. But now, they were crystal clear. And no way in hell was she helping him. The conversation hit a lull until she noticed Larry making his way upstairs. Only then did Henry start to grow restless and stand up. "Wendy, I just remembered that I haven''t delivered the gift to Mr. Maurice. I''ll go up and give it to him now. Wait here for me." "Sure," she replied. Yeah, right. The moment Henry turned to leave, Wendy got up and hurried toward the third- floor balcony. She thought Caesar would be the only one there with Chase, but when she pushed open the massive ss doors, she found Lemon there too. 338 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 A Fake Identity 84% +8 Pearls "Hey, there you are. I got stuck with Henry for so long. Why didn''t youe save me?" Wendy walked over to Lemon and bumped her with her shoulder. Lemon chuckled. "I just wanted to see you all helpless." She flipped her long hair. "I told you already, we should just dere war on Henry directly. Why bother pretending like this? No one can stand it anymore. Even Chase told me to go rescue you, but I wasn''t gonna." Wendy pinched her ear. "You!" Caesar cleared his throat. "I just saw Larry and Henry go into the break room one after the other. Mr. Maurice seems to be in there too. You think those two are gonna argue inside?" Wendy shook her head. "Henry wouldn''t cross the line like that, but with him there, Larry definitely won''t get anything done." His whole role was probably just to stir up trouble. Lemon said, "When I came in, I saw Larry walk in. Those two weren''t together yet. Larry looked like he wanted to say something to me, but I had too many assistants and secretaries around, so he didn''t get the chance." Seeing how openly they talked about Henry and the Harrison family, Chase suddenly felt everything that had been bothering him fade away like smoke in the wind-none of it could stir his heart anymore. Caesar nced at Chase, then said to Wendy, "Did you hear? Henry already started making moves on that side. I just got the news from Mario. I don''t think Henry can wait much longer." At the mention, Wendy asked, "Why didn''t you bring him with you? Someone that important showing up here would''ve made quite a show." "He has a meeting tonight. I came to the banquet, so he had to go in my ce." At the moment, Mario hadn''t returned to the Harrison family. Instead, he was serving as a vice president at Typhoon Corp. At first, a lot of people were unhappy about it. They said Mario was just Caesar''s lover and questioned how he even ended up at Typhoon Corp, iming that with someone like Caesar as the heir, thepany was doomed. Stuff like "choosing love over power" and other nasty talk flew around. But Mario''s methods were ruthless. He hadn''t been in the Meyer Group long before he secured his position solidly. He was even more ruthless than Caesar. With Wendy''s help, Caesar managed to take back Typhoon Corp, but too many Meyer family members were already inside thepany, and Caesar couldn''t just fire them all. What Caesar couldn''t do because of the Meyer family ties, Mario wasn''t afraid to handle. In 1 then than do. often taking office alond dam hand and 11 h 1. Inaahan 09:45 Sat, 10 May Chapter 101 A Fake Identity And none of it blew back on Caesar. 84% +8 Pearls told you, out of everyone in the Harris family, Mario is one most like Mr. Bruno, Henry and Larry don''t evene close, but they''re the ones always fighting." Lemon had heard about Mario''s background from Wendy-turns out all the rumors back then were true. That stuff dated back decades. Lemon''s father had mentioned that before Bruno died, he might''ve had a lover outside and possibly even a kid. Supposedly, he changed his will after that, but no one knew the details. It''s not like they could ask a dead man. "Well, Mario sure stayed hidden." "It''s not hiding, it''s exile," Wendy corrected her. With Caesar standing right there, and Mario being their ally now, they had to be extra careful with their words. Lemon hadn''t meant to say anything offensive anyway. In the business world, no matter what decisions respected seniors made, the younger generation couldn''t really judge. Especially not someone who had already passed away. "Hey, Henry''sing out." Lemon stood at the edge of the group. She saw Henry walk out with a cold face, and as he shut the door, he shot a fierce re back at someone inside. "If I remember right, your secretary''s still in there, isn''t she? Melody? I was wondering why I couldn''t snatch her-turns out you already took her." Lemon shook her head. "Who canpete with you?" Wendy apologized lightly. In things like this, she never held back. "Henry''s probablying for you." Lemon tilted her head at Wendy. "You''d better get back out there." Wendy said nothing. The renovation of the Typhoon Corp building trended for several days online- along with gossip about Caesar himself. A lot of people already knew Caesar''s lover was a man. Caesar didn''t care about gossip like that. The more attention he got at home, the better Typhoon Corp''s stock did. For a businessman, that kind of gossip was actually helpful. But anyone who wanted to cozy up to Caesar or dig into his background found no openings. So they tried to investigate Caesar''s lover instead. After all that digging, they realized-even the name was fake. "The name I use at Typhoon Corp is Peter Parker. Caesar set up the identity for me.", Chapter 101 A Fake Identity 84% 48 Pearls Group, Chase only invited a few people close to him. They were still in a private room at the Watering Hole. The people doing business were in the room next door. Only the closest ones were here. "No wonder," Chaseughed, "Wendy told me Henry couldn''t dig anything up, so he asked her to help. In the end, they handed over someone with the surname Parker, and I was ill wondering who that was 338 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 She Had Been Kidnapped 84% +8 Pearls All the identities were real. Even though every movement abroad was legitimate, only the name had been changed. Given how little the Harrison family knew about Mario, even if they saw photo, they wouldn''t have recognized him, let alone with a different name. "Larry and Henry got into it at the Harrison residence," Wendy said as she returned from next door, taking Chase''s ce in the conversation. "Larry med Henry for messing things up. Said he lost the rights because of him-and you got lucky instead." Lemon didn''t look surprised at all. "Those two were always going to fall out. This time, Chase just happened to be the excuse." Dinner was nearly done when Waylon showed upte. He walked in, paused at the sight of Caesar, and then nced over at Mario beside him, realizing who he was. That made it all the more interesting. "The guy the Harrison family''s been breaking their backs trying to find overseas," Waylon said, raising his eyebrows, "just waltzes back home and sits down in the middle of a room full of elites-and not a single one recognizes you. I guess you really don''t look like your father." Mario had heard plenty about Waylon. He lifted his ss and clinked it across the table. "Of course not. I take after my mother-about 70 percent, especially the eyes. Practically identical. But my father kept her hidden well. No one in the Harrison family has ever seen her." Which meant that from the beginning, he and his mother had been kept far outside the circle. All for the sake of their safety. "Let''s talk business," Waylon said, ignoring the food, his tone serious as he turned to Chase. "I might need your help. Remember that woman Aimee from 316 that you mentionedst time?" "I remember." Chase nodded. "What happened?" "She''s been kidnapped," Waylon said tly. The whole room froze. Chase instinctively turned to Wendy. She had clearly assigned someone to watch Aimee-there was no way she could have been taken. Wendy paused, clearly stunned. "I sent Dawn overseas to find someone for me. He just left yesterday..." "She was takenst night." It must''ve been in the middle of the night. Aimee was still recovering from her injuries-no one knew why she even went downstairs. But just like that, she was gone. The family got a call from the kidnappers this morning. "How much are they asking for?" Lemon asked. "If I remember right, the Duncan family''s just middle-ss. They''d struggle to pull together anything over 150 thousand dors." Waylon shook his head. "They don''t want money. They want a hard drive." Aimee was a journalist-an international one no less U9.40 Sat, to May Chapter 102 She Had Been Kidnapped articles focused on the pharmaceutical industry. 84% +8 Pearls At first, Chase didn''t think Aimee had anything to do with Madeline. But after reading her reports, he realized that Aimee might be Madeline''s next target. Silence fell over the room. Even Mario, who didn''t know much, sat up straighter. No one had expected Waylon to bring such explosive news. "We''ve already started investigating," Waylon continued. "Because of Madeline''s movements, we''ve merged Aimee''s case with our task force. Now we need a breakthrough." Chase understood what he meant. The task force was screening everyone Aimee had been in contact with. Her parents imed she was kind and well-behaved. They couldn''t imagine anyone holding a grudge-let alone kidnapping her. And they had no idea what hard drive the kidnappers were talking about. "We turned her room upside down and still didn''t find any sign of a hard drive." Right now, the only one who might know the truth was Madeline. Whoever kidnapped Aimee had to be the same person behind the scenes. "Alright, got it," Chase said after a moment''s thought. He sent a message, calling Melody over. Melody and Sammy were next door, along with the rest of the PR team. The department was in full swing. Zynn was drinking with his people, and Maurice''s secretary from Windwell Pharma Group, had already joined the scene. When Melody got Chase''s message, she brought Sammy with her. "Melody," Chase said, "I need youe up with an excuse to get Madeline to my office tomorrow." Melody nodded, instantly understanding. Chase added, "Keep it quiet. Don''t alert too many people." Right now, the hospital clearly wasn''t secure. Madeline wasn''t the only outsider involved. One of Melody''s best qualities was that she never asked why. The boss gave the order-she figured out how to get it done, no questions asked. Sammy stood behind Wendy, listening quietly. "Dawn left, and she got kidnapped right after?" Sammy asked, surprised. "You think Dawn was discovered?" Waylon shook his head. "I doubt it. I know what Dawn''s capable of. If he wanted to stay hidden, no one would''ve found him. I think the timing was just right for them." And yesterday''s timing lined up with Windwell Pharma Group. Everyone had been too busy fighting for usage rights and agency contracts to notice Aimee. But once the dust settled, and the kidnappers realized there''d be no resistance that was when they struck. Which meant the culprit had to be on Windwell Pharma''s list. U9.40 Sat, Tu May Chapter 102 She Had Been Kidnapped 0.94%- +8 Pearls "Understood," she said. "Oh-chief, the signing with Windwell Pharma is at nine tomorrow morning. I''ll be waiting downstairs at 8:10," "Alright. Thanks." Chapter 103 Chapter 103 The Evidence 84% 1 +8 Pearls Melody gave a slight smile and nced at Sammy again. Seeing that their conversation wasn''t finished, she quietly stepped away. "You''ve got a pretty good secretary, Waylon said, clearly impressed with Melody. Sitting across from him, Caesarughed and teased, "Of course. That''s Melody we''re talking about." Waylon didn''t handle the family business and might not know Melody''s name. Lemon exined, She''s number one in the secretary world. She joined two years earlier than Sammy. Both Wendy and I tried to recruit her, but she turned us down. Herst boss dragged her back into the game and locked her down. It was Wendy who got her out." The dirty business in the corporate world wasn''t anything Waylon hadn''t seen before. He suddenly felt a bit bad for Lemon and quickly gave her an extra piece of meat. Lemon nced at it. "Waylon, I''m on a diet. I don''t want to eat meat." Waylon replied, "Starve then, see if I care." As the boss of a top-tier entertainmentpany, her looks were also part of the brand. She couldn''t afford to look messy when her artists were all so good- looking. Because of what happened with Aimee, everyone left early. Next door, people were still drinking. Zynn found a moment to step out and double-check some details with Chase. Back at home, Wendy was removing her makeup in front of the mirror. Chase stood behind her, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, staring at the floor in thought. Wendy looked at Chase through the mirror. "Thinking about Aimee?" she asked. "Yeah." He had originally thought the person behind Madeline was at Room 316, but after investigating, that seemed impossible. Now that Aimee had been kidnapped. "I think it''s Larry," Wendy said. Chase lifted his head and looked at her. In the mirror, Wendy''s makeup-free face looked a little pale. But honestly, she looked beautiful either way, and Chase liked both versions of her. With makeup, she was a sharp and stunning businesswoman, the kind that turned heads. Without makeup, she had a softness and warmth that was just as charming. "I''ve had that feeling too." Chase walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "So many people went into that lounge to negotiate with Mr. Maurice that day. The only ones I suspected were Larry and Henry." 09:46 Sat, 10 May Chapter 103 The Evidence foreign journalist. Lemuria and Coronia-those two ces have one thing inmon, Mose 84% +8 Pearls Group Those were Moses Group''s headquarters and biggest branch. Wendy suddenly turned around, looking up at Chase. "The kidnappers didn''t want money, only the hard drive. Could it be that Aimee found something abroad, and the evidence is on the drive?" "Could be. Why do you suspect Larry?" Thinking back to her recent chats with Henry, Wendy remembered his tone had been smug. He hadn''t taken Larry''s conflict with the Harrison family seriously at all. That was when she started to suspect Henry. Maybe Henry had disrupted Larry''s negotiation that day to push Larry into a corner. "The Harrison family is too deep. I still can''t see clearly. And Mario''s an outsider, which is why I pushed to put him in charge. If Mario takes control of the family, we''ll get all the answers we need." The contract signing went smoothly. Only two media outlets were allowed inside to film. The moment Chase shook hands with Maurice, the photo went viral. It was still trending that night. Melody handled everything efficiently. As soon as Chase returned to the hospital, he saw Madeline waiting in his office. He sent Waylon a message, telling him toe upstairs. While he was still at the signing, Waylon had already brought a team to wait in the hospital''s underground garage. But Chase only told Waylon toe up. Madeline looked nervous as she faced Chase. The new honorary chief was handsome and calm, but there was a natural pressure about him. When he looked at Madeline without smiling, it felt like he was reading her mind. No matter what Madeline did or how well she hid it, it felt like he could see through everything. Chase was still in his white coat. He nced at the time. He had another surgery that afternoon and needed to manage his schedule carefully. Once they sat down, Madeline asked anxiously, "Chief, you wanted to see me?" Chase gave her a small smile and pointed at the chair across from him. "Just call me Dr. Goodman. ''Chief'' sounds too distant." Madeline sat down, her eyes fixed on Chase, not daring to look away. Five minutes hadn''t even passed when Waylon knocked and entered. He acted like he owned the ce, dragging out a chair and sitting next to Chase with one leg crossed over 09:46 Sat, 10 May Chapter 103 The Evidence There was a shy watch on his wrist that looked expensive. It might''ve even had diamonds. Madeline instinctively swallowed hard. 84% +8 Pearls Waylon spoke. "Don''t be scared. We just want to ask you a few things. Your chief is here too, so I''m not going to do anything to you." As he spoke, Waylon pulled out his badge. The second he showed it, both men saw the shift in Madeline''s expression. Her nervousness turned into fear, and she subconsciously scooted her chair backward. Chase called out. Melody stepped in from outside. "Please wait at the door," Chase said calmly. "Don''t let anyone elsee in." 338 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 He Is All I Have "Okay." Melody nodded. Theypletely blocked off every exit Madeline could''ve used to leave. Seeing no way out, Madeline had no choice but to turn to Waylon. "I... I don''t know anything." 84% +8 Pearls Waylon chuckled, his ridiculously handsome face taking on a slightly sharp edge. "Miss, I haven''t even asked you anything yet. Why are you already saying you don''t know? Or do you already know what I''m going to ask?" When it came to interrogation, no one in the entire bureau could match Waylon. Madeline panicked even more and turned to Chase. "Dr. Goodman, there''s a storage room downstairs we haven''t checked. We''re supposed to finish inventory today. If we don''t, we can''t leave. I''ve got a three-year-old at home. I can''t work overtime." Chase folded his hands on the table. "I''ll have someone else handle your work. You won''t need to stayte. As long as you cooperate, you''ll be out of here soon." Of course, "out of here" might also mean out of the hospital altogether. Looking at Madeline''s expression, Waylon knew he''d found the right person. So, it was time to begin. "Have you seen this person before?" Waylon pulled out a photo of Aimee and flipped it to show Madeline. Just as expected, her pupils dted slightly after seeing it, but she still looked away and said she didn''t recognize her. "Really? You''re sure you''ve never seen her?" "I''m not a nurse. I don''t go into patient rooms. The pharmacy is mostly staff-only. How would I know her?" Waylon shot back immediately. "I just asked if you''ve seen her. I never said she was a patient. See? You do know something. Miss, do you know you''re breaking thew?" "I... I''m not! I really don''t know her." Waylon said, "ording to the hospital''s security footage, Aimee was staying in Room 316, right across from the nurse''s station. When you''re on night shift, you like to sit at the station and watch TV with the others. On video, you walk past 316 over five times a night. And I thought you were supposed to be in the pharmacy?" Plus, Room 316 had a constant flow of people. The door was open most of the time. Of the five times Madeline walked past, two or three times the door was open-and she nced inside. There was no way she hadn''t seen Aimee''s face. Madeline said, "I stayed with the night shift crew, but I wasn''t taking care of that patient." HWIST 09:46 Sat, 10 May Chapter 104 He Is All I Have ???84%? +8 Pearls Waylon kept going. "From what I''ve heard, you paid a little too much attention to the patient in 316. You might be the only one who knows the truth. Keeping quiet makes you an aplice. Miss, you''ve got a three-year-old to care for. Do you really want to get taken in for questioning?" A child was always a mother''s weakness. Madeline had been tense, but the moment they mentioned her son, her tough front started to crack. Even so, she still didn''t speak. "I''ve seen her, sure-but only in passing. I noticed her because Room 316 always needed meds changed. I just got a little familiar." Madeline''s response was watertight. But finally, Chase couldn''t hold back anymore. "Madeline, I have to say this. I''ve been watching you for a while. Last time when Avery was admitted, the overdose Winnie gave her-wasn''t it the drugs you supplied?" "It wasn''t me!" Madeline suddenly shouted, her emotions all over the ce. "I don''t know! I barely ever see Winnie. Without a doctor''s order, how could I even take anything from the pharmacy?" That actually reminded Chase of something. Without a doctor''s note, it was easy to trace pharmacy staff. Andst time, the meds Winnie used hade from Madeline. The follow-up investigation showed everything was officially signed off. The meds were originally supposed to go to a patient downstairs. Somehow, they ended up in Winnie''s locker. Chase knew there had to be deeper problems at Cloud Hospital-corruption running through nurses, doctors, pharmacists, everyone. "But the drugs passed through your hands. The cameras prove it. You were the only one near the meds. Madeline, I asked you to this office so we could talk things through. If you won''t be honest, I''ll have to hand you over to Mr. Fred. Your husband works out of town, right? If you''re not home, who''s going to take care of your kid?" Chase had clearly learned Waylon''s pressure tactics well-threats and promises, all in one. Waylon said, "If you talk now, and no one''s been hurt, I can count it as turning yourself in. But if you keep lying, I''ve got enough on tape to charge you. You''reing with me today, either way." "No, no..." Madelinepletely broke down, trembling and panicked. Seeing her copse, Chase sighed, got up, and poured her a cup of hot water. He was about to step away when Madeline suddenly grabbed his sleeve. "Dr. Goodman, I didn''t want to-but I had no choice. They threatened my kid. Every time before they made me take the meds, they sent me a picture of my son at school. I... He''s all I have." She started crying. Chase and Waylon exchanged a nce. Looks like they got her. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 An Aplice Actually, Chase didn''t want to use a child to threaten the mother either, but Madeline was the only breakthrough. They had no choice. Madeline sobbed as she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her oto album. 84% +8 Pearls It was obvious the pictures were taken in secret. They all showed the same child, dressed in different outfits, ying at school. Since Madeline had to work and her husband was away on a project, their three- year-old had been sent to a full-time daycare. She picked him up right after work. The child looked a lot like Madeline. Madeline nearly fainted from crying. Chase rubbed her back gently, handed her phone to Waylon, then switched out her cup and pushed a warm mug into her hands. "Drink some water," he said calmly. "Take your time. Telling us the truth is also a way to save your child. You can''t believe people like that will protect him. Tell Mr. Fred everything." After drinking half the water, Madeline''s sobs started to ease. "It was about six months ago," she began, her voice still shaky. "I ran into someone on my way to work. This phone wasn''t even mine-it was his. He dropped it, and I picked it up to give it back, but when I chased after him, he was gone." "Anyoneing to the hospital must be a patient," she continued. "Not having a phone would drive someone crazy. I wanted to leave it at the nurses'' station for him to im." "But halfway there, the phone rang." She had assumed it was the owner''s friend calling, so she answered right away. "It was a man''s voice," she said, eyes wide with memory. "He told me to open the noto album." The man''s voice was strange and mysterious. Madeline was stunned on the spot. She didn''t know why, but she really did open it. And what she saw scared her so badly, she dropped the phone. It was pictures of her son. Madeline turned to Chase. At the moment, he was the only person she trusted. "He was wearing the same clothes from this morning. It was a photo of him eating at school. It must''ve been taken in the afternoon, around three or four. Which means whoever it was had taken the photo and rushed straight to me." After she saw the picture, she stood there frozen. She had no idea what to do. She spaced out for a long time. Then the phone rang again. This time, she answered right away. It was still that same man. "Find a quiet ce," he said. "We need to talk. If you want your son to be safe, you''d better do what I say." Uy.46 Sat, 10 May Chapter 105 An Aplice 0.84%L +8 Pearls "I found the break room in the pharmacy," she said. "No one else was around then. Everyone else was on break. I hid inside and locked the door to take the call." The man on the phone told her that from now on, she had to do whatever they told her to do-get medicine and leave it in a designated ce. At first, Madeline refused. "I knew it was illegal," she said. And without a doctor''s signature, the meds could be traced back to me." But the man told her not to worry. Since they were telling her to do it, everything would be taken care of. The first job came two weekster. "There was no call this time," she said. "Just a text. And a picture of my son again, wearing that day''s clothes. When I saw that picture, I couldn''t think of anything else but doing what they said. I think it was a patient with a heart condition. I gave them antidepressants instead and swapped out their heart meds." Waylon wrote down the patient''s name for investigationter. After it was done, money appeared in Madeline''s ount. Apparently, this person wasn''t just threatening her-they were also paying her. It felt like a sweet reward after a hard p. "Not really," Waylon shook his head. Knowing thew, he exined, "By epting money, Madeline became an aplice. If she hadn''t taken the money, it would''ve been coercion. But now, she''s in this with them. They dragged her in on purpose." Chase hadn''t expected the person behind this to be so calcting. But the more he listened, the more he felt like this didn''t sound like Larry. Larry wasn''t smart enough to pull this off. Chase couldn''t shake the feeling that something didn''t add up. Madeline went on. "The second time was about two monthster. Honestly, I wasn''t as scared anymore. After the first job, I couldn''t sleep for days, afraid the cops would show up at my door." "But you still cost someone their life," Waylon said coldly. "You should be afraid. No matter what you did, you broke thew." Madeline lowered her head. "The second person fell down the stairs during work hours. They passed out and had a brain hemorrhage. I followed his instructions again and reced the meds with something fatal. I even checkedter, there really was a doctor''s signature on the file." "Who was it?" Chase asked quickly. "Sean Norris," Madeline said without hesitation. The name sounded familiar. Chase had probably worked with him before. He immediately pulled up Sean''s records. "Cardiology," Chase muttered. 84%1 Chapter 105 An Aplice Waylon got straight to the point. "What about Aimee? Was she your next target?" +8 Pearls Madeline had stopped crying. She sighed when she heard Waylon''s question. "Yes. But this time, they didn''t tell me to take any meds. There wasn''t even a signed prescription. They only told me to keep an eye on Room 316 and report if anything unusual happened." 338 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 The Only Lead 84% +8 Pearls "But the patient in room 316 suffered a car ident, Madeline said. "After waking up, there shouldn''t be any problems from the medication. I just never found a chance" Every time she walked past Room 316, she could see a group of people inside. Aimee was a young girl, who looked well-educated. After regaining consciousness, she had her family bring herptop to the hospital. Shey in bed every day, still working. In truth, Madeline didn''t know who the real culprit was, or why he was targeting this group. Based on her previous experiences delivering medication, the targets were usually older people. She didn''t understand what this young girl could''ve done to offend him. "You''re saying he never called you the whole time until Aimee was discharged? He didn''t ask you to do anything?" Chase asked. Madeline nodded. "This was the only time. I got two calls. He told me to watch Room 316, try to find a chance to act before she was discharged, and then text him. He''d take care of getting the doctor''s signature." But before, she had always followed orders. This time, she had to take the initiative-watch the girl, find a chance to use her job to hurt someone. Madeline was scared. She dragged it out until Aimee was discharged and still never found a chance to get close. The man called once to push her. When he heard her say there were always too many people in the room, he went silent. "He paid way more attention to Aimee than to the others over the past six months. That''s why I kept watching her so closely. I just didn''t expect you guys to notice," she said. After a long silence, Madeline added, "I went to see Dr. Sean once too. I didn''t tell him I was the one getting the meds, or anything specific. I just tried to get a feel for what he knew. But I''ve always felt like Dr. Sean was just like me. Someone was threatening him. He probably had no idea who he was writing prescriptions for, or who was actually picking them up." That made things clearer. Waylon and Chase finally understood how someone could hide inside Cloud Hospital for so long. Because no one knew which part they yed. Madeline took a shaky sip of water. The boiling hot water had already cooled, but she didn''t dare say more. She emptied the ss and set it down. Looking at Chase, she said, "Chief, can I go home and see my son? I know what I did was wrong, but I need to make sure he''s okay. He''s still so young. He can''t survive on his own." Chase nced at Waylon, who was silently processing everything. He didn''t respond at first. Chase cleared his throat and called his name, snapping him out of it. Waylon looked at Madeline. "As long as you know what you did was illegal. Right now, Aimee''s been kidnapped. You''re our only lead. If we arrest you now, we might never get the real guy. You can go home today, but don''t leave Gennemont before the case is closed. Can you do that?" "Yes." Madeline nodded quickly. "Then I''ll leave this phone with you." "Wait," Chase stopped her. He handed the phone back. "If the caller notices a different phone on the other 09:46 Sat, 10 May 84% Chapter 106 The Only Lead It wasn''t a bad idea. +8 Pearls Madeline had been threatened, after all, Waylon also wanted to find a middle ground. He nodded in agreement, following Chase''s lead. "Just do as he said. You can go, but don''t tell anyone about this talk- especially not Dr. Sean. Keep things quiet. If the guy contacts you, call me directly He didn''t have a business card, so he tore a piece of paper from the desk and quickly scribbled down his name and number, handing it to her. "Find a way to call me. I''ll make sure your kid stays safe. Starting tomorrow, I''ll have someone watching near his school" "Thank you so much," Madeline said, eyes red again. They had asked everything they needed. Madeline stood up and left. Melody opened the door for her. Only after she left did Chase call Melody back in. "Do you know much about Dr. Sean from cardiology?" Melody quickly recalled his file and answered in a t, methodical tone. "Dr. Sean''s family situation isplicated. His ex-wife cheated on him, and the kid turned out not to be his. She took the child and left. His parents are elderly, and he''s a devoted son-spends most of his time at home looking after them." So it seemed the man was threatening Sean through his parents. "Have nc keep an eye on Sean. But don''t blow the cover," Chase said. "nc doesn''t need to be on Madeline''s shift anymore. Try to schedule him for Sean''s night shifts." Melody left immediately to make the arrangements. "Having a secretary really does make a difference. Now look at you, giving orders," Waylon said as he lit a cigarette. There had been a woman in the room earlier, so he hadn''t smoked. When the pressure was high, or his brain was working too fast, a cigarette helped calm him down quickly. 338 Chapter 107 "So, what do you think?" Waylon asked Chase. ???? 84%u +8 Pearls When he stepped outside his profession, Chase''s opinions tended to be much more objective. Waylon, bound by professional instinct, couldn''t afford to let go of any suspect-hich often led to messy conclusions. Chase began to talk about what he and Wendy had guessedst night. "I thought it was Larry too. Wendy and I both did. After all, he''s the only one currently doing business in pharmaceuticals. But after listening to Madeline''s ount, I don''t think it''s him anymore. Honestly, Larry''s not that smart. There''s no way he could''ve pulled off something thisplex." Waylon exhaled a mouthful of smoke and nodded. "Yeah, I agree. If it''s not Larry, then it has to be Henry. Aimee once exposed one of Moses Group''s scams overseas. Her hard drive might contain secrets about Moses Group." It had been over 24 hours. The police were now stationed at Aimee''s home, fully on guard, waiting for the next message from the kidnappers. All the intel from Madeline pointed to one thing-Cloud Hospital''s web had grown massive. Luckily, Chase hadn''t spooked anyone. "So you''re saying there are a lot of people like Madeline and Sean. Trying to take them down one by one could take forever." By noon, Waylon had already gone to Aimee''s house. Bernard and nc were eating lunch in Chase''s office. Melody had ordered food for the three of them. "I saw the new shift schedule. Starting next week, I''ve got three straight night shifts with Sean. I don''t actually know much about him," nc said while picking out all the onions from his meal. Bernard sat beside him, watching nc''s fussy little moves. He was several years older than nc, and at this point, he viewed him more like a younger brother. Seeing nc pick out the onions he didn''t like, Bernard couldn''t help but sigh. "Dr. nc, how did you even survive med school? What kind of doctor is picky with food?" "ss is ss. Eating stuff I don''t like goes against my nature. Anyway, I''ve got surgery this afternoon," nc replied. The group quickly finished eating. nc rushed off. Seeing Chase still deep in thought, Bernard pulled out a cigarette and handed it to him. Chase hesitated for a few seconds, but still took it. He actually did smoke, just rarely-mostly because of professional discipline. Plus, he always stopped Wendy from smoking, so he felt he had to set the example at home. He barely smoked at all. But today was definitely been mentally exhausting. U3.40 Sal, Tu May Chapter 107 A Different Story 84% +8 Pearls Chase smoked slowly, a bit awkwardly. He paused before shaking his head. "She won''t. Her son is the most important person to her. Mr. Fred promised to protect her kid. If she leaves, the killer definitely won''t let her go." Madeline had done so much for the killer-she had be a liability. They wouldn''t let her live. If she wanted to stay safe, she couldn''t leave Cloud Hospital. That was exactly why Madeline kept helping, again and again, and never resigned. "What do you think now? Mr. Fred didn''t look too happy when he left. Seems like he doesn''t agree with your take. So it''s not Larry?" As someone involved in the whole thing, Bernard naturally knew everything. Chase didn''t hide anything from him when he and Wendy talked about the case. "Based on intelligence, it doesn''t seem like him." Chase stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. "If we''re going by brainpower, it fits Henry more. The connections were builtyer byyer. Larry doesn''t think that carefully. Henry''s different." They were cousins, sure, but Larry had been spoiled too much at home. Henry, on the other hand, had learned to endure. "Henry pretty much suffered in silence overseas. He didn''t marry Shanelle out of love-it was for her family background. He gave up Wendy, the beautiful girl he''d dated for years, to marry someone he didn''t even like. If it were me, I couldn''t do that." Chase snapped out of it when he noticed Bernard texting back. Thinking of Bernard''s partner, Chaseughed. "You''d be one of those ancient kings who gave up the throne for a woman." "I''m not arguing with you. I have joint surgery this afternoon. What about you? Not doing any surgerytely?" "I''ve got one next week. It''s a coborative consult out of state. I''ll loop you in. Ortho''s going to help too. I''ve been trying to rest up for it." Bernard nodded and put away his phone. "I''m out." Ever since Fiona left the Harrison family, Wendy could only check on Henry through surveince. After returning, Henry had been carefully maintaining his image as the devoted, loyal man-as if no other woman could get close to him except Wendy. But what she saw on camera told a different story. The Harrison parents had put Henry in charge of their entertainmentpany-as good as tossing a fish back in the sea. Just this month, he''d brought home more women than she could count on one hand. Every time that happened, the nanny would take Joy and leave. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 You Are a Genius 84% +8 Pearls "Well, you know what? All these women kind of resemble Wendy, Zynn said. She had been sitting behind theputer watching for a while, then walked back around the desk. "Men, huh. When they can''t get the real thing, they find a substitute. What do they think they are?" Wendy''s expression didn''t change. She even took a slow sip of her coffee and calmlymented on Henry''s current condition. "I have to admit, Henry looks way older than he did a few years ago, she said. The scene on the screen was too much-Wendy really didn''t want to see it anymore, so she shut the monitor off. "Mr. Fred said the kidnappers still haven''t called again. They only made one demand, but they send a video every hour to Aimee''s parents, just to prove she''s still alive," she added. Clearly, that hard drive mattered. "Actually, I think there''s a really simple way to find out what''s on the hard drive," Zynn said. Wendy lifted her eyes and looked at her. "Don''t forget," Zynn continued, "Shanelle''s still here. When ites to leverage, what she has might not be any less than Aimee''s hard drive." Ever since Dawn stopped following Shanelle around, the woman hadn''t left the hotel. Since Henry kept the money flowing, she didn''t care if she stayed there forever. Wendy had quietly sent her plenty of things to support her lifestyle. "Aimee''s just a girl. ording to the kidnappers, the hard drive wasn''t on her, so it must''ve been at her house. But Mr. Fred already turned her ce upside down and still didn''t find it. So where could it be hidden?" Wendy asked. The office fell silent. After a long pause, someone lit a lighter with a small click, and white smoke slowly rose. The smell of tobo began to fill the room. Zynn smoked pretty often-more than Wendy did now. Suddenly, something clicked in Wendy''s mind. If it wasn''t at her house, then the only other ce Aimee had been in the past few months was the hospital. Her eyes lit up. She quickly called Chase. "Has Room 316 already been taken by a new patient?" Wendy asked as soon as he picked up. "Yeah," Chase replied, sounding a little confused. "Someone moved in the same day Aimee was discharged." Wendy sounded urgent. "I''m thinking, since they couldn''t find the hard drive at her house, what if she hid it in her hospital room? Somewhere in there?" 09:47 Sat, 10 May Chapter 108 You Are a Genlys 432448 He hung up without saying much more. Melody had already arranged for Room 316 to be defined span "Don''t rm the patient, she told the team. Patients in Room 816 usually had to stay long-term. Last time, Aimee had been there after a car ident. This time, it was an elderly patient waiting for a heart transnt. The patient''s family was understanding and cooperative. Melody said they were installing an air purifier for the patient''s health. Before that, the room needed a full cleaning. Since the weather was nice, the family wheeled the patient outside to get some sun. Once the room was cleared out, Waylon came up from downstairs, "Move quickly, Waylon said. He had a team with him-all in in clothes. They slipped into 216 fast. Melody locked the door from the inside and whispered to Waylon, "Ms. Quinn and the chief aren''t totally sure. It''s just a possibility" Waylon stood by the window, He could still see the patient outside. "If there''s even the slightest chance, we can''t let it slip," he said. It wasn''t a big room, so searching didn''t take long. By the time Chase arrived, they still hadn''t found anything, "Nothing?" he asked. Melody shook her head and walked to the door. "We even looked under the bed. There''s nothing. Maybe it''s not here after all." Chase frowned. Aimee had only been discharged recently, and Dawn had been watching her the whole time. She hadn''t met with anyone. If the hard drive wasn''t at home, then it had to be at the hospital. And along with Aimee, her car had also gone missing. The car from the ident belonged to thepany. Aimee''s own car had been parked downstairs. Given her condition, she couldn''t drive-but she''d taken her house key when she left, and the car key had been hanging on it. Whoever left in her car probably went alone. They''d taken Aimee''s car and disappeared from the scene. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 The Hard Drive 84% +8 Pearls From the looks of it, this kidnapping had likely been impulsive. If it hadn''t been, they wouldn''t have neglected to prepare a getaway vehicle. "Aimee wasn''t in great health at the time," Melody exined. "She either worked in bed or sat by the window. I remember the nurse mentioned that a few times, when she came in, she saw Aimee just staring out the window. Aimee was a very easygoing patient. The nurse in charge of Room 316 got along well with her." Before entering Room 316, Melody had already known everything about Aimee''s hospitalization. She sat by the window. So many people came to see Aimee, and there was even a wheelchair in the room. If she had liked sunlight or wanted to rx, she could have easily asked someone to wheel her outside for fresh air. Instead, she chose to sit by the window rather than go out. Chase fixed his eyes on the two potted nts sitting on the windowsill. This type of hospital room usually didn''t have anythingplicated. The two nts had only been brought in a month ago, supposedly to purify the air. The entire room was pure white. A touch of green could at least ease a patient''s anxiety. Chase walked over and picked up one of the pots. Ryan, one of Waylon''s men, said, I already checked it. Nothing underneath. The pots were small, about the size of a man''s palm. And they were very light. If there was nothing underneath, there had to be something inside. Chase crouched down and flipped the whole pot over. Loose soil scattered all over the floor. The roots tangled together, but there wasn''t much dirt overall. Nothing here. Chase ignored the mess on the floor and reached for the other one. He turned it over too. Clink. This time, something hit the marble floor. The crisp sound instantly drew everyone''s attention. It was a silver hard drive, very small, covered in dust, with bits of nt roots still wrapped around it. Waylon let out a breath of relief. They''d finally found it. The next second, he smacked Ryan on the back of the head. "What the hell do you people even do? You just 09:47 Sat, 10 May Chapter 109 The Hard Drive 84% +8 Pearls Ryan rubbed the back of his head and muttered, "I even shook it around a bit. I was sure there was nothing in there!" These kinds of hard drives had weight. Shaking them would produce a sound. Chase stood up holding the drive. Melody immediately had someone clean up the mess on the floor and plugged in a newly brought air purifier. "Aimee was really careful," she said. "She ced the drive right in the roots of the nt. It was wrapped up tight. No way anyone would find it without dumping it out." It seemed Aimee had expected something like this to happen. She had hidden the drive while she was in the hospital, knowing the police would find nothing at her house and eventuallye here. She was a smart girl. "Taking it back with you?" Chase asked, handing the drive to Waylon. Waylon checked the time. It had been more than thirty-five hours since Aimee was kidnapped. They couldn''t waste another second. "No. Upstairs. We''ll check it in your office. Make a copy after. Tell Aimee''s parents to contact the kidnappers. Say the drive has been found, confirm the meeting spot, and start the n." "Yes, sir." The group rushed out. Waylon and Chase took the quieter elevator upstairs. "What do you think''s on it?" Waylon asked. Chase looked at the numbers rising. "What''s the point in guessing? We''ve got the thing. Let''s just check." He took a second to send Wendy a message: "We found the drive." Seeing his text, Waylon added, "Tell Fiona to get ready. If what''s in there is really important, Aimee probably set a password. We''ll need Fiona to crack it." Chase didn''t even lift his head. He texted to Wendy: "We''ll probably need Fiona." Wendy texted back: "Fiona and I are heading to the hospital now. Wait for us." Chase replied: "Got it. Be careful on the way." The drive was plugged into theputer. Waylon wasn''t exactly a tech expert, but he could at least find a file. At the bottom of several folders, he finally found a heavily encrypted file. He clicked it. The screen went ck and several nk fields appeared. Waylon and Chase exchanged a nce. They were right. It needed a password. Which meant Aimee knew her tech. This wasn''t just encryption. 09:47 Sat, 10 May Chapter 109 The Hard Drive 2.84% 48 Pears "Aimee worked with foreign media at her level. She probably had ess to a lot of ssified info, Chase said. "I bet she had some serious contacts too." "Didn''t think we''d be the ones to uncover this." Wendy and Fiona took her private elevator up, fast and smooth, without seeing a single person on the way. They pushed open the door and entered the office. The two men inside immediately gave Fiona the seat. Fiona sat down without a word and started typing. The password screen was quickly overtaken by a programming window. The whole room went silent except for the sound of Fiona''s fingers flying across the keyboard. "Not bad," she said. "Aimee really was a pro. The virus she nted is pretty advanced. I''ve barely seen this level of code in the country. She must''ve brought this drive from overseas." 338 Chapter 110 Waylon didn''t care about the virus. He only cared about the encrypted files. "How long until it''s open?" he asked. Fiona didn''t take her eyes off the screen. "15 minutes." 84% +8 Pearls No password was ever too difficult for Fiona. She barely needed to try. Fifteen minutes meant she was being careful, making sure there was no damage to anything on the hard drive. Otherwise, it would''ve taken five. Chase stood next to Wendy. "How''d you figure she''d hide it at the hospital?" he asked. Wendy tilted her chin in Waylon''s direction. "Why else? Waylon practically tore Aimee''s house apart and didn''t find the hard drive. It definitely wasn''t on her, and the only ce she''s stayed long-term in the past six months is the hospital." "I''m starting to think Madeline wasn''t behind this," Chase said meaningfully. "But if it was some spur-of-the- moment kidnapping with no nning, it doesn''t match what you know about Henry. What if there''s someone else we don''t know about?" There were still plenty of people hiding behind the Harrison family. Back when they first met Mario, he''d said the Harrison family wasn''t smart enough to keep his father''s empire running this long. Someone must''ve been guiding them from the shadows. "Henry''s got a rebellious streak. I really don''t think he''d let anyone pull his strings. Since the divorce, he''s probably been working to break free, step by step. But that guy behind the curtain-he''s never shown his face. That''s what I find strange." Wendy knew everyone who mattered in the business world-every single person. Whoever it was remained a mystery, and it was possible she wouldn''t recognize him even if he appeared before her. "It''s open," Fiona said. It hadn''t even been 15 minutes. Everyone turned toward the back of the them space and wandered a fewps around Chase''s office. Waylon was already copying everything from the hard drive. "We were right. It''s connected to Moses Group," he said. Everything outside felt rushed. Even the n to capture the target had been thrown togetherst-minute by Ryan. "Now we wait for the suspect to show up. As soon as they do, we move in," Ryan said over the phone. "Mr. Fred, anything else we need to keep in mind?" 1473:11 ha haanital TI- - Land J hin amenil than take it ich him. 09:47 Sat, 10 May Chapter 110 She Looks Familiar 84% +8 Pearls The other side definitely knew Aimee''s family had called the police. They''d be even more careful now. "Keep the hostage safe," Waylon said. "What''s on that drive too important. Aimee has to make it back alive. I still have a lot of questions for her." "Got it," Ryan replied, Before the drive was in their hands, they wouldn''t dare hurt Aimee. But once the handoff happened, it woulde down to speed. After Waylon left, Wendy and Fiona didn''t rush off. "Aimee isn''t ordinary," Wendy said, ncing over the files again. "I couldn''t even find this stuff. Some of it''s what I destroyed myself back then, and yet it''s here." She turned her head toward Fiona. "Don''t you think it''s strange Aimee showed up right at this turning point?" Fiona nodded. A little. With her identity, she could''ve released all this publicly without us even knowing about it. But instead... Maybe it was the hospitalization that slowed her down." Wendy shook her head cautiously. "No. Aimee''s car ident might not have been an ident at all. These files might be why she ended up in the hospital. She probably sensed danger and hid the drive in that flower pot on purpose." Only Aimee could answer these questions. That was why Waylon insisted she had to survive. All they could do now was wait anxiously at the hospital. "Doesn''t Aimee look kind of familiar to you?" Chase asked. "Familiar?" Wendy stared at Aimee''s photo. She did seem a little familiar, but she couldn''t put her finger on who she resembled. "I think she looks like Caesar," Chase said. Wendy and Fiona exchanged a nce. They all knew Caesar had a younger sister. The year their parents died, someone in the Meyer family lost track of her. Said she''d wandered off by ident-but in truth, they''d abandoned her. Caesar had spent all those years abroad searching for his sister. Now that Chase mentioned it, Wendy took another look at the photo. There really was a resemnce. "You know Caesar too well," she said. "Maybe that''s why you don''t notice. But I''ve only met him a few times. Just look at the shape of her face-not the eyes or the mouth. Focus on the bone structure. They''re exactly the same." Fiona raised her hand and covered those parts of the photo. As expected, imagining Caesar''s face in her mind, the two of them matched perfectly. Aimee was like a female version of Caesar. "No way..." Fiona murmured, stunned. "Caesar''s been searching for his sister all these years. I always thought it was weird, though. Aimee''s early childhood is totally nk. It''s like she popped out of a rock or Chapter 111 Chapter 111 It Was Fate Thinking back to Fiona''s frustration at the time, Wendy couldn''t help butugh. "Yeah," she said. So Aimee really might have had something to do with Caesar. They couldn''t say for sure. Everything had to wait until Aimee was safely rescued. 84% +8 Pearls By the end of the workday, there was still no news from Waylon. The three of them decided to change locations and wait elsewhere. Chase had something to talk to nc about and told the two women to go ahead. "Today, Mr. Fred and the others are out catching the suspects," Chase said. "Keep a close eye on Sean. If he answers a call and his movements seem suspicious, have security pin him down immediately. Sean probably knows more than Madeline does." nc gave an okay gesture and asked, "They haven''t caught him yet?" "Still no word," Chase replied. "They''re setting up everything. It shouldn''t be a big issue. It''s just that Aimee''s identity is questionable. We need her alive." "Rescue''s not easy, but I believe in Mr. Fred''s ability," nc said. Everything outside moved at a surprisingly fast pace. By the time Aimee returned home, it was already the middle of the night. Chase and Wendy were waiting in the dining room for news. Even Fiona had gone home. "Safe," Waylon texted Chase. Wendy looked at the message, a little hesitant. "Should we tell Caesar? Is it too soon?" "I think we shouldn''t get Caesar''s hopes up for nothing," Chase said. "Aimee was treated at our hospital before. We have her blood type on file. Try to get a strand of Caesar''s hair. Cloud Hospital can run the test. Just bring it straight to me." Wendy nodded. Aimee was brought back to her own house. She cried in her parents'' arms for a long time. Waylon and Ryan stood nearby the entire time. Aimee''s parents repeatedly thanked every member of the task force. Once things calmed down, Waylon said, "Ms. Aimee, please go to your room and try to recall the details. Lily, you''ll take her statement. Mr. Mike, we still have a few questions for you." "Yes, of course. Aimee, go ahead to your room. The officer will go with you," Mike said quickly. Aimee wasn''t actually scared. After working in foreign media for so many years, she had long gotten used to situations like this. "Is Ms. Aimee your biological daughter?" Waylon asked directly. Aimee''s parents froze, then looked at each other in disbelief. They clearly hadn''t expected Waylon to ask something like that. 09:47 Sat, 10 May 0 Chapter 111 It Was Fate neighborhood. No one else was around." 84% +8 Pearls It happened many years ago. After they brought Aimee home at age three, she got seriously ill and forgot everything before that ag. They went through the legal adoption process and had raised Aimee as their own daughter ever since. "How did you figure it out?" Mike asked. Waylon thought of what Wendy and Chase had suspected. He had just asked casually-he hadn''t expected it to be true. "Gically," he said, "both of you have monolids. Ms. Aimee couldn''t naturally have double eyelids. Sure, girls like to enhance their looks, and it''s no big deal to get eyelid surgery. But hers look way too natural. I don''t think it''s from surgery." It was a very scientific observation. The Duncan couple had nothing to argue with. "All these years, Aimee thought she was your real daughter. No one ever came looking for her?" "My wife and I made some moneyter on and moved from our old neighborhood. It used to be over in Skyville Residence, pretty far from here. Also, before wepleted the adoption, I spent a year taking Aimee around to look for her real family. We never found anything." So many years had passed that they had already treated Aimee as their own flesh and blood. Sometimes, they even forgot she wasn''t. The neighbors had changed too. No one knew what Aimee''s real background was. Given all this, it made it even more likely that Aimee could be Caesar''s sister. Maybe fate was the one tying all those people together. If Aimee hadn''t gotten caught up in Moses Group''s case, they might never have found her. No matter how hard Caesar looked, he wouldn''t have found a sister who had lost all her memories. Waylon texted Chase: "Confirmed. Aimee was a found child. They legally adopted her. They found her near Skyville Residence when she was about three. No one was with her. Looks like she was abandoned." Chase replied: "Got it. Try to get a strand of Aimee''s hair. I want topare it to Caesar''s." Waylon replied: "Will do." Putting away his phone, Waylon turned to Aimee''s father. "We may need a strand of Ms. Aimee''s hair. I hope that''s alright with you both." "Of course." Getting Caesar''s hair turned out to be pretty easy. A few dayster, there was a joint meeting. Caesar and Mario attended as Typhoon Corp''s representatives, and Wendy showed up with Chase. In the dressing room, Caesar was adjusting his cor. "You look tired," he said, ncing at Chase through the mirror. "Upte doing surgeries again?" Chapter 112 hapter 112 The International Conferences 84% +8 Pearls Chase nodded. "There was one patient who was pretty difficult. Transferred in from another province. I just finished the second surgery today. Might be more toe." "You''re already the honorary chief, and your surgeries are still packed like this? Aren''t you worried you''ll get overwhelmed?" the other person asked. "I still prefer being on the operating table," Chase said calmly. "Melody helps me handle the hospital affairs." "After all, being a doctor was your dream and your main profession," the person replied. "If it weren''t for Wendy, you probably would''ve stayed focused just on medicine. Who would''ve thought you''d get dragged into business too? From now on, Melody will attend these meetings for you. Today''s just the first time-you just need to show your face." At Typhoon Corp, Mario went by the name Peter. He had been standing outside taking a call. When the time seemed about right, he pushed open the door and reminded the two inside. "Time to head out," he said.. "Coming," Chase replied. After Caesar left, Chase crouched down and picked up a strand of Caesar''s hair from the floor. It had identally been pulled out earlier-Chase saw it fall with his own eyes, so there was no way he got the wrong one. In a high-end club like this, the floors were spotless. You couldn''t even see a speck of dust, let alone a stray hair. As soon as they left the room, someone woulde in right after to clean. Chase had already gotten confirmation from Waylon-Aimee really had been picked up off the street. During the meeting, neither Wendy nor Chase had much to say. They sat together, chatting about unrted things. "You got the hair?" Wendy asked. Chase nodded and patted his pocket. "Saw it fall with my own eyes." "Caesar''s having hair loss issues?" she joked. Chaseughed. Just picturing Caesar going bald made it hard not tough. "There''s no baldness gene in Caesar''s family," Chase said. "This strand was pulled out by ident. The follicle at the root is still fresh-looks really healthy." Wendy asked, "If Aimee really turns out to be Caesar''s sister, that''s way too dramatic. He''s been looking for her for years, all over the world, and found nothing. And now, because of the Harrison family''s case, she just turns up. I''m honestly scared Caesar might flip sides." Everything in the world happened by ident, and Caesar was no exception. The meetingsted three hours. During the break, people came out for tea, and those who were interested paired off to talk in private rooms for potential future connections. 09.47 Sat, Tu vay Chapter 112 The International Conferences'' Fenon International was definitely present. The Harrison family, of course, had both Larry and Henry there. 84%8 $8 Pears Just seeing the two of them made it obvious: the person Waylon caught wasn''t useful. Probably just a runner -someone paid to do the dirty work, with no clue who the real culprit was. They found a small private room to drink tea and rest. "If I knew it''d be this boring, I wouldn''t havee," Caesar grumbled. "At international conferences, at least you see some blondes with blue eyes. Why is it just a bunch of old men here? Mario nced at him. "There are some. Didn''t you see the ones in dresses at the entrance? They''re clearly already taken, Caesar observed. Didn''t you notice how their eyes were all locked onto one specific guy? Anyone working in a ce like this has to have a sponsor." "With your money, you could steal them all if you wanted," Mario said lightly. "Do you want me to go get you one?" "Forget it," Caesar muttered. Their dynamic was actually kind of funny. Lemon found it odd. "You two have been together for years. You talk about stuff like this so openly?" "Yeah," Mario said casually. "Men are simpler than women. You think I''d get jealous just because he checked out a few pretty faces? I''ve got better things to do." Wendy added, "Caesar just appreciates women-he''s not actually interested in them." She could tell that from a young age. Caesar and Wendy had grown up together. If he really liked women, there was no way he wouldn''t have had a thing for someone like Wendy, who was gorgeous and always around him. There was hot coffee and snacks on the coffee table in the center of the room. Mario got coffee for everyone, then picked up a snack for himself. Lemon said, "I saw Larry and Henry standing really far apart earlier. Looks like they''ve officially fallen out. Not even pretending anymore." "I used to think I understood Henry pretty well," Wendy said with a sigh. "But looking back, what I saw was just the version he wanted people to see. I never saw the real him." She turned to Mario. "Chase and I suspect there''s someone behind the Harrison family, pulling the strings. Even back when Henry was sent abroad for a political marriage, it might''ve been that person''s idea." Mario nodded. "From what I remember, my father was always on guard against someone. No offense, but the current heirs of the Harrison family aren''t worth worrying about. If someone managed to make my father nervous, they must be something else." Male or female-no one knew. No one knew their identity either. This person had been smart enough to stay hidden behind the Harrison family all this time, never once showing their real face in public. Chapter 113 "This is what a truly dangerous perum tordre We? Mercad Sunny The joint conferencested even days, ten Chase and Wendy only see the xnky senior executives from thepany, one by one. Kumon had way town''s for sure t only woke up when people called the name after the HEKTINYA **. There were so many people seramading to work with Option Group, they didn''t wird read to word ter way to look for opportunities, Avery came to Cloud Hospital for a follow-up circk Chase pervmay be for two to .dafeg by her side the whole time. He only rxed once he confirmed that her continwixa, "You''re recovering quickly, Better than I expected; Chase wid whe we on the beach, wadding, hurry wi her hands and feet in the wheelchair. She had no problem with lige nemez wyzdry remained Avery smiled and said, "Thanks to the doctors for waving, my life. I know the case it''s dowd yn Mr. Fred came to my house a few days ago. He said they caught some gry involved in the Kidnapping, and asked if I''d seen him before" Waylon had arrested two men, and they were indeed the kidnappers, Paz they imed they were you doing a job for money. Allmunication data was fake. Their phones couldn''t be traced, and calling back only led to dead numbers. "What about your fans? They''re not still going after Fenon International, are they? Avery said, "My boss treats me well. All the endorsements and films that paused because of my injury have already found good recements. Opportunitiese and go, but you only get one life? Chase let out a softugh. "Then recover well. I''ll be waiting for the day you can stand again. Fenon International and Quinn Group are working together now, so we''re technically partners. We''ll definitely see each other again." "Alright" That day was bound to be important. The DNA test results for Caesar and Aimee were ready. Wendy rushed to Cloud Hospital right after her meeting. Chase''s hands trembled a little as he received the report. "I''m a little nervous," Chase admitted. Wendy hummed in agreement, sat beside him, and pressed his hand gently. "This is Caesar''s sister. I remember seeing her right after she was born. I even called her my little sister. I''m nervous too. Maybe we shouldn''t look?" Chase haused U9.47 Dat, TU IVay Chapter 113 His Sister were, Sammy rolled her eyes, pushed open the door, and snatched the report from Chase''s hand. "If you two won''t look, I will." < 24% 48 Pearis "Fine, go ahead," Chase said with a relieved sigh. "Just tell us the result. Melody wore a faint smile. Out in public, her expression was always polie and distant. But here, she seemed a little warmer. Maybe it was prison that had calmed her over the years-she clearly had been through a lot. Sammy didn''t hesitate. She opened the report and read. The biological data was full ofplicated terms. But at the bottom, the line about familial rtion stated clearly that Caesar and the hair sample provider Aimee are confirmed to be siblings. Sammy flipped the paper around and handed it to them. "It''s time to ask Mr. Caesar for a meal!" Wendy and Chase exchanged a look and both let out a breath. Wendy had gripped Chase''s hand so hard that it hurt, but he didn''t react. He just said, "Finding his long lost family in this life is a blessing." And the woman in front of him was the one he felt closest to. Wendy couldn''t wait to call Caesar with the good news. But Chase thought Caesar would be too overwhelmed to drive safely after hearing it. If he got into an ident on the way, Cloud Hospital would really be cursed. Might as well invite Caesar and Mario over for dinner. Chase had no surgeries after that anyway-he could go home a bit early and cook. He''d been too busy to cooktely, and he wanted to make something nice for Wendy. Wendy nodded quickly and went out to call Caesar. "Alright, that''s settled. I should head back now. Melody, make sure to bring Cloud Hospital''s financial report to Quinn Group. They''ll start auditing the day after tomorrow. Has Windwell Pharma Group''s new drug arrived yet?" Melody replied, "The first batch will arrive the day after tomorrow. A lot of people have already made appointments. The first hundred on the list will be able to use it." "Be careful. It''s still a new drug-we can''t bepletely sure about it." Sammy thought for a second, then added, "Also, don''t let Dr. Sean handle it. His background is a little shady. Mr. Fred is already monitoring his parents." "Got it." Caesar didn''t live in the Meyer Mansion anymore. That ce couldn''t be sold and still housed a few stubborn rtives he couldn''t kick out. He didn''t want to be cruel about it-they could stay. Now he lived in Goldenville. It was a property Bruno had bought for Mario''s mother years ago. Caesar bought a unit in the front building to make things easier. In reality, the two lived together. They were both very proper people, and it wasn''t right to visit someone empty- handed. So they brought two bottles of wine. 09:47 Sat, TU May Chapter 113 His Sister cing the bottles on the ind counter by the kitchen door. 924% Chapter 114 Chase came out holding a spat in one hand and nced over. over. 84% +8 Pearls He had recently been taking wine sses with Wendy and had picked up a bit of knowledge, "Perfect timing! We''re opening a bottle tonight. You guys should have some too. It''s a special day," Chase said, deliberately keeping them in suspense. Caesar and Mario exchanged a look. Both of them werepletely lost. Wendy had taken off her makeup and changed into simple loungewear. With her hair tied up, she walked out of the bedroom and said, "Exactly. It''s a really big day. Drink more-we''re opening both bottles!" Even after they sat down, the two still had no idea what was going on. But the way Chase and Wendy kept looking at them made them feel like they''d fallen into some sort of trap. Mario leaned toward Caesar and muttered, "You didn''t sign your life away to Wendy, did you? Am I going to end up working for her now?" Caesar shook his head with a chuckle. "Wendy has no use for Typhoon Corp." "Then why are these two smiling like that?" Dinner was a feast. Looking at the table full of dishes made the two of them even more nervous. "What''s going on with you two? Wendy, you''re not pregnant or something, are you?" Mario asked. Wendy looked speechless. "How is that a good thing? Of course not. Today is a good day for you two. Chase and I just didn''t want you getting too emotional in public, so we invited you over for dinner." Before they started eating, Chase handed Caesar a sealed document. "I''m sorry I took your hair sample without asking. The other strand was given to me by Mr. Fred. ording to the DNA report, the owner of that strand is the sister you''ve been searching for all these years." Upon hearing that, Caesar and Mario both froze, eyes snapping up to look at Chase. Seeing Caesar''s eyes slowly turn red, Wendy poured him a ss of wine. "Take a look. These are current photos of your sister. You might not recognize her anymore." The DNA test confirmed they were siblings. The photos were all of Aimee-daily snapshots, most of them taken abroad. "She is..." Caesar began, his voice shaking. Wendy exined, "It''s quite the coincidence. She''s the girl who was recently kidnapped-the one Waylon just rescued. ording to her adoptive parents, she was found near Skyville Residence. She was three years old, sitting alone outside the gates and crying. No one else was around." Caesar''s body began to tremble from the surge of emotions. Mario quickly ced a hand on his shoulder and said quietly, "We found her. We really found her." 09:47 Sat, 10 May Chapter 114 We Found Her 84% +8 Pearls she lost all memories before the age of three. She never knew she was adopted. The good news is, she''s had a great life. She''s their only child, and they treated her really well. We haven''t told her anything yet-she just got rescued and still needs psychological support." Caesar nodded repeatedly. "Yes, don''t scare her. I... I''m okay. As long as she''s doing well, that''s all I care about. Even if I can''t tell her I''m her brother, just knowing she''s okay is enough. When... when can I see her?" Chase spoke softly. "We were thinking of waiting until the kidnapping case settles down. Aimee''s psychological evaluation isn''tplete yet. We don''t know if she has trauma from the incident. Don''t rush it." That night, Caesar drank a lot. He emptied an entire bottle of wine. Mario stayed sober the whole time and ended up driving them home. Caesar clutched Aimee''s photo, crying andughing off and on,pletely lost for words. Mario and Chase worked together to get him into the car and closed the door. "Thank you," Mario said, standing up and extending a hand to Chase. "You''ve fulfilled his biggest wish. You don''t know how guilty Caesar felt all these years about losing his sister. He always med himself, thinking he was useless. At least now, she''s been found." Chase nced into the car. "It was all a strange twist of fate. I thought Aimee looked familiar in the photos, but Wendy and Caesar were too close to notice. Either way, it''s a good thing. Once he sobers up, you can both prepare to meet her. Just wait for the updates." "Got it. Thank you. Going forward, no matter what Quinn Group or Cloud Hospital needs, Typhoon Corp will do everything we can to help." Wendy came over, wrapped in a coat, and stood next to Chase. She looked straight at Mario and said, "We''re allies. Caesar''s been my friend since we were kids. You don''t have to say anything formal. We''re helping you get back into the Harrison family, and in return, you''ll give me the truth. We''re on the same side." "Enough talking. I''m heading back." "Alright." Aimee''s psychological evaluation came back with positive results. The therapist said that after working in foreign media for so many years, Aimee had long gotten used to this kind of lifestyle. The kidnapping hadn''t caused much trauma, and no further intervention was needed. 338 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 A Fulfilled Wish 30470 +8 Pearls At a time like this, Aimee''s adoptive parents told her honestly that she had been picked up off the street, and that Waylon had already found her biological brother, Caesar. Compared to Caesar, Aimee wasn''t that emotional, but the thought of meeting her real family still made her feel excited. "At the opening ceremony of Typhoon Corp in Gennemont, I''ll announce that Aimee ising home. She''s used to this name, so Mario and I decided not to change it. After all, her adoptive parents truly cared about her. We will also take care of them for the rest of their lives." Caesar''s matter was finally settled, and he could count it as a fulfilled wish. He met Aimee for the first time at the Watering Hole. "Hello, Dr. Goodman. I saw you at Cloud Hospital. I heard from Caesar that you were the one who found my hard drive. Thank you for saving me, and for helping me find Caesar. You''ve saved me more than once," Aimee said politely. She was calm and confident, and after dressing up, she looked even more like Caesar. Aimee stood beside Caesar. One wore a ck suit, the other a custom short dress. Aimee smiled at Chase without hesitation-she hadn''t changed at all after the kidnapping. Chase said, "From now on, we''re friends. No worries. Come sit down. You''re one of us now. Waylon has something to ask youter." "Mr. Fred tried his best to protect me back then. He even got hurt." Waylon had indeed been injured. The attackers had weapons, and a bullet had grazed his arm. "When we got home, Mr. Fred asked me a few questions-all about Moses Group. I know thatw enforcement from many countries are investigating the Moses Group case. I''ve been quietly digging into it for years. I just didn''t expect that through this case, I''d actually find my real family." Aimee nced at Caesar. The two exchanged a smile and held hands. Waylon came with Lemon. Once everyone was there, he said, "Today, we''re here to celebrate Caesar finding his sister. We''ll talk about the caseter. Let''s eat first." Everything still revolved around the Harrison family. Without a doubt, Aimee had also looked into them. "Actually, by the time I started investigating, the Harrison family was already pulling out of the Moses Group operation. I found that Shanelle was thest person who had ess to the internal data. A lot of businesspeople tied to Moses Group were on that list. I''ve been tracking Shanelle ever since," Aimee said. Wendy added, "I know where Shanelle is. She''s also the biological mother of Henry''s child." Aimee didn''t know the deeper rtionship details. She just noticed that Henry paid unusually close attention to Shanelle, and that''s when she started investigating her. "The stuff in my hard drive is nothingpared to the client list Shanelle has," Aimee said. If we can get that, we could take down the whole operation in one go. Right now, we''re only reeling in the minnows." Caesar looked at Aimee with pride in his eves 09.40 Sat, Tu May Chapter 115 A Fulfilled Wish tier resources of the Meyer family, shecked nothing. 79040 +8 Pearls Now that Aimee was confirmed as his real sister, and Typhoon Corp-the top mediapany-belonged to the Meyer family, it was only natural for her to join the international news department there. Originally, Aimee had been unhappy with her oldpany for stealing several of her top stories. She had nned to resign even before the kidnapping. But thepany had their eyes on the sensitive info she held and didn''t want to let her go. Without Caesar, her resignation would''ve dragged on for a long time. Now, with Caesar''s name out in public, no one dared to fight Typhoon Corp for her. Mario personally handled Aimee''s resignation. As for Caesar having a boyfriend, Aimee waspletely chill about it. She''d been working internationally and had seen all kinds of things. When Mario went to help Aimee quit, thepany found out he was Peter from Typhoon Corp. They were already nervous and politely asked about his rtionship with Aimee. He answered bluntly, "I''m her brother''s boyfriend." Reportedly, the execs were stunned. They signed the papers in seconds, afraid Peter might just buy theirpany next and give it to Aimee for fun. Typhoon Corp really had that kind of power. No one doubted it. "This month, just focus on recovery. For New Year''s..." Caesar started to say. Ever since he''d been sent overseas, Caesar had spent New Year''s alone. Only after meeting Mario did it be a holiday for two. Two people who had been cast out, leaning on each other during the most family- oriented time of year. Now that he''d finally found his sister, of course Caesar wanted her with him- rather than sending her back to the Meyer family to deal with those shady rtives. But Aimee said, "Oh, I might still have to spend it with Mom and Dad. It''s been so many years. If I don''t go back, the two of them will feel lonely." Seeing Caesar''s disappointment, Mario quickly offered, "How about you bring your parents to Goldenville. The house in the back is empty anyway. You can all move in. That way we''re close by and can spend New Year''s together. I''ve never had a real New Year with my elders before." 338 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Maniptive Opportunist That actually sounded like a good idea. 84% +8 Pearls Chase looked at Wendy. She was definitely going back to the Quinn Group, and since Chase no longer had any family, he''d naturally go with her. Seeing the look in Chase''s eyes, Wendy suddenly remembered something amusing. "With the holidaysing up and Franklin''s filming wrapping soon, Henry came to visit me on set the other day. He asked if I wanted to spend Christmas with him. Can you believe that?" That did sound a little ridiculous. What exactly was Wendy supposed to be to Henry, and to spend Christmas with him? "From what Henry said, he''s not going back to the Harrison mansion. He''s spending Christmas with Joy at my ce. He made it sound so pitiful, like I''m the reason he can''t go home." Lemon took a sip of her lemonade. "So what did you say?" Wendy had recently run out of patience for Henry. "I told him, ''Don''t I have a mom of my own? Why should I spend the holiday with someone else?'' After that, Henry looked all hurt, but he seemed to get the point. He said he''d been out of line and that he''d visit my mom after Christmas." When Chase heard that, he sneered to himself. There was no way Mandy wanted to see Henry. If Wendy weren''t investigating him right now, she''d be doing everything she could to keep Quinn Grouppletely cut off from Harrison Group. Mandy had always had just one opinion about Henry; he was a maniptive opportunist. Even back in the day, Wendy probably saw through Henry''s motives. They were both school celebrities, and Henry being paired with Wendy was no coincidence. Wendy, being rebellious at the time, had chosen to be with him. That didn''t mean she''d stay rebellious forever. Her father''s death had beenid bare before her. Wendy was a rational woman. She was bound to go down the road of uncovering the truth. Which meant she and Henry were headed in opposite directions, no matter how things used to be. On thest workday before the holidays, everyone received their year-end bonuses. No one was really working anymore-people''s minds were already in vacation mode. Wendy came out of her office once and saw the rxed atmosphere, but didn''t say anything. She just told the cafeteria to serve an upgraded lunch today. Quinn Group had long since cancelled its annual party. There was really no point in having an event where the employees worked themselves to death just to entertain the higher-ups. It drained manpower, money, and effort, and the staff didn''t genuinely enjoy it anyway. Getting rid of something so inhumane was the right call. Wendy preferred to he practical-give neonle real benefits, and they''d he more willing to work hard in U9.40 Sal, TU Ivay Chapter 116 Maniptive Opportunist Besides the bonuses, it was about how they were treated. 04/0 +8 Pearls Hospitals always needed people on duty, and Melody had already prepared the on-call schedule for the doctors. Chase looked it over and confirmed it was fine, though he was curious why his name wasn''t on the list. Melody had noticed something-Chase still thought of himself as just a regr doctor, not realizing what being chairman meant. Standing at his desk, Melody exined, "ording to board policy, the chairman is entitled to time off. During Christmas holiday, you don''t need to be on call- unless there''s an emergency surgery that only you can perform." Chase froze for a few seconds before realizing that this position actually came with vacation days. Melody continued, "And one more thing-since thepany is going public next year, andmercial reforms areing, there will be plenty of people dropping by during the holidays. As chairman and investor, you and Ms. Quinn will both need to host guests at home." "We have to deal with all those people?" Chase groaned. Melody nodded. "Don''t worry, Ms. Quinn already arranged for Sammy and me to handle the receptions. You just have to sit there and look presentable. No need to talk." Fair enough. It wasn''t like he had a choice. He was basically a hostage anyway. The hospital couldn''t do much in terms of decorations, so they just put a few red signs at the entrance. But at home, Chase had gone all out shopping. He''d been married to Wendy for five years, and never once looked forward to Christmas like this. This was their first Christmas together after they''d finally gotten on the same page. It meant something different now. Even if they had to go to the Harrison mansion on Christmas Eve, the house still needed to feel festive. There really was a big difference between a boss and an employee, especially when it came to the holidays. When employees clocked out, they practically vanished off the face of the Earth. But the boss had to keep the money flowing, just to make sure everyone got paid. While Chase was busy decorating the house, Wendy sat in front of theputer, making money for her team. On the first day of the holiday, she spent the whole morning in a Lemuria meeting. Sammy and Zynn were there, and Lemon joined inter. They discussed Quinn Groupunching an entertainment division and partnering with Fenon International. They now needed international certification. In the afternoon, the meeting shifted focus back to domestic business. Senior execs from Quinn Group and Fenon International had a joint call to finalize coboration details and the first batch of signed artists. Chase, meanwhile, was in the middle of sticking window decals in the study. 09:48 Sat, 10 May Chapter 116 Maniptive Opportunist "Sir, it''s crooked." 84% +8 Pearls Hearing that, Chase pulled his hand back. Wendy turned around too. "I told you I''d help after my meeting." she said as she got up and helped Chase get it straightened. 338 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Young Idol Wendy held it in ce while Chase started sticking things up." +8 Pearls "It''s okay, you''ve had enough meetings already. These little decorations-I can handle them. Are you hungry?" Wendy nodded. She had been in meetings since she woke up, only had a bowl of noodles for lunch, and now she was absolutely starving. But since senior executives from Fenon International were still on the video call, Wendy didn''t want to dy the meeting too long just for a meal. "40 minutes to go. Let''s eat together after." Chase nced at the time. It really was time to start dinner. "Alright, I''ll cook. You keep going with the meeting." He leaned down and kissed Wendy on the cheek before walking out with scissors and tape. Lemon, leaning her chin on her hand on the other end of the screen, couldn''t help shaking her head. "Ugh, can you two stop showing off your love? Spare a thought for us single folks, will you?" Wendy sat back down and nced at Lemon. "Single? If I remember right, weren''t you trending with Noahst week?" Noah was a returning idol from an overseas boy band, now developing a solo career. He had a solid fanbase in the country but hadn''t started his own studio yet. He was very good-looking; no wonder Lemon would be into that type. At the mention of Noah, Lemon quickly waved her hand. Don''t even bring it up. I was just riding the publicity wave. His concert at Gennemont was an exclusive for us, and ourpany handled the venue promo too. It''s all just hype." "Really?" Zynn looked skeptical. "I remember the trending topic was you two checking into a hotel together?" Lemon pointed at Zynn. "Exactly! And that''s why my brother lost it. He called me at six in the morning and woke me up with a scolding. Come on, I''m an adult; this kind of thing is normal, right?" The Fred family was a prominent one, and since they were in the entertainment industry, they tended to be pretty open-minded about these things. But Waylon wasn''t like that. Anyone who got close to his sister was risking a broken leg. "Noah gives off a really masculine vibe. I''ve seen his old group; they''re not exactly mainstream here. Do you think it''d work if I signed him?" Wendy asked. Lemon gave her a sideways nce, pretty sure she was asking on purpose. As long as the offer is good. His concert cost a fortune, and he''s in serious need of a financial rebound. With the right price, he has no reason to say no. I think we can throw in an endorsement too, solidify his presence here." Wendy understood exactly what that meant. During dinner the TV was still on the entertainment news channel and sure enough the ton headline was 97% Chapter 117 Young Idol "That''s really Lemon? They actually went to a hotel?" Chase reacted just like Waylon. +8 Pearls Seeing Chase''s expression, Wendy couldn''t helpughing. She nced at the screen again; the video and photos were super clear. Noah and Lemon were both in full view, and even the hotel name was visible. There was no mistaking it; it was them. "You''re just like Waylon. Lemon''s not a kid anymore. At her age, we were already married. Why is it such a big deal if she went to a hotel? Noah''s pretty good- looking. He just got back-I''m seriously thinking about. signing him." Chase didn''t know much about Noah. Judging from the photos, he did look good, but looks weren''t everything. Compatibility mattered too. When Chase fell silent and looked like he might actually call to confront someone, Wendy quickly stepped in. "Don''t you dare call Lemon. She''s shy. Besides, it''s probably just publicity-likely a suite, nothing more." "And if it''s not? They''re not really together?" "Two consenting adults... even if they''re not together, it''s not a big deal. Stuff like this is nothing in our industry." Chase frowned in disapproval. "Other people, fine. But not Lemon. I practically watched her grow up. Does Waylon know?" "Waylon? The guy who never follows celebrity gossip? He probably has Lemon set as a keyword alert on his phone. The moment she started trending, she didn''t even know yet-Waylon had already called and yelled at her first thing in the morning." After dinner, Chase didn''t go back to whatever he had nned. Instead, he sat on the couch, watching the entertainment news and digging into Noah''s background. Just returned from overseas, his team wasn''t stable, and he seemed to be five years younger than Lemon. Basically still a kid. Good looks weren''t enough. Wendy sat next to Chase on the couch with her tablet, already discussing signing Noah with Sammy. "You don''t need to overthink it. Lemon''s not serious. With her personality, no one can really hurt h Wendy said. But Chase kept his eyes on his phone, practically memorizing Noah''s whole bio. "He''s so young. What does he even know? And... Lemon''s still a girl, you know? Scandals like this don''t do her any favors in the long run." From the looks of it, Chase probably still had no idea Lemon used to have a crush on him. Wendy blinked and lowered her head. Honestly, it made sense. Chase was such a straightced guy. For someone who took care of people so thoroughly, he could be painfully oblivious sometimes. 386 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Baby Sister +8 Pearls He always saw Lemon as a little sister, so it never urred to him that Lemon might have different feelings for him. Wendy tapped away on her tablet, sending all of Noah''s information to Sammy. She added a note, "Try to suppress that trending topic with Lemon and Noah. Fenon International wants traffic, but let''s give them another angle." Sammy wrote, "What happened?" Wendy nced at Chase, expressionless. Two men had a stress reaction. Sammy replied, "I figured Mr. Fred would. His baby sister can''t be snatched away by some rookie like Noah. Who''s the other guy?" Wendy wrote, "Lemon''s neighbor-sh-stepbrother Chase." Sammy wrote, "..." The neighbor-stepbrother not only looked into Noah, he even investigated his entire team. When he couldn''t find much, he asked Bernard to help. Bernard wrote, "What, you into boy bands now?" Chase said, "Just help me dig." Bernard waspletely confused but still did the background check for Chase. Only Bernard wasn''t as fast as Sammy, so by the time Chase was heading to bed, the information still hadn''te through. "Should''ve asked Sammy from the start. Stick to what you''re good at. Bernard''s not cut out for this, Chase muttered, lying in bed with Wendy. Wendy pinched his waist. "Seriously, even Waylon didn''t go this far. You really care that much al Lemon? I''m getting jealous over here." She was clearly joking. Chase knew she wouldn''t actually get jealous over Lemon, so he didn''t take it to heart. He just said, "Waylon''s always busy with his task force. He doesn''t pay enough attention to Lemon. All he does is call and yell when something happens. I''ve got to look into it properly." Wendy rested against his chest with a sigh. "I honestly didn''t think you''d get this worked up. I already told you-it''s just publicity. They probably didn''t even stay in the same room." The way these setups worked, another room would have been booked in advance. The two of them would go up together but not enter the same suite. High-end hotels were extremely private-no way paparazzi could sneak in-so they had to wait outside for any sign. If they saw two people entering or leaving together, they''d jump to the "spent the night together" narrative. It wasn''t even based on solid proof. "People really do that?" Chase sounded genuinely surprised. * 97%1 Chapter 118 Baby Sister ignored them, like they were invisible." These kinds of staged exposures were part of the game, and Wendy had used them plenty. +8 Pearls But Chase knew nothing about the industry and didn''t understand how calcted publicity worked. Considering Cloud Hospital was going public next year, and the whole process would require somemercial tactics, he might have to get used to this kind of thing too. "By the way, Melody said we''ll have guests over during Christmas. Are we good with people knowing about us?" Wendy countered, "You mean our marriage?" "Yeah.". "If we weren''t married, then putting you in that position would be the real problem. You don''t want too many people at the hospital to know about us, but in the business world, things work differently. If we''re married, they''ll view Cloud Hospital through the lens of Quinn Group''s influence, and that alone will boost its value. It''s all part of the same equation." She made it sound simple, but Chase still couldn''t fully wrap his head around it. So he could only do as Melody suggested-y the supportive figure at home, sit there and smile when visitors came. Melody would handle everything else. "You think I rely on Melody too much?" "What''s wrong with that?" Wendy had already closed her eyes, feelingforted by Chase''s familiar scent. "I sent Melody to Cloud Hospital to handle everything for you. She''s basically your deputy CEO. Kind of like how Mario is positioned in Typhoon Corp. The ''personal secretary'' title is just for show." She gave Melody full executive pay and benefits. Cloud Hospital really was aplex operation. After the IPO, even Melody would need an assistant. There was simply too much for one person to handle. At home, not only were red banners and blessing symbols put up, but Chase also bought a bunch of little festive lights and Christmas decorations. Wendy didn''t have time to deal with it all, so Chase took care of everything himself-he even brought home two potted nts. As soon as Wendy saw the greenery, she got a headache. Chase insisted she spent too much time in front of screens and should have a nt on her desk to purify the air and rest her eyes. He told her to look at it whenever she felt tired. But the nt died within a month. Sammy ended up throwing it out. Now Sammy had a new job-anytime the desk nt died, he had to rece it with a fresh one-so that every time Chase visited the executive office, he''d see the green, lively nt he had "gifted," sitting happily in front of Wendy''s monitor. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 I''ll Help You Sammy thought it was unnecessary. ? 97%1 +8 Pearls But this was Chase''s way of showing care for the CEO. As the secretary, it was his job to support the CEO''s family life and happiness. He could only grit his teeth and do it. "I also bought two more pots for Mandy. These are fresh imports this year, can''t find them locally," Chase said with a smile, carefully cing the pots in a sunny spot. "Mandu loves this kind of stuff." Hearing how naturally and smoothly Chase addressed her mother, Wendy felt genuinely happy inside. But she also knew that during times like these, Chase would inevitably think of his birth mother, who now rested in the ground, no longer able to see these beautiful flowers bloom. "Perfect timing. Let''s order two more. Before Christmas, we''ll bring some to Mandy as well. One for my dad, one for your mom," Wendy said, squatting down beside Chase. Chase paused for a second, then lowered his head and smiled. "Alright, whatever you say. They''ll both be really happy to see them." Wendy''s thoughtfulness never failed to surprise Chase. Ever since she found out that his mother had passed away, she arranged for his mother''s grave to be relocated to the same cemetery as her father''s. Every holiday since, she made it a point to go in person- whether to bring flowers or little gifts a woman might like, she always handled it herself. Compared to before, it was clear she was putting in real effort. Chase felt truly content. A few years ago, he wouldn''t even have dared to dream about the life he had now. His phone rang. It was a call from Sammy. Wendy stood up to take it. "Noah agreed," Sammy said, "But he doesn''t want to be the jewelry ambassador. He''s asking something else." Wendy sat on the couch, eating fruit that Chase had just washed. "What?" "He said that the newptop model Quinn Group''s IT division released recently is doing really well overseas. He thinks endorsing the IT department would bring more value than the jewelry one." Wendy raised an eyebrow. The IT division of Quinn Group had always operated steadily, consistently ranking in the top five globally, never relying on celebrity endorsements. So she''d never given it any thought. But if Noah wanted it, adding a brand ambassador wouldn''t hurt. "Fine. As long as Noah''s demands aren''t over the top, we can agree. But one condition-no more rtionship rumors with Lemon. I don''t want Chase obsessing over her," Wendy said suddenly. Chase, still crouched by the flowerpot, turned around with a helpless look. Wendy tilted her head away. She wasn''t exactly jealous; she just wanted Chase''s full attention on her. "Got it," Sammy said, resisting the urge to curse. "I''ll have Legal draft a contract. One year to start?" "Th......... Than fall fan. Dattan find and if he has a btona in the nne Telp You 97% +8 Pearls Wendy had already checked with Lemon before moving forward with Noah''s contract, making sure the rumors between them wouldn''t affect his brand value. What she didn''t expect was that Noah actually had a brain. Chase thought so, too. "Turning down a jewelry endorsement from Quinn Group and asking for the IT division instead? Sales in electronics can''t reallypare to jewelry, can they?" Chase asked, even though he didn''t know much about these things-he had done some digging on Noah. People often said Noah was smart. After all, he''d returned to the country step by step and broken out of his idol group to be a solo artist, far ahead of those still struggling to survive. That was exactly the kind of person Chase found worrisome. He feared Noah had ulterior motives for getting close to Lemon. Later, Wendy said that Lemon had held the Fred family together all on her own. If she didn''t have the capability, she wouldn''t have made it this far. Waylon''s fiery temper was all poured into his job at the bureau; he couldn''t help with family matters and never even tried. Lemon took care of everything herself. Now, Waylon might appear to be the head of the Harrison family, but in reality, the Freds still looked to Lemon. With that in mind, there was no need to worry about Lemon being manipted. "That''s not the same," Chase said as he stood up. "Feelings are different from business. When it''s about work, Fenon International naturally follows Lemon''s lead. Waylon and I don''t need to intervene. But when ites to love... You can''t control that. Whether she ends up hurt or happy, it''s Lemon''s journey." Wendy had been reading through Noah''s file for a while. In all the years he''d spent abroad, he had never been caught in a single dating scandal. That was part of the reason she decided to sign h Quinn Group didn''t hold much clout in the entertainment industry. If not for its backing by Typhoon Corp and Fenon International, stepping into showbiz would''ve been a brutal climb. So when choosing artists, she had to be extra cautious. Noah wasn''t exactly the product of a long search, but as someone whonded right in front of her, he seemed decent enough. "You don''t mind me signing Noah?" she asked. Chase shrugged. "Quinn Group is yours. Why would I mind? If Noah scams you, I''ll help you." When Chase said he''d help, it sounded like a joke. A man without a job, living off his wife... What help could he really offer? 386 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Why Are You Here? But things were different now. 97% +8 Pearls Chase had a proper job. In fact, Cloud Hospital was even linked to Quinn Group in some ways. Whether in the open or behind the scenes, he was someone who could actually support Wendy. "I''ve never been scammed since taking over Quinn Group. But now that you mention it, I''m curious. How exactly would you help me?" Henry had been calling Wendy way too frequently before Christmas. To him, Chase was practically invisible. Honestly, Chase found it funny. It was obvious Henry didn''t share any mutual friends with Wendy. Otherwise, he''d have picked up on the fact that his status in her life had plummeted. In truth, Chase was home every single time Henry called Wendy, either listening in while beside her or busying himself in the kitchen. There was simply no space in this house for Henry. Yet Henry seemedpletely oblivious. One day, Henry even showed up at the house. Maybe he''d sensed that Wendy had be emotionally distanttely, and he just had to see her in person to feel reassured. In the past, whenever Henry visited, Wendy would tell Chase to hide in their bedroom just to keep up appearances. But this time, when she saw Henry on the surveince camera, she didn''t even tell Chase. She just opened the door. Henry had Joy with him. "Pretty Mommy!" Wendy hadn''t seen Joy in a while, not since her injury. She hadn''t expected Henry to bring the girl along. Maybe he figured he couldn''t get through to Wendy on his own and thought using the child would help. "Why did you bring Joy?" Wendy stepped aside to let them in. Joy had bounced back well physically after the car ident. Well, kids recovered fast. But the nanny said Joy''s temper was getting worse by the day. She''d throw fits over small things, even smashing stuff on the floor if something wasn''t to her liking. Henry wasn''t exactly hands-on with parenting. All he cared about was using Joy to win affection. What kind of child could grow up well with that kind of upbringing? "Joy hasn''t seen you in a long time. She said she missed you. I was going to invite you to spend Christmas with us. Joy really wants to be with you. But I know you''ll be going back to spend it with Mandy, so I didn''t want to take up too much of your time. A business partner sent some bird''s nest soup, so I brought some over for you." Wendy looked down at the package. She had more than enough of that at home. There was absolutely no need for Henry to bring any. Still, she offered a polite, "Thanks." Chase had just finished slicing fruit and was about to bring it to the living room. As he passed the entryway. Cu why Are You Here? 097%1 +8 Pearls Henry had been smiling, but when he saw Chase, the smile froze instantly. Even Joy looked shocked, her big eyes ring up at Henry. "Why are you in Pretty Mommy''s house? I don''t want to see you! Go away!" Chase nced at the little girl with a smile and ced the fruit on the table. He turned around slowly, drying his hands with a towel in no hurry. "Hmm, I don''t think that''s possible. This is my home." Joy looked over at Wendy. "No, it''s not! Ste said this isn''t your house! You should leave!" Seeing how stubborn Joy was and how Henry didn''t even bother to correct her, Wendy understood his intention. Clearly, he had figured out that she and Chase were still together and had brought Joy along on purpose. In the past, words like that might''ve hurt Chase. Wendy, wanting to keep up appearances, wouldn''t have let Henry embarrass him. But things were different now. This time, even Wendy didn''t take Joy''s side. Her expression turned cold. The warmth waspletely gone from her face. "Joy, you can''t be so rude. He''s my husband. You should be respectful. This is his home too. You and your dad are just visiting. You can''t tell him to leave." Joy lookedpletely stunned. Only then did Henry tug at her arm and mutter, "Don''t be impolite." Joy pouted, but the way she looked at Chase was full of hostility. It was unsettling to see such a look in a young girl''s eyes. Henry''s parenting really was a problem. "So Dr. Goodman''s back? I thought you two were already divorced. Is Mandy the one making you live together again? Or maybe the folks at Quinn Group still don''t know you split up, and Mandy asked you two to pretend for now?" Even now, he could still create his own excuses. Chase had to admit that Henry was something else. Wendy didn''t bother to argue. "You came all the way out here just to bring bird''s nest? It''s freezing outside. Don''t drag Joy around like this. If you need anything, just tell Sammy. She''ll take care of it for you." Chase stood beside Wendy. The image was hard to look at, painfully so. Henry feltpletely out of ce. No one used to say Wendy and Chase were a good match. Maybe it was because people could sense Wendy''s mixed feelings about him, or maybe they knew there was someone else in her heart. Saying they were a good match in front of Wendy would''ve just made her ufortable. Buttely, Chase and Wendy had been trending online quite a bit. The reason Henry brought Joy today was because of a recent hot search. The two of them had been photographed outside the Watering Hole, entering and leaving together. Looked like the paparazzi had been holding that one back for a while. 386 My Cold Ex-Wife 121 Chapter 121 Kill Him? 97% +8 Pearls It was only when people started calling them a good match that Henry realized he was already out of the picture. Why Chase? He was never the one Wendy loved most. What gives him the right stand beside her? What gives him the right to spend Christmas with Wendy? And he? He had to hide out in a house somewhere with his daughter, while even Larry got to visit the family. Meanwhile, he and Joy were left to spend this Christmas in cold istion. All of it made Henry sick to his stomach. It twisted into jealousy so intense it bordered on madness. He even started thinking about killing Chase. It wasn''t the first time the thought had crossed his mind. Back at the Quinn Residence, that knife he used on himself was supposed to frame Chase. But if he had known that Wendy would eventually look back, he would have killed Chase instead. That de should have been aimed at one of Chase''s vital organs. He couldn''t let Chase live. He couldn''t let Mandy live either. He wouldn''t allow anyone else to hold an important ce in Wendy''s heart. "Well, since Chase is home, I''ll head out. Joy, say goodbye to Wendy." Joy still refused to change what she called Wendy, sticking to "Pretty Mommy." Chase didn''t feel like arguing with a kid, so he stood beside Wendy with a smile and said goodbye. In return, he got a dramatic eye roll from Joy. The bird''s nest on the floor was from a top-tier brand. Wendy nced at it once and then kicked it toward the doorway. "Melody''s bringing gifts to Windwell Pharma Group in a few days, right too. I wouldn''t dare eat anything Henry gives me." ve her take this How the tables had turned. In the past, all the harsh words had been aimed at Chase; never once at Henry. Chase wrapped his arms around Wendy and carried her back to the living room. For once, neither of them had work to do. They picked the most talked-about movie to watch together. "Did you see the way Joy and Henry looked at you just now?" Wendy tossed a strawberry into her mouth and nced sideways at Chase. "That was the first time Henry didn''t even try to hide it. He wants to kill you." If even Wendy noticed, then of course Chase did too. He wasn''t worried. "If he''s got the guts, he can try. By the way, I heard you sent something to Shanelle a few days ago. Funny how she''s Joy''s birth mother, but Joy doesn''t seem to feel close to her at all." "I heard from Sammy that when Shanelle was in the final stage of her pregnancy, the Hudd family was about to go bankrupt, and her rtionship with Henry had already fallen apart. Honestly, I get why Henry hates Shanelle." Shanelle symbolized everything humiliating for Henry. His marriage to her, even Joy''s birth, were all signs that Henry had no control over his fate. It was a power y from another member of the Harrison family. So Henry never loved Shanelle; he despised her. After Joy was born, the Hudd family wentpletely bankrupt. The death of her parents devastated Shanelle. She didn''t evenplete her postpartum recovery, too focused on fighting Henry and trying to 0,97%1 snapter 121 Kill Him? +8 Pearls Shanelle might have been foolish and weak in some ways, but she never backed down. It was in her bones. Once she realized that Henry had taken everything from her and she had no way to make aeback, she started plotting against him. She struck fast and precisely, not even giving him time to react. Henry took Joy right after she was born. Shanelle barely got to see her, let alone raise her. Now that Joy was older, it was toote for Shanelle to build a rtionship. "I wonder... if Henry goes down, what''ll happen to Joy? Would she be sent back to Shanelle?" "Legally, yes. But that depends on what they both want." Shanelle sat alone in the empty hotel suite''s living room. The suite was still being paid for by Henry. She could stay there forever as long as she didn''t release those client files. As long as she still had dirt on him, she could stay alive. And as long as she stayed alive, she could get revenge. Shanelle never forgot about her parents'' deaths. Her past feelings for Henry felt like nothing more than a cruel joke. Actually, between her and Henry, it was Henry who faked it better. He made it seem like he had feelings for her. Until one day, a call from another woman came in, and Shanelle finally saw who he really was. That was why, when she met Wendy and saw the woman Henry had always obsessed over, she couldn''t stop herself fromshing out, but Wendy didn''t care about Henry at all. Such a lively Christmas, and yet Shanelle was all alone. Teaming up with Wendy was inevitable. She had only one condition-Wendy must never hurt Joy. When it was all over, she wanted to live with her daughter and needed enough financial back family. to revive the Hudd Wendy agreed to everything. At its peak, the Hudd family seemed like a modest household to Wendy. That level of funding didn''t even register to her. Now they just had to wait for the day everything fell into ce. On Christmas Day, Gennemont, which had previously banned fireworks, finally allowed them in certain areas. The crackling began outside before they were even fully awake. They had stayed up watching movies until 3 a.m., messed around for a bit afterward, and had only just fallen asleep a couple of hours before. 386 My Cold Ex-Wife 122 My movie 122 Chapter 122 Uninvited Guest +8 Pearls Wendy rubbed her eyes and tried to get up, but Chase gently pushed her back down. "Sleep a little longer. I''ll take care of the things we''re bringing. I still need to grab the supplements we bought for Mom from the storage room. I''ll call you when I''m done." She didn''t even catch what Chase said. As soon as he pushed her back into bed, she drifted off again. Chase got up and threw on a coat. They arrived at the residence by eight. The butler opened the door. "Ms. Queen, Mr. Goodman, you''re back so early. Madam Mandy just started breakfast," the butler said, calling for the maids to take the bags from them. Mandy sat in the dining room, and the cat was still on the table. Wendy frowned at the sight of the cat but didn''t want to say anything harsh on Christmas Day. "Slept in today, huh? It''s already eight," Chase said warmly, acting even more at home than Wendy. Mandy waved her hand, signaling the maid to prepare breakfast for them as well. "I was upte ying cards with some friends. That''s how Christmas is meant to be-cards and games. Lost a diamond nest night." Wendy said nothing. Mandy wasn''t great at card games. She had worked too hard when she was younger and never had time to y. Now that she was older and retired, she was just learning, while her friends had been ying for years. Because of that, she lost quite a bit. Wendy said, "If you can''t win, maybe stop ying." Mandy replied, "I get so bored staying home alone. They only started iting me outst month. It''s just for fun. The ne wasn''t anything valuable." As the couple walked toward the kitchen, Chase asked softly what ne she had lost. Wendy snapped, "The one my mom calls ''not valuable'' is from Quinn Group''stest collection. It sold for 30 millionst quarter and requires exclusive ess to even buy it." Chase said nothing. Yeah, he really didn''t get women sometimes. Mandy was just getting hooked on the game, so after breakfast, she pulled the couple in to y with her to help improve her skills. To her surprise, Chase turned out to be an expert. Wendy and Mandy lost terribly, while Chase kept racking up wins. "Not bad. When did you learn to y?" Wendy asked as she handed him more cards. It was hard to imagine Chase, who usually wore a whiteb coat, ying card games. Quite the contrast. Chase said, "My mom taught me. She likes to y, but sometimes she doesn''t have enough people, so she''d ask me. Over time, I got the hang of it. Mom, just now, you should''ve yed..." COMPACT 122 Uninvited Guest 97% +8 Pearls They spent the entire morning at the table. The butler sat behind Mandy to help her, but even the two of them together couldn''t beat Chase. Eventually, Mandy gave up after losing even more to him. The doorbell rang. "Who''de at this hour?" the butler muttered, heading to open the door. "Coming." He opened the door, and his smile faded slightly. He instinctively nced back behind him and didn''t move aside. His voice turned cold. "Mr. Harrison, what brings you here?" Wendy, who had just gotten ready to start another round, froze when she heard the name "Mr. Harrison." She stood up immediately. Chase held her hand down and shook his head slightly. He leaned toward Mandy, who was already frowning, and spoke quietly. "Mom, Henry''s still a junior. If he wants to pursue Wendy, he''s bound to start with you. It makes sense that he''de by to wish you a Happy Christmas." Mandy scoffed. "Even if you two weren''t doing fine, say you divorced and went your separate ways, it still wouldn''t be Henry''s ce to step into my house. Throw him out. I don''t want to see him." Ever since Chase and Wendy reopened the investigation into her husband''s death, Mandy often thought back to those early days of grief. She had feltpletely hopeless. Everything she did had been to protect the man she loved, but in the end, she was still outmaneuvered. It made all her efforts feel meaningless. Time dulled a lot of things, but no one could trul derstand the loneliness she endured. Even though Henry hadn''t been the one directly responsible, he had sided with the people who were. That was enough. "Come on, it''s Christmas. Let''s not throw anyone out. How about this? I''ll go out and talk to him. If he just wants to say a few words, don''t get upset. Afterward, I''ll keep ying with you and even teach you how to beat me." That made Mandy''s tone soften a bit. "Fine. But best if he doesn''t step inside." "Got it. I''ll handle it." Wendy stood up with Chase, holding onto his arm. "You always know how to handle things. Just hearing Henry''s name puts Mom in a bad mood. Why does he have to stir up trouble on Christmas?" "It''s bound to happen. But I''m guessing Henry has a reason foring," Chase said, suggesting she stay while he and the butler dealt with it. Worst case, they''d let Henry in for a bit. Inside the house, everything felt warm and cheerful. Just standing at the door made Henry feel out of ce. "I came to visit Mandy. I figured the house would be crowdedter, so I thought I''de early," Henry said with a polite smile. invited Guest 0.97%L +8 Pearls He had been the executive secretary at thepany, handling everything big and small. As he aged, he took a step back and stayed on at the residence. My Cold Ex-Wife 123 Chapter 123 Not Meant To Be Yours +8 Pearls Although Mandy appeared to be retired from thepany, anyone who wanted to see her still had to get past Louis. His position was unquestionable. Henry didn''t dare show anything but respect. Louis didn''t take the gifts, only said, "Thank you, Mr. Harrison, but since Ms. Quinn and Mr. Goodman are back now, and Quinn Group and Harrison Group are still in coboration, sending gifts at this point might be a little premature. Other partners might not appreciate the gesture." Louis, crafty as ever, didn''t outright tell Henry to leave; he used business as an excuse. After being rejected repeatedly, Henry looked a bit awkward. Just then, Chase walked over. "Louis, who''s at the door?" Chase asked, pretending not to know. Though both men liked Wendy, Louis treated Chase like his own son. His eyes lit up with a genuine smile. Louis turned back and said, "Mr. Harrison." "Oh," Chase replied casually, pulling the door open wider so he could face Henry directly. "Mr. Harrison, what brings you here so early? Hey, you didn''t bring Joy along? It''s Christmas! How could you leave your daughter at home alone?" Henry forced a polite smile. I just came to visit Mandy. I thought Joy might be too noisy. Is Wendy here too?" "She is. We came together. It''s Christmas, of course we came home as a family. And look went all out again. Didn''t you already bring bird''s nestst night?" his... You really Henry nced down at the stack of gifts at his feet. "That was for Wendy. These are for Mandy. They''re different ages, so the supplements should match ordingly. All this was just shipped in from Oceania." "Mandy''s in great shape, doesn''t look her age at all. You probably don''t want to say things like that in front of her," Chase said, pausing for effect. "Actually, I think Louis made a good point. We''ve got a lot of business partners. Showing up now might make others feel you''re a little too eager. Why not wait a few days?" "Louis, could I have a word alone with Chase?" Henry stayed polite, though it was clearly forced. Louis looked to Chase for instruction. Chase said, "Sure. I''ve got a few things to say to Mr. Harrison too. Louis, go brew some tea. Mandy wants Earl Grey." "Alright, sir. Just don''t stay by the door too long. It''s cold and windy out." As soon as Louis left, Henry dropped the polite act. He stepped forward, practically ready to grab Chase by the cor. "Chase, don''t you think you''re being a bit much? You and Wendy are divorced. Why are you still showing up here? You''re no longer part of the Quinn family!" "Whether I am or not doesn''t matter. What matters is that Mandy still sees me that way. Henry, being rejected over and over doesn''t feel good, does it? I actually get it. I''ve stood where you are now." "Chase, don''t get smug. Sooner orter, Wendy will get tired of you. She''s meant to be mine!" ivicant to Be Yours 97% +8 Pearls Chase asked, "Is Wendy some kind of object to you? You think whoever ims her owns her? Henry, is that how your mind works? Is that how it was with your ex-wife too?" Henry stepped forward again, clearly about to say more, but Louis''s voice came from behind, reminding Chase that Mandy was asking for him. Henry stopped and shot Chase a nce. Any further confrontation ended there. Chase turned back, responding to Louis, then looked at Henry again. "Mr. Harrison, Mandy''s calling. You''d better take Louis''s advicee back another day. The other partners will be around then, too." Henry started backing away, but Chase didn''t let up. "As long as you and Wendy aren''t together, Mandy will never treat you as anything special. Right now, you''re an outsider to us. Know your ce, and stop wasting your time." Chase had wanted to say this to Henry so many times before, to tell him to stay away from Wendy, but had always held back, worried that confronting him might cause trouble for Wendy. For the bigger picture, he had endured it. He and Wendy were the real couple-everyone knew it. They had even been married. But just to keep up appearances, every time Henry visited, Chase had to hide in the room like some secret lover. That feeling was awful, and Chase was done putting up with it. Today, he finally let it out, even just a little. Henry left with obvious reluctance, ncing back at Chase before getting into the car. Come to think of it, Joy really did look a lot like Henry. Even their expressions were the same. "Took you long enough," Wendy said as she walked over, having listened from just insic closed it, she added, "Was he that hard to get rid of?" e door. As Chase Chase shook his head. "Not really. Just gave Henry a warning, told him not to act like he has any ce here." Wendy immediately understood what Chase meant. She chuckled and tugged him back toward the living room. "I don''t mind that at all. Might save me from having to deal with Henry again." Henry came all the way over, but neither Mandy nor Wendy even saw him. 386 My Cold Ex-Wife 124 Chapter 124 Set Henry Off Anyone smart should have realized by now that he no longer had any ce in the Quinn family. +8 Pearls By the time Christmas Eve dinner rolled around, Mandy kept the young couple busy ying cards. Chase was exhausted and used the excuse of helping the chef cook to sneak away. That gave Mandy and Wendy a moment to talk business. "You''ve done really well; bnced and steady," Mandy said, never one to hold back praise for her daughter. "I''ve heard a few things from the board too. Rumor has it Henry secured the Quinn Group jewelry endorsement deal because of you. That kind of talk shouldn''t spread too far." Wendy peeled an orange and handed a slice to her mother. "I know what I''m doing. Right now, the Harrison Group still needs exposure. Giving Henry this opportunity keeps him on a leash. As long as I have Mario in my pocket, Harrison Group''s leadership won''t stay the same for long." Mandy thought further than Wendy did. She gave her daughter a sharp look. "Are you sure Mario can be trusted?" Wendy never truly trusted Mario; who she trusted was Caesar. "I''ve known Caesar for years. Without me, he wouldn''t have solidified his position as head of the Meyer family. I don''t trust people easily but I do trust mutual interests." Mandy stared at her quietly for a few seconds, then nodded. Good. Looks like you''ve learned everything I taught you. That''s excellent. I won''t interfere anymore. The Quinn Group is yours to run now." Dinner was prepared by the chef with Chase helping out. Before that, Sammy had called t Franklin wanted to change the post-holiday shoot schedule. saying It seemed Henry, after being turned away from Quinn Group, really wasn''t happy. And Henry, being who he was, always let personal frustrations bleed into his work. Wendy found it funny. The Quinn Group could rece Franklin anytime. Their lower-end jewelry line didn''t even require a spokesperson; it was like the IT department, useful but not essential. The jewelry division''s focus had always been high-end luxury. Standing in the backyard, Wendy paused a few seconds. Through therge ss doors, she saw Chase waving at her. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Alright then, let''s postpone it indefinitely. If Franklin''s not cooperating, then when he finally has time, we won''t. It''s not our problem to worry about." Once Quinn Group''s entertainment division got fully operational, there wouldn''t be a ce for Harrison Group in the entertainment industry anymore. "Got it. I''ll pass that on," Sammy responded immediately. It was the holiday season so no one was really working, and even if they were, no one would remember a casual instruction like that. "Henry used to get moody when he dated you. Still does. I don''t know how he developed that habit," Sammy said with a sigh, chatting casually. 97% Set Henry Off what he''s doing is out of bounds." +8 Pearls Back when they were dating, Wendy might have humored him. But now, with no personal connection, Henry''s actions in the business world were downright adversarial. "Handle the rest however you see fit. Wait-aren''t you supposed to be home? Why are you still dealing with work stuff?" Wendy asked. Sammy sounded totally exasperated. "What can I do? If I don''t talk about work, my family starts dragging me to blind dates. I make a six-figure sry as an executive assistant, and they want to set me up with some guy who makes three grand a month-and he thinks he''s God''s gift. It''s disgusting. I said I had work and escaped to get coffee." None of the Quinn Group executives really had personal lives. Zynn once had a boyfriend who dumped her because he couldn''t stand her work ethic-said she cared more about work than him. Sammy had it worse; her whole life revolved around Wendy, twenty-four hours a day. A love life? She barely had time to eat lunch. Six figures didn''te easy. "Once the entertainment division''s on track, I''ll personally screen your dates. Let''s leave it at that." Chase came out in his loungewear, sleeves rolled up. When Wendy didn''te back after a while, he came looking. "Sammy said Franklin wants to dy the shoot," Wendy said, putting her phone away. "Looks like you really did piss Henry off earlier." Chase wondered, Is Henry really that petty? He''d actually held back when he spoke, and this was all it took to set Henry off? A man like that thinking he''s good enough to stand next to Wendy? Not even close. Back when Henry and Wendy were in the tabloids and people called Chase a cuckold, Henry still insisted on showing up with food for Wendy, ying the doting suitor for everyone to see. "What are you thinking about?" Wendy noticed Chase zoning out and asked curiously. Chase replied, "I was thinking... No one ever found out who was behind Aimee''s case. The two hired hands never revealed who paid them. Looks like Waylon''s not going to have a good Christmas. How about we visit. the Fred family on the first day?" Sure. The Fred family is deeply rooted in Gennemont. Building a solid rtionship can only help. I actually need to talk to Lemon anyway." Right now, Lemon was in charge of Fenon International. In the Fred family, everything still went through Waylon and Lemon. "Go wash your hands." As they stepped back inside, a few more guests had arrived, probably when Chase left to look for Wendy. My Cold Ex-Wife 125 Chapter 125 Spoiled Her Too Much Wendy only nced briefly before heading upstairs, while Chase didn''t rush to leave. 39/% +8 Pearls Louis took some items from a few of the guests and ced them on the floor, then walked over to Chase and whispered, "They''re all people who have worked with Quinn Group One of them has been maintaining medical equipment for Cloud Hospital for over five years." Louis pointed to one of the men. That was a bit of a surprise. All the visitors were clearly connected to Quinn Group, but it was unexpected to have apany that handled Cloud Hospital''s equipment maintenance. Chase looked over at the man. The man seemed quite sharp. As soon as he saw Chase, he immediately approached with a big smile. "You must be Dr. Goodman, right? I''m Ron nco. Ourpany is responsible for maintaining all the medical equipment at Cloud Hospital. I tried to catch you at the hospitalst time, but you had already finished for the day." The man didn''t look very old and seemed very skilled at handling people. Chase wasn''t the best at dealing with business affairs, so he simply smiled in response to Ron''s enthusiasm. We haven''t signed next year''s contract yet. I just wanted to find a time to personally visit you, Dr. Goodman." Chase nced at Mandy. Mandy was sitting on the couch, talking to one of thedies, and they appeared to be having a pleasant conversation. Only then did Chase turn his attention back to Ron. "Since it''s the holiday season, we''re not discussing business. As for next year''s contract, let'' the holidays. This isn''t the right ce for work matters." Ik about it after Ron froze for a second, then quickly agreed, "Yes, Dr. Goodman, of course. Let''s leave it at that. I see you have other guests, so I''ll leave now." Louis escorted him out, then returned. Chase asked, "I stepped out for just a moment, and there are so many people here now? What''s going on? Who are those two women?" "They''re people who used to work with Quinn Group, but have since retired. I suppose you could call them your predecessors. Given their status, it wouldn''t be appropriate for them to visit Ms. Quinn directly, so they decided toe and chat with Madam Mandy instead. Now that Ms. Quinn has gone upstairs, you can go rest as well." Wendy was on the phone with Ste. Originally, Ste was supposed toe back, but as soon as she heard that Chase would be at the house for the holidays, she refused toe back. Wendy usually indulged Ste''s temper, but this time, she had to consider Chase''s feelings. She had told Ste before the holidays, either get on a ne if she wanted toe back, since the ticket was already bought and personally delivered by her assistant. If Ste really didn''t want toe back, she could spend Christmas abroad. But Ste didn''t return after all. Wendy could be tough on her, but in the end, Ste was her little sister, and she couldn''t just ignore her during the holidays. Wendy had already made three calls since this morning. 97%1 Much friends and had no ns to return. +8 Pearls Entering the study, it seemed that Wendy had finally gotten through to Ste. She was frowning and looked quite upset. When she saw Chasee in, Wendy raised a hand, signaling for him to wait outside. She turned her chair around and spoke to Ste, "I''ve already told you, Chase is your brother-inw. You can''t keep acting this way. There''s no future between Henry and me. Henry''s married with kids. Do you really not care about how Mom feels?" It sounded like Ste had started arguing with Wendy on the other end. Finally, Wendy ended the call. The study fell quiet. From downstairs, Mandy''s voice could still be heard talking with the other women. Chase pushed the door open and saw Wendy sitting in the chair, her hand pressed against her temple, looking very tired. "I spoiled her," Wendy muttered. "My mom always said I should let Ste go out and learn something, even if she didn''t manage the Harrison family business, she shouldn''t just be hanging around. But I didn''t listen, and now I really regret it." Chase walked over and gently ced a hand on Wendy''s shoulder,forting her. "There''s nothing you could have done. She''s your only sister. She''s been spoiled since she was young. And besides, you''ve got Quinn Group under control. Mandy doesn''t want Ste to be this tired." Managing Quinn Group was indeed a tiring job. Wendy almost never had a day off. Even though regr employees had weekends off, Wendy still had to work overtime at thepany. After so many years together, Chase had never seen Wer take a full break. That was why Chase was even more concerned for her. "Is she really noting back?" Chase asked. Wendy nodded. "She said she''s in another city and didn''t tell me exactly where. But it''s fine, as long as she''s not with Henry." What Wendy feared most was that Henry might try something with Ste. She''d noticed Ste''s strange attitude toward Henry before, and even now, after sending her away, she still couldn''t shake the worry. 1 My Cold Ex-Wife 126 Chapter 126 Fireworks +8 Pearls "A few older guests came downstairs, they said they were friends of Mom''s from past coborations. Do you want to go down and see them?" Wendy shook her head. "They''re all elders. It wouldn''t be appropriate fome to go down... forget it, just stay here with me for a while." The two of them decided to stay in the study. As soon as Chase sat down, Wendy rested her head on his shoulder. Chase wrapped his arms around her and said, "Ste is still young and studying abroad. She will grow up. Besides, as long as Henry stays away from her, it''ll be fine." "No." Wendy replied, "I''ve realized that Ste has recently started using a live streaming tform that seems to have ties to Henry. I didn''t notice it before, but recently Zynn found out about it." "You sent Dawn abroad before Christmas to investigate this, didn''t you?" "Sort of. I thought it would also give Dawn a chance to check in on Ste." They stayed in the study for a long time until Louis knocked on the door, saying that thedies had all left and that they shoulde downstairs. In the living room, Mandy seemed in a good mood. On the table beside her were the gifts that had just been delivered. The gifts from others had been taken away by Louis and given to someone else. However, the gifts from these particr people seemed like they would be kept. "I just called Ste. She said she was spending Christmas with some friends," Wendy said with a tone that wasn''t quite pleasant. She sat next to Mandy, staring at the meaningless program on the TV. "I''m worried Henry might be starting to make moves on Ste." Mandy didn''t look at the TV, not paying attention to what was on at all. But whenever the Harrison family was mentioned, Mandy always acted this way. She seemed indifferent, but every second, she wanted the Harrison family to pay for what they had done to her husband. Chase had always thought Mandy was the type of person who didn''t talk much but could be ruthless when necessary. He had never seen her make a hard decision in business, but now, looking at her, he felt that Mandy was on the verge of something breaking. But she simply said, "You handle it. Ste is your younger sister, and as for Henry... that kind of person, I won''t let him into the Quinn family, whether it''s you or Ste. You''ve understood this, and I hope Ste will too." But it was clear that Ste didn''t fully understand. Back when she liked Henry, it was mostly because of her admiration for her older sister and always following her footsteps. Now, Wendy had pulled away from Henry, but it was obvious that Ste hadn''t yet. "Well, for now, let''s leave it. I''ll figure something out about the live streaming tform." As the day slowly turned into evening, fireworks could already be seen outside. In the kitchen, the chef and housekeeper were still busy, and Louis had gone to video call his kids. Mandy was watching TV, while the young couple headed out to the backyard to watch the fireworks. "It''s been years since I''ve seen fireworks up close," Chase said, a bit nostalgic. 91% ICWUIKS somewhere else to see fireworks." +8 Pearls Somewhere else? Chase wasn''t very familiar with the area, and instinctively nced at Wendy. She had already taken his hand and was heading to change into her outerwear. "You''re going out?" Wendy answered, "I''m taking Chase to see the fireworks. We''ll be back soon." They put on their coats, and Wendy didn''t let go of Chase''s hand. It wasn''t very dark outside. A week before Christmas, the property management had already decorated the trees around the area with colorful lights, and now the entire neighborhood was brightly lit. Many houses still had various kinds of lights hanging by their doors. Wendy held Chase''s hand as they walked to the back of the neighborhood. There was a small gate in the back that only allowed one person to pass through at a time. Wendy''s eyes gleamed mischievously as she looked back at Chase, gave him a smile, bent down, and squeezed through. Chase was puzzled but followed closely behind her. This small gate could only be passed through by someone thin; anyone slightly heavier wouldn''t fit. After bending down to squeeze through, as soon as Chase straightened up, he was stunned by the sight in front of him. It was arge open space, seemingly still undeveloped, with a lot of people gathered. I'' families in the area were here with their children, setting off fireworks. emed like all the Wendy pointed to the area and said, "When I was young, my dad used to bring Ste and me here to watch fireworks. Back then, there weren''t so many people in this neighborhood. Now it''s a lot more lively." It seemed that Paul had always made sure their family was happy before he passed. And because they had been happy, Paul''s death was an insurmountable gap that would never be crossed. When Mandy had mentioned that Henry could never enter the Quinn family, Chase could feel the pain Mandy carried. Her husband should have been sitting by her side, enjoying the happiness brought by their daughter and son-inw. But it was all because of the Harrison family, all because of their greed. Perhaps there were deeper reasons behind it too. Chase instinctively squeezed Wendy''s hand. Before she could react, he suddenly pulled her forward. Seeing that Chase was getting closer to a child, Wendy instinctively stopped and asked, "What are you doing?" My Cold Ex-Wife 127 Chapter 127 The Right Man for Wendy +8 Pearls Chase stubbornly walked forward and, in the quiet moment after the fireworks went off, spoke to a little girl, "Hey sweetie, could you share one of your sparklers with my wife?" The girl''s parents stood nearby, smiling as they watched to see whether their child understood how to share happiness. People who lived in this neighborhood were all well-off or influential, so they generally recognized one another. The little girl still held a few sparklers in her hand. Faced with two strangers, she looked a little confused and blinked at them. "Did you forget to buy your wife any fireworks?" Chase crouched down to her level and spoke sincerely, "That''s right, I forgot. Would you share just one with us?" He held up one finger. "Just one would be enough!" Who goes around asking kids for fireworks? Wendy felt embarrassed and tugged at Chase from behind, trying to get him to leave. The little girl looked back at her parents. They stood together, still smiling, waiting to see what she would decide. After a moment''s thought, the girl handed a sparkler to Wendy. "If you forgot, then I''ll give one to your wife. Daddy says all girls can have sparklers for Christmas! And your wife is a girl too!" The kindness of strangers always struck a chord. Wendy hesitated for a few seconds before Chase gently tugged her back to the moment. She crouched down, took the sparkler from the girl, ar said sincerely, "Thank you. Your dress is beautiful. You''re the prettiest girl here!" The girl bounced happily into her parents'' arms. "She said I''m pretty!" "Our little sweetheart is very pretty indeed." Wendy''s eyes turned a little red as she held the sparkler. They found a quiet corner where things were calm. The others, whether with parents, rtives, or lovers, were off in the distance setting off fireworks together. Chase pulled a lighter from Wendy''s pocket and lit her sparkler for her, "Paul can''t set off fireworks with you anymore, but I''ll always be here with you." The sparkler lit up in her hand, tiny bursts of light crackling in the air. The faint smell of smoke drifted around them. Chase didn''t miss the redness in Wendy''s eyes. He looked at her eyes, shimmering like fireworks. "I''ll always be with you." Wendy sniffled. "Don''t lie to me." Dad lied to me. I just hope you never do. When they got home, Wendy suddenly turned into a little girl herself, scooting over to Mandy and saying, "Mom, Chase tricked a sparkler out of a little girl. Mandy looked back. Chase was standing by the entrance, still holding Wendy''s coat, the smile on his face not yet fading. Louis came out from the kitchen too. "Who did he give it to?" Mandy asked. Wendy said "Of course he gave it to me! The little girl said only girls can have snarklers!" 96%1 Chapter 127 The Right Man for Wendy +8 Pearls didn''t really understand. Out of so many men, why did you choose him as your daughter''s husband? But now I see... You were right." Mandy said, "Not many people can make Wendy smile. Chase happens to be the only one. I haven''t seen her smile like this in a long time." She knew the burden of the Quinn Group had been pressing down on Wendy for too long, but there was no other choice. She was a widow and had long since stepped back from her position. Ste couldn''t be relied on. Only Wendy could handle it. "The one who can stay by Wendy''s side has to be Chase." Louis nodded, then asked, "And Henry? What''s your n?" "At first, I thought we could quietly take care of Henry after he returned to the country. That way, the kids wouldn''t have to worry. But he got to Ste first. Now that the couple has no issues between them and knows how to handle things together, I won''t interfere." Louis nced back. Wendy and Chase hade out of the bathroom, and Wendy was smearing the water from her hands onto Chase''s face. They looked more like a real couple now,pared to the many times before when they used toe home separately. Mandy''s judgment had clearly been right. Out of all the people in the world, the one she chose as her son- inw was obviously better than someone like Henry. Louis had once thought he might need to lend a hand, but now it seemed unnecessary. "Since we don''t need to take any action, then don''t dwell on it. Just enjoy life. With Ms. Quinn and Chase around, the best days are still ahead of you." Mandy stood up and went upstairs. There was a separate room on the second floor, where her husband''s memorial was kept. Louis stood respectfully behind her as she looked at the memorial, murmuring a few words. "Wendy''s grown up, but Ste is still young. We''ve spoiled her far too much, which is why she can''t tell right from wrong. She doesn''t show much respect for Chase either. Before, we turned a blind eye to it to help Wendy keep up appearances. But now, it''s time we did something." Mandy sighed. "You really had it easy- didn''t have to worry about a thing, left me here to take care of the whole family. And you don''t even feel sorry for me." 386 My Cold Ex-Wife 128 Chapter 128 Small Gift Seeing Mandy upset, Louis quickly said, "Sir always cared about you. When he was still here, he never allowed you to be this sad." The real culprits were the Harrison family. Ever since the incident with Paul, Louis had made it his mission to find the one responsible. He just hadn''t expected that so many years would pass, and Wendy would grow up in the meantime. "You''ve gotten old too," Mandy said as she stood in the quiet room. "Your kids said they want you to move in and retire with them. What do you think?" Louis shook his head. "Back when I followed you and Sir to build this from the ground up, I said I''d dedicate my life to the Quinn family. I''m not dead yet, and there are still things I can do. Even if Ms. Quinn and her husband are steady with their work, there''s still something theyck." Mandy nced at Louis and understood what he meant. Softness... No matter how ruthless Wendy could seem, she still wasn''t as hard- hearted as Mandy once was. "They''re children raised in love. They don''t really understand what it means to be ruthless, or that ruthlessness is often what secures power. But maybe that''s a good thing-less of those kinds of acts means more blessings in the long run." After drying their hands, the two of them left the room. Mandy said, "I''m just waiting for the day they have a baby. While I''m still healthy, I can help take care of the child." At the mention of this, Wendy and Chase exchanged a nce. In the end, it was Chase who spoke up. "Mandy, we''re not in a rush. Wendy and I are still young, and we''re both so busy with work that we re don''t have time to think about having a baby." "Weren''t we busy back then too?" Mandy cast a nce at Wendy-she didn''t even need to ask to know it was her daughter who didn''t want children. When Quinn Group was just being founded, Mandy had already been pregnant with Wendy, but she still gave birth. Later, as Quinn Group found its footing, many outside corporations eyed them hungrily. Back then, the tactics used were downright dirty, but even so, Mandy still had Ste. Being busy with work had always just been an excuse not to have children. "You can do whatever you want, but at the end of the day, you still need to have a child." "Got it." Surprisingly, Wendy didn''t argue with her, which made for a rare peaceful evening. Everyone was in good spirits. After dinner, Wendy took Chase upstairs to pay respects to her father''s memorial. "Dad, it used to be just meing here. I chose to protect the one I love the same way Mom did... but..." She turned her head to look at Chase. "My love is brave. He stands by my side and faces everything with me." Chase knelt in front of Paul''s memorial. Paul, I''ll protect Wendy, and I''ll find the one who tore this family apart. You can rest easy." 96% +8 Pearls Outside, the fireworks continued without pause. "Here, these are your little gifts," Mandy and Louis said. Chase was stunned. He couldn''t remember receiving cash as gifts since bing an adult. Even after five years with Wendy and spending every Christmas here, Mandy had never offered him one before, and neither had Wendy. "We didn''t give you one before because we didn''t know where you two stood. When people love each other, they should stay together and not end up full of regret like me. Now that you''ve reconciled, I feel at peace. This is just a token of appreciation." Wendy took hers without a second thought. When she saw Chase still hesitating, she reached over, snatched the one from her mother, and stuffed it into his hands. "Mom gave it to you, so take it." "Chase, your mother passed away, but I treat you like my own son. Don''t feel pressured," Mandy said. Chase''s eyes turned red as he looked down at the money. His voice caught in his throat. "Thank you, Mandy." He kept the envelope of cash safely in his pocket and couldn''t resist checking on it every now and then. Wendy watched him sneaking nces with a silly smile on his face, and her heart ached a little. How did Chase make it through those five years, after losing his mother and not being loved? At least they still had time. They could still make up for those regrets and truly be together. After the housekeeper and chef finished preparing dinner, they headed home to be with their own families, leaving just the four of them in the house. The coffee table was covered in snacks, sweets, and fruit. Wendy picked out strawberries for herself and fed Chase a slice of apple. Then, she suddenly said to Mandy, "On the first day of Christmas, we''ll visit the Fred family. Waylon and Chase have been close for so many years-it''ll help keep things strong." "The Fred family''s under Lemon''s leadership now," Mandy said, clearly already familiar with the situation. "A lot of people in that family aren''t happy about a woman taking charge. But thankfully, Waylon supports his sister, so things are stable for now." Louis added, "Don''t let that fool you. Behind the scenes, a lot of people are just waiting to make a move. I know of at least three or four who are already trying to join forces with outsiders to take Lemon down. You two should advise her to be careful." Clearly, even without leaving the house, these two elders had full control over everything happening in Gennemont. That was how the older generation operated. 386 My Cold Ex-Wife 129 Chapter 129 Visiting Eleanor Wendy said, "Lemon knows what she''s doing." 96%1 +8 Pearls "Knowing is one thing," Mandy replied. "But you two are her friends. Your advice is valuable to them. You have an outsider''s perspective, which often sees more clearly. Allies are cial; you have to hold on to them tightly." Mandy looked at Chase. "Especially when ites to Waylon." "Waylon?" "Yes." Mandy nodded, her eyes still on the television. "Waylon doesn''t handle internal family affairs; he focuses on investigations. But no one has ever put restrictions on his work or dared to interfere. Isn''t that because of the Fred family''s strong position?" Everything was interconnected. "You should remind Waylon-even when ites to solving cases, he needs to be careful of the people in his own house." "I understand." After midnight, Wendy and Chase each found a coin in their dumplings and went to bed in high spirits. They changed into their loungewear and curled up in bed. Chase kissed Wendy on the forehead several times. "It''s been years since I got money as a gift," Chase said. Wendy gave a little huff. Same here. We''ve been together for so many years... Have you ever seen Mom give us money as gift before? Don''t say money as allowances or whatnot; as a gift, it holds a different meaning." The Fred family''s Christmas celebration was a lot livelier than the Quinn family''s. There were just too many people; so many branches and rtives that it was hard to keep count. Even those staying at the old house numbered in the dozens. Benny Fred was no longer around, but his wife still lived there. Her name was Eleanor Gomez. Her personality was as strong as Mandy''s. She had stood beside Benny as they built the Fred family empire. Now that she was older and her legs weren''t what they used to be, her sharp eyes remained. She was still the guiding light of the Fred family. No one dared act in front of her. On Christmas Day, Chase and Wendy visited the Fred family. The housekeeper opened the door and led them to see Waylon and Lemon first. The two of them had stayed up all night gaming and were now relying on coffee to stay awake. "You''re here early. Have you eaten?" Waylon got up. 111 Tolf..11...L... bd.''1 wish ishan PL, ...J Laddoftan midaiah, than fooled Lemon put down her coffee and touched up her makeup. "Come on, let''s go see Grandma" 48 Pearls Older folks tended to sleep early and wake up early. When the Fred siblings knocked on the door with their guests, the butler opened it and was momentarily surprised to see Wendy. "Ms. Quinn?" Wendy smiled. "We came to visit Madam Eleanor." Lemon added, "Quinn Group and the Fred family are business partners. The butler understood immediately and stepped aside. Turning back into the room, he called, "Madam, the Quinn family is here." Eleanor was watching TV. When she heard "the Quinn family," she muttered under her breath. "Is it that Manny and her husband?" Chase thought she was referring to them, but Wendy stepped forward and said, "Grandma, it''s me. Wendy. I''vee to see you." It seemed Mandy had once maintained a warm rtionship with the Fred family when she was still active at Quinn Group. The fact that Eleanor remembered her said a lot. Madam Eleanor looked at the couple and recognized Chase. Pointing at him, she said, "Weren''t you the boy from the house next door..." Waylon chuckled. "Grandma, you still remember him. This is Chase, the little one from next door that Lemon used to call all the time." Putting down what he had in his hands, Chase stepped forward and squatted beside her. Madam Eleanor held his hand. "You''re Chase? You''ve grown so much! I haven''t seen you in years. Why are you here with the Quinn family?" Chase reached back and pulled Wendy closer, introducing her. "Wendy and I got married. The ''Manny'' you mentioned is Mandy, my mother-inw." "Oh! You two got married? That''s wonderful, really wonderful." Eleanor then turned to Wendy. "Why didn''t your parentse?" Wendy paused. Lemon softly said from behind, "Grandpa and Grandma were expanding the business overseas during those years. Maybe they didn''t know." Wendy hesitated for a moment before replying, "My father passed away during Christmas, and my mother''s retired now." Eleanor grew quiet and saddened by the news, and it took a while before the younger ones managed to cheer her up again. "That''s how it should.be. Your parents were friends. Now you should visit more often too. Even if it''s not a business partnership, we''re still friends. And if there''s ever trouble, you can help each other." She held Wendy''s hand warmly as she spoke. Lemon and Waylon sat across the room. Lemon was scrolling through her phone, checking trending topics rted to theirpany''s artists during Christmas season, while Waylon leaned over and whispered to Chase. ily Livation Even Wendy hadn''t heard about this. She instinctively looked at Lemon. +8 Pearls Lemon looked up from her phone, met Wendy''s gaze, and nodded silently. She locked her screen, set the phone aside, leaned her head on her hand, and said, "It happened about a week before the holiday break. They stole files on a few of our artists, but nothing''s been leaked yet." "A week ago? We had dinner together around then-why didn''t you say anything?" "There wasn''t much to say. I''m just waiting for the bomb to drop. Once it does, I''ll handle the PR immediately. But I think the files weren''t stolen for the sake of leaking them. Whoever did it probably has other ns. I just have to wait and see." My Cold Ex-Wife 130 Chapter 130 Christmas Reunion +8 Pearls Chase didn''t know much about the entertainment industry, but because of the rumors between Lemon and Noah, he had looked into a few of the key people involved. "Alright now, you kids go talk aboutpany stuff somewhere else. I''m red," Eleanor said. It seemed she wanted to give the younger generation some space. Other than Eleanor, there wasn''t anyone else in the Fred family they needed to greet. When they left the room, they saw a few people sitting downstairs, looking up at them. "Your family''s lively, that''s for sure," Wendy said. Waylon kept his gaze straight ahead and led them to his room. "Grandma''s old now; she likes having people around: This bunch is easy enough. They know better than to say the wrong things in front of her. But privately? Lemon and I can''t take another word of it." Lemon''s room was right next to Waylon''s, and the two rooms were connected by an interior door. Both rooms were already quiterge, and with the connecting door between them, it was surprisingly spacious. "Our parents haven''t been involved in family matters these past few years. Lemon and I made this setup just to be safe. You know I''m not home much. If the rooms are connected, people can''t easily figure out which one of us is in which room." Chase hadn''t expected the Fred family to live in such a way. He could hardly imagine it. "Why didn''t you tell me about this? It''s important," Wendy said the moment they sat down. Lemon spread her hands. "It was almost Christmas, and I didn''t want to stress you out. I already have people tracking it down. We reviewed thepany''s surveince and identified a few suspects. My broth following up." "Having a cop in the Harrison family really is convenient. No need to even call the police-juste home for dinner and it''s a case," Chase said. Lemon sighed. "That''s how it is. He''s not much help in other areas. The least he can do is support me when it really matters." The group stayed in Waylon''s room until around noon, then left without staying for lunch. Later, Melody called Chase: She said some guests wereing by the house and asked him to hurry home to y the role of the lucky charm. Fortunately, everything at home was already prepared-there was no need to run out and buy anythingst minute. Still, being the "lucky charm" wasn''t exactly easy. The first guests were suppliers. Most of the hospital''s disposable medical supplies came from theirpany. They''d heard about the new leadership at Cloud Hospital and took Christmas as a chance toe by and pay their respects. Once the conversation turned to business, Melody handled it while Chase sat off to the side, sipping tea. 96% Cristmas Reunion Melody sighed. "This is way harder than what I used to deal with. It''s like ying on hard mode." +8 Pearls "That''s what makes it a challenge," Wendy said, resting her chin on her hand with a smile. Think about it- right now, all of Cloud Hospital''s business matters are under your control. You have the upper hand. You''re the only one who can get Chase involved in anything. No one can frame you for anything. Doesn''t that make it feel a little better?" Melody said nothing. Chase said nothing either. Well... a little better, but not much. Melody wiped her mouth and nced at the notes on her phone. "There should be two morepaniesing by tomorrow. It''s all about the IPO. One''s at two in the afternoon, the other at three. I spaced them out." Chase asked, "So we just have to wait around at home all day?" "Not necessarily. Just be back by the scheduled times. It won''t take long-each meeting''s about future cooperation post-IPO. Should wrap in about twenty minutes each. Everything will be done by four." Wendy thought for a moment. "Keep the schedule clear after the fourth day of Christmas." Melody looked at her. "I''m taking your chairman on a honeymoon-from the fourth to the tenth. You handle whateveres up. If it''s something you can manage on your own, take care of it. If not, we''ll deal with it after the eak. "Got it," Melody replied immediately, and started crossing out everything on her calendar after the fourth. "For the sake of a harmonious and blissful married life between our two bosses, I''ll carry all the burden." Chase said nothing. They talked for a while longer before Melody had to head home. Only then did Chase ask, "Will you have enough time off? Work starts again on the eighth, and you''re off until the tenth." Wendy leaned back, resting fully against the sofa. "I hired all those people for a reason. If they can''t handle three days without me, what am I paying them for?" If Sammy heard that, she''d probably lose it. But Chase had noints. It was the honeymoon they''d missed. Honestly, he was looking forward to it. Getting to go away with Wendy, just the two of them-he definitely needed to start nning. He went into the room to start researching the trip, and Wendy finally pulled out her phone to check her messages. 386 My Cold Ex-Wife 131 Chapter 131 In The Shadows Since early morning, Henry had been blowing up Wendy''s phone with messages. All of them were about whether he could drop by to wish Mandy a happy new year, and conveniently, see Wendy too. His tone had a tinge of grievance, like he was trying to tattle. Henry wrote, "I was already at your doorstep, and I didn''t even get to see you. Is Mr. Goodman upset or something? From now on, do I have to go through him just to see you?" That passive-aggressive guilt-tripping... Wendy would have to be a fool not to hear it. Wendy replied, "There''ve been people at hometely, including my mom... maybe another time. I''m heading out of town for work on the fourth, won''t be back until the tenth. Let''s talk after I''m back." Henry wrote, "Working on Christmas too? That''s so lonely. Let mee with you." Wendy said, "Work''s not really something you should get involved in. And besides, how about you sort things out with Franklin first?" If he was going to use Franklin to put pressure on her, then she''d let him suffer for it. Henry replied, "Wendy, let me exin. Franklin genuinely had a scheduling conflict, but I''ll sort it out right away. It won''t affect your ns, I promise." That was where Wendy stopped replying. So when it suits him, he has time. When it doesn''t, suddenly my work gets tossed aside? Who does he think he is? To be honest, Henry''s game just wasn''t up to par. Maybe it was because he''d been kept out of the Harrison family''s core affairs for years; he had be disconnected from the business world. With that kind ofck of awareness, she couldn''t imagine what future the Harrison family could possibly have in his hands. She still believed Mario was the better bet. Typhoon Corp only ran so smoothly under Caesar because of Mario. Peter Parker. She''d actually heard the name long ago, back when Caesar hadn''t yet reimed control of the Meyer family. During that early power struggle, she already knew who Peter Parker was, even though at the time, he was just a low- level department manager in Meyer Group. Mario was clearly Bruno''s son; their tactics were nearly identical. That evening, they met up with Mario for dinner. "Finally got out," Caesar said with a sigh of relief as he and Mario arrived at the restaurant. Home had been unbearable. As Caesar''s partner, Mario naturally spent Christmas with him-but the way the Meyer family treated them was something else. The ridicule, the sarcasm... Nothing was off limits. Some even tried to sound supportive, saying things like, "You can be together, sure, just keep it discreet. No need to bring him into thepany, and definitely don''t go parading him around." That Li ofM..i himma To way Chapter 131 In The Shadows 97% +8 Pearls then, and Bruno genuinely wanted to marry Mario''s mom and make it official. But the Harrison family wouldn''t allow it. To protect her, Bruno had no choice but to keep her hidden. And now they wanted Caesar to do the same with Mario. "My mother already spent her life living in the shadows just to give birth to me. Since I''m alive, then for the rest of my life, I will live in the open. I will be seen. I will be acknowledged," Mario said. At the Watering Hole, Wendy and Ash double-checked the menu before sending it off to the kitchen. Chase said to Mario, "They''re just trying to provoke you. Don''t let it get to you." Mario gave a wry smile and shook his head. "I''m not mad. They don''t know who I really am. If they knew I was the illegitimate son the Harrison family''s been searching for all these years, they''d probably tie me up and personally deliver me to the Harrison mansion." Not that they had the power to do that anymore. Caesar said, "I''m nning to get married to Mario abroad next year. Let''s see what they say then." Stuff like that was totally normal overseas. Both of them had studied abroad, so of course they were open to it. "Caesar, you have to understand, the Meyer family rejecting Mario has nothing to do with who he is. It''s all about you," Wendy said. Caesar nodded. "Exactly why I want Mario to be seen, to be treated with dignity. Speaking of which, how''s the Harrison side of things?" "Henry showed up at my ce on Christmas, said he wanted to wish my mom a happy new year. Chase stopped him at the door. He was still whining about it to mest night," Wendy said. Chase nced at her. She added, "Go look up the chat logs. He messaged me, asking if you were mad at him." Mario shook his head helplessly. "The Harrison family''s done for if they leave it to someone like him. From what I''ve heard, my father was never like this." "I still think Henry''s adopted," Wendy said. The whole table burst intoughter. Sammy came in with Zynn, followedstly by Waylon and Lemon. The look on their faces said it all; they were probably exhausted from dealing with their families all day. One could already see it back when they met up with Lemon. 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 132 hapter 132 A Thing? A.97%1 +8 Pearls Eleanor pointed out that Wendy was about the same age as Leinon, yet she''d already been married for five years. So why hadn''t Waylon and Lemon tied the knot yet? When would she finally get to hold her great-grandchild? She grumbled about it at home for quite a while. In truth, Lemon''s identity wasn''t something that allowed for a casual marriage. Ideally, she needed to find someone within the industry-someone who understood the rules, the appearances, and the constant public scrutiny. Anything less could easily cause trouble for Fenon International. As for Waylon, he was a whole different story. His only real rtionship was with the police force. He practically lived at the precinct, always surrounded by his male colleagues. Finding time or opportunity to date a woman was near impossible. "Married people have no idea what it''s like for us," he said. "It''s either being nagged at home or having someone waiting to pounce the second you say anything. Honestly, if it weren''t for Christmas, I wouldn''t havee home at all. Thankfully, Grandma''s heading off to see Grandpa in a few days. Wendy and Chase exchanged a look before Chase chimed in. "Even after marriage, you still get nagged. My mom keeps pushing us to have kids. I told her we''re busy with work, and my mother-inw just said that''s a weak excuse. She''s like, ''No matter how busy you are, people still find time to make babies." Mario added, "When I was born, my dad hadn''t even fully stepped away from the Harrison family. He had a million things to handle and still had to protect my mom and me from getting found by those people. Honestly, he pulled it off. He had real skill." The older generation had a different kind of strength than the current one. Eleanor echoed what Mandy often said; today''s kids grew up surrounded by love. Even Caesar and Mario, who had been sent away, still experienced their parents'' protection. That changed everything. Once you''ve felt love, it''s hard to be truly ruthless. Wendy said, "Soon, Chase and I are off on our honeymoon. You guys will have to take over things at Gennemont. Lemon, if you need help, just reach out to Zynn. She''s always around and ready." Lemon raised her ss to the two of them. "I''m definitely going to need help at some point. Thanks in advance." They had all been friends for years so there was no need for formalities. Typhoon Corp was wrapping up, and right after the holidays, it was back to business. Mario and Caesar were about to make their official debut in the domestic market. "I heard a bunch of artists under the Harrison Group are connected to Henry," Waylon asked Wendy. Lemon replied, "Stuff like that''s totally normal in the entertainment world. It''s only a big deal because I''m a woman. If I were a guy, watching all those beautiful women parade past me every day, I wouldn''t be able to resist either." Before she finished the sentence, Waylon gave her a sharp smack on the back of the head. Chapter 132 A Thing? +8 Pearls After running Fenon International for so many years, Lemon had never been linked to any hotel scandals or cheap publicity stunts. She was still a woman, after all; there were lines she couldn''t cross, not even for promoting an artist. So the moment he saw the headlines, Waylon was sure that Lemon and Noah were real. Chase looked at Lemon, stunned. "Wait, you and Noah are actually a thing? You lied to me?" Lemon shot a sharp re at her brother. With everyone staring at her, she had no choice but toe clean. "Three years ago, I was the one who sent Noah overseas. He was originally signed to mypany. I saw his potential, but he needed something big to break through. The local scene was too easy. I sent him abroad." With Fenon International''s influence, there was nothing she couldn''t get for him here. But an easy environment wasn''t helpful for someone with raw potential who needed pressure to rise. Lemon thought about it and decided to send Noah out into the tougher world of international training. That kind of trainee life was brutal, but she believed Noah would survive and thrive. Three years flew by, and Noah came back a star. Lemon didn''t re-sign him, though, she passed him off to Wendy. "Since our twopanies share resources anyway, whatever opportunities I have, you have too. Doesn''t matter who signs him. And besides, I can''t date someone from my own roster. People would use me of favoritism. Waylon still gave her a scrutinizing look-it was the cop in him. Chase, on the other hand, looked worried. Mario stayed calm. "I saw the trending topic and looked into Noah myself. The guy''s decent. No scandals while he was abroad, stayed focused on his work. Apparently, his agency even tried to pair him with some top girl group members to stir up gossip, and he turned them all down. Because of that, he got benched for a long time." Noah hadn''t cared; he refused to fake any scandals. And now, the first thing he did aftering home wasnd on the front page with Lemon. 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 133 Chapter 133 Honeymoon +8 Pearls "Seems like a pretty steadfast guy," Caesar said, still a little out of the loop as he took a bite of food. "So, are you two together?" Lemon shook her head. "Not quite. It''s more like... we have feelings for ch other. But it''s been three years apart, and we need time. That rumor helped build some hype for his return, and I guess it''s my way of making it up to him." Wendy scoffed. "Make it up to him? Please. If it weren''t for you, he''d still be struggling to get noticed back home, barely hanging on. Now, everything he''s built, he earned it. His reputation is way better this way." They had always assumed Lemon stayed single all these years because she still had feelings for Chase. But now that Noah was in the picture, it only raised new concerns. Lemon had never really been in love before and didn''t know what being in a rtionship was truly like. The emotional side of things, she''d have to figure that out on her own. No one could help her with that. "I signed Noah a while back, and I''m nning to sign a few e-sports teams next. That was Ms. Zach''s idea. She said e-sports are on the rise and we should sign a few while the costs are still manageable and start developing talent." "Ms. Zach is right," someone said. "Looks like she actually paid attention during thest Gennemont joint meeting." Wait, this was brought up in thest joint meeting? Wendy and Chase exchanged nces. They had been at the meeting that first day, but both of them had been half-asleep the whole time. They didn''t catch much of what the older board members were talking about and left the moment it ended. "E-sports are already a booming industry overseas, and it''s just starting to pick up here. I''ve been leaning that way myself. After the holiday break, I''ll start looking into a few solid teams too. Who knows, we might end uppeting for the same ones." Sammy added, "Ms. Zach has her eye on two particr teams. I looked into themno major issues. The rest were shortlisted during our internal meetings." Wendy still focused mostly on traditional industries like jewelry and real estate. When it came to emerging sectors, the only things that caught her attention were IT and entertainment. Everything else, she left to others. Wendy and Chase chose Oceania as their first honeymoon destination. It had always been a ce they wanted to visit. Gennemont was cold, but Oceania was warm. There, they could bask in the sunlight, enjoy the beach, the ocean, and each other. The bond between Chase and Wendy was close. To anyone who didn''t know their background, they just looked like a pair of newlyweds on their honeymoon. They sunbathed by the beach, dined under candlelight at night, with bonfires illuminating the sand around them. cymoon 97%1 +8 Pearls "The infinity pool''s pretty big. When I first took over Quinn Group, I expanded the gym. My mom wasn''t too thrilled about it." Forpanies like theirs, having an on-site gym was a no-brainer. Healthy employees meant longevity in the workce. Plus, it was a decent employee benefit. Staff could bring family members, and those who were disciplined in fitness usually performed better at work. That was something Wendy had always believed in. Wendy wasn''t all that into fitness herself, but Zynn spent two hours in the gym every day without fail. "I don''t have time to go," Chase said as he dried off and sat next to her, watching people ssh in the endless ocean. But after the holidays, I''ll drag you to the gym." "I don''t know how," Wendy frowned. "And I really don''t have the time." Chase nced at her with a smirk. "I''ll teach you. After work, when the gym''s empty, I''ll train you." Wendy raised an eyebrow-this actually sounded kind of fun. She smiled, held up her coconut water to Chase''s lips, and said, Alright then." They spent two days in Oceania before heading to Mist City. They both had a taste for bold vors, but Chase, being a doctor, usually kept his diet pretty clean. Mist City was a chance to indulge. "It''s pretty warm here too. Don''t even need a jacket," Wendy said, wiping the flush off her cheeks. "Guess Gennemont''s the only ce that''s freezing." Chase replied, "Then our next stop should be somewhere cold." They stayed in Mist City for two days as well, but theck of sunshine made them ufortable, so they left a day early and flew to Harnd. Snow and ice covered the ground, and in the middle of that white expanse, they held each other close. No matter how thick their coats were, their hearts remained pressed tightly together. Wrapped in each other''s arms, they felt each other''s warmth. "Let''s make time to travel every year, just the two of us. What do you think?" Chase asked. Wendy answered, "I''m fine with it. Just not sure if you''ll have the time." 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 134 Chapter 134 Company Restructure +8 Pearis Chase held Wendy''s hand as they carefully made their way down the street. Everything around them was covered in snow and ice crystals shimmered on the ground. Chase was extra cautious, afraid she might slip, so every step he took was steady. "Didn''t Ms. Quinn assign me a secretary? Melody''s so capable I don''t even have anything left to do. By your logic, if Melody wanted to get rid of me, she could do it with no effort at all." "But she wouldn''t." Melody knew exactly what betrayal felt like. Wendy had run a background check on her. There were no issues with her character, and her work ethic was solid- cleaner, even, than most of the people at Quinn Group. That was the only reason Wendy feltfortable cing Melody by Chase''s side. "Let''s just get a cab. It''s freezing." Wendy, wearing gloves, tangled one hand with Chase''s and slipped it into his coat pocket, but the cold still cut through. Chase looked ahead. "We''re almost there." After a little more walking, just as they neared the restaurant, snow started to fall from the sky. Itnded softly on their hats, and snowkes clung to the strands of ck hair framing Wendy''s face. Seeing this, Chase took off his own hat as well. "You think when we''re old, we''ll still be walking side by side with white hair like this?" "Maybe one of us will be pushing the other in a wheelchair." "That''s exactly why I need you to start working out!" Good times neversted long. Once they returned, they''d be thrown right back into the scheming and games of different people. Chase wasn''t used to handling those kinds of situations, but for Wendy''s sake, he was willing to learn little by little. If he couldn''t help with the business side, then he''d make sure to support her in other ways. Over the past few days, Henry had been calling and messaging Wendy nonstop, but she had promised Chase there would be no one else. So she blocked every call, cutting off all contact. Henry hadn''t been able to reach her at all. As soon as theynded back in Gennemont, the first thing Wendy did was head straight to Quinn Group. Meanwhile, Melody picked Chase up and brought him back to the hospital. "Preparations for the IPO are mostlyplete," Melody reported. "All that''s left are a few minor tasks. We need your and Ms. Quinn''s signatures on several documents, which are all here. Also, the board is currently reviewing department head positions. They''re debating whether or not to rece some of them." That raised a red g. Bernard had just been promoted to head of orthopedics not long ago. If they decided to make changes, he could easily be pushed out. Bernard was more than qualified. It wasn''t just because he was Wendy''s pick-he could''ve earned the spot on his own based on his credentials and work history at Cloud Hospital. He deserved that role. "Why are they asking that now? Is this part of the IPO prep too?" Chase asked. Fit Y/% Restructure +8 Pearls Some department headse with their own suppliers, so theirmercial potential is also being reviewed." "No." Chase shot it down instantly. "I''ve said this before-business is business, and medicine is medicine. I don''t mind Cloud Hospital going public, but the skill and quality of our doctors can''t bepromised. Make that clear to the board. That''s my stance." Chase hadn''t always had much say on the board. But ever since Melody came on board with her no-nonsense attitude, she''d gradually centralized power under Chase. She handled everything personally. Now, Chase and Melody basically called all the shots, while the other board members were just figureheads. Even if thepany went public, the shares in their hands wouldn''t add up to much. Wendy had structured it that way from the start-splitting the shares and authority so that 80% remained in Chase''s control. In simple terms, Cloud Hospital was about to be a corporation, and Chase was set to be its undisputed CEO. "That''s everything," Melody continued. "Oh, right. Dr. Sean''s background check and personal records are here." She handed Chase the file. "Did you find out who contacted him?" "We''ll need the tel team for that. Might need Mr. Fred''s help too." "Alright. Thanks for your work these past few days." Melody gave a polite nod, waited for Chase to finish signing the documents, then stepped out with the files. Just as the door closed, she ran into Ms. Halle. "Ms. Halle? Looking for the chairman?" Melody asked. Halle nced at her and lowered her voice. "Is this about the department head restructuring?" "The chairman said it''s unnecessary. He''s already shut it down." Henry had wanted to tag along when he heard Wendy was going on a business trip, but she quietly slipped away and boarded the flight without telling anyone. Frustrated, Henry tried reaching out to Sammy, but even she didn''t know where Wendy had gone. 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 135 Chapter 135 No More Love Later, Wendy returned to the office and immediately heard that Henry was waiting in the lounge. "What''s he doing here?" Wendy asked, curious. +8 Pearls Sammy replied, "Probably because he hasn''t been able to reach you. As per your instructions, all of Franklin''s engagements have been put on hold. The shoot has stopped too. Right now, we''re focusing on Natalie''s project." "Good. Make sure the priorities are clear. Natalie represents our high-end line, while Franklin is for the lower-tier market. Their positioning isn''t the same, and Natalie''s status is far above his." "That''s why Mr. Harrison''s upset and came to see you. He''s been here since early this morning." Luckily, Wendy had taken the private elevator up, so she didn''t pass the lounge and managed to avoid being seen by Henry. After thinking it over, she said, "Tell Henry I went straight to the residence after returning. I didn''te into the office." Knowing Henry, he''d definitely chase her there. There was no getting rid of him so easily. Sammy handed over a few files, including the documents rted to Cloud Hospital''s uing IPO and various government certifications. "Everything''s green-lit. No issues." "Great." Sammy was just about to head out and inform Henry when Wendy called her back. She realized she couldn''t keep dodging him like this forever. Since she''d already promised Chase there would be no one else, it was time to draw the line. She also didn''t want Chase to keep having to y the tolerant one. Some things had to be said. And now was the perfect time; whatever she said to Henry wouldn''t interfere with their n. "Tell Henry toe in." Sammy had been with Wendy long enough to read her in an instant. She could tell Wendy was ready toe clean. "Are you sure about this, Ms. Quinn?" Sammy asked. "Yes. If he''s going to be ourpetitor moving forward, and I''m supporting Mario''s return to the Harrison family, then dragging things out with Henry would be disrespectful to Mario. It''s time to make things clear." "Alright. I''ll bring Mr. Harrison in." After waiting for hours, Henry finally saw Wendy return to the office and hurried over to the executive suite. Coffee had already been prepared inside. The moment he stepped in, Henry caught a whiff of Wendy''s famili VIUT? Love appeared, and Wendy hadn''t impulsively married him, then by her nature, she would have waited for +8 Pearls Henry back home, even with a child in tow. She would have epted him. Besides, Henry could tell Wendy genuinely liked Joy. The only obstacles now were Chase and Mandy. As these thoughts ran through his mind, Henry was already formting his next move. "Wendy, you''re finally back. You must be tired from the trip. I booked a restaurant to wee you home," Henry said warmly, trying to walk around her desk to get closer. Wendy raised her hand, palm out, clearly signaling him to stop. "Take a seat. I have something to say to you," Seeing her serious expression, Henry felt a twinge of uncase. Is this about Franklin? Over the past few days, he had cooled off and realized he''d been too petty. Just because Wendy had been a little distant, he had tried to control the schedule through work. It was childish behavior, something a teenager would do. He had been meaning to exin things to her, but hadn''t found the right moment. "Franklin can get back to work starting tomorrow. I already had his agent clear his schedule. Nothing is more important than you, Wendy." Wendy chuckled inwardly. Now he was trying to backtrack. "Henry, sit down. Let''s talk." Only then did Henry finally take a seat. "Henry, based on how you''ve treated metely, I think there''s been a misunderstanding," Wendy said, meeting his eyes. "We''re already divorced. We''re no longer a couple. The way you check in on me, it''s beyond what''s appropriate for friends." Hearing her so clearly draw a boundary, Henry''s face went pale. He forced a smile. "Come on, Wendy. We''re divorced, sure, but is this because I have a child? Don''t you like Joy too?" Wendy shook her head. "This has nothing to do with the child. No matter how much I like Joy, I''m not her mother." "But Joy..." "Henry, don''t you get it? Our rtionship is in the past. I don''t love you anymore." The way she said "I don''t love you anymore" left no room for misinterpretation, and it crushed any hope Henry might have had. He started rambling. "No way. That''s impossible. How could you not have feelings for me? Ever since I came back, you''ve taken such good care of me. You brought Joy to the hospitalte at night, you let me stay at your ce... How can you say you don''t love me?" 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 136 Chapter 136 A One-Sided Love Wendy was speechless. I had known all along. 97% +8 Pearls Then she calmly exined, "That was only because you had no one else after you returned to this country. Besides... the first person you contacted when you got back was Ste, right?" She stared into Henry''s eyes. "You went to Ste, and she wanted to help you. That left me no choice. Besides, we had a rtionship five years ago." "That''s impossible. You can''t not love me. You ignored Chase for years because of me. You tolerated Ste being disrespectful to him because of me. Between me and Chase, you always chose me!" Henry shouted in disbelief. Is it all an illusion? Had I misunderstood? Or is Wendy being manipted by Chase? Yes, that must be it! Chase must have tricked Wendy, deceived her! He must have deceived her emotions! Suddenly, Henry stood up and grabbed Wendy''s hand. His movement was so quick that she didn''t react in time. She tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. It''s Chase, isn''t it? He must have deceived you. Wendy, you love me. What you feel for Chase is just a habit. Break up with him and get back with me. We''re meant to be together!" Wendy pushed him away without hesitation. She stood up as well, facing him directly. At the door, Sammy and Maggie had heard themotion. They were ready to burst in several times but managed to hold back. Maggie looked at Sammy. "Wait a little longer," Sammy said quietly. Wendy''s expression was cold as she said, "Henry, you contacted Ste after you returned because you knew I had married Chase. You thought there was no chance with me, so you turned your attention to her. Did you really think I wouldn''t find out?" "I..." Henry was stuck. "Then you shifted back to me when you sensed a change in my attitude. You thought you could outshine Chase. Henry, you''ve always been selfish. Maybe our so-called love five years ago was just a fantasy." Now that everything was out in the open, Wendy didn''t hold back. She straightened her posture slightly. - Hutu Love 7119 +8 Pearls Otherwise, Chase wouldn''t have given in all those years ago just because of a single tear from her. "Since I''ve said so much, let me give you some advice about my sister." Wendy paused, then met Henry''s eyes. "I hope you can stay away from Ste as well." Henry clenched his hands on his knees. Had Wendy found out something? Impossible. ording to Ste, they barelymunicated after she went abroad. She didn''t evene back for the holidays. The distance between her and the Quinn family was already obvious. There was no way she was going to listen to Wendy anymore. It was even less likely that she would tell her that she was working under me at the live streaming tform. "My rtionship with Ste isn''t what you think it is." Henry tried to exin. "She''s your sister. I only care about her because of you." "How convenient," Wendy scoffed. "Ever since we were kids, Ste followed me around like a little shadow. I knew she liked you, but her feelings stemmed from our rtionship. Henry, don''t think too much of yourself. That''s your fatal w." That was all I said. Anything more would have crossed the line. There was already a wall between us because of our fathers'' enmity. There could never be any closeness between us again. So remaining strangers is the best oue. Wendy said, "If you understand now, you can cancel the partnership with Franklin. The Quinn Group won''t demand a penalty. But if you want to terminate the current contract, I have no objection. Let''s just do it by the rules." "Fine." Henry agreed quickly this time. His voice had gone cold. "So I''ve really been thinking about this. Wendy Quinn, you''ve always seen me that way. You always thought I was just a profit-driven jerk? I really thought you loved me." He looked hurt as he stood and leaned forward on the table, staring into Wendy''s eyes. "Even if you never loved me, I had feelings for you. Wendy, do you really think the Harrison Group is my only way out?" Wendy frowned slightly. She didn''t really understand what he meant. "ying the pathetic card in front of you may have be a habit," Henry said slowly. "But being se. abroad for five years... If I''d kept pretending to be weak, I wouldn''t have survived long enough to see you again. Wendy, I never wanted you to see the real me." 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 137 Chapter 137 No More Room to Retreat Henry looked forward to Wendy. But now there is no other choice. If ying weak doesn''t work, I will have to use force. +8 Pearls Before he left, Henry turned around and asked, "Is it because of Chase? Has he changed your heart?" Even now, he was still calling it changing my heart? Obviously, Henry is obsessed. Wendy replied, "I''ve told you many times, Chase was never the reason for what happened between us. Even without him, we wouldn''t havested." Sammy and Maggie waited outside for a while. Sensing that the time was right, Sammy knocked on the door. "Ms. Quinn, Mr. Daniel from Spherecords Group is waiting in the conference room. Sammy pushed open the door but didn''t enter. She just stood in the doorway. Wendy gave her a slight nod, then looked back at Henry. Henry said, "In that case, I won''t take up any more of your time. We''ll stick to the original timeline for the Franklin deal. We''ll follow the Quinn Group''s arrangements. Wendy, the next time we meet, it might be a surprise." With that, Henry left. Sammy and Maggie came in and closed the door behind them. Wendy still looked tense. Her eyebrows remained furrowed. She pressed her hands to her forehead as if trying to clear her mind. Sammy came over and asked how it went. "Henry probably got the message," Wendy said, "but... I have a bad feeling. It''s like something is waiting for me behind him. Henry has already been cast aside by the Harrison family. What can he do, fight with Larry over a few small businesses?" Wendy sensed that something was wrong. This isn''t the Henry I knew. Ever since he came back, everything he did felt strange. Take the kidnappingst time; we all thought it was Larry, but with his intelligence, there was no way he could have nned something that borate. This meant that the real mastermind behind Aimee''s kidnapping was Henry. But this wasn''t something Henry should have done, not at that time. It felt like he was rushing things. "I was afraid this would happen if I pushed him too hard. Now there''s no going back." 000 157 No More Room to Retreat +8 Pearls enough. Still thinking that Bernard is just a simple medical student? "Have Fiona track Henry''s location in real time. The moment he appears somewhere unknown, lock on immediately. I want to know what secret he''s hiding." "Got it," Sammy answered. With Cloud Hospital about to go public, one hospital wouldn''t be enough to boost its valuation. After acquiring Cloud Hospital, the Quinn Group had also purchased arge tract ofnd behind it to build a convalescent center. Once the hospital and convalescent center were integrated, their market value would double. Spherecords Group had a good reputation in construction. Wendy chose them for the expansion. Construction of the convalescent center would begin next month, with the goal of seeing results within three months. "The center will be built behind the hospital. We can also open up some extra space in front," Chase told the board members, believing it was necessary. Draven looked confused. "What does this have to do with the avable beds in the front? We''re a private hospital. It is normal to have limited bed space. That scarcity makes us seem more exclusive." Chase frowned and said, "We are still a hospital, private or not. Our priority is to treat and save lives. If we don''t have enough space, it could dy a patient''s surgery." Elliot agreed and nodded. "Dr. Goodman''s point is valid. I support it. Once the center is ready, we can move recovering patients there and free up more beds in the main building." Seeing Draven still confused, looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, Elliot added, "Think about it. More beds means more patients. That will increase our visibility and our valuation." "That actually makes sense. Let''s do it your way. After all, it''s the Quinn Group''s money. We''ll just follow orders." Draven said. Melody took out the documents for the board members to sign. After the others had left, Elliot stayed behind. He looked at Chase and asked, "I heard recently that Madeline is resigning. Did she do something wrong?" Madeline had been with the pharmacy for a long time. Training a new employee will take time. "No, it was her choice," Chase replied. "I tried to persuade her to stay." He hadn''t told anyone what Madeline had done. It was a secret between them. Since Waylon had decided to let Madeline off the hook, there was no point in making it public. 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 138 Chapter 138 A Hidden Threat +8 Pearls "All right. If we''re going to reorganize the pharmacy, we need someone who''s already familiar with the system. I hear they want to pick someone from the nursing staff. That will help, especially since the nurses are already overworked." Elliot said. "Melody will take care of it." Chase answered. Once everyone was gone, Chase motioned for Melody toe over. He took the documents and nced over them. All the board members had signed. Everything was done. Now they just had to focus on getting Spherecords Group to start construction. Chase had already told Wendy about the board''s decision. "You seem worried about something," Melody asked. Chase replied, "Recing someone on a whim doesn''t serve us well. And with Madeline gone, we don''t know who might take her ce. How''s Sean? Any movement on his parttely?" "He signed off on a prescription. It was a chest medication. After he signed it, he even contacted the Chest Center to confirm the dosage." But no deaths had urred. No one had overdosed. It seemed that Sean had simply miscalcted the dosage. With Madeline gone, he no longer had anyone inside to help with the drugs. "Waylon is making arrangements for Madeline and her child to go to her husband. He''ll keep them safe. You..." Chase paused. Melody stood quietly, waiting for him to finish. After a moment of silence, Chase said, "You give Madeline an extra quarter bonus. We may need her help again someday. Better to keep the connection open." "Got it." The bonus only needed Chase''s signature. Then it would go straight to finance. Melody left the room quickly. Chase then called Waylon. "Did Madeline leave?" "Yes. Ryan saw her get on the train. ording to the schedule, she''ll be there in about two hours. Why? Something bothering you?" "Not really." There was a lot of noise on Waylon''s side, like he was surrounded by people. He went to a quiet corner and lit a cigarette. mucil Treat 7699170 +8 Pearls Two hours after talking to Wendy, Henry bought a ticket and flew out of the country. Fiona had tracked his location to the airport and reported to Wendy immediately. "Good. Let him go. At least he won''t cause any trouble here," Chase said. Waylon''s tone became heavy. "Your Wendy has a bad feeling about this. Henry said something ominous before he left. We''re afraid he''s going to restart the Moses Group overseas." Even now, Chase still hadn''t fully grasped what the Moses Group was. But it was clearly something convoluted and dangerous. When he asked, Waylon said, "You can ask Wendy directly. She knows as much as I do, maybe more. She''s helped me a lot. If Henry restarts the Moses Group overseas, he bes a top priority forw enforcement. Things could escte quickly." That night, Chase picked up Wendy from work. On the way home, he asked her about the Moses Group. "How do I even begin to exin..." Wendy sighed. "The Moses Group is disguised as a medical-aesthetic equipmentpany, but they really do all kinds of business. Even... the human trade." From the beginning, thepany had caused harm to many. But since it was always headquartered overseas, domesticpanies didn''t pay much attention to it. The first time Wendy took it seriously was when one of their shipments went missing along with the staff. The entire delivery team disappeared. It had been three years, and no one had found a trace of them. Because it happened during work hours, the Quinn Group had to paypensation. Including the lost shipment, the total loss was over hundreds of millions of dors. Wendy was not someone who let things slide. Three years ago, around this time, she often didn''te home. Chase, who didn''t have a job at the time, would wait for her at home every day. When she didn''te home, he''d go to her office, only to find out she was on a business trip. "So the months you weren''t home...it was all because of that?" Chase asked. Wendy nodded, brows furrowed. "Waylon called again this afternoon. The bankrupt Hudd family lost everything because of their partnership with the Moses Group. They werepletely wiped out." That deal must have been arranged by Henry. Otherwise, Shanelle wouldn''t have imed that Henry destroyed her entire family. If Henry really is the man behind the Moses Group, it all makes sense. "So that''s why you''re all so worried about him leaving the country." Chase said. "Waylon isn''t just worried. He''s angry. We had him right under our noses the whole time, and he still managed to escape. If Henry gets his identity back, we may never be able to touch him again." Wendy was worried about it. Chapter 138 A Hidden Threat "You''ve already worked things out with Henry, right?" My Cold Ex-Wife 139 Chapter 139 A Power y Begins +8 Pearls "That''s why it''s worrying. Henry used to pretend in front of me, but now he''s back to his original identity." Wendy said. "Don''t overthink it. Even if the Moses Group wants to enter Oshary, it''ke time. While Henry is still abroad, we need to solidify our base. The Quinn Group is stable. So is the Fred family. All that''s left is Cloud Hospital and Typhoon Corp. That gives us the window we need. Chase tried to calm her. "You''re right. That''s the only way to look at it." Typhoon Corp.''s grand opening banquet was scheduled for five dayster. The tailor had already delivered Chase''s suit, which Melody carefully tucked away. Wendy''s dress was custom-made and supplied exclusively by the Quinn Group''s fashionbel. The building waspletely renovated. Departments were up and running, but the CEO and vice president had yet to officially assume their roles. "The Meyer family is fighting again. They say Mario has too much control and want Caesar to take back some shares. It''s been going on for days," Wendy told Chase. Chase looked at Wendy as she removed her makeup, clearly intrigued. "But Caesar has full control. What can they even do?" "They worry about public perception. The Meyer family is arge household, much like the Freds. It''s impossible to manage every member; but they try to keep things in check. I think you should support them this time." Wendy had her hair pinned up, drops of water still on her face. She looked at Chase and said, "Cloud Hospital is going public. Typhoon Corp. has always been a top brand in paper media. Go with Melody and secure a partnership. Lend Mario some support." This had to be done before the opening banquet to avoid disrupting the event. "Got it. If you say so, I''ll do it." Chase said. This time, Wendy wasn''t asking for herself; she wanted Chase to make a name for himself in the business world. She exined, "Cloud Hospital going public with only the Quinn Group behind it isn''t convincing enough. People need to see the connection between Typhoon Corp and Cloud Hospital. You, as Mr. Goodman, need to step up." Chase still wasn''t used to this kind of business maneuvering. But he trusted Wendypletely. The xt day, he took Melody and went to the Meyer family''s main house. At that moment, the house was in chaos. Mario and Caesar didn''t seem to care. The constant bickering of the others meant little to them. In one ear and out the other. The butler, Jack, announced, "Mr. Goodman, chairman of Cloud Hospital, is here." Neither Caesar nor Mario had been informed beforehand. They exchanged nces. Mario just said, "Let him in." Chapter 139 A Power y Begins Goodman anyway?" "Showing up uninvited like this, how rude. What kind of chairman just barges in?" 97% +8 Pearls The bystanders thought Jack wouldn''t obey. But when Mario spoke, Jack turned respectfully and went to greet the guest. "I am the head of the Meyer family. The butler answers to me. Peter is my lover. If he doesn''t listen to him, should he obey you instead?" Caesar''s tone was sharp. "You little brat! I am your uncle. How dare you speak to me like that?" Caesar leaned back on the couch with a weak smile. "Uncle? You mean the one who took my inheritance after my parents died and shipped me overseas to fend for myself? Forgive me if I''m not too respectful. Everyone in the room had tried to manipte Caesar before. None of them dared speak again. "This way, please, Jack said, leading the guests inside. Chase entered and immediately saw the heated scene. Melody followed, carrying some gifts. It was a rather ridiculous arrangement. Caesar and Mario sat on the sofa, both lookingpletely unfazed. No one dared approach. The older family members sat on nearby couches while the younger ones stood in the back, forming a loose circle. The man called "Uncle" turned around when Chase and Melody entered. Since he didn''t recognize either of them, he assumed they weren''t important. "You two, we''re in the middle of a family meeting. Please leave." Chase didn''t mind the rudeness. He just gave a polite smile. Melody stepped forward and said, "This is Mr. Goodman, the president of Cloud Hospital. I''m his assistant, Melody. We have arranged to meet Mr. Peter here to discuss a business partnership. Is our timing off?" Mario felt a jolt in his chest but quickly understood what Chase was trying to do. He exchanged a nce with Caesar, who nodded slightly. "You''re early. Let''s get something to eat after this. Jack, book a table at The Vine. Chase likes Western food," Mario said softly. 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 140 Chapter 140 The Power Behind the Name Jack bowed slightly and stepped out. "Cloud Hospital? The one going public this year?" +8 Pearls "I heard the Quinn Group is backing it. The chairman, Mr. Goodman, is young, but several hospitals have been trying to recruit him." "What did Uncle just say? Did he try to kick him out? If Typhoon Corp handles Cloud Hospital''s first feature report, it''ll be an instant hit!" Chase nodded at Caesar and Mario. "Up to you. Ms. Quinn will be joining uster tonight. Shall we find a quiet ce to talk now, or do you want to attend to family matters first?" "No need." Caesar stood and straightened his casual clothes, still managing to look effortlessly elegant. "Upstairs, please." The group went into the study, leaving the rest of the room in stunned silence. Inside, Melody and Mario discussed work while Caesar and Chase chatted nearby. "Thanks foring to help," Caesar said as he poured Chase a cup of tea. I''d heard that Chase doesn''t like coffee. Fortunately, the Meyer family is old- fashioned and has a much better supply of tea than coffee. "It''s nothing. Wendy said you and Mario were under a lot of pressure, so I came to help in any way I could." "Bah, this bunch can''t make any real trouble. Let them rant all they want. They won''t get a single share from me." Caesar said. After the way they''d treated me back then, there is no way I''m going to give them a break now that I''m finally on top. My parents had left me everything they had. The others were not even given a house. Now that Typhoon Corp is thriving, they be greedy. Property isn''t enough; they are after thepany itself. This chaos has only one goal, to gain a position within thepany. They want to be on the payroll and get dividends but contribute nothing. I''m not having it, "Typhoon Corp is a ce where talent from all over the countryes together. It''s a dream workce.or writers, journalists, and students. I will never let parasites like them tarnish it. This is my parents'' legacy. I''m simply honoring their vision." Chase nodded. "There are few people like you left in this business. In family businesses, leeches are inevitable. Even the Quinn Group has a few. But Wendy only gives them entry-level jobs, not volunteer positions. If they underperform, they''re out the door. Still, there''s a whole bunch of them whoin nonstop." No matter what you do, someone is going to criticize. You might as well do it your way. I ower behind the Name 297%1 finalized the draft," Melody told Mario. The meeting had gone smoothly, and the partnership was practically a done deal. +8 Pearis When the business talk was over, Melody found a corner to sit quietly. She lowered her head and messaged the legal team to confirm the contract uses, making sure not to interrupt the others. "Your assistant is impressive. She picks things up quickly. With her by your side, everything runs smoother, Mario said as he sat next to Caesar and casually sipped from his teacup. Chase nodded in agreement. "Of course. With Melody around, I can just be the mascot. She takes care of everything at Cloud Hospital, even my personal affairs." "That strategy was Wendy''s, wasn''t it?" Mario asked. "You came to see me instead of Caesar to send a message, to show the Meyer family that I have support." "Of course." Chase didn''t hesitate to praise his wife. "Wendy is always full of smart ideas. And this one clearly worked." They stayed in the study chatting until nightfall. Wendy called to say she had left the office and was on her way to The Vine. The group finally went downstairs. Chase deliberately walked next to Mario. "Great. We''ll follow Mr. Peter''s instructions. The terms will be fixed in the contract. I''m looking forward to working with you," Chase said. Mario opened the door for him personally. "I''m not sure if The Vian''s desserts are to your taste. Wendy mentioned that you like Western food." "I''ll follow the host''s lead." With that, the group left. With the guests gone and the living room quiet, the rest of the Meyer family grew restless. Someone even pulled Jack aside to ask questions. "What''s going on? How does Peter know Ms. Quinn of the Quinn Group? And how is he so close to the chairman of Cloud Hospital?" Chase is a rising star. Although he is not yet a top authority in the medical field, his youth and current status already mark him as a prodigy. In a few years, he will surely have a solid ce in the industry. Rumor had it that he had not only won schrships as a student but had also published many influential papers. 396 My Cold Ex-Wife 141 Chapter 141 Shadows Behind Power He can already help the interns at the hospital revise their papers. In fact, he isn''t much older than those interns himself, yet he can be their teacher. 96% +8 Pearls Jack stood up and said quietly, "Mr. Peter has known Mr. Goodman for years. They''re old friends. Typhoon Corp.''s partnership with Cloud Hospital, and even the Quinn Group, is all thanks to their personal rtionship." Those were Caesar''s exact words before they left, and he had instructed Jack to ry them honestly to the rest of the family. There was no need for idle gossip. With Cloud Hospital and the Quinn Group backing them, the others had nothing left to say. They exchanged nces and finally understood why Caesar was with Mario and how Mario had secured the position of vice president of Typhoon Corp so quickly. With the Quinn Group behind him, it all made sense. Once they were in the car, Chase finally let out a small sigh of relief. I rarely did things like this, let alone stand tall in front of others. I was always afraid of making a mistake. When Melody had introduced me so formally to these people, I almost burst outughing several times. I''m just a doctor from Cloud Hospital. How can I suddenly be someone so important in the eyes of others? Chase couldn''t quite understand. The Vine was known to have the best Western food in Gennemont. During our honeymoon, Wendy had discovered my love for them. When we returned, she had casually mentioned it to Caesar. And now, apparently, they remembered. "Your family is something else. That uncle of yours seemed pretty influential; everyone listened to him," Chase remarked, looking at Caesar. Caesar looked down at his phone and said tly, "Of course. Before I came back, he was the one running Typhoon Corp. I took over, and he was the first to show his discontent. Now he''s targeting Mario, trying to steal the vice president title from him." Even if I can''t control the wholepany, I want to keep the vice presidency. Just in case... just in case something happened to me. Over the years, I had faced countless dangers, always with Mario by my side. Inparison, my situation had more dangerous than Mario''s. After all, the Harrison family had no idea where Mario was hiding or even what he looked like now, Stumbling through the darkness, they will never be able to find him. Outside The Vine, Wendy was talking to someone. They seemed to be having a pleasant conversation. Chase sat quietly in the back seat and watched for a few seconds. From the man''s profile, he recognized him as a department store owner who worked with the Quinn Group. 09.31 Wed, 14 May Chapter 141 Shadows Behind Power 5. 40% +8 Pearls Wendy chatted a little longer before the man''s associate arrived. He politely said goodbye and went inside. Only then did they open the door and step out. "So slow," Wendy said with a mock pout, ncing at Chase. "I''ve been waiting for a long time." "Sorry, family drama took a while," Mario replied first with a slight smile The manager personally escorted them to a private room. After confirming everyone''s preferences, he went to the kitchen. The room wasn''trge, but it was elegant. Arge floor-to-ceiling window overlooked a bamboo grove and a quiet garden path where passersby asionally strolled by. It was early evening. The setting sun was hidden behindyers of clouds, casting a soft orange glow on the ground. The window was one-way; those inside could see out, but those outside couldn''t see in. "Was it that hard?" Wendy asked, noticing that Caesar still didn''t look happy. "If it''s too ufortable, I''ll talk to them myself." "No need," Mario replied. "It''s just his uncle." "Hector Meyer? That person is quite the operator," Wendy said. I had helped Caesar reim Typhoon Corp., so I knew firsthand how difficult Hector was to deal with. Back then, it had taken considerable effort to get rid of him. Hector''s tactics were one thing; his connections were another. For some reason, he had a powerful backer. Since I couldn''t reveal myself directly, I had fought him behind the scenes for almost half a year. Eventually, the backer decided there was nothing left to gain by supporting Hector and stepped aside. With no one to back him, Hector finally lost "Why else would he havested so long?" Caesar sneered, setting his phone face down on the table. "He gave his own daughter, my cousin, to this man." This so-called powerful backer was even older than Hector. Just to protect his position in Typhoon Corp., he had been willing to sacrifice his own daughter. What a joke. Power, position, money. Put them together, and they cloud people''s minds. Very few could stay clear- headed after tasting such things, Wendy turned to Chase. "Have you talked to Hector Meyer?" My Cold Ex-Wife 142 Chapter 142 The Mask Comes Off 96% +8 Pearls "Not really," Chase took a sip of tea and muttered quietly, "Hector just told me to get lost. Not in those exact words, but that was the gist." Wendy''s eyes narrowed slightly. Mario watched her expression and couldn''t help but smile inwardly. Chase clearly knew how to handle things when it came to being with Wendy. Wendy is a strong woman who liked to stand up for her man. She enjoys the feeling of protecting someone she loves. That much had been clear during those five years when she wouldn''t let Chase work and used emotional distance as a way to shield him. Fortunately, Chase had never cared much for male pride. He knew how to step back and let Wendy protect him when she needed to. They are perfect for each other. "I remember Hector owns apany that makes auto parts, right? It''s in the top ten nationally. The profit should be decent. Why is he still looking at Typhoon Corp?" "Top ten isn''t good enough anymore. Actually, he still controls a lot of assets that my parents left behind. The most prominent is the Light Loc Hotel. It''s on par with the Harrison Group''s hotels. I wanted to take it back," Caesar said with a sigh. But there were too many things on my hand. With the reopening of Typhoon Corp. in Gennemont just around the corner, I couldn''t afford to be distracted. Priorities had to be set. "Then take it." "Take it." Wendy and Chase spoke in unison. Even their movements matched; both raised their teacups to their lips at the same time. They looked at each other and smiled. Caesar rested his chin on one hand and studied them. "You two are bing more and more alike," Mariomented. Wendy smiled. That''s normal for couples. Besides, I''ve been keeping an eye on this for a while. Taking a hotel like this? Should be easy, especially now that we''re working with Fenon International." The very next morning, the Light Loc Hotel under Hector''s name became the center of a massive scandal. The hotel was found to be involved in arranging private meetings for celebrities. Police officers arrived on the scene and took several people into custody. The exclusive coverage came from Fenon International''s news department. Seeing the headlines everywhere, Lemon burst outughing in her office and called Wendy. "You guys are something else. Plotting mischief and dragging me into it. This story is blowing up. Why not let Typhoon Corp cover it?" Wendy kept her eyes on the documents in front of her. Sammy pointed to a section, and she quickly signed. 09:31 Wed, 14 May Chapter 142 The Mask Comes Off Then, with a few gestures, Sammy exchanged another document. ??96%2 +8 Pearls "Well, it''s still family. Making him suffer from his own mess feels a bit harsh. This time it''s thanks to your talent manager. They arranged for some of the Harrison Group celebrities to show up at the Light Loc Hotel for... ''business." That''s right. Today''s headlines were all about the Harrison Entertainme division. The division that Henry ran wasn''t exactly first-ss. Its artists were mostly second-tier, but things had been stable for years-no major scandals. Then Lemon had her manager find a way to lure her to the Light Loc Hotel for "business." The goal? To snag the lead roles in a new movie. Now, even though casting hadn''t been finalized and filming hadn''t even begun, the movie was all over the news. Lemon finally stoppedughing and rested her cheek on her hand. Her smile faded as she stared at another message on her screen. "I thought this was going to hit Henry hard, but it turns out we only hurt the Harrison Group. It didn''t touch him at all. Did you see the international headlines?" "I have." Wendy lifted her eyes as the wall in front of her desk opened. A hidden screen flipped out, disying international news. Moses Group CEO Makes Public Appearance Mysterious Moses Group Founder''s Identity Revealed Shocking Twist The hidden mastermind behind the Moses Group is an Oshary citizen. Beneath the headlines was Henry''s face. Wendy''s hand tightened around her pen. It is really Henry. Every suspicion, every nightmare-it is all true. "Looks like we''re going to have to proceed with caution. After all the research we did on the Moses Group, we still couldn''t figure out that Henry was the CEO. He really kept his cards close to his chest." Sammy also turned to the screen. She recognized the familiar face, but this time his expression waspletely different. In front of Wendy, Henry had always seemed gentle and warm. But now, under that same smile, something much colder had emerged. He was answering a reporter''s question, and for a brief moment, his eyes darted to the camera. 212 My Cold Ex-Wife 143 Chapter 143 A Flight for What''s Mine Through the TV screen, across the ocean, it was as if Henry was staring right at Wendy. 96% +8 Pearls At the hospital, Chase and Bernard were also watching the show, an exclusive interview with Henry. They exchanged nces. "This just gotplicated." After everything the Moses Group had done, illegal and criminal, and yet Henry had managed to escape unscathed, Waylon hadn''t been able to shut the group down. That said everything about Henry''s abilities and methods. We are really about to go head-to-head with someone like that. "I told you, Henry''s not a good guy. In fact, he goes by the name Alphard abroad. Bernard said. Chase fell into his thoughts. Good or bad, it didn''t matter. What mattered was not letting him get anywhere near Wendy. Both international and domestic headlines had exploded at once. Hector immediately suspected that Caesar was behind the incident. To have something like this happen in my own hotel, how could business continue? Caesar hadn''t officially moved into the Typhoon Corp office yet. He was still dealing with things from the study of the family estate. He and Mario would be moving back to Goldenville in a few days. Bang. The study door flew open. Caesar''s sharp eyes shot up instinctively. Jack was tangled up with Hector at the door. Jack turned quickly and said, "Sorry, Mr. Caesar. I couldn''t stop him." "That''s all right," Caesar waved him off. Hearing that, Jack let go of his grip. Hector stormed into the study and walked straight up to Caesar''s desk. He mmed both hands down and red at him from above. Caesar, calm and unperturbed, was the perfect contrast to Hector''s anger. "Uncle, why so angry this early in the afternoon?" Hector growled through clenched teeth, "This was you doing, wasn''t it?" Caesar sped his hands under his chin. "Which one are you referring to?" Not just the Light Loc Hotel; there had been many. Ever since I had taken back control of the family, every hit that came their way had my fingerprints on it. And now I sat there, openly confronting Hector, daring him to ask, What position, what authority do you have to question me? 09:31 Wed, 14 May Chapter 143 A Flight for What''s Mine It had always been mine. 2 90% N +8 Pearls It was the Meyer family parasites who had stolen it from me, who had forced me to suffer before I finally returned to take what was rightfully mine. "Caesar, do you really have to go this far?" "Hector," Caesar said slowly, his eyes glittering with a dangerous calm, "you were the one who made the first move. I''m just returning the favor. Don''t take it so personally." Hector''s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white against the desk. His gaze was as sharp as des, almost cutting into Caesar. Finally, Hector backed down. "What do you want?" "Now that''s a proper negotiating tone," Caesar leaned back and gestured to the seat across from him. "You know as well as I do that the Light Loc Hotel was founded by my father. I happen to be quite the filial son. I don''t want to see what my parents built fall into someone else''s hands. So I want the Light Loc Hotel." "Impossible!" Hector jumped up as soon as he sat down. "You already have Typhoon Corp. Light Loc Hotel is nothingpared to that. Why would you want it?" Caesar''s expression turned cold. "Even if I tear it down the day I take it, the Light Loc Hotel must be mine. Everything my parents left me is mine." Seeing Hector grit his teeth, Caesar relented slightly. "I''m notpletely heartless. Don''t you still own that partspany on the brink of copse? I''ll give you financing. Make it one of the top five in the country. How''s that?" Since seeing the report on Alphard, Wendy had been distracted. Sammy knocked for a long time without an answer. Thinking she had fallen asleep, she quietly pushed open the door, only to see Wendy sitting in the chair, lost in thought. She carefully ced the lunch box on the desk. "Ms. Quinn, Mr. Goodman had lunch sent over." lunch ped The word "Mr. Goodman" snapped Wendy out of her daze. She rubbed the corners of her tired eyes. Her slender fingers tapped on the desk, and Sammy, noticing the cue, stepped forward to ask, "You''ve been pretty drainedtely. Should I schedule a massage? I checked Ms. Lemon''s calendar; there''s an opening at 3. You could go together." It wouldn''t hurt to catch up with Lemon anyway. Wendy nodded, and Sammy went off to arrange it. Since the twopanies were allies, their secretarial teamsmunicated most. In order to coordinate the partnerships and maintain close ties between their bosses, the assistants had a lot to do. First, there was cooperation between thepanies. The second was managing personal schedules, making sure the right people saw each other when they My Cold Ex-Wife 144 Chapter 144 Under Pressure 96% +8 Pearls Chase had just finished an operation. The sess rate was low, and everyone was tense. After releasing some of the pressure, Chase called Wendy to rx. "You two together?" As they spoke, Lemon''s voice suddenly interrupted from Wendy''s side, joking about not showing love around. Wendy red at Lemon. She could tell from Chase''s tone that he was still feeling the tension from the previous surgery. Whenever he had a high-stakes surgery, he always called her afterwards to rx. Being needed by Chase made Wendy feel good. "Then I won''t interrupt your friend''s meeting time," Chase said with a smile before hanging up. Lemon had been a neighbor when we were kids. Seeing her and Wendy so close now made me feel truly happy. I had. never felt more connected to Wendy than I did now, inseparable. When she ended the call, Wendy put the phone down and felt the masseuse''s warm hands on her shoulders. "He must have just finished a surgery with a low sess rate. He called me to relieve some of the stress," Wendy exined. Even during her spa time, Lemon had to answer work emails and chat with Noah. She didn''t have time to notice Wendy''s satisfied expression. "Okay, I get it. I know you two are close. I''m sure Henry knows too," Lemon said, lowering her phone with a hint of helplessness. "My brother''s been looking for Alphard for so long, and it turns out it was Henry." With Chase''s influence, Waylon had many chances to capture Henry, but Alphard managed to escape, even going abroad and clearing his identity. For some reason, Waylon had begun to receive pressure from above to drop the investigation into the Moses Group. The Major Crimes Division was temporarily disbanded pending further instructions. Waylon was furious. He kicked in the door of his superiors'' office and gave them a good scolding. But the higher-ups couldn''t say a word and could only try to calm him down. These aren''t just any subordinates; he is the top brass, with immense power, wealth to rival countries, and at tough-as-nails younger sister. None of them dared challenge him. Finally, the higher-ups reassured Waylon. "This is only temporary. Alphard has taken on a new identity. He''s now a naturalized Oshary citizen. We can''t act yet, but a man like him will inevitablymit another crime. We won''t focus on the past, but we''ll catch him next time." Waylon left in a huff, while his immediate superior nervously ordered the backup team to change offices. Damn it, if I had known it was Henry, I would have killed him myself! Waylon''s position gave him the authority to carry a weapon. He''d met Henry several times and had plenty of chances to take him out with a single shot, but he couldn''t act recklessly. 09.31 vved, 14 May Chapter 144 Under Pressure 23045 48 Pearls Henry had almost lost his temper in his office at Cloud Hospital. Chase barely managed to persuade him. "How about I take you to the spa to cool off?" Chase asked. Waylon sighed, "..." When Waylon heard that his sister and Wendy were going to a spa, he w filled with mixed emotions. To Waylon, the world felt like it was falling apart, but here were two women who were not taking it seriously and instead were rxing with massages. The situation was urgent, yet they had time for leisure. If Henry returned to the country using Alphard''s identity, he would certainly target our alliance, Cloud Group, Cloud Hospital, Fenon International, and Typhoon Corp. Any business connected to Wendy and Chase would be affected. Bernard stepped out of the doorway. "It''s not that bad. I don''t know much about Henry, but from what I know about Alphard, he''s a man who knows how to hold on. He wouldn''t act recklessly. He''ll always give us time to react, and he''ll need a legitimate reason to act. Sorry, the door didn''t close and I identally heard what you all said.," Bernard apologized. The sound of Waylon''s voice had been so loud that as soon as he got off the elevator, I heard him screaming. Knowing Chase''s temperament, I''m sure Waylon wouldn''t manage to persuade him, so I came to help relieve the pressure. Waylon looked at Bernard. I know Bernard is Wendy''s ally and had graduated from medical school. Now Bernard and Melody are both assisting Chase at Cloud Hospital. "So we just wait to get attacked?" Waylon asked, losing patience. Chase motioned for Bernard to sit down, then turned to Waylon and said, "Don''t worry. Wendy got the message this morning. Since they can still rx with a massage, things haven''t reached an irreversible point. Besides, do you really think someone like Henry can bother us?" Waylon looked at Chase, confused, and after a long pause said, "What''s gotten into Wendy? Didn''t Henry just fall in front of you? And you even divorced Wendy because of him! Have you forgotten?" 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 145 Chapter 145 The Hidden Truth 96% +8 Pearls Chase took a deep breath and smiled slightly. "Thanks for reminding me. I haven''t forgotten. The reason I divorced Wendy was never because of Henry, but because of the rtionship I thought we had. It wasn''t Henry that hurt me; it was the illusion of the rtionship." Bernard added, "Mr. Quinn and Chase have a very good rtionship." After a brief pause, Waylon managed to calm down a bit. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back to reveal his smooth forehead, and exhaled deeply. "Well, if you''re not worried, what do I have to worry about?" News of Alphard''s true identity had taken the country by storm. The long-hidden CEO of the Moses Group was revealed to be an Oshary, shocking everyone involved. Including Henry''s parents. It seemed that Henry had kept all of his activities abroad a secret from his family. He harbored resentment toward his parents, not gratitude. Perhaps the most qualified person to speak on this matter was Shanelle. Taking advantage of Henry''s absence, Wendy arranged for Shanelle toe out. There were some questions that needed to be answered. Shanelle had been too trusting of Henry, and it had led to her family''s downfall. But Wendy was a woman with no personal feelings for Henry. A rational person like her could get things done. "You''ve been married to Henry for so long, and you didn''t know he was the CEO of the Moses Group? Isn''t your family involved in the Moses Group as well?" Waylon asked, his tone critical, his posture a little high- handed, making Shanelle feel the pressure. Lemon quickly pulled him back. Shanelle shook her head. If I had known, I never would have let Henry deceive me like that. I wouldn''t have watched my parents die while I ended up with nothing. I wouldn''t have lost my daughter. "I didn''t know about Henry''s connection to the Moses Group at first. I just remember Henry mentioning thepany. Later he said it had a solid future. My father believed him, so he invested. And in the end..." Lemon and Wendy exchanged nces. Wendy said, "It''s okay, don''t be upset. We have to work this out. And I promised you that when everything is settled, I''ll bring your daughter back to you. But as for your daughter... honestly, I don''t think Henry is capable of taking care of a child, let alone raising one." Someone as selfish as Henry always thought only of himself. This time, when he returned to im the Alphard identity, he didn''t think about his daughter. So far, Joy is still at home. After a long silence, Shanelle finally spoke, "At first, when I had the baby, I wanted to divorce Henry. I told him that the child would stay with me. I could raise the child, but Henry insisted on taking her. I don''t even know why. Wendy fell into her thoughts as she heard Shanelle''s words. 09.31 Wed, 14 May Chapter 145 The Hidden Truth 3.9030 +8 Pearls Joy and Shanelle were not close because Henry took the child away when she was born. Shanelle barely got a chance to see her. Also, Henry might have told Joy that her mother didn''t want her, things like that. In the end, Henry had orchestrated everything for his own benefit, making sure that no one could suspect him. "I remember asking Joy about you thest time we met, Wendy continued. "She said, Mom doesn''t want me. Ever since I was born, she wanted me to go away. It was Dad who brought me back. Looks like Henry bad-mouthed you to the kid." Waylon leaned back on the sofa, tired. The entire Major Crimes Division had been disbanded to deal with Henry. He had a lot of free timetely, so he followed them to question Shanelle. In retrospect, Henry had done a good job of hiding his true nature. Shanelle had no idea of Henry''s real background when they got married. "By the way, who arranged your marriage to Henry? Did your parents approve?" Chase asked. Shanelle nodded. "My parents agreed. It was a strategic marriage. The Harrison Group offered my family a lot of benefits, and those benefits were for us, not for Henry. So I always thought Henry was marrying into our family." Henry had traveled far to marry into the Hudd family, and at first, Shanelle had had the upper hand. But somehow the situation had changed. "Could the people behind the Harrison Group really be Henry? Could it be that even Henry''s parents don''t know that he''s the one pulling the strings behind the Moses Group?" Chase asked. Lemon shook her head. "No, Henry always saw Shanelle as a humiliation. He was controlled and had to obey. That''s why he went to extreme measures. It''s definitely not just him. There''s someone else behind the Harrison Group." They had hidden too well. There was no information. After a moment, Chase looked at Shanelle and noticed how sad she seemed, especially in this situation. 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 146 Chapter 146 Where Loyalties Lie +8 Pearls "Don''t overthink it," Chase said. "You''re under a lot of pressure right now, and your mental state is pretty serious. Once everything is settled, I''ll find you a good therapist. You can''t keep going like this. It''s not good for you or for taking care of the child." Shanelle closed her eyes for a moment. "All I want is to avenge my parents. Joy is my child. I won''t let her stay with someone like Henry." She looked over at Wendy. "I don''t care about your entanglements. I''m only here for one thing. To get justice for my parents." Wendy nodded, "I understand." The Group left the hotel together. Typhoon Corp had already begun negotiations with Cloud Hospital, led by Melody and a few star doctors. Chase was more of a figurehead; his presence was not necessary. "Where to?" Lemon asked. Waylon checked the time. "The central bureau has a meeting today about Moses Group''s case. We''re waiting on an official document. I''m heading back. The information Shanelle has is basically the same as Aimee''s. After Henry cleans up his act, it''ll be all useless. We have to focus on whates next." That was what the higher-ups had decided. For now, that''s all they could do. "Then I''ll head to Quinn Group," Lemon said as she responded to a few messages. Seeing Wendy nce over, she tilted her head. "Isn''t Noah signing the contract today?" Signing Noah had been nned for a while, but the contract was only finalized today. Noah had just arrived at Quinn Group, and Sammy even sent over some photos. "Are you serious about Noah?" Wendy asked. "If so, I won''t be able to arrange any scandalous rumors for him going forward. Better not pair him up with any other actresses either." Lemon raised her hand. "No, no, no. I''ve been in the industry long enough. I''m totally immune to all that. Things with Noah are...plicated. We''ve been apart for years, and the old feelings are long gone. We''re just giving it another shot. Besides, Grandma said I should at least try dating." So why not give it a try now? "What about you?" Waylon tossed his car keys into the air. "Want a ride to the hospital?" Chase shook his head. "No need. There are tons of reporters at Typhoon today. Melody even texted me not toe back. If they see me, they''ll definitely want interviews and photos. I hate that stuff. I''ll head to Quinn Group instead and check out Noah." They were all a bit curious about the guy involved in a potential romance with Lemon. Waylon leaned in and muttered, Keep a close eye on him. If this Noah turns out to be no good, call me. I''ll make him disappear." Chase could not help butugh. "Isn''t that a bit much?" "Nope. I''m not letting some guy mess with my sister. You figure it out. Lemon''s your sister too." Waylon said, 0 VICU, 14 vidy Chapter 146 Where Loyalties Lie looking serious. Chase was speechless. Alright then. 96% +8 Pearls Quinn Group was buzzing with activity. Noah did not have a huge domestic fan fanbase, but his fans were loyal. As their car turned the corner, they saw a crowd gathered outside. Not just fans, but reporters too. The driver skillfully pulled into the underground parking lot and brought them straight up via the back elevator. Wendy looked back and said, "Pretty crowded today." Lemon did not even blink. "Ever since your entertainment divisionunched, it''s always like this. It''s either fans or reporters downstairs. I''m used to it. And the moment an artist gets into trouble, the fans go straight for your whole family." Wendy knew she was right. She did not say anything. She had seen it firsthand during the whole Avery incident. "By the way, how''s Avery recovering?" Wendy asked. Lemon replied, "Doing alright. He''s in rehab now. Can start light work soon. Photo shoots and such are fine, just nothing too demanding. We haven''t scheduled him for any acting yet. He''s still really loyal to thepany." After all, he had been signed very early on, and Fenon International had always treated him well. All the best resources went to him first before anyone else. Artists nurtured under those conditions tend to be very loyal. Noah''s signing did not cause quite as much stir. They had originally nned a press conference, but Noah declined. "It''s just a contract," he said. "Not like I''ve done anything worth celebrating. No need to broadcast it." "Noah actually knows how to y the game," Lemon said. "Especially after spending years as a trainee overseas. He''s had it rough." Wendy nodded. "From what I know of this industry, someone as humble as him might just go far. After that, it''lle down to results. I have a lot of faith in him." Internally, Noah''s signing had definitely stirred things up at thepany. There had been talk aboutunching an entertainment division before the New Year, but several senior execs had tried to block it. No one thought it would actually happen. Then right after the holidays, Noah showed up and signed. Several esports clubs were also in discussions. 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 147 Chapter 147 A New Star Rises ?? 96% +8 Pearls At this rate, Quinn Group''s entertainment division seemed to be heading toward international expansion. "Honestly, there''s not much to be gained fromunching this division. Fenon International already dominates. No matter what otherpanies do, it''s all more of the same, Even the Harrison Group used to work with us." "Hey, did you see the news? Turns out Mr. Harrison is actually the CEO of Moses Group, Alfred himself. Never realized he was that handsome until I saw him in international coverage." "You should stop reading those. Moses Group''s business dealings have been shady for years. It''s no secret. Any business involved with them never ends well. I heard Mr. Harrison came back to pursue our Ms. Quinn, but she and her husband are rock-solid. Didn''t work out, so he left again." "Come on, anyone with eyes can see who the better man is. Sure, Mr. Harrison''s good-looking, but Dr. Goodman is clearly more handsome. And he''s a doctor, and he''s gentle. If it were me, I''d pick Dr. Goodman too." "Exactly." The group took Wendy''s private elevator straight to the conference room. Inside, Noah had already finished signing the contract with the help of the legal team. "All done?" Wendy asked, pushing open the door. Noah, his back to the entrance, turned at the sound. Among the crowd, his gaze instantly found Lemon. He broke into a smile and waved. Everyone else turned to watch the scene unfold. Lemon looked a bit embarrassed but still walked over to stand behind him. "All set? Chosen a manager yet?" "Noah brought his own manager," Sammy said. "They signed a contract with the entertainment division too. Same term as Noah''s. Renewals upon expiry." "Then let''s head out," Wendy said, beckoning. She turned and left for her office. Chase trailed a step behind, walking side by side with Noah. Sammy and the manager, Leigh, followedst, whispering about ns for Noah. "You don''t look quite like your photos... You''re thinner in person. Did you really not get enough to eat as a trainee?" Chase asked. Noah chuckled. "It''s not as bad as people say, but... yeah, we often couldn''t eat our fill. If you eat too much, you can''t sing or dance well. Plus, they''re really strict about body shape." "So, how exactly did you meet Lemon?" Chase asked. "Was it really just a missed signing opportunity? She hasn''t dated in years. Does that have anything to do with you?" Leigh had done some research into Quinn Group and Fenon International. He knew Lemon had a brother, Waylon. But the man walking next to Noah clearly was not him. From what he had heard, Waylon was more hot-tempered. This man was far gentler. He had to be Wendy''s husband, Chase, chairman of Cloud Hospital. 09.31 vved, 14 May Chapter 147 A New Star Rises <96% 48 Pearls "Mr. Goodman, I actually met Lemon a long time ago, before she took over Fenon International. We were supposed to be together but missed our chance. Now, it looks like we''ve got another shot. That long ago? Chase was a little surprised and was about to ask more when Wendy pushed open the office door and walked in. The conversation had to end there. "Roch''s new drama starts shooting next month. Ourpany''s handling the costumes. I''ll have you cast as the third male lead," Wendy said, getting straight to the point after sitting down. Sammy and Leigh did not follow them in. Noah could only sit beside Lemon, listening carefully. "No need to be nervous," Lemon said softly. Noah rxed slightly and nodded. "Okay." Wendy grabbed a script off the desk and tossed it into Noah''sp. "The third male lead doesn''t have many scenes, but it''s a positive role. He''s a police officer. Your domestic career is just starting, and you''ll need strong, upright characters to shape your image. Plus, we''ll see if your acting holds up. Roch is tough. He won''t give you a break just because of me." Noah nodded, "Got it." Roch was an old-school director who only switched tomercial films five years ago. Fortunately, he was born for the job. Even hismercial work was excellent, and his production standards were high. Landing a role was no easy feat. Wendy had traded a high-end luxury gown rental to secure Noah the part. No audition, just forced him in. She reminded him, "On set, standards are strict. Roch wants to meet you in three days. After that, there''s the table read. You''re still considered a rookie in film, so stay humble. If anyone gossips, either ignore it or tell Leigh." Leigh was highly capable. He was handpicked by Lemon to manage Noah. He had been with him through all the years overseas as a trainee. With him around, they could rx a little. "Okay." Noah responded. Lemon asked in a low voice, "So it''s just signing today? No other ns?" 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 148 Chapter 148 The Warning 90% +8 Pearls "Mm, Leigh arranged some sses for me. I was supposed to attend one, but the tutor had somethinge upst minute and rescheduled. I''m free until six tonight. Want me to keep youpany for a stroll?" Lemon considered it. Their scandal had already made Waylon blow a fuse. If he saw them shopping together now, who knew what kind of storm it might stir up? Best not to risk it. The two were speaking quietly with their heads lowered, and Chase kept watching them. In the end, Wendy grabbed his chin and turned his head. "Still not done staring?" Chase caught her hand. "Noah said she''s known Lemon for a long time, back before she even took over Fenon International. So why didn''t the two of them ever get together?" The reason... might be standing right in front of him. The reporters from Typhoon Corp. did not leave the hospital untilte at night. Several doctors who had been interviewed were packing up to head home, including Bernard. Melody came over to her and said, "Dr. Sean just got a phone call. He looked really tense and rushed out. He did not even bother changing out of his scrubs." Bernard''s eyes lowered. "Got it. Send me his home address. I''ll go check it out. Melody nodded, "Okay." Based on Melody''s investigation, Sean had recently signed off on a drug approval. Onepletely unrted to his department. But the medication did not work as intended. It was likely a dosage issue. Could it be that he messed something up and is now facing retaliation? Bernard changed clothes, grabbed her car keys, and headed out. Sean came from a regr family and lived in an ordinary apartmentplex. It was not close to the hospital. He and Bernard were not close either; just a nodding acquaintance. So, he would not recognize her car. Chase received a call from Bernard, who said there was something going on with Sean. "You followed him already?" Chase stepped out of the room, a little concerned. "Are you sure you can handle it? Should we call Waylon instead?" "Bro, how can you say a man ''can''t handle it''?" Bernard quipped. That was not what I meant at all! Chase froze for a few seconds before realizing he was joking. Where''s Sean now?" Bernard answered, "He''s upstairs. He moved really fast. I''m parked just below their building. I can''t just barge in, so I''ll wait here and see what happens. What do you think''s going on at his ce?" Sean was already runningte that night. He had just finished and was about to sign off and head home when his phone rang. 09/31 Wed, 14 May Chapter 148 The Warning The moment he saw the phone ringing inside his locker, he jumped in fright. Because it was not his phone. <96%1 It was a device that had mysteriously shown up in his locker ages ago. Just like what happened with Madeline. This phone had photos of his parents and secret snapshots of him at work. It looked like someone had been watching him very closely, 48 Pearls Sean had not answered the calls at first. For days, he lived in fear. Even if he threw the phone away, it would somehow appear in his locker again the next morning. In the end, he had no choice but to keep it with him at all times. Every three hours, he would receive a new photo of himself. After over ten days of relentless psychological pressure, Sean was on the verge of a breakdown. He began replying, demanding to know why they were doing this. Was it some patient''s family? But this was not the same as Simon''s situation. Sean was apetent doctor with a decent sess rate. He rarely had issues with patients or their families. And even if there were conflicts, he did not believe they would go this far. Medical disputes usually exploded in the moment. People storming into the consultation room with knives andshing out. He had seen that plenty. But this? Intimidation by phone? Never. Two days after Sean finally lost it and raged at the phone, the first ''task'' arrived. Sean returned home that night, heart pounding with dread, and found both of his parents lying in bed. It scared him half to death. He rushed over. "Mom! Dad!" The two elderly folks looked like they were asleep. Hands neatly resting on top of the nket, lying stiffly on their backs. But his dad had slept on his side for decades. He never slept facing up like this. Panicked, Sean lunged over, hands trembling as he checked their breathing. Thank God. They were still alive. He copsed onto the floor, shaking. He knew this was retaliation. Because he had botched the job. The dosage of the drug was not familiar to him, as he was not from that department. The patient walked out of the hospitalpletely unharmed. This was punishment. A warning. A consequence for failing to get the job done. But what else can I do? Madeline had already quit her job. It looked like she had gotten away. But what about me? I still had aging parents. Am I supposed to uproot his entire family and flee the city? 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 149 Chapter 149 Ashes of an Empire Sean had not told his parents anything about this. He bore the pressure alone. But what am I supposed to do? 396% +8 Pearls Bernard waited in her car downstairs for a long time. No ambnce showed up, and Sean did not reappear either. He eventually drove away from the neighborhood, even circling around once, just in case someone was tailing him. Chase asked, "How did it go?" "Looks like intimidation," Bernard said. "Sean did note back down, so that means his parents are fine. My guess is the other side sent some kind of photo to scare him. Honestly, this tactic works. He''ll make sure he won''t mess up next time." This time, the target patient was a procurement officer on the verge of retirement. He was in for an appendectomy. It was a simple, high-sess-rate surgery. No matter what meds were used, as long as the patient was not allergic, the risk of death was low. It really was a tough ask for Sean. "Is this rted to Harrison Group?" Chase took a guess. "Yeah. From what I can tell, the patient works as a procurement contact for one of Harrison Group''srge shopping centers. I checked into his finances. He''s definitely skimmed a lot off the top." Since Henry had already returned to Moses Group, that meant the matter had to be handled within the Harrison family. The person behind the scenes clearly would not allow someone from the Harrison Group to walk away with that much money. They wanted him to cough it up before he officially retired. But the method... was revolting. "What now? Should we just talk to Sean directly?" Bernard asked. Chase entered the study, still holding half a ss of juice. He pulled out a chair and sat down. After a moment of thought, he shook his head. "No, Sean''s on edge right now. He''s paranoid about everything. His mental state must be a mess. If we approach him too suddenly, it could backfire. He''s not like Madeline. He can''t just walk away from everything, and he''s not someone we can easily negotiate with." Bernard wondered, "You think he knows about Madeline?" He definitely did. If Madeline could trace things back to Sean and find out he was the one who signed off on the drugs, how could the attending doctor not know? The hospital''s pharmacy records were even easier to trace. And now that they had Sean''s signature, who was actually dispensing the meds? Could it be that even with Madeline gone, there was someone else? 779 09:31 Wed, 14 May Chapter 149 Ashes of an Empire 3.90% +8 Pearls "Forget it. I''ll head to the hospital tomorrow and check it out myself. How did the Typhoon Corp, interview go today?" Chase asked. Bernard let out a sigh. "Don''t even mention it. Next time something like thises up, can you not send me? They asked the same question in, like, five different ways. They wanted to know how I bnce my work and private life. Like, what am I supposed to say? I just follow the duty roster!" Chase could not help butugh. Clearly, these people did not understand how doctors worked. Their interviews barely scratched the surface. After hanging up, Chase finished his juice in the study, then opened hisptop and started digging for more information on ''Alfred.'' Previously, there were no photos of Alfred avable online. It was only after the recent international interview that a picture of Henry finally surfaced. Just like that, Henry had transformed from the Harrison family''s discarded son to the president of Moses Group. The person who probably found this hardest to swallow was Larry. Sure enough, within a few days, over half of Larry''s assets were seized. On charges of tax fraud, reported by someone from the inside. No need to guess. It was definitely Henry''s doing. Ruthless revenge. That was the real Henry. The way he yed the obedient good boy in front of Wendy made people forget how ruthless he could be. Mario said, "Larry didn''t have much left to begin with. Losing over half of it basically means he''s done for. Even if Henry is back now, he''ll definitely draw a clear line between himself and the Harrison family. He won''t use Moses Group''s resources to plug the holes in their sinking ship." He continued, "My father left behind plenty of valuable businesses. The ones under Larry were mostly leftovers. My brother and sister-inw... Well, they were never going to hand over the good stuff to someone else''s kid. He''s just a nephew. Not one of their own." The way Mario referred to Henry''s parents as ''brother'' and ''sister-inw'' struck Caesar as odd. They were technically family, but the age gap was huge. And with everything those people had done, they really did not deserve to be called elders. "I don''t hear you refer to Fabien like that very often," Caesar said. Mario shrugged, still holding his coffee. Denying it would not change the truth. Fabien, Henry''s father, was his half-brother. Same father, different mothers. Mario said, "We''re not the same kind of people. If I were the one who stayed behind in the Harrison family, I wouldn''t have let an outsider take control of our family business, even if it cost me my life. Even if I burned everyst asset to the ground, I wouldn''t give anyone else the chance to point fingers at me." And besides, who even knew what that outsider was really after? He did not believe someone would go to all this trouble just to help another person. Getting close to Fabien, manipting Henry, doing all this... There had to be a bigger motive behind it all. My Cold Ex-Wife 150 Chapter 150 When They Finally Meet 96% +8 Pearls "Forget it. There''s no point thinking about it now. We''ve got a banquet tonight. Let''s just hope Hector can behave himself for once. In a few days, the Light Loc Hotel will be back in my hands." Caesar was already putting on his tic. Mario came back to his senses, turned to look at Caesar, and only after a long moment did he step forward to help, deftly weaving the tie around his cor and tying it in ce. Taking advantage of the moment when Caesar''s gaze lingered on him, he looked up and smiled slightly. "May you get what you wish for." Before they could separate, Caesar had already grabbed Mario''s hand. "From the day I met you, nothing in this world has mattered more than you. My wish is simple. It''s you. I just want you to be happy. Whatever you want to do, go for it." Mario slowly pushed him away. "I am happy. With you by my side, I truly am." That evening, Typhoon Corp.''s homing banquet was being held. To support the two of them, Wendy and Chase arrived early. The venue was nearly empty. "You''re here so early!" Caesar smiled as he walked up and took Wendy''s hand, cing a soft, courteous kiss on the back of it. "Thank you." A textbook example of Western etiquette. Caesar had spent so long abroad that these gestures came naturally. And besides, Wendy was one of his dearest friends. For Wendy, tonight was also a celebration. Without her, there would be no Caesar of today. "Hector is watching," Chase leaned in and said softly by her ear. After Chase left the Meyer Mansion that day, the incident at the Light Loc Hotel followed. Hector had been caught off guard, and Caesar had snatched the hotel right from under him. Losing such a juicy piece of property left him fuming. He had probably already dug up Wendy and Chase''s connection. So seeing the couple appear together tonight was not exactly a shock. Still, the way he looked at them was far from friendly. "Let him stare," Wendy flicked her long hair. "A beauty like me deserves to be looked at." Anyone living in the eye of the storm gets used to being watched and constantly scrutinized. She was long past caring. For an asion like this, the Harrison family would definitely send someone. Now that Henry had resumed his position as CEO of Moses Group and even changed his name to Alfred, he clearly would not be representing the Harrison family anymore. Everyone thought their only viable option was Larry, until... "Fabien!" Wendy and Chase had found a quiet corner to sit in. Their respective secretaries stood nearby. The banquet 09:32 Wed, 14 May Chapter 150 When They Finally Meet had not reached its yet, and there was still time to rx before the formal mingling began. But the moment Fabien entered with Millie, Wendy''s hand froze. 90%! +8 Pearls She had not expected tho two to show up together, especially at an event like this. Almost instinctively, she looked toward Mario. Sure enough, Mario had also noticed the pair. His hand slowly clenched. As the vice president of Typhoon Corp. and Caesar''s partner, he had to greet them, no matter who they were. "If you look closely, you can still see the resemnce between Fabien and Mario," Chasemented. "It''s subtle, but from a gics standpoint, there''s definitely a blood rtion." Melody, who usually stayed silent while apanying Chase, spoke up. perhaps because Sammy was also present tonight. "That''s true. Their height, bone structure... There are simrities. But all of that''s hidden beneath the surface. Most people wouldn''t notice unless they were really looking. It''s not a big risk." Wendy was not worried that Fabien might recognize Mario. If Mario had chosen to return, he had clearly already thought through how to face something like this. What worried her was the power the Harrison family still held. Caesar led Mario over. "Mr. Fabien, Madam Millie, thank you foring." "Young and aplished, Mr. Caesar. We old folks are just here to make up the numbers. And this must be Mr. Peter of Typhoon Corp. Your reputation precedes you. It''s a pleasure atst to meet you in person." Mario looked down at the hand Fabien extended. Just as Caesar was about to step in and smooth things over, Mario lifted his hand and responded, "Nice to meet you." Mario had spent years abroad, imagining over and over what it would be like to meet the Harrison family again. Would he lose control? But it turned out he was doing just fine. At least in front of these two, he had not shown a single crack. "Please, enjoy yourselves." Caesar took Mario''s hand and led him away. "Are you okay?" Caesar asked with a trace of concern. Mario shook his head. "I''m fine. They didn''t recognize me." "You don''t look like Fabien anyway," Caesar said. "Or the old man. Hardly anyone would guess. Go hang out with Wendy for a bit. There are still a few more people just arriving. I''ll go handle them. You take a breather." "Alright. Mario really did need a moment to collect himself. He walked over to where Wendy and the others were sitting. He pulled out a chair and sat down. On the table was a flute of champagne. He picked it up and downed it in one go. 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 151 Chapter 151 The Harrison Legacy +8 Pearls Zynn had just arrived and was sitting beside Melody, asking about the past few days'' work. When she caught sight of the scene unfolding nearby, she propped up her chin and smiled. As the PR director of Quinn Group, Zynn took pride in her beauty. Her ck evening gown flowed elegantly, and just sitting there, smiling at Mario, she was already drawing attention from several men nearby. But Zynn had always been indifferent in this area. Sure, she could talk business, drink like a pro, and chat about anything under the sun. Men came and went at hermand. But the truth was, she had never truly loved anyone. Beauty was enough. That alone kept her satisfied. "Mr. Mario sure can hold his liquor. The banquet hasn''t even started yet-try not to get drunk too early," Zynn said lightly. Mario nced at her. "I''ll be fine." "Drinking while in a bad mood makes it easier to get drunk. Be careful. The Harrison family actually sent Fabien and Wen Meiyun tonight. Guess that means none of the younger generation is worth anything." Chase, worried about Mario''s reaction, asked quietly, "Are you nervous to see him?" Nervous? Mario searched himself and found not Wa trace of nervousness. In fact, he was excited. "No. I''ve been waiting to see him for a long time-just didn''t expect it to be at something like this," Mario replied, turning his head to look. Seeing Fabien meant the beginning of his counterattack. Of course Mario was excited. But still, the reality of the moment struck him hard-Fabien stood before him,pletely unharmed, while Wen Meiyun still carried herself like some high- society matron. Why? If the Harrison family hadn''t refused to let my mother through the front door, if they hadn''t forced her to live as the woman kept outside, she wouldn''t have died in childbirth just because she couldn''t reach anyone in time. Why do the ones who destroyed her still get to stand here like nothing ever happened? More than half of Larry''s properties have been seized. You already bought them up?" Wendy asked, trying to shift the mood. Mario nodded. Just small holdings. But going through them helped me spot something-the Harrison family''s core assets are still under Fabien''s control. And look at Drake Bay. After all these years, it''s still not finished." Drake Bay was a development Bruno started when he was still alive. It was nestled in the most secluded part of Gennemont''s luxury residential zone, massive in scale and built with only the highest-end materials. Oncepleted, it would immediately be the crown jewel of Gennemont''s elite housing. 97% Chapter 151 The Harrison Legacy +8 Pearls Back when thend was up for grabs, Mandy had her eyes on it too. But she couldn''t beat Bruno to it. And since the old man was a senior figure in Mandy''s family, she gave up instead of making a scene. Now that Bruno was gone and the project was stalled indefinitely, Mandy would do whatever it took to get her hands on it. "Harrison Group''s cash flow is tight. They''ve been patching things together to stay afloat," Sammy said. "Larry and Henry''s divisions aren''t profitable at all. And with all of Larry''s assets forcibly shut down, I think they''ll have no choice but to auction off Drake Bay." Mario shook his head firmly. "No way." "The only thing keeping Harrison Group stable in real estate is Drake Bay. Even if it never gets finished, as long as they hold onto thatnd, their reputation stays intact. The second it gets sold off, thepany copses overnight. Fabien''s not that stupid." "What a waste of prime real estate," Wendy sighed. She had already tried probing whether Harrison Group was willing to sell Drake Bay. Just as Mario said, they refused t-out. Clearly, Mario still understood the Harrison family well. Bruno''s legacy ran deep- deep enough that they could squander it without fear. "Forget about Drake Bay. But Cliff Haven-that one''s viable," Mario said. "It''s up in the Gennemont hills. The back slope''s already zoned for development. It''s a guaranteed win." Wendy perked up and turned to Mario. "You''d let that one go?" "What for?" Mario shrugged. "Leaving it in Fabien''s hands is a waste. Better to let you make something out of it. Once I reim my ce in the Harrison family, Drake Bay will be back on track." With that, Wendy pulled Sammy and Zynn aside to start discussing Cliff Haven, preparing to evaluate its market value. Chase and Mario finally had a moment to themselves. "I''m impressed you even showed up to something like this. I know how much you hate public appearances," Mario said. Chase shook his head. "I''ll go wherever Wendy goes. Besides, Wellinges Pharma is about to go public. I really should be putting myself out there more. Starting next month, Melody''s booking me at least one business event per month. I''ll just be the friendly mascot who smiles and shows up." 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 152 Chapter 152 Out of Her League The rest would be handled by Melody. +8 Pearls She pushed up the sses she had purposely worn today. "But I do hope the Chairman mascot can be a bit morepetent. Stop clinging to Madam Wendy all the time. Go walk around on your own. It''ll help me build yourwork. If you stick to Madam Wendy, it''ll always just be herwork." Chase paused. "... You''re giving me homework now?" Melody worked hard, so Chase thought about it for a long time before agreeing. "But no more than two hours." "Deal." While that side enjoyed their leisure, Mario was just about ready to head back- until Chase stopped him and pointed toward someone. "Hey, who''s that woman with Caesar? I''ve been watching her for a while. She''s been glued to him, but it doesn''t look like Caesar wants anything to do with her." Mario followed Chase''s line of sight-and sure enough, there was a woman in a fitted silver gown, with big, flowing curls and bright red lips. Mario''s gaze darkened briefly, then returned to normal. "Qwain." Wendy turned to look too. "Oh, that''s Qwain. She''s an old family friend-grew up with Caesar and me. She''s a few years younger, and she''s always had a thing for Caesar. She''s been chasing him since we were kids. Even after Caesar moved abroad, she flew out to visit him a few times. Never cared about her own family''s business. Total trust fund brat." "Huh? You mean Qwain''s into Caesar? Doesn''t she know he already has a boyfriend?" How could she not know? Everyone in their circle knew. Caesar had made it public during the press interview when he regained control of Hurricane International-he never hid it, never kept it under wraps. Otherwise, why would the Meyer family have made such a fuss? But Qwain acted like none of that existed. Anytime Caesar showed up somewhere, she found a way to be right next to him, acting like she was the girlfriend. Mario never bothered with her. He wasn''t going to argue with a woman. And he knew Caesar couldn''t stand Qwain anyway, so he didn''t care. "Oh, right. Mr. Hector once said Caesar could be with me, but he had to marry and have children. The person he brought up back then was Qwain. That was after Chase had left. After dinner that night, when they got home, everyone''s attitude toward Mario shifted. Maybe they realized Mario could bring real value to the Meyer family. They stopped trying to push him away-but they still had one condition: Caesar had to get married and have kids. They couldn''t allow him to just live with a man forever. As long as he agreed to marry and reproduce, who he married didn''t matter. 09.34 Thu, 5 May Chapter 152 Out of Her League Qwain had been suggested by the third uncle. Her father had business ties with him, and the families were close. +8 Pearls "Qwain looks like thedy of the house right now, standing next to Caesar like that," Zynnmented. Mario picked up his ss and walked over. "And he says he''s not jealous?" Chase chuckled. "Look at him go." Wendy added, "When there''s real love, you''ll never let someone else get too close. For example, I love you. So anyone who gets close to you automatically bes my imaginary enemy. Even if there''s zero chance, I still won''t be happy about it." "I won''t give anyone else the chance," Chase replied. "You better not." Mario walked back to Caesar''s side. The others saw Qwain roll her eyes but still refuse to leave. Caesar, on the other hand, immediately took Mario''s hand and led him off to meet Hurricane International''s future business partners,pletely ignoring her. Qwain fumed behind them, ring toward Mr. Hector. Chase noticed and followed her gaze. Mr. Hector gave her a subtle nod, signaling her to keep pursuing Caesar. Qwain hesitated for a moment-until she saw Caesar and Mario hand-in-hand, whispering to each other. Mario, of all things, was looking at Caesar with a hint of yful pout, like he was sulking about something. Caesar responded indulgently, reaching out and tapping Mario lightly on the nose. Such an affectionate gesture. Qwain couldn''t help but feel bitter toward the rest of the Meyer family. If they hadn''t sent Caesar abroad all those years ago, she and Caesar would''ve grown up together. Mario never would''ve had the chance to steal him away. She really did love Caesar. When she was young, she didn''t understand what love meant-didn''t know what it meant to want no one else but him. By the time she saw Caesar in an international headline, it was already toote. "Qwain listens to Mr. Hector like that?" Zynn asked curiously. Chase answered, "It''s not about obedience. It''s that Mr. Hector is the only one who''ll support her. If Qwain wants a shot with Caesar, she has to go through him." 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 153 Chapter 153 Not an Option 48 Pearls But no matter how much Mr. Hector tried to test the waters, it was useless. He had no real say with Caesar, and Caesar never cared what the rest of the Meyer family thought. He could be with whoever he wanted. That was his right. "She''s just a silly girl. I''m really not mad," Mario said to Caesar. "If I, a grown man, start getting jealous over some girl, I might as well give up on life." "I still want you to get jealous," Caesar replied. "No matter who it is-man or woman." Fabien and Wen Meiyun had found a ce to sit and rest, surrounded by a few familiar faces. Word had already spread in their social circle that Henry was actually Alfred, CEO of Moses Group. Everyone was congratting them, praising them for raising such an aplished son. Fabien kept aposed face, but inside, he was increasingly uneasy. That "aplished son" hadn''t contacted them for days. Every time they called, only his assistant would answer-speaking in anguage they couldn''t understand, clearly turning them away. Henry was holding a grudge. "That brat still won''te home. I already told him the Chinese market''s too tight for Moses Group to thrive-it''s not worth it, but he just won''t listen," Fabienined to a friend. "The market''s already saturated. There''s no room left," the friend said, nodding toward Caesar. Even Typhoon Corp came back. If Moses Group tries too, what space is left for anyone else?" "Exactly. These kids grow up and stop listening. I don''t know what else to do." Wen Meiyun, on the other hand, looked delighted. Everyone was saying she''d raised a capable son, that she now had a granddaughter, a full family tree. She could finally enjoy her retirement. Harrison Group was basically run by Fabien now. Wen Meiyun had slowly stepped back over the years, though she still held a few shares. Henry was her son. Sending him abroad for a political marriage had pained her too. But... she hadn''t had a choice. It was for the Harrison family. After the Hudd family went bankrupt, Henry divorced and returned home-but Fabien wouldn''t let him bring the child back. He insisted Henry strike out on his own. After so many years of marriage, Wen Meiyun knew exactly what Fabien was thinking. He wanted to use the opportunity to get close to Quinn Group. Back when Henry was still with Wendy, they had leveraged Quinn Group to get quite a few things done- even snatched a few major deals. Chapter 153 Not an Option No one dared retaliate because of Quinn Group''s backing. They just swallowed their frustration. 97%1 +8 Pearls Fabien had called Henry''s daughter a burden. Heined Henry should''ve left her with Hu QianCthest remaining Hudd family member-so he could start over with Wendy, without wasting time. Henry''s stubbornness had infuriated him. No one had expected Henry to be hiding such a massive identity. The banquet officially began, and Caesar stepped up to the podium. "Typhoon Corp''s return to China, and my resumption of my parents'' legacy, is all thanks to my friends- and to my partner." Caesar''s eyes stayed fixed on Mario. He made no effort to hide anything. "From this day forward, Typhoon Corp will be managed by me and the person I love. Today''s event is for Typhoon Corp, and I want to make something very clear." His tone grew firm. "My rtionship is stable. And I will only ever be with him. Stop sending people my way-man or woman. This isn''t some secret in our world, and I''ve never been ashamed of it. If you can''t ept that and still want to y games, then Typhoon Corp will treat you as enemies." Qwain''s face turned pale in the crowd. She knew this was directed at her-and at Mr. Hector. Was Caesar really thismitted to Mario? She had been willing to ept all of Mr. Hector''s unreasonable demands. If marrying Caesar meant turning a blind eye to his rtionship with Mario, she could do it. Was that not enough? Caesar was this stubborn. She looked down, her expression dimming. She''d forgotten-Caesar had always been like this. She remembered when they were kids, ying together. Wendy once said she wanted the tallest flower from a trellis. They were all little, and none of them could reach it. But Caesar climbed up alone, stood on the very edge with one foot dangerously high, just to get it for her- and fell. He still had scars from that fall. Everyone thought Caesar must''ve liked Wendy. Why else would he have gone so far? But in the end... Guess not. It''s over. Qwain turned to leave-but was stopped at the restroom door by Mr. Hector. My Cold Ex-Wife 154 Chapter 154 More Than Business +8 Pearls "So what now? One speech from Caesar and you''re ready to give up? Sounds to me like you don''t really like him all that much," Mr. Hector said coolly. "How could I not like Caesar?" Qwain snapped. "I''ve loved him just as muchif not more-than Mario. But I''ve already lost. I lost biologically. After what Caesar just said, what else am I supposed to do?" "You still have a chance." Qwain turned to look at Mr. Hector. Back at Quinn Group, Wendy immediately called a meeting with her project team after setting her sights on Cliff Haven. "Zynn, see if you can find a way in. I couldn''t get Drake Bay, but I''m not letting Cliff Haven rot in Fabien''s hands. If the price is right, we take it. I checked out the back hill-promising terrain. With future development, Cliff Haven''s going to be one of the hottest properties in the area." Sammyid out all the market projections and postunch valuations. Everyone agreed-it was a project worth pursuing. Even the board''s notoriously cautious senior members signed off. Wendy had been pulling long hours over the Cliff Haven project, but no matter howte she got home, Chase always left a light on for her, waiting quietly in the living room-unless he had surgery the next day. That night, she returned to find him still awake, reading on the couch. She recalled Sammy''s earlier report on Wellinges Pharma''s current situation. Most updates went from Melody to Sammy to her-just the key points. This time, it was about a serious spinal curvature patient-apparently congenital. The patient had bounced between hospitals before ending up at Wellinges. The board had fought for days over whether to take the case. Several executives felt that, with Wellinges Pharma on the verge of going public, the focus should be on maintaining a high surgery sess rate. This kind of high- risk operation, they argued, shouldn''t be taken on right before listing. But Chase, along with a few of the attending surgeons, insisted: a hospital is a hospital. Even if it''s going public, it should never be fullymercialized. The patient should alwayse first. "The patient alwayses first." That was thest thing Chase had said in the meeting. Lately, he''d lost his temper more than once at board meetings. He was even starting to question whether taking Wellinges public was the right move. But no matter how much tension he carried from the hospital, at home, Chase never let it show. He was always warm with Wendy, quietly burying his frustration. "You''re back," he said, looking up as she came through the door. He set aside his notes and took off his sses. 09.55 Tnu, 15 May 97% Chapter 154 More Than Business "Did you eat?" he asked. +8 Pearls Wendy nodded and sat beside him. "I know the board''s been driving you nuts. But that''s business. If you hate dealing with it, let Melody handle it. I hired her to be your assistant specifically to take care of the things you don''t like. You shouldn''t feel burdened by any of it." Chase didn''t feel burdened-it was more like... disbelief. What are people without any medical ethics even doing in a hospital? Several of the board''s senior executives hadn''t been in an OR in years. They''d forgotten that patients always came first. "So you''ve heard," Chase sighed, handing her a warm ss of water. "I just can''t wrap my head around it. A hospital is supposed to be sacred. As doctors, we''re supposed to havepassion. So how is it these people don''t?" "Not everyone can be as good as you," Wendy said. "Most people live mediocre lives. They can''t handle failure-and they definitely can''t handle the idea that one small failure might derail their chance at sess." What she hadn''t told the board was that the IPO arrangements were already locked in. Even if something went wrong, the oue wouldn''t change. But that group of executives... they lived in constant fear. Chase never thought that way. He simply focused on doing the right thing in front of him. "I need to go to the study to review some valuation reports. You''re not heading to bed yet?". Wendy nced at the calendar. Tomorrow was Saturday. She sounded a little disappointed. "Lemon told me a new movie just came out. I was thinking of taking you, but I guess there''s no time." Ever since their honeymoon, they''d both been too busy to spend much time together. Just like those five years before-rarely seeing each other. But now, even if they only caught a glimpse of each other each day, they were always thinking of one another. Chase no longer felt uncertain or insecure. And with Henry potentially returning to the country at any moment, the pressure would only mount. They didn''t have the luxury for romance right now. "It''s okay. How about this: while you''re in meetings tomorrow, I''ll have a few people over here to discuss the surgery n. You okay with that?" "This is your home too-you can do whatever you want. But for meetings..." Wendy yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Environment makes a big difference. Quinn Group has a few conference rooms we lease out. There''s one free tomorrow. I''ll have Sammy book you a smaller one. Maybe we can still grab lunch together?" My Cold Ex-Wife 155 In a way, this was better. Just finding time to see each other once a day was already enough. 4/% +8 Pearls Wendy headed into the study to look over documents, while Chase started tidying up the couch. He was about to turn off the TV-when the sudden appearance of a familiar face froze him in ce. He didn''t like the house being too quiet. That was a shadow left from the past five years. He liked background noise, liked the sound of people around him. Even with the TV on, it never distracted him from work. And there on the screen-was Henry. Henry hade back to China? "Yes, this time I''m returning not as a representative of the Harrison family, but as a representative of Moses Group," Henry said to the camera. "There may be some prejudice against thispany, but the fact that I''m here proves that I''m aw- abiding citizen. People shouldn''t judge based on outdated views." Chase stared. He prided himself on being calm and rational, but even he nearly rolled his eyes at how shamelessly Henry spun it. He already knew most of what there was to know about Moses Group-from Waylon and Wendy. No exnation from Henry could change the facts. Chase instinctively nced toward Wendy''s study. As expected, the next moment, a reporter asked Henry about his love life. "My love life?" Henry smiled mysteriously, staring straight into the camera, as if trying to see someone through it. "I''ve had a failed marriage and I have a child. I also had a childhood sweetheart. But I gave her up for the sake of a business alliance. That was my mistake. If I get another chance, I''d definitely want to reim that love." "Mr. Henry, are you referring to Madam Wendy of Quinn Group?" Henry chuckled. "You all know too much." "But Madam Wendy is already married. Isn''t this... inappropriate?" "There''s no such thing as ''firste, first served'' in love. Sure, I''m six yearste, but who''s to say that doesn''t mark the beginning of a new chapter? It''s too early to say more-so let''s leave i hat." This was Henry''s deration of war. He likely knew Chase would hear it-whether through Lemon, a secretary, or somewhere else. Henry had returned, and he was officially drawing battle lines. nu, 15 May09 33 I <397%0 Chapter 155 A Deration of War In business-against Wendy. In love-against Chase. Now, it seemed everyone had be Henry''s enemy, like there was no escape. Chase clenched the papers in his hands. +8 Pearls So what if it''s a deration of war? He was no longer alone. He no longer doubted their rtionship. As long as he and Wendy stood together, no one could beat them-not in love. And as for business... Chase looked down at the documents in his hands. They wouldn''t lose there, either. By the next morning, news of Henry''s return had spread across the entire business world. Wendy didn''t find out until sh got to the office. When she nced at her phone, the interview had already been transcribed into article format. "Guess what Henry''s up to?" Sammy asked. "Do I even have to guess? He''s mad at the world-and now he''s dragging me into it," Wendy said tly, tossing her phone aside and picking up her files again. Sure enough, Chase showed up at Quinn Group with a team in tow-including Bernard. When they stepped out of the car, Bernard pulled Chase aside and whispered, "You brought us to Quinn Group for this meeting? Does the board know about your rtionship with Madam Wendy?" Well, not really. There would always be people who didn''t care about his personal life-as long as he brought in value. Who he was married to didn''t matter. Chase reassured him, "Don''t worry. Sammy and Melody booked the room. I was actually going to host you all at home, but things are a bit messy at the hospitaltely. Didn''t want to have the conversation there." Bernard nodded. "Makes sense." He nced around the unfamiliar building. Despite working with Wendy for so many years, he''d rarely set foot in Quinn Group. Usually, he went straight to her office and nowhere else. Now, seeing the full scope of thepany-how vast it truly was-left even the other department heads and nc wide-eyed. One of them leaned in and whispered, "Chairman, I know the hospital''s not short on funds, but..... isn''t this a bit much just to discuss a surgical n? What if finance hears about this-will we get reimbursed?" Chase couldn''t help butugh at the old Dr. Meyer''s concern. He stepped forward. "Don''t worry. No reimbursement needed." The group followed behind. Aside from Bernard and nc, the rest were clearly uneasy, half-expecting to be stopped at the door. 09:55 Thu, 15 May Chapter 155 A Deration of War But the security guard saw them and opened the door for Chase with a respectful nod. He even whispered something that made Chase nod in acknowledgment. 454 My Cold Ex-Wife 156 Chapter 156 A Normal Kind of Special The entire 18th floor was filled with meeting rooms of varying sizes. On regr days, most of them were booked by internal departments. asionally, international conferences would rent out space here too. +8 Pearls There was a dedicated staff on the 18th floor. When they saw Chase, they immediately led him and his team to one of the mid-sized rooms. As the door opened, a panoramic view flooded in through the massive floor-to- ceiling windows. Inside was a long table, a projector, and about a dozen chairs. This was the smallest meeting room they had. The table was already set with drinks, coffee, and snacks. The floor manager leaned in to speak with Chase. "If you need anything, just call me. There''s staff on standby outside. Madam Wendy said to make yourself at home." Then, as if remembering something, the manager turned back. "Madam Wendy also mentioned she''d like to have lunch with you. Would that work for your schedule?" It was still early-barely 9 a.m. Wendy usually didn''t break for lunch until after 12:30. Even if they didn''t finish the surgical discussion by then, they could always continue in the afternoon. Chase nced back at the group of clearly overwhelmed doctors. "Any objections?" Bernard and nc didn''t say a word. Their bosses wanted a lunch date. Who were they to object? Dr. Meyer piped up, "No, of course not. Thank Madam Wendy for offering such a great space." "Make yourselvesfortable." All morning, the room was filled with low, serious discussion. Each doctor gave their input. Without the overlymercial focus of the board breathing down their necks, they could fully prioritize the patient''s health. "With a spinal condition this severe, orthopedics has to go first," Bernard said. "Hematology needs to be on standby. And anesthesia-I''ve heard the patient has a history of drug allergies. We''ll need to be very careful. nc, still working under Chase, stayed quiet. Surrounded by senior experts, he was here to learn-not to talk. Meanwhile, things were just as busy upstairs in Wendy''s office. "The price for Cliff Haven is locked in. All we need now is a signature," Zynn reported. I think we should sign before Henry causes too much chaos with the Harrison family." "What about thend nning bureau?" "The zoning was already approved long ago, so they''re staying out of it. The geology bureau did ask if they could run a survey on the back hill, but that''s something we can deal with after signing." 97% Chapter 156 A Normal Kind of Special +8 Pearls "Good. Let''s close the deal before the end of the month. Maggie, assemble the project team. You''ll lead." "Yes, ma''am." By noon, Wendy was looking forward to lunch with Chase at Quinn Group- especially while they were both in work mode. There was something refreshing about it. Before, it had always been Chase waiting for her at home. Sammy had already ordered their favorite private chef. Lunch would arrive at exactly 12:20, delivered straight to the CEO''s office. Sammy was setting the table. "Yes, I saw the news. Don''t worry about it," Wendy said, standing by the window. Lemon had been ranting on the phone for a while, furious about Henry''s behavior. Lemon had said, "My brother read that interview and said again he should''ve just taken Henry down back then. Now he''s back, and he even has it out for Chase." Wendy leaned one arm against the ss, gazing out at the nearly finished skyscraper across the street. Something about it gave her a vague sense of unease, but she didn''t say anything to Lemon. There was a knock at the door. Sammy went to open it, and Wendy turned as well. Chase walked in. He had considered inviting Bernard tooafter all, it was just lunch-but in the end, he figured Wendy probably wanted it to be just the two of them. Still, he had their team''s lunch delivered to the meeting room downstairs. No way was he going to enjoy a full-course meal with his wife while everyone else ate boxed lunches. Chase wasn''t short on money. Naturally, he''d ordered the good stuff for them too. "Alright, I''ll let you go. Your Chase is here," Wendy said into the phone before hanging up. "Lemon?" Chase asked as he entered. Sammy nodded politely and quietly exited the room. "I saw Henry''s interview. She''s worried I''d be upset," Wendy said. No surprise there. "How''d the meeting go?" Wendy asked. Chase replied, "The details would bore you. But to put it simply-without themercial pressure, I feel pretty confident about the surgery. It shouldn''t negatively impact the IPO." Wendy looked him up and down. "You''re getting used to this." With a wife like her, a powerhouse in the business world, adapting was really his only choice. My Cold Ex-Wife 157 Chapter 157 A War on All Fronts +8 Pearls After returning to the country, Henry didn''t go back to the Harrison estate-or even to the house Wendy had prepared for him. Instead, he moved into Ocean Apartments and brought Xiaoxiao with him. That was when the Harrison family finally realized-Henry owned quite a few properties in China, and none of them had shown up in their searches. "This little brat is out of control," Fabien exploded at home. "He even owns real estate?!" Millie, by contrast, was perfectly calm. "Isn''t it a good thing he''s doing well for himself? What are you so mad about?" she asked. Fabien turned and looked at her. Theck of surprise in her eyes told him she''d known all along. "Henry''s been pretending to y nice all these years overseas, doing what we asked-but it turns out Moses Group has been his all along, and we had no idea. And you still think that''s something to be proud of?" "Why wouldn''t it be?" Millie didn''t even try to hide her frustration. "To you, he''s just a tool. A means to an end. And now that he''s the one calling the shots, you''re the one who can''t handle it?" Fabien had always been wary that Henry woulde back for the Harrison fortune. He''d kept his guard up, afraid Henry would make a move. But now it was clear-Henry didn''t even want the Harrison fortune. Moses Group alone was worth more than anything the Harrison family could offer. With apany like that in his hands, of course Henry had no interest in the family''s internal power struggles. Even his earlier return through Wendy... from the very start, he''d only cared about Wendy. Fabien paced in circles, visibly agitated, before finally sitting down across from Millie. "You know what kind of man he is. And let''s not forget-Dad had an illegitimate son. ording to his will, that kid is supposed to be the rightful heir." Bruno had rewritten his will for Henry, even hiding the final copy somewhere outside the house. To this day, no one had found it. It wasn''t just the Harrison family who couldn''t track it down-Wendy hadn''t had any luck either. She and Caesar had talked about it before. For a notarized will to hold legal weight, there had to be two identical copies. One was with Bruno''swyer. As for the other-who knew where it had ended up? They''d searched all over. "Bruno didn''t have that many close friends by the end," Wendy had said. "In his final years, the only one by his side was Ayan''s mother. ording to her, the will should still be in Goldenville." But they''d turned Goldenville upside down-again and again. Nothing. "No," Wendy had said, shaking her finger. "If it were somewhere obvious, the Harrison family would''ve 0.97%1 Chapter 157 A War on All Fr +8 Pearls found it by now. They just don''t know where Mario lives. Once they figure that out, Goldenville will be their first target." So Bruno would never have hidden the will in such an obvious ce. "My dad did everything he could to protect me and the Harrison family''s assets. He guarded that will from everyone-including me. After all these years, maybe it''s time to stop loking. If ites to it, I''ll just take it by force." As long as there were no other direct heirs left in the family, the inheritance would be his by default. "No," Chase cut in, clearly deep in thought. "You need to do this the right way. You spent over twenty years living in the shadows, without a proper name or title. But once you return to the Harrison family, the second half of your life has to be lived out in the open. You need everyone to believe in your ce- especially now, with Henry back. He''s no pushover." They were having this conversation over lunch. Chase had squeezed out time between two surgeries that morning. The spinal patient had already been admitted to the hospital. Everyone was watching closely-the board, the doctors, even outside media. No one wanted anything jeopardizing the uing IPO. "You''re busy. You didn''t need toe," Caesar said. Wendy, seated beside Chase, casually set down her champagne flute. "Hey, don''t tter yourself. We''ve both been mmedtely. Ie home and he''s passed out on the couch. He''s here to see me, okay?" Caesar paused, clearly speechless. Watching his expression, Mario chuckled and knocked lightly on the table. "Typhoon Corp''s headquarters officially reopened for domestic operations. We''re prepping media coverage for Wellinges Pharma''s IPO too. Thoughtely, entertainment news has been taking up space. We may shift some focus to domestic celebrity gossip." "Whatever. The IPO is just a footnote in the financial section anyway." After lunch, Chase needed to drop Wendy off at Quinn Group before heading back to the hospital. As they waited at a red light, Wendy said, "You know, finding that will is important for us too. It could lead us to whoever''s been working behind the scenes at the Harrison family." Chase replied, "Then where do you think Bruno would''ve hidden something that important? Are you sure there wasn''t anyone he trusted? Didn''t Mario''s mom have any family?" My Cold Ex-Wife 158 Chapter 158 The Enemy of My Enemy ording to Wendy''s investigation, there weren''t any rtives left on Mario''s mother''s side. But... she''d still have to ask Mario directly to be sure. +8 Pearls "For now, forget everyone else," she said. "Let''s talk about us. We''ve beeti so busytely, even lunch is a rare luxury. When is it ever going to slow down?" "Cliff Haven''s about to break ground. Once it''s up and running, I''ll hand everything off to Maggie''s team. Then I''ll be free. What about you?" Chase gave her an apologetic look. "The patient''s condition is worse than we expected. The scans really don''t tell the full story-I need to see her in person to make the final call. As a doctor, I have to give it everything I''ve got. That said... the sess rate just dropped by another five percent." It wasn''t high to begin with, and now it was even lower. That wasn''t exactly encouraging. Wendy ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "It''s fine. Just do your best. I''m thinking of having Typhoon Corp do a teaser livestream for the surgery-kind of a soft promo for Wellinges Pharma. If it seeds, we''ll celebrate the IPO. If it fails, we can''t let it damage anything. The board won''t let you off the hook that easily." No doubt about it. Thankfully, Typhoon Corp had always been firmly in their corner. Chase dropped Wendy off at the front gate of Quinn Group. Before she got out, she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I''ll try to get home early tonight." "Alright." Van The car sped off. Wendy was about to head up the stairs when she heard a couple beeps behind her. She turned and saw the tinted window of a ck slowly rolling down, revealing a face that was both familiar and jarringly foreign. Henry. His driver was already standing by the open rear door. Henry smiled and waved. "Wendy, I''ve been waiting a while." Wendy hesitated. This was the front entrance to Quinn Group. If she got into that van and someone from the press happened to catch it... Henry seemed to read her mind. "Rx. I''m no longer in charge of the Harrison Group''s media division. I don''t bother with setting up tabloid shots anymore. I just want to talk." Different status, different rules. This time, Wendy didn''t hesitate. The driver opened the door, and she climbed in. "I''ve got a meeting this afternoon. If you have something to say, make it quick." Henry couldn''t stop thinking about the smile she had when she stepped out of Chase''s car. Now, the way she looked at him-so cold-made his chest tighten painfully. Chapter 158 The Enemy of My Enemy Five yearste. Is it really toote to fix things? +8 Pearls "So, what do you think of the new me?" Henry asked, ncing over with a casual smile. "You don''t look too surprised to learn who I really am." "Wasn''t much of a surprise. I had my suspicions," Wendy said calmly. "Still, congrats. You yed the long game-marrying into the Hudd family, letting yourself be used as a pay pretending to be obedient for the Harrison family... and now look at you." "I knew you''d understand. You always do." Henry seemed genuinely pleased. "You know what that marriage really meant to me. I never had a choice." "So, what is this? You called me in just to brag?" "No," Henry said, shaking his head. "I wanted to ask if you''d be interested in working with me.. to bring down the Harrison family." Wendy really did make it home early that night. Chase, for once, wasn''t buried in medical files. They sat down for dinner, watched a movie-just the two of them. But it didn''t take long for Chase to notice that Wendy''s mind was elsewhere. Halfway through the movie, he paused it. "What''s wrong?" Wendy perked up, forcing a smile. "I''m fine. Just tired, that''s all." Chase stared at her. Maybe it was because they''d finally acknowledged their feelings. When two people truly loved each other, any lie-no matter how small-showed in the eyes. Wendy couldn''t meet his gaze. Chase gently tilted her chin, turning her face toward him. "Tell me the truth." Wendy let out a long sigh and sank back into the couch. "Right after you dropped me off today, a ck van that had been parked ahead of us called me over. Henry was inside. He made me an offer. He asked if I wanted to help him take down the Harrison family." Chase was stunned. He''d assumed Moses Group was still a vtile variable-and that Henry viewed the Harrison family as hisst fallback. But now... Henry was actively plotting to destroy them? That kind of grudge ran deep. Even Mario, with all his hatred for the Harrisons, only wanted to take back what was rightfully his. He wanted his family''s legacy and the power that came with it. But Henry-he was ready to burn the entire house down. My Cold Ex-Wife 159 hapter 159 Power ys and Personal Rules This wasn''t just any proposal-it carried real weight. Seeing Wendy hesitate, Chase asked, "What do you want to do?" 48 Pearls, "I didn''t say yes, but I didn''t exactly say no either. With our rtionship to Caesar, I could never do anything that would hurt Mario, But if the goal is to take down the Harrison family, that still gets me closer to the truth-what they did to my dad." So the question was: which road would she choose? Wendy added, Caesar''s ties make this moreplicated. And Henry... I don''t fully trust him. What I am curious about is what the Harrison family did to him. Because sending him abroad to marry into the Hudd family can''t be the whole story." They''d asked Shanelle once, but she said she didn''t know anything. After their marriage, Henry had always seemed warm, even considerate. He never meddled in the Hudd family''s business, never needed to socialize, and appeared to be the perfect husband. In fact, Shanelle didn''t even know when Henry took over Moses Group. "The Harrison family is hiding way too many secrets." Typhoon Corp''s first domestic feature was about the entertainment industry- specifically, Harrison Group Entertainment. After the PR nightmare at Light Loc Hotel, the biggest hitnded on their entertainment division. Eventually, the Harrison family was forced to pull out of the entertainment business entirely. Even Wen Zhiyuan got cklisted. Yes-that Wen Zhiyuan. Wendy seized the opportunity to acquire several core teams from Harrison Group''s entertainment division screenwriters, directors, even a few top-tier IPs. She spent a lot, but it was worth it. With the new entertainment department under Quinn Group, several execs were thrilled-thinking they''d now have an endless supply of actresses to flirt with. But Wendyid down a hard rule: no one under Quinn Entertainment would "apany clients"-not publicly, not privately. Not negotiable. This move sparked massive buzz, especially among fans. No other agency had ever dared to draw such a hard line. Even Lemon didn''t go that far. At the top of the industry, there were always unspoken rules. Sometimes, you had to. ertain important clients. If they asked for someone specific, Lemon would send actors or actresses who were willing. But zero participation? That was unheard of. Wendy refused to bow to anyone. She''d rather see her artists struggle than be mistreated. At the very least, no one would suffer under her watch. 1/ Chapter 159 Power ys and Personal Rules +8 Pearls They were women, just like her-and if she could, she''d be the one to shield them. That alone earned her a wave of praise. The loudest came when top-tier celebrity Patrick signed with Quinn Group. Patrick had been scouted at thirteen. Now, after fifteen years in the industry, he was one of the most powerful A-listers. His fans all knew: early in his career, he had been forcibly subjected to the unspoken rules. It was brutal, and back then, he had no way to fight back. He swallowed it and climbed his way to the top. Today, no one could touch him. Though he''d had his own independent studio for years, Patrick still chose to sign with Quinn Group- adding serious clout to their entertainment division. With Patrick onboard, Quinn Group was now neck-and-neck with FN. "Mr. Patrick, I''ll be your new publicist. Name''s Zynn." Wendy personally approved Zynn, Quinn Group''s head of PR, to serve as Patrick''s exclusive publicist. Patrick still had his own manager, of course, but Zynn would handle all public rtions-only for Patrick. They met for the first time in the Shay Corp parking lot. Patrick was on his way out, Zynn had just arrived for work. Zynn was always a force: bold, seductive, effortless. In a red dress with her long hair flowing and eyes gleaming, she looked stunning-even if she hadn''t had her morning coffee. She nced at her watch, then strode over to shake Patrick''s hand. "Sorry, I''ve got another meeting right now. You go ahead-I''ll catch youter." Before he could reply, her phone went off-loudly. "I know, I know! I told you I was stuck smoothing things over with Cliff Havenst night. Didn''t you say I could sleep in today? Wendy, are you seriously a workaholic?!" Patrick''s manager, Victor, chuckled as he walked over. "If she''s calling the CEO by her first name, you know they''re close. Zynn''s a legend in PR circles-there''s nothing she can''t fix. The fact that she''s been assigned to you alone? That''s a big deal." Even after she disappeared inside, her perfume still lingered in the air. It was a while before Patrick finally looked away. "Look into her background for me," he said as he got in the car. Victor was already scrolling on his phone. "What, you think she''s got an agenda?" 454 My movie 160 Chapter 160 Hard Truths and Soft Hearts "No, I meant her personal situation. Like... does she have a boyfriend?" 97% +8 Pearls Victor froze mid-scroll. His hand hovered over the screen,pletely speechless. Patrick had been in the industry for fifteen years. Apart from the first two years, when he''d been forcibly subjected to the industry''s dark side, he''d kept a spotless record. He had legions of female fans, but never reached out to any of them, rarely even epted gifts. Now this guy-asking about someone''s rtionship status? This wasn''t just a cold tree blossoming in spring. It was his first real crush. "I don''t think you can handle Zynn. She''s got a temper. You might not be able to keep up," Victor muttered as he started looking her up anyway. Meanwhile, Zynn''s first impression of Patrick wasn''t great. She headed upstairs, where Maggie was already waiting outside the elevator with a stack of files. Before Maggie could say anything about the uing meeting, she heard Zynn grumbling. "What is with that guy? He''s prettier than half the women I know." Maggie nced at her, catching the annoyance written all over Zynn''s face. She figured it was probably Zynn''spetitive streak kicking in. There were more women than men in Quinn Group. Wendy always emphasized that women should be polished and put-together, especially in the workce. Everyone had to show up with full makeup-no frumpy looks allowed. And Zynn, given her role, took that even more seriously. She prided herself on being just as stunning as Wendy. So to be upstaged by a man? This era was wild. Maggie offered gently, "You guys are always too busy to keep up with shows or movies, but Patrick''s a top-tier A-lister. Even Fenon International tried to sign him for years and failed. That should tell you something." Fenon didn''t need to jump through hoops for anyone. The fact that they tried for years without sess said plenty. It also meantnding him at Quinn Group was practically a miracle. Sometimes, good luck was a form of strength. At six a.m., Chase was already at the hospital preparing for surgery. He didn''t walk out of the OR until five in the evening. Other departments were still working. Melody and a few board members waited outside for updates. When Chase finally came out, Azure immediately stepped forward. "That long? How''s the situation?" They''d been watching through the second-floor observation room. It hadn''t looked great. Everyone was anxious. 09.30 Thu, 15 May Chapter 160 Hard Truths and Soft Hearts 97% +8 Pearls Chase wiped his face with a towel Melody handed him. Sweat had soaked through his scrubs, and even the breeze in the hallway felt icy. "For now, we''ve managed to increase the sess rate to forty-five percent. Once we opened up the site, it was better than expected." Azure nced toward the OR doors. "I haven''t seen Bernarde out one. Ortho has to stay the whole time?" "Yeah." The surgery was expected tost over twenty hours. Bernard and his entire ortho team would be standing until the end. Chase led out the departments that had already wrapped their part. He turned to reassure the board members. "Getting the rate up to forty percent is already a major win. It won''t go higher. Now we wait for the post-op phase. I know you''re worried. Where''s the family?" They were nearby, tense and waiting. The patient''s mother had fainted from anxiety and was resting in a room. The father and older brother were holding vigil. Chase walked over and said, "There are still a few hours to go. All the medical staff are giving it their all. Please try not to panic." With that handled, Chase left the hallway with Melody. The father leaned over and asked another doctor who hadn''t left yet, "That guy- I''ve seen him a few times. Is he the main surgeon?" The doctor adjusted his sses. Neurosurgeon. Lead on this operation. He''s also our hospital''s chairman. You''re in excellent hands." Back in his office, Melody noticed Chase looked pale. She immediately brought over the red date tea she''d prepared earlier. "This is from Madam Wendy." Chase caught the scent of the tea and chuckled. Red dates helped restore energy and blood flow. Wendy was way too busy to worry about these little things. Obviously, Melody had done it and credited Wendy to stay low-key. Chase had always appreciated Melody''s work. He''d even arranged for her to receive dual sries-one from his side, and another from the board. When that report hit Quinn Group''s finance desk, Wendy noticed but said nothing. "The surgery''s almost done. Sess or failure hinges on these next few hours. There are already reporters and paparazzi camping outside. I''ve arranged counseling for the family-if the worst happens, their emotions should be manageable." 454 My movie 161 Chapter 161 The Weight of Hope Tit 470 +8 Pearls The family had long been prepared for the worst. Their child had been living like this for years, and no hospital had ever offered a permanent solution. They came to Cloud Hospital with thest flicker of hope. They''d already spent every penny they had. Even if the surgery failed, they had no means to start over. Ordinary people didn''t get do-overs. They learned to ept life as it came. Chase had already waived as much of the surgery cost as possible. Knowing the family couldn''t afford a nearby hotel, he had spring cots ced in the private room so the family could rest there and avoid unnecessary expenses. He''d done all he could. The rest was up to fate. After finishing his red date tea, Chase refocused and began reviewing paperwork. Melody sat nearby, walking him through the files. He signed each one at the bottom. "Patrick''s signing ceremony should be over by now. If the paparazzi aren''t camped outside Quinn Group, what are they doing here at Cloud Hospital?" Chase flipped on the TV. Patrick''s face filled the screen instantly. Melody turned around. "Entertainment''s a whole different beast from what we''re dealing with. Oh, and by the way-Ocean Media has reporters downstairs. From what I''ve heard, they''ve tried to block several hospitals from going public. Their tactics are nasty. We should be careful." Chase raised an eyebrow and looked at Melody. She didn''t even flinch. Which meant she was already prepared. No matter what Ocean Media tried, she''d be ready. "Isn''t that what you''re here for?" He handed back the folder. Their eyes met. Melody nodded. "Wellinges Pharma doesn''t have an official PR department. So I''m filling in. And if it ever gets out of hand, we still have Director Guan." "Tonight''s Quinn Group celebration dinner-technically you should attend. But I know you want to keep an eye on the patient. I''ve cleared your schedule for two hours. You can have dinner with Madam Wendy, then return. I''ll monitor everything while you''re gone." Signing someone like Patrick was a big deal. Naturally, Quinn Group hosted a private celebration, and Patrick himself was attending. It was an internal event, so no formalwear required. dub The entire second floor of The Watering Hole had been booked out. To ensure privacy, only the manager, Ash, and a few hand-picked staff were allowed in. Even senior execs weren''t allowed to bring family. Chase was the exception. At the table, Zynn sat sulking and had already downed two sses of wine. Her phone vibrated nonstop on the table, loud enough to draw attention. 09:06 Fri, 16 May AA Chapter 161 The Weight of Hope 99% +8 Pearls Sammy, sitting beside her, peeked at the caller ID. "If that thing shakes any harder, it''s gonna crack the table. Can you turn it off?" Zynn rested her chin in her palm. "Can''t. Might be work. I''ll just block him." "Don''t." Sammy reached out to stop her. "We need him for the Cliff Haven project. If you block him now, how are we supposed to move forward?" Zynn sighed dramatically and leaned back. Across the room, Wendy nced over, confused by the tension. Maggie leaned in and exined quietly, "Ran into her ex on the job." Zynn had too many exes to count. No one could remember who was who. But the second Maggie said it, Wendy knew exactly which one. Back before Zynn joined Quinn Group, she''d been in a serious rtionship. She really thought they were going to get married. She was all in. Then Wendy scouted her. Zynn made the leap to Quinn Group, and her workload skyrocketed. She couldn''t keep the same schedule, couldn''t spend as much time with her boyfriend. The oue was predictable: he cheated. Well, not technically. Not yet. It was emotional infidelity. He realized he had feelings for someone else and came clean before anything physical happened. Zynn had even wanted to fix things. But Wendy sent her on a business trip. By the time she got back, it was toote. They broke up amicably. Years passed. Zynn never imagined she''d run into him again-let alone like this. "What the hell is Gavin doing on the Cliff Haven project?" Sammy whispered. "I thought he was overseas." He was. Two years ago, Gavin had gone abroad to lead an outdoor design project. It was a huge deal, supposed tost at least three to five years. No way he should be back now. Yet here he was-walking right up to shake Zynn''s hand, acting like it was just another random run-in. Zynn rubbed her temples and reached for her wine again. Just before her hand touched the decanter, another hand gently covered it. "Take it easy," Patrick said. His voice was just as smooth as ever. Most of his movies used his real voice-any attempt to dub over it lost something crucial. 464 My movie 162 Chapter 162 Nothing Off Limits Zynn didn''t have the best impression of Patrick. She didn''t like men who were prettier than her. Women, sure-whatever. But a guy? Seriously? "I''m fine. I can hold my liquor," she muttered. "Go drinking with Victor next time and you''ll see." 49970 M +8 Pearls Victor, sitting beside Patrick, said leisurely, "I''m really not a heavy drinker. Haven''t hit up a real party in years, so I''ve lost the edge. No way I could keep up with you. But hey, girls shouldn''t drink like that-it''s bad for your health. How about some grape juice instead?" Zynn paused. After all these years in the industry, everyone treated the women from Quinn Group like they were made of steel-untouchable, unbreakable. No one really thought of them as just women anymore. Before she could respond, Patrick had already swapped her wine for a ss of grape juice and pushed it toward her. "Same color. Just fake it," he said. Zynn stared at him. No one did this at a business dinner. But fine. Tonight wasn''t a night to get drunk anyway. Across the room, both Chase and Wendy had been quietly keeping an eye on the situation. Since it was an internal celebration, everyone here was one of Wendy''s own. The atmosphere was casual and rxed. Chase noticed Zynn didn''t look too happy-and Patrick, on the other hand, seemed oddly attentive. "Zynn''s in charge of Patrick''s personal PR, right? They''ve only met once. Just before everyone arrived, Patrick and I were alone for a minute. Wanna guess what he told me?" Wendy nced at Chase. He watched the subtle tension between Zynn and Patrick and ventured a guess. "Patrick''s into her?" Wendy sighed. "Yup. Said he wants her to apany him to every public appearance from now on, whether it''s press tours or travel. And he asked me to help y matchmaker. Can you believe that? I''m not just CEO now, I''m his dating consultant too." Chaseughed under his breath. "Well, you should care about your employees'' love lives. Zynn''s been single for years. And now her ex randomly pops up at work. She''s bound to be off. Here-have Patrick''s car drop her off tonight. She''s been drinking. She can''t drive." Wendy hesitated. "You think that''s a good idea? What if she doesn''t like him?" "Won''t know unless she tries. Patrick doesn''t seem like the type to take advantage. I trust he''ll behave." Chase only had a couple hours to spare. He stayed for a bit longer, then left. The event ended just before eleven. Zynn had been about to call for a driver, but Wendy whispered something to Sammy, who, after a moment of visible reluctance, nodded and followed through. "Victor, it''s hard to get a ride around here this time of night. Can you take Zynn home? Company cars are all tied up," Sammy said smoothly. Victor nced at the row of avable drivers outside, all clearly waiting. Without missing a beat, he gave a 09:06 Fri, 16 May M Chapter 162 Nothing Off Limits nk nod. "Sure." 3,99% +8 Pearls Zynn had rushed her drinks early on, and now she was visibly tipsy. Sammy helped her into Patrick''s car. "You..." She squinted at Patrick and frowned. "What are you doing in my car?" Patrick found her a little amusing when she was drunk. Calmly, he crossed his arms. Waiting for you to drive me home. Aren''t you my manager now?" Zynn stared at him for a moment, clearly trying to process what he''d said. Then she shook her head. "Nope. I''ve been drinking. I can''t drive. I''ll have someone-" Before she could finish, the door shut with a sharp thud. Victor got into the front seat and instructed the driver, "Take her home first." As they drove, Zynn''s phone slipped from her pocket. On the screen, a name lit up: Gavin. Patrick''s eyes narrowed. He was about to pick it up, but Zynn beat him to it. Without a word, she turned it off. Patrick had sharp ears. During dinner, he''d heard Sammy say Gavin was her ex. What kind of no-name loser thought he could just waltz back in? After getting Zynn home safely, Patrick and Victor returned to the car. "You didn''t even have to lift a finger, and Madam Wendy already handed you the perfect opening," Victor said. "But man, Zynn''s mood tonight... she really drank. Gavin clearly still gets to her." He turned to face Patrick. "You''re not actually nning to go after her like that, are you?" Patrick didn''t answer right away. Then he lifted his head, locked eyes with Victor, and said calmly but firmly, "Why not?" After everything he''d wed his way through-every endorsement, every film role, every ounce of sess -what hadn''t he taken by force? Going after what he wanted was second nature by now. And this time, it was Zynn. 19 My movie 163 Chapter 163 All Eyes on Her Especially when it came to a woman. Patrick had never felt this way about anyone. Now that he had, he wasn''t about to let her go. Finished The next morning, sure enough, the tabloids lit up with news of Patrick dropping Zynn off at home. The article was published directly by Typhoon Corp''s media division. Wendy was still half-asleep when her phone began buzzing nonstop. One nce at the screen told her it was Mario. He was already in his office, amused. "You really needed me to run this kind of fluff?" "Had no choice." Wendy rubbed her eyes and nced over-Chase hadn''te home. The patient must''ve hadplications again. He was probably still at the hospital. She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. "You know how the entertainment industry works. Zynn''s had some trouble recently. Her ex showed up-he''s part of the outdoor design team for the Cliff Haven project. I just want to clear a path for her." Mario chuckled. "Alright. If you say jump, I jump. But I''ve gotta tell you, the look Patrick gave her... didn''t seem all that innocent." "Actually, while I''ve got you." Wendy paused, then said, "Henry came to me. Said he wants to team up and take down the Harrison family. My guess is, he''s just as sick of the people pulling the strings as we are. Do you think... an alliance would work?" At Wellinges Pharma, every department head had pulled an all-nighter. It wasn''t until noon that the patient was stable enough to leave the ICU. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. "The worst part''s over. From here on, it''s just recovery. We''ve done all we can." Doctors could only do so much. The rest was up to fate. Since there were no more surgeries that afternoon, Chase packed up and headed to Quinn Group. Now that he and Wendy were back together, Chase came by more often. The front desk knew him on sight and didn''t even need to ask-someone buzzed him in the moment he appeared. "Keep a close eye on Cliff Haven," Wendy was saying into her phone as he entered. She stood facing the floor-to-ceiling windows, unaware anyone had entered. "I don''t want Zynn going there for now. I''ll make a trip myself in two days. Prep the proposal and contract. If the design team''s solid, we''ll sign." She swiveled in her chair, still mid-sentence. "Keep tabs on that Gavin. I''ll have Typhoon Corp release more headlines linking Patrick and Zynn. That kind of PR is exactly Patrick''s style-and it''ll serve our purposes." "Good. I don''t care how-it just needs to get done." She hung up, staring out at the traffic for a moment longer, then turned and found Chase standing there, smiling. Her eyes lit up. She got up immediately and walked over. She loved seeing Chase at Quinn Group. Seeing him in her space brought a kind offort that nothing else ever could. 17:09 Wed, 21 May DO. Chapter 163 All Eyes on Her Finished He used to hateing here, but that had changed. Now that he had his own work and wasn''t stuck in limbo, he didn''t seem to mind. "What are you doing here?" "The patient stabilized this morning. I pulled a marathon yesterday, so no overtime today. What were you talking about-Zynn?" They moved over to the couch. Sammy had already been notified of Chase''s arrival and sent in tea without needing to be asked. Wendy waved her off. "Zynn''s not in today?" "No," Sammy said. "I called, but she didn''t pick up. Her assistant stopped by her ce-no one was home." Sammy looked concerned, brow furrowed. "She probably drank too muchst night. You think she went out again? Where would she go? Patrick and Victor had personally made sure she got home safe. So why would she leave? Wendy was still thinking when Chase said, "Her phone wouldn''t stop buzzingst night. Probably that ex of hers. Sammy, how much do you know about him? Sammy and Zynn were close-they''d worked together long enough to share the ups and downs. 522 My movie 164 Chapter 164 Loose Ends 67% Finished Sammy only knew bits and pieces, mostly fromte-night conversations when Zynn had been drinking. She never really sounded angry-just... regretful. Zynn used to say they might''ve had a future if either of them had reached for it. She''d chosen to climb, to be better. He wanted someone who could always be there. They''d gone their separate ways. No hard feelings. Just bad timing. And now, somehow, he was back. "Where is Gavin staying?" Chase asked. Sammy thought for a moment. He''s not a local. Came to Gennemont with Zynn when they were just starting out. Went abroad a few years back. Came back with the Cliff Haven design team. Doesn''t have a permanent ce here. Most likely a hotel." And with a team like that, it wouldn''t be cheap. Cliff Haven was out in the middle of nowhere. The best hotel nearby was barely three stars. No way that''d be eptable. Odds were, they were staying downtown. "Start checking all the five-star hotels in the city. Zynn''s probably with him." Sammy was already a step ahead. The moment she lost contact with Zynn, she suspected Gavin was involved. She sighed. "Got it." "Oh, and-Patrick''s here," she added before leaving. Wendy slumped against Chase''s shoulder with a groan. "Why did we sign him again?" The guy hadn''t even made them money yet, and he was already making demands. And of course he had to fall for one of their top executives. "Is what they say about Patrick true?" Chase had asked Melody to run a background check. The old rumors-about what had happened to him early in his career-weren''t just rumors. Wendy nodded. "Yeah. It happened. But he''s a man. It didn''t impact his career the way it might''ve if he were a woman. He climbed his way back. No one can use it against him now." She thought Chase was worried about public perception. But he shook his head. "No, I''m thinking about Zynn. Even without the ex, would she ever be okay with Patrick''s past?" "Good question." They only had a few minutes of peace before a knock came at the door. Victor''s voice came through. "Madam Wendy." 17:09 Wed, 21 May 04 0. Chapter 164 Loose Ends finged "Come in," Wendy called with another sigh Victor held the door for Patrick, who stepped inside in a pale suit. If Wendy remembered right, he had a car shoot earlier that day. "You''ve got a shoot tomorrow. Shouldn''t you be resting?" she asked. Patrick took the seat across from them. After a nce at Chase, he said, There''s something I need to talk to you about." Chase stood. "I''ll give you two privacy." Patrick interrupted. "You''re her husband, Mr. Gu. It''s fine." Victor handed him a folder and stepped out. "This is about Zynn?" Wendy asked. Chase poured tea for him. Patrick nodded. "You already know how I feel. I don''t want anyone standing in my way. Especially not Gavin. What do you know about him?" Wendy didn''t normally meddle in employee rtionships. But Zynn was more than just an employee-she was a friend. "Let''s be clear, Patrick. I know you''ve got feelings. But I''m not the type to serve up Zynn just to keep you happy. That''s not how I work. And you wouldn''t havee to Quinn Group if you didn''t already know that." "Of course." He nodded. "I wouldn''t force anything. I just wanted to talk about her past. That''s all "Well, rest assured. She''s been single for years. Gavin''s the only loose thread." Wendy met his gaze. "Victor''s probably told you already-they dated. Broke up after Gavin cheated. It was peaceful enough, but I don''t see her going back." Patrick said nothing, lost in thought. 522 1 My movie 165 Chapter 165 Past and Present 67% Finished "I get it." Chase said. "From one man to another, I understand what it''s like to really want someone. But some things can''t be rushed." Patrick didn''t look away. "I just don''t want anyone getting in my way." After an entire day of searching, they finally located Zynn-sitting across from Gavin. She''d sobered up around 2 a.m., only to find herself alone in a pitch-dark apartment with no power. With no other options, she checked into a nearby hotel. By coincidence-or not-it was the same hotel where the Cliff Haven project team was staying. She left around noon to head to the office but ran into Gavin in the elevator. Zynn had seen the headlines that morning. Company-orchestrated PR fluff. Nothing surprising. Nothing to get worked up over. "If you''ve got something to say, just say it," she said tly, sitting across from him at a small caf. Her coffee was untouched. "No need to beat around the bush. Gavin, stop trying to win me back." Gavin smiled faintly. "You haven''t changed. Still so direct. But you''re even more stunning now." "Thanks. Money''s the best skincare routine." When you''ve got cash, you get to live on your terms. "You see the news this morning? Quinn Group just signed Patrick, and boom, you''re already starring in a fake rtionship with him. Gotta say, you''re reallymitted to the job." Zynn didn''t even blink. "If this is just gonna be a series of passive-aggressive jabs, I''ve got better things to do." He waved a hand. "No, no. The project team''s heading up to the mountain the day after tomorrow. I heard Madam Wendy''s going personally. You going too?" Of course she was. As head of PR, it was her job to inspect the site and prep for any potential issues. But she wasn''t about to spell that out for him. "I go where I''m assigned." Her tone made it clear: conversation over. Gavin looked a little wounded. "You don''t have to keep me at arm''s length like this. We were together for years. You know I''d never do anything to hurt you." "That was a long time ago," she said. "People change, Gavin. You and me both. Nobody''s ever finished growing-not until they die." He gave a resignedugh. "Fine. I just wanted to see you." She gave him a hard look. "Let me guess-same old pattern. Your new girlfriend couldn''t be there for you, 17:09 Wed, 21 May 1 Chapter 165 Past and Present so now you''re circling back to thest woman who could?" "That''s not it! We''re not even together anymore!" Gavin''s voice rose with frustration. 44 Finished Back then, he''d strayed-not physically, but emotionally, Zynn had made work her number one priority. Gavin had to schedule time just to talk to her. He couldn''t handle being an afterthought. That other woman had simply shown up at the right time. She made him feel seen. He never crossed the line physically. But he knew he was falling. So he told Zynn. He didn''t want to break up. He just wanted her to notice him again. To choose him again. And he promised he''d cut ties with the other woman. He really did love her. He still loved her. But Zynn walked away. "I was with her for less than a month," Gavin said quietly. "And the whole time, I couldn''t stop thinking about you. I''ve always loved you. I just-I was angry. You always put everything above me. Your job, your boss, your next deadline. I just wanted to be seen." Zynn raised an eyebrow. "So what? You want an award for not sleeping with her?" Gavin lowered his head with a bitter smile. "Of course not. I know I messed up. I just... I want a second chance. You''ve been single all these years. Doesn''t that mean a part of you still loves me too? Why else wouldn''t you move on?" Zynn held up a hand, cutting him off. "Hold on. You said it yourself-my job means more to me than anything. I''m not single because I''m hung up on you. I''m single because moneyes first." Back at Quinn Group, Wendy and Chase stayed until the building had emptied out. Still no sign of Zynn. But finally, Sammy got a message. "She said she''s noting in today. Power''s out at her ce." Wendy stood, grabbing her coat. "Text her. She''sing with me on the site visit the day after tomorrow." Sammy nodded. "Got it." In the car on the way home, Chase nced over. "So you''re really gonna give Patrick the green light? What if he''s just ying around?" 522 My movie 166 Chapter 166 Forecast of Uncase Finished "You think Patrick is that kind of person?" Wendy said. "If it were just for fun, you wouldn''t need to tell me- you could''ve just gotten close to Zynn. Patrick''s been in the industry for years, and aside from that one attempted cancetion back then, he''s never had a single scandal. I still believe in the kind of man he is. "Patrick''s feelings are a little too upfront. It''s kind of abrupt," Chase said "Some people are just like that." Wendy studied Chase closely. "They fall in love at first sight." Since Wendy was going on a business trip, Chase packed her suitcase early and left it off to the side. He''d also looked up the weather forecast for the next few days-rain every day. That had him worried. Cliff Haven was nestled near an undeveloped mountain range behind it. Wendy had purchased that area too, intending to develop it. ces like that could be dangerous once it started raining. "Can''t you reschedule? Do you really have to go on the days it''s raining?" Wendy stepped out of the bathroom, towel draped over her shoulders as she dried her hair. "Nope. A few experts on the project team are flying back soon. This is the only window we have." She walked up to Chase and, not caring that her hair was still dripping, snuggled right into his arms. "It''ll be fine, don''t worry. Nothing''s ever happened at the Cliff Haven project. It''s been going on for ages." The geological survey had already been done when she bought thend, so there shouldn''t be any serious risks. Still... Chase couldn''t shake the sense of unease in his gut. "Why don''t I take two days off and go with you?" he asked softly. "No need." Wendy was touched by how much Chase cared, but it wasn''t her first business trip. There was no need to make a big deal out of it. The next morning, a steady drizzle nketed the sky-soft, unrelenting, and making everything feel damp and miserable. The whole project team had the day off to pack and prep. Wendy, for once, got to sleep in, and Chase tiptoed out of bed to avoid waking her. At the hospital, Chase still had a splitting headache. Melody came by to deliver some reports, and seeing the state he was in, she asked from across the desk, "Mr. Chairman, are you feeling unwell?" "Yeah, probably caught a chillst night. It''s nothing." Chase forced himself to rally. He waved her over, and Melody handed him the report. "Should I go get some medicine from downstairs?" "No need." Chase opened the report and scanned a few lines. He wasn''t great with numbers, so honestly, he couldn''t tell if anything was off. As Lemon once said, even if Melody tampered with the ounts or embezzled funds, he probably wont notice-he''d just sign it. 17:09 Wed, 21 May MO. Chapter 166 Forecast of Unease 67% Finished Just before he was about to sign, Chase said, "Can you check the weather forecast for me? Wendy''s heading to Cliff Haven tomorrow for four days. I want the full report for the next few days." Melody nced out the window behind Chase at the looming dark clouds. "If I remember right, it''s supposed to rain for the next few days. Some areas already have warnings up because of slippery roads. Cliff Haven is... still a wild mountain. Do Madam Wendy and the others really have to go tomorrow?" Melody shared Chase''s concern. But she also knew that once a business trip was scheduled, it was nearly impossible to change. Rescheduling meant coordinating with a lot of people. "Forget it. You can go. Tell nc not toe by at lunch. I''m heading out early today." "Got it." Back at home, Wendy felt a little lonely. No meetings were scheduled today, so she slept in until ten. After finishing the breakfast Chase had left her, she wandered aimlessly around the house. She thought about how Chase had lived like this-quiet and alone-for five years. And yet here she was, struggling with just a day or two of solitude. The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt. Those five years were time she could never give back, no matter what she did to make it up to him. The only good thing was that she still had Chase by her side- he hadn''t left. If Chase ever walked away... she couldn''t imagine how she''d get through the days. With the silence pressing in around her, what would she do to stop herself from thinking about him? It was too quiet. Wendy felt suffocated and switched on the TV. Typhoon Corp was still running coverage on Patrick. It was his first time signing with apany in years, and he''d brought along hiswork of connections. To put it inly, Wendy had offered him protection and resources, and in return, Patrick had brought in contacts. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Domestic media outlets were all over the partnership between Quinn Group and Patrick, flooding the headlines. Even Alfred had managed to ride the trending topics. Wendy lowered her hand and looked at Henry. She wasn''t sure if it was her imagination, but something about him seemed different-gone was the gentle, reserved presence she remembered. In its ce were traces of coldness, hostility, and suppressed emotion. 522 212 CU, 21 IVidy My Cold Ex-Wife Refused to Move On My movie 167 Chapter 167 A Better Offer That mix of expressions didn''t quite belong on one face-at least, not without feeling unnatural, Finished But Henry was born with good looks. The sharpness in his features was neatly concealed beneath gentle eyes and clean lines. To those who didn''t really know him, this was probably the version they assumed was real. Wendy leaned against the sofa, tapping her chin thoughtfully. She remembered the conversation she''d had with Mario. Henry''s approach had made her waver. To be honest, helping Henry overturn the entire Harrison family would be far easier than helping Mario rise to power within it. People are selfish, after all. She had to choose the path that served her best-but she didn''t want to ruin her years-long friendship with Caesar, either. She wanted a win-win. Talking it through with Mario was the best option. Back then, Mario had fallen silent for a few seconds on the phone, then slowly said, Just as I suspected. Henry''s had enough of the Harrison family. Honestly, Alfred might''ve onlye about because of the pressure they put on him. This could be his way of hitting back." Wendy pressed, "So? What''s your opinion?" "What opinion could I possibly have? Even if the entire Harrison family copsed, I could build it all back up again from the ground. Wendy, I know what''s holding you back. But I don''t have any sentimental ties to a single de of grass in the Harrison estate. I just want to take back everything that should''ve been mine. Do what you have to do." The fact that Wendy hade to him at all meant she wasn''t nning to betray Caesar. Mario continued, "But Henry... can you really trust him? When someone''s got nowhere else to turn, how can you be sure he''s not trying to drag you down with him?" The conversation ended abruptly-Mario had been called into a meeting. Every time Caesar was away, it was Mario holding Typhoon Corp together on his own. Honestly, even without the Harrison Group, Mario could''ve made waves just fine in Typhoon Corp. He was only doing this out of spite. Outside, the sky was a dull gray. Staring at a screen all day had left Wendy''s neck sore, and the rain only made the aches worse. Eyes closed, she gently rolled her neck, the TV droning in the background with media spection about Henry. "Will the Harrison family merge with Moses Group? Let''s hear what our experts have to say." 17:10 Wed, 21 May MO Chapter 167 A Better Offer Wendy cracked one eye open. 20770 Finished So-called experts-just a few graying old men with sses, sitting around discussing other people''s lives like they had a clue. It wasughable. They hadn''t lived through any of it, yet acted like they had all the answers. If finance and life could be predicted through guesswork, why had they gone through so much hardship themselves? "Moses Group has cleaned up its iinage overseas. Now that they''re back, I''d wager Henry''s targeting the domestic market." No kidding. As the panel rambled on, Wendy found the whole thing absurd. They imed Henry''s actions were vengeful, that he had no emotional ties to the Harrison family. The domestic market, they added, was already carved up. With Typhoon Corp back in the game, there might not be room left for Moses Group to gain a foothold. There was truth to that-but how would it sound in Henry''s ears? The thought alone made Wendy scoff. Just then, the front door opened. She quickly dropped her legs from the armrest and looked toward the entrance. "You''re home early?" Chase walked in, arms full of groceries. Wendy slipped on her slippers and headed over to hug him, but he blocked her with his arm. "Don''t. It''s pouring out. I''m soaked." Truth was, Chase had a slight fever. He didn''t want to risk passing it to her. Seeing how many bags he was carrying into the kitchen, Wendy raised an eyebrow. "Are we having guests over tonight?" "Nope." "Then why''d you buy so much food?" "It''s all stuff you like. I''m making spicy boiled beef and sweet-and-sour ribs. I asked around-there aren''t any decent restaurants near Cliff Haven. The in-house cooks aren''t great either. You probably won''t enjoy the food." Wendy leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching as Chase unpacked everything. Sheughed. "It''s a business trip, not a vacation. Food''s not that important. Everyone''s eating the same thing. I can''t expect special treatment just because I''m the boss." "Exactly. That''s why I''m making all your favorites today." 213 17.10 vved, 21 Ivay Chapter 167 A Better Offer 67% Finished It was only a little after four, but outside looked like it was already nine or ten at night. The house glowed warmly. The kitchen filled with theforting smell of home cooking. Wendy sat at the dining table nearby to help out. She didn''t know how to cook-had never really learned-so she could only do small things here and there. One of them was in the kitchen. The other was just outside. A random variety show yed on TV, and the whole house hummed with life. After a whole day of gloom, it was the first moment Wendy finally felt like herself again. 522 My movie 168 Chapter 168 Experts and Scandals As expected, life without a man in the house just didn''t sit right with her. She had long since grown unustomed to being alone. Right then, Wendy''s phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Sammy. "What''s up?" It sounded like Sammy was outside-car horns honked faintly in the background. Finished "Guess why Henry made his first move since returning to the country," Sammy said, voice tinged with amusement, like she was just here to enjoy the show. Wendy had the call on speaker, so Chase in the kitchen could hear everything too. Chase asked in surprise, "Henry hit someone?" "Nope," Sammy replied. "With the kind of power Henry has now, he doesn''t need to lift a finger. Plenty of people would dly do it for him." So what did Henry do? Wendy thought back to the news and those so-called expertmentaries she''d seen earlier. "Don''t tell me it was one of those experts?" There was a brief pause on the other end before Sammy sighed. "Is there anything in this world you don''t know?" "Maybe. But when ites to enemies, it pays to know a little extra," Wendy said with a smile, catching Chase''s still-confused expression. She used voicemand to change the TV channel. Another program was airing about Moses Group- same panel of experts, still going on. One of them, the most critical, was ranting about how Henry didn''t understand local customs,cked respect for elders, and so on. If someone were to get beaten up, that guy was the obvious first choice. Sure enough, Sammy said, "He was a financial expert invited on a TV show. Apparently, not long after leaving the studio, a car pulled up, dragged him in, and beat him up. They dumped him next to a trash can. It was a pretty bad beating. He called the cops himself and imed Henry was behind it." But Henry had a perfect alibi. While the expert was being attacked, Henry had been meeting with a high-level bank executive at an indoor golf course. The ce was packed-rainy day and all- and the two had been together the whole time. The bank executive even confirmed that Henry had never left his sight. The expert insisted it was a hit ordered by Henry. "The car somehow avoided all surveince. No te number, no way to track it. And if it really was Henry, you know all the loose ends were already tied up. There wouldn''t be a trace left. The cops just took a statement and left. Now the expert is begging the media to do a follow-up interview with Henry." 17:10 Wed, 21 May yo Chapter 168 Experts and Scandals "Great way to spike the views," Chasemented. 3.67% Finished Wendy nodded, searched it on her phone, and sure enough-the trending topic of Quinn Group and Patrick had just been knocked down by #HenryAssaultsSomeone. "I told you, Henry''s still got the mind of a child," Sammy said. Wendy reminded her not to stay out toote. They were heading out for a trip tomorrow, and with the weather, the journey might take even longer than expected. "I''m going to check on Zynn. Haven''t seen her in two days. I''m starting to think Gavin chopped her into pieces," Sammy joked. The mention of Gavin made Wendy sigh. These subordinates had been with her for years-they were more than just employees. She couldn''t just stand by and watch them fall into messes, especially Zynn. Patrick had said he wanted to pursue Zynn, and imed he''d do it like a gentleman. But with the way he carried himself-like a homewrecker-it was hard for Wendy to take him seriously. Gavin was even worse. Back when he had an emotional affair, he had the nerve to tell Zynn, I didn''t actually do anything. I still love you. I just wanted you to pay more attention to me. They weren''t kids anymore. Emotional cheating was just as bad as physical cheating. "Go check on her. And no drinking tonight." "Got it." After hanging up, Wendy sighed. "This whole thing with Zynn is a nightmare." "You really want to help Patrick chase after her?" Chase asked. Wendy peeled garlic as she replied, "All things considered, Patrick''s actually a pretty good match. He''s worthy of her. But that only matters if Zynn likes him. If Patrick can''t win her over, I won''t step in." "And Gavin? If he''s such a pain, why not just rece him?" "The Cliff Haven outdoor design team was locked in a while ago. The contract clearly states the team can''t be changed. The money''s already been paid, and Gavin really is a top talent in the industry. There''s no reason to rece someone like that." Work always came before personal issues. Wendy wasn''t going to jeopardize the project over her team''s messy love lives. Chase stared at the stovetop for a moment. "Zynn seems pretty miserable right now too," he said, studying Wendy-who looked casual on the outside, but whose eyes had already started to shine with amusement. He reached out and lifted her chin. "What juicy little secret are you sitting on this time?" 17:10 Wed, 21 May My Cold Ex-Wife Refused to Move On My movie 169 Chapter 169 What She''s Worth 67% Finished Wendy held Chase''s gaze, chin still gently tilted by his hand. Somewhere along the way, nothing she did could escape Chase''s notice anymore. Was it because she''d let her guard down? Or had Chase simplye to understand her too well? She said, "When ites to men, I don''t know about others, but I know you. If a man truly loves someone, it doesn''t matter how long he''s been neglected-he won''t fall for someone else. I''ve seen everything Gavin''s been doing abroad these past few years. It''s all in my hands." Why bother understanding other men? The only one she wanted was the one standing right in front of her. And despite how distant she and Chase had been for years, he never fell for anyone else, never changed. That alone proved everything Gavin said was just an excuse. All that talk about work being important and feeling neglected, how it let someone else slip in-none of it held water. It was all Gavin''s version of the story. In reality, Gavin had been living a pretty vibrant life abroad. Zynn never tried to investigate him. Maybe she thought he wasn''t worth it. Or maybe she was afraid to know the truth-it would only hurt more. But Wendy and Sammy? As friends, they''d been well aware of everything. "Gavin broke up with that woman not long after getting together. She leaned on him too much-never gave him room to breathe. And honestly... Gavin''s always been a flirt. He only managed to stay interested for so long because Zynn''s exceptional." Put him with someone in or ordinary, and the novelty would wear off in a month. "I''ve never shown any of this to Zynn," Wendy said, lowering her head to tidy up the table and pushing the dishes toward Chase. "If she ever really wants to see it, I''ll show her. But I don''t want her finding out too soon. I want her to realize it on her own." To see clearly that the man she liked for years... really wasn''t all that special. Zynn deserved everything good in life-not just some guy. It wasn''t wrong to value work more than love. There would always be someone out there who''d see Zynn as the top priority. "That''s why Quinn Group keeps growing. With a boss like you, no wonder Sammy, Zynn, and the others have stuck by your side all these years." Wendy wasn''t exactly easygoing-her temper wasn''t mild, and she wasn''t the type to sugarcoat things in meetings. She''d call out problems directly, leaving people scrambling. But that was just her attitude toward work. Anyone who''d been around her long enough knew: privately, she was actually very reserved. Even gentle. Dinner that night wasvish. Not long after they''d eaten, the two of them were already in the bedroom. Even a short separation had be hard to bear. Chase couldn''t imagine how he''d survived those five years before-what sheer force of will had gotten him through. The next morning, the car pulled up downstairs. Chase didn''t have work, but he still changed clothes and 1/ 17:10 Wed, 21 May CO. Chapter 169 What She''s Worth apanied Wendy down. 67% Finished Sammy stood by the car. When she saw Chase, she said, "Don''t worry, sir. We''ll bring Madam Wendy back safe and sound." Seeing Wendy and Chase exchange such loving nces, she sighed. "It''s just four days. No need for the drama." "You''re single. If you don''t get it, don''t talk," Wendy shot back. Their luggage went into the trunk. It was just Wendy and Sammy in this car. Zynn would meet up with themter-she''d drive separately, hand her car off to the driver, and then ride with Wendy. Gavin and the others were already on-site at Cliff Haven. "Come back early. I don''t have any surgeries scheduled the next few days. Call me for anything," Chase said, ncing worriedly at the sky. It was still gloomy. The air was damp, and heavy clouds nketed the sky, blotting out any trace of brightness. It all made Chase uneasy. "There''s a construction crew stationed at Cliff Haven. Everything''s under control. Don''t worry. I''m off-you should head back up." Wendy and Sammy got into the car. The window rolled down, but Chase didn''t move. He stood there watching until the car slowly disappeared down the road before turning back toward the building. "Ugh, I don''t even know what to say about you two," Sammy muttered. "Back when things were rough, I worried about you every day. Now that you''re good, you''re just force-feeding me PDA. Seriously-" "Cut the chatter. What''s going on with Zynn?" Wendy frowned. She''s not seriously hung up on Gavin, is she?" Sammy thought back to her recent conversations with Zynn and gave a summarized answer. It wasn''t that Zynn couldn''t let go. She just didn''t see the point in cutting tiespletely. Having an old friend around in a foreign city wasn''t a bad thing. Besides, Gavin was leaving the country again soon. He wouldn''t be staying in Gennemont for long. 522 21 My movie 170 hapter 170 The One Who Left a Mark Zynn hadpletely shut Gavin out of her heart. If he wasn''t lover, then he was just a friend-no more special than anyone else. "Well, that''s good." Wendy sighed in relief. Sammy, sitting next to her, checked thetest trending topics. Besides Quinn Group, Patrick, and Henry. there was still one headline holding on: the clip of Patrick driving Zynn home. Fans from all over had already pieced together the truth. They knew Zynn was Patrick''s personal PR rep, asionally stepping into the role of manager. So the ride home hadn''t caused any scandal or gossip. "That''s not the oue Patrick was hoping for," Wendy said, taking the coffee from Sammy and sipping it. The bitterness jolted her awake, sending a shock through her body and slowly warming her back to life. "Is Patrick giving you trouble?" Sammy asked. Wendy shook her head. "Not trouble. I''ve known Patrick was into Zynn for a long time-way before we signed him." What Zynn didn''t realize was that this wasn''t the first time she''d met Patrick. It had happened years agoso far back that Patrick hadn''t yet wed his way out of the wreckage caused by being cklisted. Zynn had seen him then. Helped him. Patrick didn''t join Quinn Group by coincidence. He''d nned it, carefully and deliberately. "So you''re saying Zynn helped Patrick back then? And he liked her even then?" "Yeah. That''s what he told me. I remember the event he mentioned-it was back before I''d fully taken over Quinn Group. Zynn wasn''t even under me yet. Just a low-profile PR rep at the time." The situation had been messy. Even after therapy, Patrick couldn''t remember every detail clearly. But he''d never forgotten Zynn''s face-or the fierce words she''d spoken that day. "This isn''t his fault. What do you mean, ''me the victim"? If it''s shameful for a woman to be cklisted, then it''s fine for a man?" "Oh? You''re going to sue me?" Zynn had looked just as beautiful back then. Light-colored skirt, big soft waves in her long hair, bright red lipstick. She flipped her hair and stared at the man using Patrick. "My name''s Zynn. PR at Tianhai Media. Please, go ahead and sue me." Then she grabbed a dazed Patrick, pulled him out of the media scrum, and dragged him to a quiet corner before letting go with an exasperated sigh. "This isn''t your fault. I''m not awyer, but here." She handed him a business card. "Bestwyer in Gennemont. He''s not cheap, but I think he''ll help you." And with that, she left. That moment had burned itself into Patrick''s memory. He''d only recently shared the story with Wendy. 17:10 Wed, 21 May U Chapter 170 The One Who Left a Mark No wonder he was so fixated on her. Calling it love at first sight would be an insult Too many men had fallen for Zynn on sight. If Wendy paid attention to every one of them, she''d never get any work done just spend her days tallying up admirers. But Patrick wasn''t the type to fall for someone easily, Someone who''s been through real pain tends to lock his heart away. For someone like Patrick, there might only ever be one chance in his life to open that door again. And he''d already ced the key in Zynn''s hand-hoping she''d notice. But clearly, she hadn''t. So he needed help. Patrick had no idea what he was doing when it came to rtionships. All he could do was turn to Wendy and Chase-people who had been through their own mess ande out stronger. He hoped they could help him, too. Sammy listened quietly, then finally turned toward the window and let out a snort ofughter. Wendy frowned. "What are youughing at?" "Well, if Patrick was looking for help from a couple with rtionship experience, he picked the right one." Wendy was speechless. She couldn''t really me Sammy forughing. The issues between her and Chase weren''t exactly simple. Back at the hospital, Chase was distracted. Thankfully, he didn''t have any surgeries scheduled, so he poured his energy into monitoring a post-op spinal patient. The good news was the recovery looked promising. No signs of drug rejection, and they''d cleared the critical 48-hour window. The patient was ready to be moved from intensive care to a regr ward. From here, it would be up to the nurses and family to manage recovery. Even so, they''d still need to stay in the hospital for another two months. That day, Avery had alsoe in for a follow-up and stopped by Chase''s office to say hello. Chase, flipping through several documents Melody had organized for him, looked up as Avery knocked and entered. 522 1 My movie 171 Chapter 171 Storm Brewing "Dr. Goodman." Avery greeted him softly. 48 Pears Chase paused for a second, then smiled as he set down the file in his hand. "You''re here for a follow-up today?" "Yeah. I didn''t see you downstairs, so I thought I''de up and say hi." Chase motioned for Avery to sit down. "You look good-seems like you''re recovering well. Let me see the report." Avery handed it over. Chase skimmed through it in seconds, then nodded. "You''re taking good care of yourself. Based on your current condition, you should be able to rejoin the crew in two months; just don''t push yourself too hard physically." "I''ve slowly started easing back into work-just standing still for endorsement shoots, nothing strenuous." They chatted for a while before Avery left. Chase nced at his phone; Wendy should''ve arrived by now. He was just about to call her when someone beat him to it-Waylon. "Waylon." Chase frowned; it was odd for him to call at this hour. On the other end, Waylon was overwhelmed. The rain poured outside; his clothes were soaked, but he didn''t care. He stood by the car, one hand resting on the roof. "Where''s Wendy? She''s not picking up her phone. Where the heck did she go?" "Wendy''s been on a business trip; she went to Cliff Haven. Why?" Something big had happened with the Harrison family. Larry was missing. Word was, he left thepany, drove into a tunnel, and never came out. "Larry''s married, but he''s been seeing someone on the side. He''s been staying at her cetely. The other night, he was supposed to take her out to some candlelit dinner after work-but he never showed." Waylon waved off the umbre one of his men was holding for him. He walked a few steps away, pulled out a cigarette; his pockets were empty. Annoyed, he crouched down. "The girl didn''t think much of it at first. Figured his wife probably call him back-after all, she''s just the mistress. It''s not like she canpete with the real wife. But it''s b dub days now, and still no word." She was only with him for the money-didn''t care if he came or went, as long as the cash flowed. But then the wife called her. That''s when they both realized he was gone. "Larry only got married for the alliance. They''ve always had their own lives. His wife has known about the other woman from the start, 15:38 Mon, 26 May of MT Chapter 171 Storm Brewing Chase sat up straighter, his hand unconsciously tightening. "So Larry just disappeared? No calls to the Harrison family? Isn''t this a kidnapping?" "No. It''s been over twenty-four hours and not a single call. I''m at Larry''s ce- we''ve got officers stationed there." Chase stood up. "You called Wendy because you suspect-" "Henry." Back then, Henry never exposed Alfred''s identity. Inside the Harrison family, it had always been a power struggle between Larry and Henry. Now, Henry was back. If he wanted the Harrison family, the first person he''d have to deal with was Larry. Larry was too easy to manipte. And some of the family''s secrets had been handled by Larry. If he died, no one on the outside would ever be able to trace them. Dead men tell no tales. "I''m heading over now," Chase said. Waylon cut in, "Don''t. Stay where you are. I called Wendy to ask for Henry''s contact info. The police tried every line-we can''t reach him. His calls are encrypted. I need Finn." Then just go to Quinn Group." Chase checked his watch. Here, let''s meet at Quinn Group. I''ll try to reach Wendy; if I can''t, I''ll help you myself." "Works for me." Chase was already taking off his white coat as he spoke, quickly changing into his regr clothes. He hung up, grabbed his car keys, and had just opened the door when Bernard stepped in. "Where are you going?" Bernard looked surprised. "I''ve got to head over to Quinn Group." Bernard said, "The board has a high-level meeting in an hour-you didn''t forget, did you?" He had, actually. But there was something more important right now. Chase kept walking as he said, "Have Melody take my ce-just say I went to Quinn Group to deliver the reports." "I''lle with you," Bernard offered. He needed to go there too. Outside Quinn Group, the rain had picked up even more. The walk from the parking spot to the entrance was long enough to get soaked, so Chase drove down to the underground lot instead. The underground parking was reserved for internal staff. Wendy had already registered Chase''s license te-he was on the list. 15.30 MON, 20 May Chapter 171 Storm Brewing First-floor lobby. "Sir." The receptionist smiled as Chase strode up to the front desk. "Has the IT Director arrived?" he asked. She looked down to check the day''s ess logs; Finn''s entry was listed. 542 + Pe My movie 172 Chapter 172 Vanished Without a Trace "She''s here-arrived two hours ago." "Have Maggiee down and get me," Chase said. "Yes, sir." +8 Pearls Originally, Maggie was supposed to apany Wendy on the business trip-after all, the Cliff Haven project was her responsibility. But she had a meeting with Lemuria today; she was runningte and nned to head over tomorrow instead. Waylon shook the water from his hair as he stepped inside, wiping his shoes at the door. He looked up and spotted Chase and Bernard standing at the front desk. They were right by the entrance; from a distance, Waylon saw someone rush over and stop in front of Chase, seemingly saying something. Chase caught sight of Waylon in his peripheral vision and waved him over. "Over here." Maggie didn''t know why they were here, but Wendy wasn''t around, and Chase was her husband-which basically made him a decision-maker at Quinn Group. Of course, Chase never tried to influencepany decisions; he was someone who knew his ce. "Is Finn in?" Waylon asked directly. So they were here for Finn. Maggie nodded and led them down the hallway, signaling the receptionist as she went. The elevator reserved for Wendy opened, and the group stepped inside. "Finn came in early this morning. Said she had things to do. She''s still in her office-I''ll take you there." "Alright." Once they reached the floor, Maggie led them toward Finn''s office. They hadn''t even gotten close when the sound of shouting echoed from inside. Maggie froze mid-step and gave Waylon an awkward nce. "Finn''s always had a short temper. She''s been workingte thest few days; this kind of thing happens a lot. Mr. Fred, I hope you don''t mind." Waylon waved it off. "I''m here to ask, Finn for help. Larry''s gone missing, and there''s still no ransom call. We don''t know if it''s a kidnapping or something else. I want her to help check if we''ve missed any surveince footage." otage they The city''s surveince system should''ve covered everything; in theory, there shouldn''t be an couldn''t ess. But there were always a few encrypted feeds that regr authorities didn''t have the clearance to view-maybe Larry had shown up at one of those. Those kinds of surveince points were deeply hidden and not publicly known. Truthfully, they were already starting to suspect Henry. But Henry had spent years overseas, and this time 63% Chapter 172 Vanished Without a Trace +8 Pearls he''d returned under the identity of Alfred. It was even less likely he''d know about encrypted surveince feeds. "Wait hereI''ll go in first." Maggie knocked, heard no response, and pushed the door open anyway. The curtains were all drawn; no lights were on. The room smelled of smoke. Finn rarely smoked-only when she was in a particrly foul mood would she light one or two. But the smell in here-this wasn''t just one or two. "What is it?" Finn''s voice was hoarse. "Mr. Fred and Mr. Goodman are here. They said they need your help." Maggie paused, eyes scanning the dark room for Finn''s face, trying to read her expression. "It''s rted to the Harrison family." It took a minute or two before anything stirred by theputer. Finn shifted, fingers tapping a few keys. The office curtains slowly opened. But outside, the sky was still thick with clouds; even with the curtains pulled back, no light shone through. Only enough to cast a dim glow on Finn''s weary face. "What happened to you?" Maggie blurted; something felt off the moment she saw her. She hadn''t looked like this earlier in the morning-just a few hours ago. A cigarette dangled between Finn''s fingers; she casually snuffed it out in the ashtray and called out toward the door, "Come in." They stepped inside. Bernard had met Finn before, but every time he saw her, it was still hard to believe that someone like her-so unassuming-was a top-tier hacker. Finn yawned. "I''ve beenpeting; tough opponentstely. Anyway, what are you looking for?" Now that things were getting serious, Maggie slipped out to give them privacy. Bernard took a seat on the couch to listen quietly; he didn''t say a word. It was through Waylon''s exnation to Finn that Chase finally understood what had happened. With Larry''s disappearance, there was no telling whether he was dead or alive. If he had really fallen into Henry''s hands, it wouldn''t just mean death-it''d be a brutal one. Even the TV station expert had only said a couple of unpleasant things and ended up getting beaten that badly. And the station had covered up many critical details- like the expert''s family, who''d also been targeted. Henry clearly held a vicious grudge. "I''ll take a look for you. Gennemont has plenty of encrypted surveince; they''re locked by the authorities and kept for internal use only. Not many people know about them. I have a map-shows all the encrypted points. Come see which route you want to check:" vy Gold Ex-Wife Refused to Move On My movie 173 hapter 173 No Room for Mistakes The two of them leaned in, $ the map carefully. Chase fell into deep thought. Was it really Henry On the way, Wendy''s call finally got through. She exined the heavy rainfall in the mountains had weakened the signal; several calls hadn''t connected. She told Chase to go ahead and use all of Quinn Group''s resources to assist Waylon in the investigation. Anything that involved the Harrison family was a big deal for them, too. But Chase was more concerned about what was happening in Cliff Haven. Rain in the city center was starting toe down harder as well. On the road, it already felt heavier, once they stepped out of the car, there was no escape-just a few minutes in the rain and they were soaked. "This is it. Look closely. If you spot Larry''s car or anything suspicious, screenshot and lock it down for me. Bernard lowered his voice and asked, "You worried about Ms. Quinn?" "Yeah. This kind of heavy rain isn''t safe for heading up into the mountains. And with no signal out there, I can''t contact her whenever I want." "Nothing to be done about it. Trips like these-they can''t just change schedules on the fly." They stayed in Finn''s office for two hours. Waylon stuck to his motto-better to g everything than miss something-and pulled up every suspicious vehicle. Finn managed to trace the contact info of that group, and even Henry''s. "Henry ditched his old number when he came back to the country. The one he''s using now has tripleyer encryption. If we call him, the signal gets bounced overseas before being rerouted back to his phone-it''s an anti-tracking setup." When it came to anti-tracking, no one understood better than Waylon. The moment he heard "triple encryption," he knew Henry wasn''t just hiding secrets-he was buried in them. Almost no one in the country used this kind of tech; it was basically satellite- grademunication. They couldn''t trace Henry''s private number directly, so they had to break through the encryption. Finn. did need some time for that. "Henry must have an elite IT expert on his side. I can try tracing the path; but it''ll take time. Don''t get your hopes up. Someone like this knows how to wipe everyst trace of themselves clean." "That''s fine. Do it." Before they left, Bernard went over to the finance department to pick something up. When he came back out, Waylon and Chase were already waiting in the car; the tension between them hung thick in the air. One was worried about his wife; the other, about the case. Wendy hadn''t called back yet-but Mario did. "Aimee already went to the Harrison mansion. She''s there as Typhoon Corp''s lead reporter, Mario said. With the Harrison family involved, they couldn''t have forgetten about Mario. Chapter 173 No Room for Mistakes Waylon raised his voice over the phone. "You guys better not stir up trouble. I''ve got my hands full here Larry''s been missing for days-we don''t even know if he''s alive or dead. Mario chuckled. "She''s got her press credentials; it''s a formal interview. Everything''s legit-don''t worry With a case like this, Typhoon Corp was bound to get involved, especially with the Harrison family, Personally and professionally, Mario was always going to send someone. After Aimee was acknowledged by the Meyer family, Caesar''s position became even more solid; and Aimee''s rsum was outstanding-getting into Typhoon Corp had been a breeze. Sending Aimee to cover this story had been discussed between Caesar and Mario. Most reporters wouldn''t be able to dig this deep-but Aimee already knew about Mario''s connection to the Harrisons. She was a smart girl. She''d know exactly what questions to ask to get the answers she needed. All things considered, she was the best pick for the job. "Mr. Fred, you heading to the scer? Look out for my girl, will you? You''ve met her before. "Sure." Though honestly, Waylon was so swamped, he could barely take care of himself- never mind anyone else. After chatting in the car for a bit, Waylon got out and returned to his own vehicle. Chase waited for Bernard to return, then stepped on the gas and headed back to the hospital. Wendy wasn''t home, and there was no point going back early. He''d rather wait at the hospital for updates. Being at home would only make the anxiety worse. Thanks to the surveince data Finn had dug up, they''d gged two vehicles as highly suspicious; their routes matched Larry''s disappearance exactly. But another question still remained-no one knew where Larry''s car had gone. That night, Waylon didn''t leave the Harrison mansion until after ten. His team was still stationed there, but there wasn''t enough room for everyone to stay. So Waylon headed back-only to get called over by Chase to Shuiyun Pavilion for a strategy session. When he arrived, he realized Lemon, Caesar, and Mario were already there. "We''ve checked the surrounding areas. No abandoned cars. Even if they knocked Larry out and took him, where''s his car? That shy red sports car of his no way it could''ve slipped past us, no matter which tunnel they used." They were all regrs here; no need to even look at a menu. Ash brought out a few dishes tailored to each of their tastes. 542 My movie 174 Chapter 174 A New Lead In situations like this, Lemon had nothing to contribute; she just ate quietly and listened. +8 Pearls It was Caesar who finally said, "That red sports car is a little too conspicuous. What if... the tunnel... I''ve got an idea, but it sounds a little far-fetched-probably impossible to pull off." Mario gave Caesar a look and instantly understood. He asked Waylon, "Were there any big trucks at the scene? The kind with containers-like freight trucks?" They''d already reviewed the footage from every traffic cam multiple times. Waylon could recall the key info without even thinking. Big trucks, containers-there had actually been one that showed up in one of the tunnels. "There was just one huge one. Looked like it was hauling fruit or something." Caesar said, I saw a movie once-actually, just a clip-where a car entered a tunnel and never came out. Turned out the car had been loaded into a massive truck inside the tunnel. That''s why it vanished." That actually opened up a whole new possibility. "It would exin why Larry''s car never exited. In reality, both Larry and the car were transported out. I''m just worried... is Larry even still alive?" "He should be." A knock came from the door just then, followed by a girl''s voice. Aimee walked in, dressed in simple workwear; her pant legs were soaked. The moment Aimee entered, Caesar got up quickly and went over to her. Ash followed behind her, with a few staff members carrying towels and a change of clothes for women. "Go change first; we''ll talk after." Aimee was about to say something but Caesar cut her off and pushed her toward the bathroom. She had no choice but to hand over her press credentials to her brother. Ten minutester, Aimee came out looking fresh and dry. Ash took her wet clothes, saying they''d be washed, dried, and returned. Aimee had no idea the service at the Watering Hole was this good; her mouth hung open for a second, but no words came out. "What''s it like at the scene?" Chase asked. Aimee waved a hand and gulped down a big ss of water. "Don''t even ask. Tons of reporters there-it''s chaos. No one dared fight me for the headline since I''m with Typhoon Corp, but the second anyone from the Harrison family showed up, everyone swarmed them." Mario handed Aimee a bowl of hot soup. "Why do you think Larry''s still alive?" "Based on what I know about Alfred." Aimee took a sip of soup; warmth returned to her body. She said, "If Henry''s really the one who took Larry, then sure, Larry''s in for hell-but he wouldn''t die that easily. Alfred 15:38 Mon, 26 Mayo MT Chapter 174 A New Lead -Henry-loved to torture people when he was abroad." + Pearls Back when Aimee had been secretly collecting intel, she''d already uncovered a lot of evidence of Alfred''s abuse. But once Alfred returned under the identity of Henry and scrubbed his record clean, none of that evidence could be used. To the country, Alfred was a brand-new man-not just Henry''s representative. "Larry ever do something to piss off Henry?" Aimee asked, confused. Lemon let out augh. "Not exactly. More like... jealousy. Two guys are fighting over a little inheritance. Henry was half-joking about it; Larry wasn''t. They both pulled a lot of crap on each other-out in the open and behind the scenes. Henry''s a petty man. What the heck did Wendy ever see in him?" Chase went quiet. That wasn''t just Lemon''s question-it was what everyone who knew the history between them wanted to ask. "Henry acted so weak and gentle in front of Wendy. Even I didn''t notice anything off." Thinking about how he''d basically let the tiger back into the mountains, Waylon got even more pissed. I said it before-if we''d just locked Henry up for a few days, I''d have had all the evidence I needed. But no, you all said no." Bigger picture, bigger picture-Waylon always worked with motive and evidence. If he had one of the two, he''d make a move. But Chase and the others prioritized the long game and the broader implications. And because of that, they''d missed plenty of chances. Chase said, "Alright, alright-I get it. We messed up. Aren''t we trying to fix it now?" As they talked, Chase kept ncing at his phone. The signal in Cliff Haven really was awful. Usually, it took several messages and over thirty minutes before Wendy replied-and even then, the replies weren''t immediate. "Tomorrow I''m going to question Henry. Damn it-this is the first time I''ve ever needed an appointment to talk to a suspect. Why''s it gotta be so damnplicated with Henry just because he came back from overseas?" Aimee said, "Unless it''s a major criminal case, anyone with status and identity overseas requires an appointment. If it''s serious enough, you won''t even get to see the suspect-you''ll only be allowed to speak to their representative. That person will answer your questions on their behalf. Waylon fell silent. Back when he was overseas, he''d track people down himself. No questions asked. Once h he''d haul them in. None of this red tape. ind them, My movie 175 Chapter 175 Dangerous Connections "Based on what you know about Alfred, where do you think Henry would keep someone? Mario asked Aimee. Aimee thought for a moment. "At Moses Group, Alfred had an entire floor just for keeping people locked up." Everyone looked shocked. Aimee nodded. "Yeah, that''s right-an entire floor. All kinds of rooms inside. When I was investigating, there were over a dozen people being held there." But that had been overseas. This was Gennemont. Locking someone up wasn''t so easy here; evading criminal investigations was even harder. Aimee hadn''t been back in the country long, and she honestly couldn''t figure out where Henry would keep someone now. Which was exactly why Waylon had been desperate to get ahold of Wendy. Among all of them, the only person who could be said to truly understand Henry was probably Wendy. And she''d gone up into the mountains, where the signal was spotty at best. "When''s Wendying back?" Caesar asked. Chase kept his eyes on his phone. "She said four or five days. Once the visiting experts leave the country, she''ll bring her project team back. But with all the rain up theretely, the signal''s been terrible." While Caesar was deep in conversation with the others about Henry, Mario was the one keeping an eye on Aime. Aimee had gotten used to her cousin-inw by now-especially since she''d officially joined Typhoon Corp. Most of her tasks had to be coordinated through Mario, who oversaw the majority of thepany''s operations. She got why the Meyer family had it out for Mario-he was just too good at what he did. Good enough that they were starting to worry he might end up running Typhoon Corp himself and shove the Meyer n out for good. Judging by his rtionship with his brother, though, their concerns seemed overblown. I''m done eating. I need to get back and check on their setup. You all carry on. If there''s any update on Wendy, let me know." Waylon stood, bracing one hand on the back of Lemon''s chair. He leaned down and added, "The weather''s been badtely; tell the driver to take it slow." Lemon nodded sweetly. No matter how fierce Lemon was in the entertainment industry, in front of her brother, she was always a soft, delicate girl. Even dating had to pass through his approval. As soon as Waylon left, Lemon wiped her mouth and said to Chase, "I''m dating Noah." Chase went quiet. Everyone froze for a beat. Chase instinctively looked over at her. 15:38 Mon 26 May M. Chapter 175 Dangerous Connections Mario chuckled. "Howe this never leaked? What''s Typhoon Corp entertainment department doing napping on the job?" Aimee silently mourned her coworkers. She didn''t work in the entertainment division. She was in the international department, handling major global stories as a dedicated correspondent. Typhoon Corp didn''t make its name in showbiz media anyway-they never focused on just one beat. Lemon checked her reflection in a mirror. "Noah''s not that well-known domestically yet, and I''ve been keeping a low profile. Didn''t want my brother catching on. He doesn''t like people in the entertainment business, and I haven''t figured out how to break it to him." Because of Waylon''s influence and Lemon''s ability to generate profit, she had avoided the fate of being forced into a business marriage. But as one of the Fred family''s heirs, she still couldn''t date just anyone. Even if it wasn''t an arranged match, her partner still needed to bring something valuable to the family. If Noah were as high-profile as Patrick, it might''ve been easier. "Then wait a bit. Isn''t Noah working on a new project?" Chase asked. Lemon nodded. "In Oceania. He''ll be there for two months. I''m going on a business trip next month and n to visit him." Mario chimed in, "Keep your head down around the paparazzi. A scoop like this? We''ve got to make sure Typhoon Corp gets the exclusive." Lemon sighed. "You really never stop working, huh? Noah and I weren''t nning to go public yet. We''ll see." As the group chatted, Aimee only picked at her food, busy editing an article on her phone. She also sent all the on-site photos back to the office. Right now, she was still living with her adoptive parents, who had moved into Jin Yue Mansion-not far from where Caesar and Mario lived. She should''ve gone straight home, but she wanted to be the first to publish her story. So she had her brother drop her off at the office instead. The CEO and Vice President were now stuck working overtime. with her. Outside, the rain hadn''t let up. When Chase got home, he took a hot shower, then messaged Wendy to see if she was resting. She didn''t call back for another ten minutes. The signal really was bad-her voice kept cutting in and out-but just hearing her reassured him. "Sammy already told me. Whether Larry lives or dies doesn''t really matter. But if Henry''s ling moves like this on home turf, every yer in the business world is going to start wondering if theant him as an enemy. And once that happens, the whole bnce of power between the big corporations could shift. I''m thinking about helping Waylon crack the case." My movie 176 Chapter 176 Hot Milk Wendy had just finished showering and was lying in bed with a face mask on. It had rained in the mountains; the ground was damp, and everything around felt moist. Wendy wasn''t used to the humidity and had a mild allergic reaction-red rashes had started to car on her face. Thankfully, Sammy had brought allergy medicine and had just helped apply it before heading back to her own room. Chase let out a sigh. "That''s what I''ve been saying too, but there''s so much going on, I don''t even know where to start. Waylon''s got a death grip on the Harrison family, and neither Fabien nor Millie has shown their face." Now that Henry and Larry were gone, all of Harrison Group''s affairs were being handled by Fabien, alone. With something this big happening, thepany''s stock had also started to fluctuate; Fabien was growing more and more anxious. "Don''t panic. From what I know about Henry, if Larry really is in his hands, he won''t kill him that quickly. He''ll want to take his time and y with him. You''ve still got-time. As long as Larry''s alive, I can stabilize the situation as soon as I''m back." The timing of Larry''s disappearance couldn''t have been more perfect. Typhoon Corp had only just established itself in Gennemont a few days ago, and the person in charge of Quinn Group one of the giants in the business world-was away on a business trip. When word got out, plenty of people worried Henry might be behind it. They wanted to reach out to Wendy for advice, but there was no signal in the mountains. Some were even worried Wendy had gone missing too. Luckily, Maggie, Jeremy, and the others at Quinn Group were holding down the fort and confirmed that Wendy was safe and sound. "Cliff Haven''s roads are slick; you have to be really careful. Why don''t I juste find you? I don''t have any surgeries lined up for the next few days-I coulde stay with you." Wendy had originally wanted Chase toe. The mountain scenery was beautiful, and even the rain couldn''t hide the charm of the ce. She had hoped Chase could see it with his own eyes. She''d even already decided, once Cliff Haven was finished being built, she wanted to set aside a house for the two of them. The noise of the city was exhausting; they could hide away in the mountains instead. But things had been too busytely. Even if Chase came, she wouldn''t have time to be with him; besides, the slippery roads really were dangerous. Wendy reached up and touched her cheek with her fingertips. Remembering her allergy, she quickly said, "Forget it. It''s fine. I''ll be back in three or four days. Just wait for me at home." There was a brief pause. "Okay," Chase said. "I''ll wait for you at home." Zynn hadn''t been sleeping well in the mountains. With barely any signal, her phone might as well have been a paperweight. For someone like Zynn, who basically couldn''t function without her phone, it was torture. Chapter 176 Hot Milk The TV was on in the room; the noise from some variety show buzzed in the background, but it wasnt doing anything to calm her down. She nced down at her phone. Spotty reception; a message hade in about twenty minutes ago. Patrick handled a lot of work directly with Zynn. She had to admit-Patrick was an interesting guy. Zynn often got stuck in work mode and couldn''t snap out of it; chatting with Patrick for a bit always pulled her right back to herself. Patrick had texted: "You''re in the mountains, I''m in the mountains too. Zynn let out a chuckle. She remembered Patrick had just joined the shoot- seemed like this one had a mountain set. Zynn texted back: "It rains all the time here. Every single day. I hate this kind of weather." She had just hit send when someone knocked on the door. She was staying on the same side as Sammy and Wendy and figured it was Sammying to talk about work for tomorrow. Still in her pajamas, she got up and opened the door. The moment she saw who it was, she frowned. She pulled the door in toward herself slightly, clearly not nning to let him in. "What are you doing here?" Gavin held up a thermos. "I know you don''t sleep well when it rains. I brought you some hot milk. Drink it before bed." Zynn nced at it and said quietly, "It''s fine. I don''t need it. Give it to one of your coworkers." She started to close the door. Earlier that day, Gavin had been hanging around some coworker-Zynn thought her name was Linda. She''d been glued to his side, and every time Gavin so much as looked in Zynn''s direction, Linda would re daggers at her. As a woman, there was no way she''d miss Linda''s signals. Zynn couldn''t help but smile a little. And Gavin had imed he''d been alone all those years overseas- sure didn''t look that way now. Just as she was about to close the door, Gavin reached out and blocked it with his hand. He looked at her, a little hurt. "Can you not do this? Can''t we at least be friends? I remember you used to love drinking milk. Every night before bed, you''d ask me to heat some up for you. What, now that you hate me, you won''t even drink milk anymore?" It was unbelievable how someone could be so full of himself. Zynn didn''t even know what to say. She justid it all out for him. "It''s just a little thing. It''s not that I don''t drink milk-l just don''t want anything to do with you. Gavin, we broke up. A long time ago. Do you get that?" 542 1 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!