Chapter 99: All Eyes on the Launch
Chase nodded. “Now that the hospital’s going commercial, 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 balance life and death. And Chase was among the best.
Wendy changed the subject. “I’ve signed with Henry. He’ll be at the company 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 about the partnership or their personal history. What drew the most attention was the couple reunited after years apart. But after all those years, their reunion was purely business. Henry was divorced with a child; Wendy was married.
Simultaneously, Zynn mobilized the PR team, pushing a narrative of Wendy and Chase’s happy marriage, implying Henry couldn’t come between them. It was a ploy to provoke Henry into action.
Within a week of the partnership, Henry’s visits to Quinn Group sharply increased. The paparazzi, sensing gossip, snapped plenty of shots of the two leaving together.
“All planted by Henry’s PR team. Just ignore it,” Wendy said. By now, she and Chase shared complete trust, free from jumping to conclusions over rumors or insecurities.
Chase smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve come to understand your public relations 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 worked overtime to meet Harrison Group collaboration deadlines. People left the office with dark circles under their eyes, cursing Harrison Group under their breath. “How am I supposed to enjoy the New Year like this?”
“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 felt it too. “Raise year-end bonuses by 3%. We made good money from this Harrison Group deal. After the company’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’s launch. 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. Melody and the secretary’s office had handled all the arrangements; Wendy and Chase only needed to show up. She would bring 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.
Life had been peaceful lately. Wendy and Chase were finally enjoying their happiness. But tonight’s attendees posed the greatest threat. Henry and Larry were both attending, each representing their own companies, with separate gifts prepared. When they crossed paths, their smiles were stiff; there was no love lost. Yet the Harrison family still pushed press releases about their close sibling relationship. 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.
“Relax,” 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 couldn’t 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 Meyer 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.