Chapter 400 Buried Intentions
As Yunice and Tommy made their way toward the patient wards, Tommy glanced at her with confusion. “Why’d you insist on being paired with me? Your brother seemed pretty worried about you.”
“I had a few questions to ask,” Yunice replied. “Didn’t want to bring them up earlier with so many people around.”
Now that it was just the two of them, the timing was perfect.
She looked at him directly. “Why did you vouch for me?”
Yes, she was technically a med student—but she had never attended a single class. Tommy had every reason to doubt her skills.
“I’m curious about what you’re actually capable of,” he said with a shrug. “So I figured I’d see for myself.”
Yunice raised an eyebrow. “And what are you doing here as a volunteer?”
She hadn’t expected to run into anyone familiar in a place like this.
Tommy let out a sigh. “You think I wanted this? Bad luck. After I got turned down at the Cooper family, I came here to interview at Saunders Hospital. The place got sealed off the same day—trapped me inside.”
“Interview?” Yunice echoed, genuinely surprised.
Saunders Hospital was barely staying afloat, while the Cooper family was one of Silverburgh’s top medical employers—comparing the two was like comparing the sky to the dirt. Most people would aim for a second-tier institution after a rejection—not a forgotten little hospital like Saunders.
“I’ve had enough rejections,” Tommy admitted. “Thought I’d take a breather somewhere smaller. And who says small hospitals can’t be good? Saunders Hospital has a deep history—used to be pretty prestigious.”
“They specialized in rare and complex diseases,” he went on. “They only declined because of mismanagement. If I can help restore that reputation… it’d be something to be proud of.”
Yunice gave him a few seconds of silent appraisal. “You’ve got some ambition.”
Then she shifted the topic. “How long have you been volunteering? Do you know anything about the infection? Any deaths?”
Tommy shook his head. “No deaths so far. And the patient… his family’s got deep pockets. I heard they’ve funneled a huge amount of money into the hospital. They said no matter the cost, he has to be saved.”
Yunice silently thought, Taylor’s probably losing her mind out there.
And indeed—Taylor was not doing well.
Her father’s condition was critical. His assistant was dead. The Kendall family had been gutted of its core leadership. Her mother had returned to the company, trying to steady the ship while publicly denying that anything was wrong with Mr. Gerardo.
Taylor, meanwhile, was scrambling to coordinate resources, looking for ways to support her father’s treatment. She’d even reached out to Wyatt—they were on the same side now, both with loved ones trapped inside.
In stark contrast, the Powell family was perfectly calm.
In fact, they’d chosen this exact moment to summon both Wyatt and Taylor to the Powell estate.
Paul lounged comfortably with other Powell elders, exuding detachment. Wyatt and Taylor, sitting stiffly across from them, were clearly the outsiders in the room.
Noticing Taylor’s pale face, Paul smiled with feigned concern. “Didn’t you run crying back to Daddy, demanding he back you up? Funny… it’s been so long, and yet here you are, all alone. What’s wrong? Daddy not showing up to protect his little girl?”
“Or maybe,” he added, “he’s so embarrassed by you that he’s hiding.”
Taylor’s fists clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms.
She wanted to lunge at him—but she couldn’t.
The Kendall family was already on the brink. Her mother was barely holding the company together. She couldn’t afford to make another enemy—not now.
She had to endure. At least until her father stabilized.
Across from her, Wyatt lifted his gaze and looked directly at Paul. “Do you know where Mr. Gerardo is?”
Paul, caught in the crosshairs of that piercing stare, stiffened slightly—just enough to betray his nerves. Wyatt leaned back lazily in his chair, the corners of his mouth twitching into a cold smile.
Paul hated that look on him—so calm, so controlled, like everything was already in his hands. Wyatt didn’t blink. His stare zeroed in on the flickers in Paul’s expression, reading every detail. “You do know where he is,” Wyatt said flatly.
Taylor turned sharply toward him.
They had kept Mr. Gerardo’s condition a tightly guarded secret. Why was Wyatt saying this now?
Then came the real accusation.
“Mr. Gerardo’s infection was part of your plan, wasn’t it?”
Taylor turned to Paul in shock.
She had always known Paul was up to no good—but she’d never dared imagine this.
Wyatt continued, voice sharp and deliberate. “The original outbreak was in the remote north. Mr. Gerardo was working in the south. So how did he become the first infected?”