Chapter 579 An Uneasy Encounter
Mr. Johnson stayed behind to talk with Nora. “Nora, you can’t blame your grandma. She’s just upset because of Morgan. You’re his real sister–you haven’t forgotten how close you two were when you were kids, have you? How protective he was of you? He’s the one person in this world who loves you most. No matter what, you can’t be the one to abandon him, right?”
Nora’s swollen lips tugged into a faint smile. She looked up and said, “Father, I’ll save my brother.”
Seeing her so obedient, Mr. Johnson lowered his voice. “You still have some sway with Wyatt. Sometimes you have to take the initiative. Don’t play so high and mighty. He’s only known Yunice a few days–you and he have real history.”
Then, with a note of regret, he added, “Back when Yunice, that outcast from the Saunders family, was engaged to Morgan, we didn’t think much of her. If I’d known Wyatt would end up picking her, we should’ve locked her and Morgan in a room and gotten it over with. Would’ve saved us all this trouble.”
But it was too late for regrets now.
After that, Mr. Johnson offered one final reminder. “Wyatt doesn’t want to see you right now, but I paid a lot to get my hands on his schedule. Find the right moment and get him on your side. If you fail, your grandma won’t let you back in the house, and I won’t be able to help you either.”
“… Yes, Father,” Nora said softly.
Northvale Hospital had been running smoothly for three months now.
Wyatt brought Yunice along to inspect the premises–his version of a surprise visit to observe how things were operating.
Wyatt didn’t know a thing about medicine, but Yunice could tell at a glance who actually knew what they were doing and who was just leeching off a cushy position.
She handled the assessments; Wyatt jotted down names in his little notebook, ready to call them out in a meeting later to make an example of them.
“Wyatt!” Jordan jogged over to them. “Wyatt, Ma’am, the director said there’s a new batch of medicine that might be problematic. A few doses have already been used. We need someone both skilled and trustworthy to assess the potential fallout.”
Skilled and trustworthy–obviously, that meant Yunice.
She had a background in pharmaceuticals and medicine, and as Wyatt’s wife, she was the perfect candidate.
The three of them headed toward the director’s office. As they passed the rehab center, Yunice suddenly felt lightheaded.
“Jordan! I’m not late, am I?” Joe rushed over, then lit up when he spotted Yunice. “Hey, you’re here too? Great, the more the merrier!”
Jordan quickly explained, “The director didn’t know you’d be helping, so he notified Joe first.”
But that wasn’t a problem. Another pair of hands was always good.
Just then, Yunice said, “You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
Wyatt shot her a look, clearly picking up on something. Yunice said, “I just want to walk around a bit. One of the school research projects is related to these departments. If I don’t check now, I’ll have to come back later.”
“I’ll come with you,” Wyatt offered.
“No need. The director’s probably waiting on your decision.”
Then she frowned. “Stop hovering. It’s not like I’m not coming back.”
Jordan and Joe exchanged a look. These two were practically glued to each other.
Yunice shooed Wyatt away, and he didn’t press the issue.
Lately, she seemed to realize the upper hand she had and was much quicker to snap at him. He had no choice but to indulge her.
After Wyatt disappeared down the hall, Yunice pressed a hand to her forehead and turned toward the rehab center.
There was something about the smell in there–it made her dizzy and nauseous.
She walked in and spotted something stuck to the doorframe: a dried reed stick.
Its tip was charred black, still glowing faintly at the core as it released a thin stream of white smoke.
Burning dried reed stems was a traditional mosquito repellent–natural and effective.
But Yunice was extremely sensitive to the smell. Just a whiff gave her vertigo and nausea.
She plucked it down, pulled a spray bottle from her bag, and doused the ember until it went out.
Open flames were banned in hospitals anyway. This thing was definitely against the rules.
She was just about to head to the director’s office when she suddenly heard a loud thump behind her–the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the ground hard.
Yunice knew that sound well. She’d heard it countless times in hospitals. It was the kind of fall that happened when a frail patient lost control of their body. No defense, no warning. The kind of fall that could mean broken bones–or worse.
She looked back instinctively, but the rehab center seemed empty.
She stepped inside and found the source.
Underneath a pair of parallel bars, a woman lay collapsed on the floor.
Even from behind, it was clear she had a delicate frame, long black hair falling in soft waves over her pale neck. One look, and you could tell she was a striking young woman.
Hearing footsteps, the girl turned her head.
Yunice stopped in her tracks.
The woman on the floor… was Nora.