Chapter 53 Esme Impersonates Catherine
"Esme, the dark web is full of rich people. You can easily make a lot of money."
Esme's heart itched with temptation. She carefully opened the dark web and indeed found many high-paying orders.
Several pinned orders were all from the same account, with no takers.
"Ethan is recruiting Phantom Doctor to treat his family, offering one billion dollars! That's so much money! But I don't know medicine."
Although she majored in medicine in college, she never attended those classes. Those people were too scary, actually dissecting mice and rabbits. Esme found them crude and disgusting.
So for all her courses, she paid others to attend for her. Now, forget about medical skills—she couldn't even understand basic prescriptions!
Lucy was dismissive.
"Didn't you study medicine? How hard can it be to see one patient? I see many doctors just search online when treating patients and randomly prescribe medicine. If anything goes wrong, you can just ask Gavin. This is a rare chance to show your skills."
The key was one billion dollars!
Esme was incredibly tempted!
But she was afraid she wouldn't be able to say anything when the time came. Better check out other orders first!
She closed the computer, not noticing she had accidentally clicked to accept the order.
"I'm going to school for the exam first. I'll check what simpler orders are available when I get back."
"Okay."
Esme usually paid people to take exams for her, but now she didn't have a cent and couldn't afford the fee, so she had to take the exam herself!
George finished a surgery and, without time to rest, rushed to the lab.
He knew exactly what the doctors in his lab were like—all arrogant and proud. Even he had to work hard at first to get them to willingly listen to him!
If he came back late, those guys would definitely bully Catherine!
As soon as he entered the lab, George saw Gavin sitting there, carefully examining over three hundred samples.
"Gavin? What are you doing here? Where's Catherine?"
"She went to eat with Mr. Howard. I just wanted to look at the data again and analyze it with you."
Alexander really knew how to time things!
George knew his earlier suggestion to eat together was a lie—he just wanted to have dinner alone with Catherine, a date for two!
Gavin handed the research data to George.
George scanned through the data, his expression growing serious. Seeing Gavin's signature at the end, he understood.
Since this involved Felix and Marcus, Catherine probably wanted the data quickly, so she called Gavin to help with the experiment.
With Gavin there, it made sense the experimental data came out so fast!
"Gavin, we couldn't have done this experiment without you. Our lab just received a batch of new medicine samples—let me give you one!"
Gavin was thrilled!
Samples from George's lab were treasures you couldn't get even if you begged.
He didn't expect helping out would bring such rewards. The Windsor family really was generous!
Meanwhile, Alexander brought Catherine to a private restaurant in the city center.
To eat at this restaurant, you needed to verify your assets in advance. Without at least ten million dollars in savings, you wouldn't even be considered a target customer.
The restaurant owner stood bowing before Alexander. "Mr. Howard, your private room is ready. This way, please."
"Catherine, let's go."
Dishes were served one by one, each in small portions.
The owner explained, "Mr. Howard said he wanted to see what you like to eat, so in the future we'll only make dishes you enjoy! We won't sell any other dishes!"
Catherine frowned slightly. "Isn't this a bit much trouble? What about other customers?"
"Don't worry, the restaurant has been transferred to your name. From now on, we'll only serve your tastes!"
Alexander smiled. "Last time we drove past here, I saw you liked the courtyard. It happens to be a Howard Group property, so I transferred it to your name."
Last time she just casually mentioned the tree at the entrance looked nice, and now she somehow owned a restaurant?
"There's no need to cater everything to my taste. This is a restaurant—just operate normally."
"Of course, now it belongs to you, so you have decision-making power over everything."
The restaurant owner almost cried!
Catherine was so kind!
Actually, even if they didn't operate for a year, their salaries wouldn't be reduced, but who wouldn't want a considerate boss!
Catherine was silent for a moment, then looked at the restaurant owner.
"When I come here, I don't need any restrictions. Let me taste a bite of everything."
"Yes, we understand!"
Since this restaurant was now hers, spending time guiding the kitchen staff wouldn't be a problem.
The last chef she mentored became an international pastry master, though his skills were still pretty average.
Alexander looked at Catherine with tender affection!
"Do you like it here? The Howard Group has some other properties in this style. I'll take you to see them later."
Why would she need to visit all of the Howard Group's properties?
"Thank you for helping with my grandfather's medicine."
Catherine nodded, her clear eyes rippling like water, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Your grandfather and my grandfather are probably luring out enemies. The security lapses in the hospital aren't your fault. You don't need to blame yourself."
Alexander's eyes lit up!
Of course he could tell Felix and Marcus had planned this to lure out enemies—otherwise the hospital wouldn't have had so many incidents.
Felix and Marcus were giving those people opportunities to act, and also providing help to the younger generation. But for Alexander, he'd rather Felix enjoy his retirement in peace!
"Thank you for the comfort. I'm very happy!"
When Annie carefully knocked on the private room door, Alexander was rolling up his sleeves to peel shrimp for Catherine, the ruby cufflinks at his wrists gleaming.
They were the ones he wore when they went to The Velvet Lounge together last time, and he'd been wearing them ever since!
"Mr. Howard, I have new information."
Alexander elegantly wiped his hands, his expression refined.
"Just speak directly. No need to avoid Catherine—she can know everything about me."
"Yes. On the dark web, Phantom Doctor Moon accepted Ethan's recruitment."
Catherine was confused.
How did she not know she accepted Ethan's order?
"Ethan offered one billion dollars. After Moon accepted the order, she went offline, and Ethan blocked her IP."
"Okay, I understand."
The two people in the private room looked at each other and fell silent for a moment.
"May I ask, do you know any other Phantom Doctors?"
Catherine looked at him for a moment, feeling there was more to his words.
With his intelligence, he could naturally guess that Phantom Doctor was actually an organization!
"I do. One just died last month. The grave is still fresh—want to go see it?"
Alexander was speechless.
"Could the person who accepted the order be the maker of the Vitality Pills?"
"Maybe."
Catherine operated her phone and sent an encrypted message to Jupiter.
[Use Moon's account to post a denial.]
[Yes.]
Five minutes later, a new post from Phantom Doctor Moon appeared on the dark web.
Alexander saw the post, his lips curving into a smile!
"Your people are very interesting!"
Catherine was a bit confused. Alexander handed his phone to her, and they were almost leaning against each other, both able to smell each other's perfume.
The warmth from his arm made Catherine's face feel hot.
[I've always respected Ethan. Didn't accept the order, didn't switch jobs, didn't take money. Ethan has no brain. —Phantom Doctor Moon.]
Catherine was speechless.
The whole screen dripped with sarcasm. This was definitely something Mercury would do.