Chapter 55 Surprise
"Quinley didn't tell you, did she? She injured someone who's still lying in the ICU. She ran off quickly enough, but the other party won't let Skyline PR go. Ms. Morgan is still being held at the station, and the whole company is in chaos. If I weren't protecting her for your sake, she would have been arrested already."
Harold shrugged, looking helpless. He said half and left half unsaid, letting Zachary weigh it himself.
Quinley had caused trouble—serious trouble. He was covering for her, but might not be able to hold it together. Whether the other party wanted to settle quietly, demand an exorbitant sum, or go for mutual destruction was hard to say.
All things considered, two million to wash his hands of the matter simply wasn't enough.
Zachary understood Harold's implication. He just didn't want to let Quinley go.
Zachary pulled out cigarettes and a lighter, lit one up, the red tip flickering. He didn't speak, and neither did Harold.
After finishing the cigarette, Zachary asked, "Who was injured?"
"Mr. Hill from Bloomingville Estate."
"Which hospital?"
"Harmony Hospital."
After asking, Zachary turned to leave, but Harold called out to him.
"Mr. Jennings, your check!" Harold held the check between two fingers, smiling meaningfully.
Zachary grabbed the check and walked out of the conference room.
Outside the Davis Group building, Zachary instructed, "Go to Harmony Hospital."
Harmony Hospital was Rosewood City's most high-end private hospital, gathering the nation's top medical talent. Located in the southern suburbs, backed by mountains and facing a lake, it had beautiful scenery.
The place had one peculiar rule: no outpatient services. A simple hospital stay for minor ailments couldn't be done for less than thirty to fifty thousand dollars. For more serious conditions, three to five million might not be enough.
Ordinary people couldn't afford to come here. Over time, it had become a money pit for the wealthy and powerful.
Mike ran Rosewood City's largest leisure resort, which seemed profitable. But Lucas had investigated—the man didn't manage money well, lived recklessly, and he and his wife were estranged while she kept a lover on the side.
Bloomingville Estate was essentially an empty shell. Without money, he still came to Harmony Hospital to show off, clearly planning to make Quinley his scapegoat.
Zachary knew Harmony Hospital's director and had called ahead, so he didn't even need to go through admission procedures.
Mike was indeed in the ICU, but his condition wasn't as serious as Harold had made it sound.
When Zachary appeared, Mike's woman was holding her phone, curled up on the sofa by the window having a long conversation.
She was in her forties, middle-aged and plump, with three or four layers of fat around her waist. Her face had no wrinkles, only traces of plastic surgery.
She spoke in a coquettish voice, "Baby, I miss you. Can we meet at the usual place tonight?"
Lucas followed behind Zachary, getting goosebumps all over.
The woman didn't notice anyone behind her, continuing to act coquettish while making kissing sounds at her phone.
Suddenly she turned around and nearly dropped her phone in shock.
"You must be Mrs. Hill. We're friends of Mr. Hill's. Hearing he was hospitalized, we came specially to visit." Lucas said.
Mike's woman frantically picked up her phone and quickly hung up, looking suspiciously at the two men.
"What kind of friends are you to Mike?"
The woman was fairly shrewd, questioning them cautiously.
"Drinking buddies." Zachary replied indifferently.
He was handsome with a tall, slender frame. Though his expression was cold, his noble bearing was evident—a perfect example of the ascetic type.
Very much to Mrs. Hill's taste. She boldly approached Zachary, putting on a tearful act.
"Thank you for coming to see Mike. He's unlucky, injured by that little bitch. If something happens to him, how will we widows and orphans survive?"
She wailed dramatically and lunged toward Zachary as if to embrace him.
Zachary reacted quickly, stepping back rapidly. The woman missed and fell to her knees, face-planting on the floor.
"Mrs. Hill, you're too kind. Such a grand gesture—we can't accept it. We were just passing by today and dropped in to see Mr. Hill. If he's fine, we'll come again another day!" Lucas smiled.
Zachary gave him a look and strode toward the exit.
The woman had been rebuffed and was unwilling to give up. Seeing Zachary about to leave, she quickly got up from the floor and tried to block him again.
"You're leaving right after arriving? Oh my, if Mike knew I'd neglected his friends, he'd definitely be angry. Look, it's already dinner time. How about I treat you to a meal? The restaurant here is quite good."
Lucas timely held her back. "Mrs. Hill, you're too kind. We have an appointment. Another time."
"How about today?" Mrs. Hill didn't want to let this "fat meat" escape and tried to detain them forcibly.
But Lucas held her back while she watched Zachary walk away helplessly.
Downstairs at the inpatient building, Zachary stood tall and elegant. Lucas shook off Mrs. Hill and caught up.
"Mr. Jennings, aren't we going to negotiate a settlement with her?"
Lucas was full of questions.
"No need now. Find out who her 'baby' is."
Zachary wouldn't miss such a surprising windfall.
"Yes, Mr. Jennings." Lucas nodded.
That afternoon, Colin was sleeping while Marlee dozed on the sofa.
Quinley took a basin to the laundry room to wash Colin's dirty clothes he'd just changed out of.
When she finished hanging the clothes and returned, she encountered Ruby and Sadie in Colin's room.
"Quinley." Sadie spoke sweetly, standing up to link arms with Quinley when she saw her return.
"Quinley, you're being too distant. We're all sisters—when such a big thing happened at home, why didn't you tell us?"
She usually wasn't close to Quinley and would even join in when others put her down. But now she linked arms intimately with Quinley as if they were real sisters.
Quinley felt an ominous premonition rising in her heart. Just as she was about to shake off Sadie's hand, Ruby stood up.
She'd always maintained a cold, aloof image, but now seemed like a different person too.
She took Quinley's other arm. "Quinley, don't be afraid. We're account managers, not prostitutes. That Mike is clearly trying to extort you. Your sisters will definitely back you up."
"Bang!" The fruit plate in Marlee's hands hit the floor.
Her face turned ashen, her hands trembling constantly. "Quinny, didn't you say you were working as a secretary at a big company?"
"Quinley didn't tell you? She's now our company's top account manager. But don't misunderstand—we're not prostitutes. We just accompany clients for meals and drinks, and occasionally have some fun."
Sadie explained casually. Before she finished speaking, Marlee's vision went black and she collapsed softly to the floor.
Quinley rushed over. "Mom—" She shook Marlee's shoulders, but Marlee had fainted and wouldn't wake up.
"I'm sorry, Quinley. I didn't know your mom didn't know." Sadie pouted innocently in apology.
Ruby crossed her arms and snapped, "You talk too much!"
"Didn't you say something too?" Sadie retorted.
"Get out!" Quinley didn't turn around, speaking coldly.
The two women exchanged glances, having achieved their goal, and quickly retreated from the room.
That person was so eager to strike—did they want to destroy her completely?