Chapter 89

Chapter 89

"As long as you help me get this done, all this money is yours. But you can't tell Stella about this."

"What?"

Dr. Wilson was even more shocked. "Mr. Jackson, are you asking me to perform an abortion on Ms. Hall without her knowledge?"

"How can that be right? What if Ms. Hall finds out? She'll be devastated."

"No, no, no. I can't do something like this. I can't take your money."

Dr. Wilson quickly pushed the thick envelope back across the desk.

But Nicholas didn't move. His voice remained calm, almost gentle. "Dr. Wilson, you need to think carefully about whether what you're doing is right or wrong."

"Of course it's wrong."Dr. Wilson snapped, stomping his foot in agitation. "I'm a doctor. How could I do something so unconscionable? Unless Ms. Hall tells me herself, I won't do it."

"What I want is exactly what she wants."

Nicholas's eyes darkened. "I wouldn't lie to you about something like this."

Hearing this, Dr. Wilson hesitated a bit. "This… this doesn't seem right!"

Seeing the doctor still resistant, Nicholas leaned forward and spoke with quiet conviction.

"I'm doing this for her own good. Besides, Stella already knows. She's the one who brought up the idea of terminating the pregnancy. Otherwise, why would I make this decision for her?"

He spread his hands in a helpless gesture.

"She's already made up her mind, but the whole thing is just too heartbreaking. Stella had no choice but to ask me to explain it to you on her own behalf. She's soft-hearted and doesn’t want to make such a cruel decision herself."

Dr. Wilson hadn't expected this twist. He wavered.

If this truly was Stella's own decision, then as her doctor he should respect the patient's wishes.

"Are you sure you're not lying to me?"

Dr. Wilson asked skeptically.

Based on Stella's condition when he'd last seen her, he found it hard to believe she could make such a choice.

But Nicholas nodded without hesitation, his voice showing no doubt.

"Yes. I have no reason to lie to you. If you don't believe me, you can go and verify it with her yourself."

As he spoke, his heart pounded.

If Dr. Wilson actually went to Stella, the entire scheme would collapse.

But he was willing to gamble.

He was betting that Dr. Wilson would believe him.

Before Dr. Wilson could ask anything else, Nicholas slid the bank card forward again.

"Our main concern is not harming her body—or at least minimizing the harm to her body. Stella has just gone through some family troubles, and I don't want her body to suffer any more damage."

He spoke earnestly, every word dripping with concern.

Dr. Wilson looked at him, then at the bank card.

Avoiding the surveillance camera's view, he finally pocketed it.

He gave a fake laugh, putting on a righteous air.

"I'm not taking this as a bribe, you understand. Just… to give you both peace of mind."

Dr. Wilson's voice was very low,barely audible unless someone was standing right beside him.

Nicholas nodded knowingly and went along with his words.

"Dr. Wilson, with you personally performing the procedure, we'll definitely feel at ease. Thank you for taking care of this."

Dr. Wilson smiled with satisfaction.

"In that case, I can't ignore a patient’s wishes. But you need to be absolutely sure about this decision. Once it's done, there's no going back."

Dr. Wilson offered those final words as his last shred of professional responsibility.

Nicholas simply nodded and said nothing more.

Meanwhile, night was falling.

When Alexander arrived home, the living room was brightly lit.

Joseph sat upright on the sofa, leaning on his cane, with a rare smile on his face.

Brian sat beside him. The moment he saw Alexander enter, he shot him a meaningful look.

"You're back?"

Joseph spoke first, his tone gentler than usual.

Alexander changed his shoes and walked in, nodding slightly as a greeting.

"Grandfather."

Joseph studied him intently before asking,

"How was your dinner with Wendy today?"

Facing his inquiry, Alexander sat down casually, his expression calm.

"It was fine."

"What do you mean by 'fine'?" Joseph frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the vague answer.

"I know Wendy well. Her looks and figure are top-notch, plus she has a good family background. You two know each other inside out - she's more than good enough for you. You're at the age where you should be starting a family."

Alexander listened to the lecture in silence, picking up a glass of water from the coffee table and taking a slow sip.

Seeing his complete lack of interest, Joseph actually chuckled.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that right now. There’s something else I want to discuss with you today."

He paused, his tone shifting to one of approval.

"Over the past month, you've led the company very well. Everyone in the company can see it. Several major projects are progressing smoothly, and even Steven has been praising you to me."

Hearing these pleasantries, Alexander remained silent, though his eyes seemed somewhat distant.

Joseph didn't notice his odd behavior and continued smiling.

"You used to be so unreliable, and I worried myself sick. Now it's better - you're finally giving me some peace of mind. If you keep this up, I'll feel confident handing over the entire Brown Group to you in the future."

"Grandpa, thank you for your appreciation."

Alexander finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.

This past month, he'd thrown himself into work desperately, just to keep himself from thinking about Stella.

But whenever night fell and the house grew quiet, her image would still uncontrollably appear in his mind, filling him with worry and restless dreams.
Joseph, seeing he hadn't mentioned Stella, nodded with satisfaction and changed the subject.

"By the way, Wendy has just returned to the country and hasn't found a suitable job yet."

Hearing this, Alexander felt an ominous premonition.

The next second, Joseph's words made his blood run cold.

"I've been thinking - why not have her work at the company as your assistant?"

Seeing his matter-of-fact attitude, Alexander suddenly looked up, his eyes turning cold.

"No."

Faced with the outright refusal, Joseph's expression also darkened.

"Why not? Wendy has an excellent education and strong abilities. Having her as your assistant would be beneath her qualifications. Besides, you two grew up together and understand each other - you'd work together more smoothly."

"Grandpa, I don't need an assistant."

Alexander's tone was cold and hard. "My current assistant is doing just fine. There's no need to replace anyone."

"I'm not asking you to replace anyone."

Joseph waved his hand dismissively, clearly determined.

"What's wrong with having one more assistant? We can certainly afford it."