Audrey let out a soft chuckle, her eyes warming instantly.
Carson found himself staring. When Audrey’s face relaxed, it was like a spring breeze had swept in, her lips shy and the corners of her eyes faintly all- every bit the picture of a smitten young woman.
Audrey’s social life in Ironhaven was simplicity itself. Work and housework were her only worlds. She had no hobbies to speak of
Clayton rarely brought ho
to hand
out with his friends, and when he did, it was usually just to make her his chauffeur.
Thanks to Clayton’s attitude, his buddies never bothered to be nice to Audrey, and she didn’t reach out to them, so she was on neutral terms with all of
them.
The only reason she knew Carson better
was that he was a doctor, and she’d visited him for minor issues over the years.
Carson couldn’t figure out who Audrey could’ve started seeing so soon after turning him down. He glanced at Paul, hoping for a clue, but Paul was stating out the window, acting like he didn’t care while carefully eavesdropping.
The man on the phone had a voice similar to the one that had answered Audrey’s call that night, but the tone was totally different, so he couldn’t tell yet if they were the same person.
Audrey shot Carson a look, sidled slightly to one side, and covered her phone to ask, “You here for work?”
Yann must be in the hospital too and had clearly heard their fight with Clayton and Lillian.
“Meeting a friend,” Yann said, standing at the far end of the fire escape and blowing out a thin trail of smoke. “Call me when you’re done.”
Audrey said yes and hung up.
Yann turned to the man behind him. “When are you going back?”
The man was polished in a white coat with gold–rimmed glasses. He was Quentin, the police station’s consultant who’d confirmed Luna wasn’t autistic during that precinct visit.
“I’ve got another surgery to perform, and it needs to be filmed for research materials. I’ll head back once it’s done.” Quentin flicked a glance at Yann’s phone, hands stuffed in his pockets. “You don’t drop by just to say hi. What’s the deal?”
A frigid chill rolled off Yann as his icy, penetrating gaze locked onto a hospital room not far away.
That afternoon, Valerie arrived at the hospital with a sandwich. As she stepped into the elevator, she caught two nurses murmuring.
“Any word on the match yet?” one asked.
“RH–negative is a tough find, but they’re close. Heard the patient’s offering a massive payout and an apartment in Ashbourne to the donor!”
“Ashbourne? Those apartments each go for 300 thousand dollars!”
“It’s not just the cash. Living in Ashbourne would make schooling a breeze for kids. Too bad my husband’s not RH–negative, or I’d sign him up myself.”
Valerie was glued to the conversation until the elevator dinged and one nurse exited. She edged closer to the other. “What exactly does the matching process require?” she probed.
The nurse eyed her suspiciously.
Valerie hurried to explain, “My husband’s a patient here. He’s RH–negative. He’s all about giving back. He’s even talked about organ donation after he’s
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Chapter 150
gone. Helping someone while he’s still alive would mean the world to him
The nurse’s posture relaxed, and she walked Valerie through the steps. Valerie committed every detail to memory, fier strifejl ketemp way to the hospital room.
In the cardiothoracic ward, Layla greeted Audrey warmly. She showered Carson with thanks, calling him a gifted Healer.
“I’m flattered,” Carson said, waving off the praise.
Something seemed off between Paul and Luther. Multiple times, Luther cut Paul off, steering the conversation toward business deals.
As they prepared to leave, Paul suddenly told Layla, “The surgery went well. From now on, take your health seriously. Don’t let anything get you worked up, no matter what happens.”
Luther’s face grew stern.
Layla eyed her husband, sensing Paul’s health comes first, always.”
Words held hidden meaning. Having weathered many storms, she replied calmly, “Mr. Gibson, don’t worry, y
“Good to hear,” Paul said, waving Luther off. “Stay with Mrs. Kent. No need to see us out.” Then he sauntered out of the room, locking rather pleased with himself.
“Audrey.” Carson stepped closer to her. “I’m really busy,” she said quickly. “Ask the toy store to assemble it for you.”
Carson’s expression fell. He forced a smile. “Sure. Once it’s ready, I’ll pick you up to check it out at my place.”
Before she could turn him down, he headed for the stairwell. “I’ve got to go. We’ll talk later.”
After he left, Paul didn’t bother hiding his satisfaction. “Let me drive you home after dinner.”
“No, I’ve got other plans,” Audrey said.
Paul turned and pointed at her phone. “With your male roommate?”
“Yeah,” Audrey said, not shying away.
“Invite him then. He’s your friend.” Paul wanted to size this mystery man up.
Tiffany’s explanation for the coffee seemed reasonable enough. But Audrey–someone with no connections–pulling off paperwork that even Tiffany and Edana couldn’t? ‘She must have help,‘ Paul thought.
And Malcolm, the heir of Samson Legal, who usually only took cases worth over 300 thousand dollars, going all out for her car accident claim and suing. —Clayton? Paul couldn’t shake his suspicions about Audrey,
Audrey stepped into the elevator and remained silent før a beat. “Probably not a good idea,” she finally said.
Paul smirked, growing even surer that Audrey had some heavy hitter in her corner.
They split up in the ground–floor lobby. But Paul suddenly whipped around and tailed her. Audrey slipped out a side door, melting into the long line at the billing counter.
Paul rushed after her, slamming into a man. “Sorry,” Paul said.
The man scowled, straightened his shirt, and went back to his paperwork without a word.
By the time Paul elbowed through the queue, Audrey was already inside a car parked near the back exit.
Chapter 150
“I didn’t know you had connections here,” Audrey said, tossing her backpack aside. She took the water bottle Yann opened and eyed the overcast sky. “Feels like rain. It’s a bit muggy today.”
Yann stayed mum, his jaw locked tight.
Audrey took a few gulps, set the bottle down, and grabbed his hand. “Chill out. I’ll handle that sleazebag myself. No need for you to get involved.”
Yann intertwined their fingers, tracing circles on her bracelet with his other hand. “Your contract should be a done deal,” he murmured, gaze fixed on her
wrist.
“Ms. Hale found her grandson?” Audrey was amused. “Poor Ms. Smollett’s gonna be crushed.”
“Not quite.”
She was puzzled. Before she could pry further, she saw through the windshield that Calvin was walking toward the car.
Calvin slid into the driver’s seat. “Paul tailed you,” he said, clicking his seatbelt into place.
“He saw a lemon coffee at that meeting with Tiffany,” Audrey said, pressing closer to Yann. “I drank one like that in the office once. It set off his radar.*
Calvin glanced at Yann through the rearview mirror. Audrey also glanced at Yann.
Yann kept his eyes down, thick lashes shielding his expression.
The car pulled away from the hospital before he finally asked, “When do we go public?”
B
