Sam finally stopped throwing a fit. However, that did not mean he was no longer angry. He glared at Albert. “Wipe that smirk off your face. What’s the meaning of all this?” Sam had fought in the war before. When Sam was surrounded earlier, he would never have gone with the military officers if he had not been told in secret that Albert was involved in it. The Whitemans and Hidens were old friends. Sam watched Albert grow up. “I wouldn’t be so cocky to whisk you away in broad daylight, Sam. I was only acting on orders,” Albert said with a chuckle. “On orders? Who in Sunrise has authority over you?” Sam’s eyes bulged. “Was it Draco?” Draco had fractured his leg, and Sam was his surgeon. “Hehe. You will find out when you get there.” Kaze was waiting when Albert’s car fleet passed the highway toll gate into Lilyrose. “Invincible Lee! What are you doing in Lilyrose?” exclaimed Sam as he got out of the car and saw Kaze. “Invincible Lee? He’s the God of War!” Th
“A medical error? So she’s Agnes, the previous associate chief physician at Wholeness Medical Center.” “It was huge news back then. The girl was only eighteen and had gone way too soon. It was all the incompetent doctor’s fault. Poor girl. Her family laid flowers outside the hospital for her.” “It happened years ago, and the family has never gotten closure. The woman is pure evil.” The onlooking patients and family members gossiped among themselves.Looks of disdain fell on Agnes. Agnes turned pale. She shook, lost for words. The incident was a traumatic past she had never let go of. Darcy and Sky hurried over to keep her from sinking to her feet. “Mr. Wood, please speak with integrity. Five years ago, my mom was dismissed, and her medical license was revoked. We have even compensated the family well. “If that’s not enough? Are you expecting my mom to take her own life?” Unrelenting, Eli said righteously, “I heard from an old colleague at Wholeness Medical Center t
The explosive voice shook the entire floor. Many walked out of the offices in shock. “Who said that? Come out now!” Eli cried angrily. Eli carried a lot of authority as a senior hospital administrator. He had always been aware of his position in the hierarchy and that insult did not sit well with him. “I’m talking about you.” A grizzled-haired yet ruddy old man emerged from the crowd. The old man, flushed in the face, glared at Eli. He was still furious. The old man was Sam, who hurried to the hospital with Kaze. “Who are you, old man? How dare you talk to me like that!” Eli flipped out. Dr. Ziegler, taken aback at first, blurted, “P-Professor Whiteman!” The name stirred a commotion on the whole floor. “Wow! That’s Professor Whiteman, the leading expert in orthopedics.” “Professor Whiteman’s successful return with his squad from the battlefield was reported on the national news too.” “Mr. Wood sure is arrogant to yell at Professor Whiteman. The hospital
Sam’s words stirred an uproar. The crowd stared at Hector’s family in disbelief. Sam came all the way to Lilyrose to treat Hector. Just moments earlier, the family was denied entry and treatment. Sitting on the ground, Eli was stunned. He looked at Hector’s family, unable to believe what he had just heard. Eli was filled with resentment. Hector’s family must have connections to seek help from Sam. “Thank you, Professor Whiteman! Thank you!” Darcy’s family was overjoyed and expressed their gratitude to Sam. However, they were puzzled. Seeing that Hector was in pain, Rowan said, “Dr. Ziegler, administer Mr. Quint some painkillers and get him ready for a physical examination. Rowan took a long look at the Quints. Kaze emerged from the crowd and wheeled Hector to the treatment room with Darcy. Sam pointed at Eli on the ground. “Is he one of yours, Rowan? He’s a disgrace to the administration. “He refused treatment to the patient in public.“That’s no way for
“Of course there is. I have seen worse cases.” Sam chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, Ms, Quint. Even if Hector can’t make a full recovery, he should have no problem recovering mobility in his legs.” The family was overjoyed. Hector gripped the arms of his wheelchair emotionally. “Uh, Mr. Quint’s case is a little complicated, so I’ll invite a few of my colleagues in the same field for an exchange. We’ll set up a treatment plan to get things rolling. “I’ll be here in Lilyrose for a while unless I have to perform surgeries elsewhere or attend medical forums. I will be Mr. Quint’s surgeon for the operation.” Rowan stared at Darcy’s family in surprise. Despite his busy schedule, Sam planned to stay in Lilyrose just to treat Hector. Sam would be operating on Hector too. In fact, Sam could just prepare the treatment plan and leave a fellow doctor to carry out the medical care. Even Darcy’s family recognized Sam’s attention on them. “If I could be rude to say, Professor
“What’s going on?” Darcy’s family had a bad feeling. Rudy tricked them into coming to the family residence under the pretense of visiting Logan. By the looks of things, Darcy’s family knew it was for no good reason. “Hector, Agnes, you old fools probably have no idea what your daughter and son-in-law did. A malicious voice was heard. Samus and Deborah walked into the living room. The pair glared viciously at Darcy’s family. “We are your uncle and aunt, Deborah,” Hector said angrily. “I don’t have an uncle and aunt like you.” Samus uttered, “I was entertaining the experts on the reviewing panel to get support funds for the family the night before the last. “Your daughter and son-in-law were jealous and reported me. That bastard, Don, took me into custody, and I was beaten up while in detention. “I had to dig deep into my connections and spend lots of money for my release.” Hector and Agnes glanced at Darcy in shock. They had no idea. “You’re one to talk for
“Well, someone has to make a sacrifice for the betterment of the family.” Darcy’s family looked up at Rudy in disbelief. It never occurred to them that Rudy could say something so shameless, making such a high-sounding statement in a rather matter-of-fact way. “What the hell is that supposed to mean, Rudy? Does your daughter’s reputation mean more than mine?” Agnes shouted, outraged.“Hmph! Darcy lost her honor the moment she married that loser, Kaze.” “No other eligible bachelors would look in Darcy’s direction even if she divorces Kaze. Deborah is a different story. She had only dated Vincent. Despite the issue with the Hansers, we could say that Deborah had no idea.”“Darcy should sacrifice for the sake of the family,” other family members expressed their opinions. These words cut like a knife. Darcy felt pain like never before. She had witnessed her family’s impudence one too many times. It never crossed her mind that there was no limit to their shamelessness.
The security officer froze, his raised hand paused in the air. “Kaze!” Darcy exclaimed with joy. Color returned to her pale face. The sight of Kaze gave her assurance. “Come to me.” Kaze walked over, ignoring the encircling security detail. He reached his hand out and pulled Darcy behind him. He narrowed his eyes at the Quints, his gaze finally falling on Rudy. “When will you ever learn, Rudy? You and your family are out to get my wife again. No wonder you wouldn’t let me tag along.” Rudy’s face flushed with rage. “Kaze, do you think we are the family we once were? We are now considered elites, and I am the head of the household. We won’t tolerate your brazen attitude,” he yelled. “Ha! Elites? I just took down the three top families.” Kaze scowled. “I will let today slide, and you owe this to my wife’s family. If you take this any further, I will put you back in your place, and you can forget living that dream of yours.” “Who do you think you are, loser!” The
Dwight gave some suggestions. “But I’m worried about being a nuisance to your family.” Kaze remained hesitant, torn between decisions. “No, you won’t. I usually live alone. They stay somewhere else. They barely visit. I’ll just let them know not to visit for now,” Dwight replied. Dwight figured out what was in it for him. He could not let Kaze leave. “I don’t want to put your family in an awkward position.”Kaze was still considering the matter. “Relax. They don’t live with me anyway. The room I have for you is tidy. No one has stayed there before.“I’ll hire some help to freshen up the place. I can guarantee you an experience no less than at the hotel.” Dwight spoke with great confidence. “We should finish our food and doggie-bag the rest. I’ll take you to my place.” Dwight was ready to get things going. Kaze took the offer and nodded. “I’ll be in your care then.” Kaze was glad that his plan went through. Dwight had no idea that he got played. Nevertheless,
“I’m new to the place, so I don’t know much. Can you show me around when you’re available?” “No problem, but I usually have some stuff to take care of. I can’t be there 24/7. “Why don’t you propose to the branch that you want me to be your guide and attendant?” Dwight suggested. There was no telling whether Kaze would accept his proposal, but it was an opportunity to prove himself. He was never involved in the core operation. Often enough, he was the branch members’ punching bag. Though Dwight was aware that he was not good enough for the big stuff, he still wanted to succeed. Kaze was the trusted aide of the Butterworth Branch chief. He was in Westeros for a reason. By joining Kaze, Dwight would come across the major players. Kaze saw through Dwight’s plans. “Sure. I’ll do that.” Kaze did not mind the request. “Great. I’ll let them know on your behalf. I’ll be responsible for your needs while in the city.” Dwight was overjoyed at the opportunity. “So you live
“You must be rich. I often see rich people picking tabs for everybody. Talk about extravagance.” The tension in the air was lifted when Kaze offered to pay for everything. “I’m not. Consider it an apology,” Kaze explained, not wanting to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. He did not see the point of continuing the conversation. Dwight’s angry screams came from outside. “What the hell is this? I only ordered a bunch of stuff. Why am I being charged an exorbitant amount?“What do you mean my friend is paying for everybody? That’s throwing money away,” Dwight said while storming his way over. “I know you have money, but you shouldn’t do this, Mr. Lee.” Dwight did not approve of this type of generosity. “You rubbed them the wrong way. It was only right to apologize. Besides, it’s not a lot of money.” Kaze looked at the bill and handed a bank card to Dwight. “It’s my treat.” The consumption was barely a dent in Kaze’s savings. The meal did not cost more than his us
Kaze observed as the jeep took off further off course, past the towering buildings to a run-down neighborhood. “This is where I usually reside. My home is not too far away, but I think you might have trouble adapting to this place.” Dwight did not forget to book Kaze a hotel. Kaze could not possibly stay with him. The hotel was around the area anyway. “Didn’t you say that you haven’t tried the local cuisine? I’ll take you out for a bite. “The barbecue ribs here are to die for. We’ve got the dry-rubbed and saucy kind.” Dwight parked the car and hopped out right away. Opposite the parking lot was not the cleanest food joint. Looking in from the outside, Kaze realized that the place was packed. Kaze understood that the restaurant must be known for some kind of dish. The customers were from all walks of life, so the food must be great. “There’s not much to see here, but the food is tasty. If you don’t mind, we can order something inside.” Kaze was not particularly con
Dwight was surprised and curious as to who Kaze really was. From what he gathered, Kaze was a confidante of the Butterworth Branch chief. The purpose of Kaze’s visit was to learn and share. Dwight worked on the fringes, so his access to information was limited. Nevertheless, he got the feeling that Kaze was just an ordinary guy just like him. The only difference was that Kaze was lucky to rub shoulders with important people. Dwight did not get chances like that. “Who are the most influential people in the Viper’s Den Westeros Branch?” Kaze asked in the car. Dwight was taken aback by the question. Still, he had an answer to that. “So you don’t know much about the situation?” Dwight suddenly felt important. “Well, I’m new to the city. I will be running into them soon, so I need to make sure I get my facts right,” Kaze said humbly. This was Dwight’s shot, and he needed to present his best. “Relax, Kaze. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Dwight would reveal some info
Kaze glanced at the flowers. There was a card for well-wishes too.Curious, Kaze reached out to read the card. It was written, “To my eternal lover and sweetheart.” Dwight grabbed Kaze’s bag. Since the sign in his hand was getting in the way, Dwight tossed the placard in the trash can. As Dwight turned his head back, he saw Kaze reading the card that came with the flowers. He tried to stop Kaze, but it was too late. Dwight had not attended to a guest of high importance before. The task was assigned to him at the last minute. In the past, Dwight was usually on the sidelines, never getting close to major matters. He would always get the small, insignificant jobs. Dwight often bought drinks for his superiors to build connections. However, he had always been kept out of the loop. Now that an opportunity had fallen onto his lap, Dwight was not about to let it slip. He wanted to show what he could do. When Dwight arrived at the airport for the pick-up, most people car
The incident did not sit well with Kaze, so he left them out to dry. After much searching, Kaze came across a café. Kaze bought a cup of coffee. Cupping the drink between his hands, Kaze sipped slowly. Many passengers swarmed the arrival hall in the airport, dragging along their luggage or pulling out their phones to get a pick-up. They all had a destination, a place they had to be in a rush. Intrigued, Kaze followed the crowd out. Kaze turned on his phone, and a text message from his airport pick-up came in. He glanced at the message, curious about who the person was. Nevertheless, Kaze trusted that the Westeros Branch members would not set him up out in the open. At most, they would pull little stunts to mess with him. Kaze was not the type to sweat the small stuff. However, he would not tolerate any extreme behavior. He had been keeping a low profile back in Butterworth, keeping the limelight off him. The purpose was to handle Jet without unnecessary complicati
“Alright. I will work hard to be the manager of the Northborn Group. You need to show me the ropes and teach me about management.” Leah looked at Katie with a smile. She believed Katie had not lost her mind. Katie simply had her memory mixed up. “You need to keep your people in line and reward those who deserve it. It all boils down to profits. “You need to work toward managing your people and working with rivals. You’ve got to keep the balance, and nobody loses out. “You need to build your own system when it comes to working together. Don’t be led around by the nose.” Hearing that Leah would start work soon, Katie imparted her knowledge. “Don’t worry too much about things. Joey is nice. You can go to her for help,” Katie said earnestly. Katie seemed to be herself at the moment. Leah wondered if Katie faked her insanity to escape the punishment. “What have become of you? Did they do something to you? “Did you really betray Kaze?” Leah whispered while leaning close
Leah kept working on her knowledge until late into the night. Just as she was about to hit the sack, she got a message from Snow. Learning was a hard enough process. The text message came out of the blue. Leah did not expect Snow to contact her at night. The message was strange as well. Leah could not understand why Snow would give her the address of a nursing home. Leah was determined to turn things around. She strived to become stronger instead of being a burden. She was grateful for Kaze’s help. At least, she had a job now. However, her gratitude was not extended to Snow. She believed Snow had gone too far. Snow left her feeling powerless. Leah did not think much about the message. She assumed that the text was not meant for her. Since Leah did not respond to the text, Snow put the matter aside and went to bed. Leah called Snow the next day. “Why did you send me an address?” Leah went straight to the question. She had been equipping herself with knowledge before