Chapter 180:
Paola kept her smile soft. “I’ve got dinner with Johnny and the others, so I can’t stay long.”
Isabella’s face brightened. “I wish I could come too.”
“Okay, let’s go together. I’ll mention it to Johnny. I’m sure he won’t mind,” said Paola.
Isabella clung to her arm, cheerful. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Paola smiled again, but it never reached her eyes. She wasn’t just doing this out of kindness. She knew Rylie would attend the gathering. Using Isabella to spread the rumor about Rylie failing the preliminaries seemed convenient.
Rylie, on the other hand, had received the same invitation. She remembered Johnny. He had once spoken up for her. His family held power in the shipping business. She decided to go, but she chose to come late. She had more urgent matters to deal with.
The Kirks had sacrificed everything they had left to fund Nicolas’ leg surgery, even giving up their home.
Rylie booked the surgery at the military hospital. She told the family that only the patient would be allowed to see her.
They had no choice but to agree. It was a matter of life and death.
When Rylie arrived at the hospital, Rory had already anesthetized Nicolas. He looked at her as she walked in, his gaze complicated. “Why did you change your mind and decide to save a member of the Kirk family? Nicolas’ legs are difficult to treat. He’s delayed treatment for so long that, even if he recovers, he’ll be crippled.”
She let out a short laugh. “This isn’t about kindness. It’s a fair exchange. I don’t deal in loss.”
“The Kirk company isn’t worth much,” Rory said. “Even if you take most of their shares, you’ll gain little.”
“I know,” she replied. “But I don’t want it for the money.” After pulling on her gloves, she walked up to Nicolas and looked down at his pale face. “That company’s just leverage.”
The Garretts had control over assets once held by the Owens. Kendrick’s plan was simple: let her hold ground in Crolens, a place where the Owens lacked influence.
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She picked up the scalpel. “We’re starting.”
Because of the extent of the damage, the operation lasted seven straight hours. By the end, exhaustion was evident on her face. Still, it was a success, and Rory didn’t hold back his praise.
“That was remarkable. I filmed it — it’ll help our med students.” He added, “We’ve got a little dinner tonight, just a few folks from the department. You in?”
She removed her gloves, pulled off her mask, and reached for a drink. “I’ve got another event tonight. I’m late as it is. It wouldn’t be right to miss it.”
“You’re not who you used to be,” Rory remarked. “Make sure you don’t stay up too late.”
By the time she got to the venue, the gathering was already underway.
She opened the door to the private room and heard Isabella’s loud laugh. “Well, if it isn’t our little piano star, Miss Owen. We thought you skipped out because you didn’t pass the Wesdown preliminaries. I almost dropped by your house to cheer you up.”
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