Chapter 62:
After a short pause, Rylie said, “Seven hundred thousand.”
She didn’t go easy on him either. Knowing that Clive had no shortage of money, she prescribed his medicine based on Aetheris Pharmacy’s usual rates.
Clive found the cost reasonable and handed over the payment with a smile. “This is nothing. I’ve seen top doctors for this leg before, and seven hundred thousand wouldn’t have even covered half of it.”
Once Clive was taken care of, Rylie grabbed her helmet, mounted her motorcycle, and rode off to Aetheris Pharmacy. She wasn’t expecting to bump into Freddy as he rushed out the door.
She lifted her visor. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”
Freddy spoke quickly. “Trouble again. Someone’s been stirring up chaos over at HaloFlow for days now. Today’s worse than ever. A crowd’s gathered. They’re accusing Ms. Hobbes of malpractice — even death.”
Rylie’s face darkened. She handed him a slip. “This is Clive’s prescription. Prepare it and have it delivered. I’ll go and help Selah.”
Rylie started her engine and took off. When she arrived at HaloFlow Pharmacy, she found the situation just as described. A small mob was causing damage, shouting at the building. The staff stood around Selah, trying to keep her safe. Selah herself looked furious, while people from nearby houses and shops had already filled the alleyway.
“Did something happen?”
“They say Selah’s responsible for a death!”
“You’re kidding!”
“I wish I were! They say she used to work in a big hospital, then she vanished. Now they think she’s hiding something.”
“I got my meds from her just yesterday. Should I be worried?”
“If there’s truth to this, I won’t let her treat me anymore.”
The noise built quickly. Selah’s face turned pale, and her knees buckled.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․çоm, where stories thrive
Yosef stepped forward, smug and loud. “So this is where you’ve been hiding. Funny how no one here knows what you’ve done.”
He gave a slow shake of his head. “Still acting like the bold woman you used to be. Competing against the Wildes like it’s nothing.”
“This place isn’t for your nonsense. Leave,” said Selah, gripping her cane tightly. He blocked her path.
“Still pretending? You think I don’t know it was your idea to send that girl to the hospital?”
“That girl?”
Selah’s eyes darted up. “You mean Rylie?”
“Yes, that country girl. I kept wondering how someone with her background managed to climb so high — now I see you were the one pulling the strings.” Yosef’s lips twisted in contempt. “That Nexo-7 formula Rylie handed to Mr. Morgan — don’t bother denying it. You whipped it up from the recipe you stole from the Wilde family, didn’t you?”
He let his words hang in the air for a moment, letting the threat settle before continuing, his voice thick with malice. “Ms. Wilde is willing to let this go. Just hand the formula back, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”
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