Chapter 71 Paying Jane a Visit
357
+8 Pearls
On the other end of the line, Emyr’s voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. “Alfred said you were being bullied at school. He thought bribing your classmates with expensive cakes would make things easier for
you.
Charmaine was on the verge of tears. She hadn’t expected such a ridiculous misunderstanding. “Really? Please thank Alfred for being so thoughtful.“,
She was just about to explain herself when Emyr’s cold voice cut in again. “Were the cakes very expensive?”
“They were! Each one cost more than 180,000 dollars and he bought three. Even if I lived ten lifetimes. I wouldn’t be able to afford cakes that expensive!”
In an attempt to smooth things over, she quickly added with a flattering tone, “Thank you, Mr. Emyr. for being so considerate. You really went above and beyond.”
A low chuckle came from the other end of the call.
Once Charmaine shivered instinctively, Emyr’s indifferent voice, tinged with cruel amusement, reached her ears. “I didn’t go above and beyond. The cost will be deducted from your salary.”
Charmaine was stunned. “I have a salary? How much?”
“Ten thousand a month. You’ll work until it’s all paid off.”
Ten thousand a month? I would have to work for free for over 30 months!
“Also,” Emyr continued, “your earlier outburst caused me significant mental distress. Add compensation and Host productivity to that. The final amount will be deducted once the damages have been assessed.”
“No-!”
Beep, beep, beep.
The call ended, leaving Charmaine wailing in despair.
She could practically imagine Emyr smirking on the other end, enjoying her misery.
Sure enough, Emyr leaned back in his chair with a fleeting smirk playing on his lips before disappearing as quickly as it had come.
He glanced around at the meeting room with his usual cold expression and said, “Let’s continue.”
The stunned executives quickly snapped back to attention, hastily focusing on the meeting.
Yet, their curiosity burned like a fire in their hearts.
They had just witnessed Emyr being yelled at by a woman and laughing about it.
They couldn’t help but wonder if Emyr was being possessed.
After class, Charmaine didn’t return to Eastlake but made a detour to Eragos Private Sanatorium.
Jane was paralyzed, and Bennett initially wanted to send her back to their rural hometown.
1/3
15:23 Tue, 18 Feb M MO
Chapter 71 Paying Jane a Visit
35%
+8 Pearls
The poor medical facilities there combined with the absence of close family members meant Jane would have been left to rely on distant relatives who had neither the means nor the motivation to care for her properly.
It was Charmaine’s insistence and promise to cover the costs of her stay in the sanatorium that allowed Jane to be transferred here.
It was also Charmaine who, after winning three motorcycle races at Death’s Cliff, claimed the high prize money that allowed her to pay off Jane’s ten years of hospital fees in one go.
Charmaine had fallen gravely ill afterward, burning up with a fever and lying bedridden for three days. Her body had reeked of sweat and sickness, yet not a single member of the Reads had come to check on her. This incident got her marked absent from classes on the first day of her junior year and earned her a bad reputation.
“Charmaine? Is that you?”
As she approached the ward, Lucia, the caregiver, spotted her and burst into happy tears. “I haven’t seen you in two years! I thought you-”
Charmaine smiled faintly. “I’ve been stuck overseas and couldn’t come back. Thank you, Lucia, for taking such good care of my grandmother all this time.”
She handed Lucia an envelope filled with money.
“Oh no, you don’t have to do this,” Lucia protested, shaking her head. “You’ve already treated me well enough.”
Lucia had been carefully selected by Charmaine. A hardworking and honest woman, Lucia was the sole breadwinner for her family, supporting three young daughters and dealing with an alcoholic husband.
Charmaine deftly slipped the envelope into Lucia’s pocket despite her protests.
“It’s not for you. It’s for your girls to buy new clothes. How has my grandmother been these past two years?”
Lucia began recounting Jane’s condition. “Mrs. Jane is stable overall, but her hearing has worsened. She used to only be deaf in one ear, but now the other ear is starting to fail too. She sleeps more than she’s awake. She would only wake up for two or three hours a day. The cold weather also makes her pain harder to bear. By the way, has Mr. Read mentioned the special medication? The doctor said it could reduce her pain by 70 or 80 percent.”
Charmaine nodded. “He mentioned it.”
“That’s good. The medicine isn’t cheap, but Mr. Read is wealthy. I’m sure he’ll make sure Mrs. Jane gets it. It’ll make her life much easier.”
Charmaine lowered her gaze and said, “You should take a break. I’ll stay with Grandma for a while.”
Lucia wiped her damp eyes once more and smiled. “Alright. I’ll go buy you something to eat.”
Pushing open the door to the ward, Charmaine instinctively lightened her steps even though she knew Jane’s hearing had deteriorated to the point where she wouldn’t notice.
