Ch. 1671..1680

Chapter 1671

Chapter 1671

Maisie frowned, gazing quietly at Graham. After a moment, she spoke with a heavy heart. "Graham, it's impossible for us to return to what we were."

"Maisie "

"We're from different worlds," she stated plainly. "I can see that you love Sophia. If she hadn't hurt you so deeply, you wouldn't have come back for me."

"No!"

"Let's face reality." Her eyes grew cold. "We can't turn back."

Graham's heart plummeted as if into an endless abyss.

Maisie was right-he didn't have strong feelings for her. He had mostly dated her because Josiah and Kelly liked her. But beyond impressing the seniors, what did she truly offer? How dare she reject him? He clenched his fists, and his eyes underwent a subtle change. As Maisie began to leave, he blocked her path. "You've been into Daniel from the start, haven't you?" Maisie was taken aback.

"It was you who betrayed me first!" Graham glared at her fiercely, losing his composure. "Though unspoken, you emotionally cheated on me! You were charmed by him the moment he appeared, right?" "What nonsense are you talking about!" She couldn't contain herself.

At that moment, Graham seemed like a devil before her, stripped of his usual decorum.

"You were the first to cheat... You betrayed me with Daniel first!" Graham seemed to lose his mind. "Haha! Otherwise, what are you doing at the hospital? Did you accidentally get pregnant, and now you're here for an abortion? Haha!"

"Sir!" A few people rushed over, restraining Graham and apologizing to Maisie. She pushed his hand away and entered the VIP room with the nurse.

But Graham's words haunted her.

She had to admit she had special feelings for Daniel from the moment they met. There was that strange dream, the crying baby upstairs in the dream villa, and the pillow that masqueraded as a baby in the cradle. It troubled her.

Her head began to ache, and she massaged her temples. The concerned nurse asked if she felt unwell. Maisie forced a smile and shook her head.

At that moment, someone arrived at the door.

After a conversation with the nurse, Maisie was taken to the doctor. She returned to her room after a thorough check-up. She half-leaned on the soft couch with heavy eyes and drowsiness washing over her. Daniel sent her a text.

Daniel: [I will arrive soon.]

She smiled as she replied.

Maisie: [No need to rush.]

He then called her. "How did it go?"

"It went well," she said gently. "Dr. Nina conducted a thorough examination. She said my stomachache is minor and prescribed some medicine."

"Oh..."

"See? I told you I'm fine, yet you insisted on coming."

Although she said that, she found it endearing. She was receiving the attention and affection she had never experienced from Graham.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said softly. "Wait for me. I'll be there soon."

Maisie placed her phone next to her pillow after hanging up. She closed her eyes slowly and drifted into slumber.

Daniel rushed to the hospital after leaving the office.

Chapter 1672

Chapter 1672

Daniel headed directly to the gynecology department, where Nina Perkins, who had previously consulted with Maisie, had just seen another patient. His unexpected presence took her aback. "Mr. Quimby," she greeted him.

Daniel nodded and entered her office, closing the door behind him.

Nina handed him Maisie's medical report. He struggled to decipher the medical terms but gleaned some insight from the doctor's expression.

"Is it... quite serious?" he asked.

Nina responded honestly. "Yes. To be precise, it's related to the previous labor induction."

Daniel's face darkened-this was what he had feared.

"I examined Ms. Maisie's medical records from Cumulus City. The procedure caused significant harm, leading to frequent stomachaches." Daniel's heart ached, and he instinctively clenched his fists.

"Don't worry, Mr. Quimby," Nina assured, adjusting her glasses. "It's not incurable. But if the two of you plan to have children..."

"We'll discuss that in the future," he replied solemnly. "Right now, I just want her to be healthy."

Nina's tone turned serious. "I must inform you that to alleviate her stomachaches, she can undergo surgery, but there's a risk she may become infertile." Daniel fell into silence, recalling the same warning from the doctor in Cumulus City. Back then, he had envisioned a future with her, a family of their own.

"Mr. Quimby?" Nina probed. "What's the next step? I need a definite answer."

Without hesitation, Daniel replied, "Go ahead with the surgery."

Nina was taken aback. "Are you sure?"

"I want her to be healthy, even if it means we can't have children," he declared. "I can't bear to see her in pain any longer."

Nina nodded, appreciating his selfless decision. "The surgery is straightforward, and I'll be her surgeon. She'll stay in the hospital afterward, and I'll personally attend to her.

"Rest assured, I won't disclose anything. Additionally, I'll consult her following the standard procedure we provide to single women, so she won't suspect anything."

"Thank you," Daniel expressed his gratitude, his eyes filled with concern. He turned to leave and headed to the VIP room.

Meanwhile, Graham discreetly slipped out of the corridor on the opposite side. He rushed to a secluded corner, observing the nurse nervously. She worked in Nina's office and was her apprentice, someone Nina trusted.

But her financial needs had driven her to agree to help Graham in this situation. He was eager for information.

"What did you hear?" he asked while transferring 3,000 dollars to her.

The nurse was scared, glancing around nervously. She stammered, "M-Mr. Quimby went into Dr. Perkins' office, and the door was closed. I couldn't hear much... I think it was about Ms. Squire's illness." "What's wrong with her?" Graham pressed.

"She's suffering from stomach pain due to a previous labor induction procedure," she reported.

"What?!" Graham's eyes widened. "Are you sure? Did she mention labor induction?"

Chapter 1673

Chapter 1673

The nurse nodded and said, "That's correct. It was labor induction." She then showed a picture on her phone, revealing Maisie's confidential medical report.

"You might not understand all the medical terms and data, but it does show Ms. Squire's past record. She did undergo labor induction.

"Moreover, from the records, it's clear that the fetus was not mature, around four to five months. This should have been a stable period during her pregnancy, yet labor induction was performed. I can't imagine what happened back then."

Graham squinted and bit his lip, a sly expression appearing on his pale face.

"You may not get it, but I do," he said.

The nurse was surprised. "Sir, you—"

"Okay," Graham instructed, meeting her gaze. "Keep this to yourself. I won't need your help anymore. Be discreet."

The nurse nodded and quietly exited through a nearby door.

Graham stood still, deep in thought. This was likely related to Daniel.

From what he remembered, Maisie had been reserved in their relationship. Even though they had been engaged, their physical intimacy had been limited to hand-holding and hugs at most. They hadn't even kissed, let alone gone further.

However, soon after their breakup, she began dating Daniel, who took her to the hospital.

But there was one perplexing aspect he couldn't figure out.

If Maisie's labor induction was indeed related to Daniel, they must have known each other for a long time. So why did she treat him like a stranger initially?

Puzzled, he suddenly remembered the man who had beaten him badly.

The man's name was Wesley Mebane he had identified himself as such during their fight. He even taunted Graham, saying, "You're worthless. Even your fiancee can be stolen by another. You can't even be called a man! Did Daniel steal her from you again, huh? Haha!"

'Again? What did he mean by again?' Graham wondered.

At that moment, a spark of realization flashed in Graham's mind. He quickly dialed his lawyer.

"Sir?" The Bayers' lawyer was surprised by the call. "Are you feeling better now?"

"I'm fine," Graham replied. "I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Bail... Wesley Mebane out!"

The lawyer was shocked, failing to respond immediately.

"Are you listening?!" Graham's voice grew more insistent.

"Sir..." The lawyer collected his thoughts. "That man assaulted you, and we have strong evidence. The hearing is scheduled in two days. We can definitely have him sent to prison! I'm confident we can secure a significant charge against him. He'll pay for this-"

"I don't want that!" Graham shouted into the phone. "I've changed my mind! I don't want to press charges. I want you to bail him out! I want to drop the lawsuit. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Although the lawyer was bewildered, he reluctantly agreed to Graham's request.

Within a few days, Wesley was released from the police station.

However, his destination was a restaurant.

He glanced at the sign guiltily. It was the same place where he had assaulted Graham while intoxicated.

Instinctively, he took a step back, but the men in black on either side forcibly pushed him into the restaurant. This treatment made him feel like an animal, unable to resist, and he was compelled to move forward.

Chapter 1674

Chapter 1674

Wesley entered the room and noticed that Graham was the only person there. The dish on the table emitted a steady stream of steam into the air. A layer of fiery red chili oil coated its surface, resembling a python's tongue poised to engulf him and drag him to the depths of hell.

Upon looking up, Wesley met Graham's sly gaze, which left him so startled that his knees buckled, and he tumbled to the ground.

Graham flatly remarked, "What's with the courtesy, Mebane? It occurs to me that we were almost family!"

Sweat poured down Wesley's face as he remained motionless on the floor.

Graham instructed his men to assist Wesley to a seat on the opposite chair. It was a stark contrast to his earlier arrogant demeanor when he was intoxicated.

Graham regarded Wesley with contempt.

During their engagement, Wesley had never met Maisie's family. His constant overseas travels left him with little time to do so. Moreover, he held a low opinion of her maternal family, deeming it unnecessary to meet them. Little did he anticipate that he would encounter Wesley under such circumstances.

"Mebane, my wounds haven't fully healed," he said coldly. "But I secured your release. Do you know why?"

"I-I don't," stammered Wesley.

"Because I want the truth from you," Graham replied, staring at him coldly and grinning.

Wesley's mind went blank.

The past few days in the police station had been strangely comfortable, possibly due to the Bayers' influence. It reminded him of the saying, "A starved camel is bigger than a horse."

Even though the Bayers had lost some of their former glory, they could effortlessly subdue him like a bothersome fly. He couldn't afford to cross them.

Kneeling on the ground, he implored, "Mr. Bayer, please, tell me... What do you want to know? I'll divulge everything I know!"

Graham was pleased with Wesley's change in attitude. He poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp.

"I want to know about Maisie," he said, fixing his gaze on Wesley. "As her former brother-in-law, you should have some insights into her, shouldn't you?"

Wesley was stunned. Graham had conducted an investigation, even discovering his divorce from Nicole.

"You've been part of the family for years. You must know Maisie quite well," Graham mused as he swirled his wine.

"Y-Yes..." Wesley responded, unable to resist.

"Then tell me about her. Remember, there will be consequences if you lie to me!"

Wesley took a deep breath and began to divulge everything he knew about Maisie's past.

"Maisie... She was the family's cash cow! She was involved with Daniel when they were in Cumulus City. To be precise, she was Daniel's sugar baby..." Graham was taken aback. "What did you say?"

Wesley smiled wryly. "I'm not certain if she was truly his sugar baby. Despite their age difference and his divorce, he never seemed willing to marry her. To outsiders, their relationship raised eyebrows... "Maisie has a brother. Her mother favors sons over daughters and drains money from both her daughters like a vampire... My ex-wife isn't as attractive as Maisie. If she had been, her mother might have pushed her into the arms of some wealthy old man as well!"

Graham's expression changed, and he clenched the wine glass tightly.

The room fell into a profound silence.

A moment later, Graham gritted his teeth. "What else? Go on! What happened with their child?"

"Well, it's a long and complicated story," Wesley said, scratching his head. "Maisie nearly died because of the child, and that traumatic experience led to her memory loss."

Chapter 1675

Chapter 1675

Daniel cradled Maisie gently and quickly slipped on slippers for her when they entered the house. He was adamant that she shouldn't lift a finger.

She retorted, "I've only got a stomachache, not as weak as you think. Plus, the doctor said it's minor."

Daniel said gloomily, "It's better to be cautious."

Maisie lowered her head, smiling with a heart full of joy. "I want to take a nap," she said.

Daniel nodded, bent down, and carefully carried her to the room, gently tucking her into bed.

"Why are you treating me like a kid?" Maisie asked.

"You're a kid to me." He patted her head and smiled. "Remember when you first called me 'Mister'?"

Maisie blushed. "You remember that? But I don't think you're old at all now!"

He was taken aback, then grinned.

She had said the same thing in the past. However, she might have been trying to please him back then. To him, she had just been... a toy.

His heart ached as he looked at her with guilt, regret, and self-blame.

Daniel continued to caress her face until she fell asleep. He reminisced about the year they first met when she was still in university, innocent and as pure as a blank sheet of paper.

At the restaurant.

Fueled by alcohol, Wesley spoke candidly.

"She's poor! Her dad died when she was young. Her mom raised the three of them alone. Not only does her mom favor her son over her daughters, but she's also money-hungry. "Back in the day, I was the king of their family with my small business. No matter how badly I treated my ex-wife, her mom wouldn't let her divorce me just because I had a bit of money."

He took a sip of his drink, his resentment boiling. "Back then, everyone had to obey me in that family, unlike now..."

Graham furrowed his brow. "Isn't it strange? I mean, Daniel has surely met various women. Why would he be interested in Maisie?"

Wesley grinned. "Didn't you also like that girl? You even made her your fiancee."

Graham's expression changed. He didn't love Maisie, but he could accept her as his fiancee because she was beautiful and would make him look good.

"So, Daniel wanted her because she was young, beautiful, and innocent. Not to mention, he could easily control her. She was far more capable than the women around him!

"Did you know this? She had never even held a man's hand before she met him! Honestly, I wanted to take advantage of her, too, but her family guarded her as if I were a thief! Daniel got to her before I could." Graham looked at him disdainfully and said coldly, "Go on."

Wesley continued. "Well, she was with Daniel for three years. He spoiled her, paid for her brother's medical bills, and even got my ex-mother-in-law a new house. It was then that the witch started ignoring me and started kissing Daniel's ass instead."

Graham discreetly made mental notes of these revelations: sugar baby, lover, university student.

Chapter 1676

Chapter 1676

Maisie was deeply affected by the situation, regardless of the terminology used. Those who took pleasure in her misfortune didn't care if her love for Daniel was genuine. They would judge her solely based on their own moral beliefs.

"What happened?" Graham asked. "What about the child?"

"She got pregnant by accident." Wesley's voice gradually lowered. "Daniel was overbearing and controlling. He had forbidden her from becoming pregnant, but she did anyway. How could that benefit the girl? "Furthermore, they had been together for nearly three years. I suppose... by then, Daniel had grown tired of her, so he didn't spoil her as much.

"I remember one night she rushed home in a panic. As soon as she arrived, she sought her sister, and they locked themselves in a room, talking all night.

"In the morning, Daniel's men blocked my way at the door, and they took Maisie back. I don't know what happened after that. I heard she wanted to keep the baby and kept running away, but Daniel would always catch her. The last time, she ran quite far, attempting to live a secret life, but Daniel's men still found her."

Graham asked in a deep voice, "Did the child die?"

Wesley looked troubled. "I really don't know what happened in between. But one thing is certain: Maisie became mentally ill, and something happened to Daniel that made him suddenly want to protect her." Graham's face turned grim, and he coldly smirked.

He remembered when Linda introduced Maisie to him, describing her as an exceptional girl.

He never imagined she had been used.

Not only had she been pregnant before, but she had also become mentally unstable and lost her memory.

He couldn't believe Linda had spoken so highly of her. She even wanted to pass her on to him, as if handing over a toy her brother had played with before?

He gnashed his teeth, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the wine glass.

"So, I assume it will devastate her if I trigger her memory and make her remember these awful things?"

"What?" Wesley was taken aback.

He looked up and saw Graham's sly grin, sending shivers down his spine. He had never thought of himself as a good person, but he showed how despicable and nasty he was on the surface.

As for Graham...

Wesley pursed his lips and looked down, an inexplicable emotion welling up within him.

"Daniel will feel awful if Maisie is devastated," Graham emphasized. "They owe me that. I'll reclaim what I've lost."

"Well, Mr. Bayer..." Wesley looked at him with a forced smile, "I won't stop you from seeking revenge, but you can't let anyone know that it was me who informed you, or Daniel might truly come after me." Graham glanced at him and sneered in mockery.

It didn't matter, as Wesley held no more value to him.

But how should he break this news to Maisie?

It would be best not to reveal everything all at once. He wanted her to suffer as she slowly regained her memory, recollecting those events bit by bit.

After that, her resentment toward Daniel would grow gradually.

He would relish their distress!

Chapter 1677

Chapter 1677

Wesley shivered when he saw Graham's grin. Unsure whether to raise his glass, he reluctantly went along, forcing a smile. "Yes, yes! You'll wipe the floor with those guys, Mr. Bayer!" "Will you assist me?" Graham asked.

"I..." He couldn't bring himself to respond.

"If you're willing to help, I can find ways to not only revive your struggling business but also elevate your success beyond imagination!"

Wesley scanned his surroundings, then reluctantly nodded while gnashing his teeth.

It was evening when Maisie awoke.

The sunset streamed through the wall-to-ceiling window, casting a warm glow on the living room carpet. She rose quietly and found Daniel busy in the kitchen.

She smiled and playfully embraced him from behind.

At first, he was taken aback, but he soon turned around with a smile.

"The soup will be ready soon," he said.

Today, he was preparing truffle and mushroom soup.

He had been improving his culinary skills. The soup's temperature was just right, and its aroma was mouthwatering.

Maisie giggled as she looked at him. "With you here, I guess all I need to do is wait for food?"

He replied, "You don't have to work so hard anymore. I'll handle everything at home."

"What about my job?" she asked.

"I'll take care of that, too," he replied.

"Won't I become useless if you do everything for me?"

"I owe you this," he muttered softly, almost inaudibly.

Daniel said that to himself. He felt indebted to her for everything, even the truffle and mushroom soup he was preparing. She used to make it for him frequently in the past.

Maisie was puzzled. She gazed at him, asking, "What did you say?"

Daniel smiled and toyed with her hair. "I'm happy to do it!"

The soup was ready, and he served her a bowl. She couldn't stop praising his cooking after taking a taste.

They chatted as they enjoyed their meal.

Maisie had big plans for the future. She didn't want to be a kindergarten teacher forever. She aimed to become a certified journalist and, if possible, a foreign correspondent to experience other cultures. She also aspired to learn to drive, even though she didn't own a car yet. She planned to buy a small one once she saved enough money and got her license, making it convenient to go places.

Additionally, she wanted to learn two more foreign languages, preferably less common ones, in case they came in handy.

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke about her aspirations, and Daniel couldn't help but smile while looking at her.

These ambitions were new for her.

While in his luxurious cage, she had been like a content canary, focused on making him happy every day.

But her longing for the future made her even more enchanting.

"Am I talking too much?" She set down her spoon, gazing at him with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I tend to get carried away when I talk about this."

"No." Daniel smiled. "I love listening to you."

"But I've been talking for a while. It's your turn now."

"My turn?"

"Mm-hmm."

Daniel was taken aback, and a complex expression crossed Maisie's face.

Chapter 1678

Chapter 1678

"I..." Maisie said, "I've never heard you talking about your past."

"What would you like to know?" Daniel asked.

"Hmm..." Maisie hesitated. She naturally wanted to know about his love life.

Daniel was no longer young, but he was good-looking and wealthy. It would be unreal if he had never been in a relationship before. As his current girlfriend, it was only natural that she was eager to find out what his exes were like.

Were they drop-dead gorgeous? Did they come from prestigious families that matched his?

They must be outstanding...

She bit her lip, unsure if he would be upset if she asked him.

Suddenly, Daniel spoke just when she was troubled. "You want to know whether I had girlfriends in the past?"

Her cheeks blushed, and she quickly lowered her head to drink the soup.

He smiled, his deep eyes fixed on her beautiful face.

"I've... loved one person."

"Oh..." she responded, feeling a bit down.

Daniel could see sadness on her face, and he couldn't help but have complicated feelings rising within him.

"Is she beautiful?" she asked.

He answered honestly, "She was flawless to me."

Maisie felt even more jealous now. "So... What did you like about her?"

Daniel couldn't help but laugh. "Must we talk about this?"

"I want to know!" she insisted.

"She was just like you." He looked into her eyes quietly. "She was beautiful, gentle, and empathetic. She was smart, too. Sometimes, she'd be so quiet that one could ignore her existence." "Then why didn't you guys get together?"

Daniel held her hands gently, then exerted more strength as if he wanted her hands for himself.

Maisie felt a little pain but said nothing. She saw a tinge of sadness deep in his eyes, and it touched her heart, making it ache a little.

"It's my fault no matter what," Daniel said. "I was too arrogant, and I hurt her. My selfishness drove her away. I only know that true love is hard to come by now, so I won't let it go again."

She looked at him blankly. He was talking about his past lover, so why did he... look into her eyes and say it so seriously as if he was telling her that?

"Maisie, will you marry me?" Daniel blurted.

She panicked a little bit. There was a blurry image playing in her head at that moment. She seemed to have seen a girl holding a ring, and a man walked over and slapped the ring to the ground... She felt a sudden headache and withdrew her hands.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," Maisie held back how uncomfortable she was feeling. "I'm quite tired. I'd like to rest."

Daniel helped her to the couch and brought over the fruits that he had cut. He then put a shawl on her carefully.

He went to clean the table after doing that.

At that moment, Maisie's phone rang.

It was a rather unfamiliar voice. The other party instantly introduced herself, saying that she was a nurse at the hospital, Nina's student.

Maisie seemed to remember her and asked courteously, "How can I help you?"

"M-Ms. Squire, Dr. Perkins said you'd need a couple more check-ups for your stomachache. A-Are you free tomorrow morning?"

Not sure if it was the bad signal or something else, Maisie kept thinking that the nurse's voice was strange. Her voice was shaking, and she was stuttering.

"M-Ms. Squire..." The nurse asked again, "Can you come in the morning? I-I'll make the appointment for you if you're okay with that. The procedures are simple. Dr. Perkins isn't needed. I'll do it for you! W- What do you think?"

Chapter 1679

Chapter 1679

Maisie didn't have her guard up. She thought it was just a routine check-up, so she immediately agreed. When Daniel approached her to ask what happened, she gave him a brief explanation, and he frowned. Nina had promised to handle Maisie's consultation herself, so why was she delegating it to the nurse?

Furthermore, it wasn't time for the surgery yet, which made him uneasy. But Maisie couldn't help but smile when she saw his nervousness. "What's wrong?" She gently caressed his cheeks. "You seem upset."

"No, I..."

"Are you worried about me?" She smiled. "Don't worry. The nurse said it was just a simple check-up. Dr. Perkins is busy, so she'll be doing it." "Okay." He nodded.

She used her thumbs to smooth out his furrowed brow, making him laugh. He hugged her gently.

"I might have overthought it," he admitted. "I don't know why, but I tend to overthink everything when it comes to you."

"Then think on the positive side," she encouraged, looking into his eyes. "For instance, my stomachache is minor, and the check-up will turn out great!" "That's right!" He hugged her, his feelings mixed. "It will be great!"

Maisie went to the hospital the next day.

The nurse led her to the consultation room, drawing the curtains. The room was dimly lit with the lingering scent of disinfectant.

The nurse put on gloves, wearing an uneasy smile and avoiding eye contact.

Maisie lay down on the bed, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself.

"Please remove your pants, Ms. Squire," the nurse instructed. "Place your feet on the bed. It might... hurt a little. Please bear with it." "What?" Maisie was taken aback, her cheeks blushing. "Didn't Dr. Perkins inform you? I-I'm still single."

The nurse bit her lip. "You're single? Ha! It can't be..."

"It's true," Maisie explained as she sat up. "I'm single. Dr. Perkins didn't do this for me last time. You're making a mistake!"

The nurse thought it was almost time to fetch the medical report when someone suddenly opened the door.

Both the nurse and Maisie were shocked.

It was Nina who entered, with Daniel right behind her.

The nurse turned pale and trembled, only managing to stammer after staring at them for a moment. "D-Dr. Perkins, w-why are you here?"

Nina appeared serious, while Daniel looked cold, exuding an air of authority.

Maisie was bewildered but quickly approached Daniel and asked shyly, "I'm here for a check-up, but why are you here?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Squire," Nina said with a smile as she looked at her. "It should have been another patient scheduled for a check-up today. She's been married for a couple of years and has two kids. It just so happens that her name is quite similar to yours, which is how my nurse made this mistake. I apologize for the confusion."

She pulled out a medical record with "Maise Squire" written on it. It was easy to mistake with just one letter missing.

"Your check-up will be tomorrow, Ms. Squire, and I'll personally oversee it," Nina assured. "I'll handle all your check-ups, so don't trust anyone else who schedules appointments for you. If there's a check-up needed, I'll contact you directly."

Chapter 1680

Chapter 1680

"Oh..."

Maisie felt completely lost, unable to grasp the situation's severity. Could a nurse's name mix-up be this serious? Nina's words appeared to carry a deeper significance.

Daniel, offering comfort, wrapped his arm around Maisie's shoulders and softly suggested, "Let's go home."

Maisie nodded.

They left, shared lunch, and later relaxed on the couch to watch a movie.

It was only in the afternoon, when Maisie expressed her desire to visit the library, that Daniel mentioned some business to attend to at his company.

After dropping her off at the library, he quickly returned to the hospital.

The examination room's door remained tightly shut, with guards posted outside, and Hazel stood frozen in the same spot he had left her.

Upon seeing him, Nina politely smiled and said, "Mr. Quimby, it might be best if you ask her directly... While she's my student, her conduct hardly aligns with what's expected of a competent healthcare worker." Daniel elegantly fiddled with a lighter while seated in a chair. The room was eerily quiet, and the tension was evident, almost freezing the world.

Hazel shivered uncontrollably, her body covered in chills. Under Daniel's stern gaze, the pressure felt worse than death itself. Eventually, she couldn't endure it any longer and knelt before him, pleading, "Mr. Quimby, I'm... I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't do it on purpose."

"Forgive you?" Daniel sneered. "Please elaborate. I didn't quite catch that. What should I forgive you for? Forgiving you for deceiving Maisie into coming here for an examination?

"Or..." He gestured, and his subordinate swiftly retrieved Maisie's examination report from a nearby drawer and thrust it at Hazel's face. "Forgiving you for planning to show her all of this?!"

"I didn't mean to! It wasn't my intention!" Hazel sobbed while trembling, "Mr. Quimby, I truly made a mistake. I... I was just too fatigued yesterday and mixed up the patients' names."

"Tell me who ordered you to do this, and I might contemplate forgiveness."

Hazel remained silent, gazing blankly at him.

"You're still in your internship," Daniel coldly remarked. "If you lose this job, how will you support your younger brother, who's still in university? If your younger brother misses his chance to graduate, will your parents still acknowledge you as their daughter?"

At that moment, despair filled Hazel's eyes.

After a brief silence, she managed to speak with great difficulty. "It was... Mr. Bayer. He instructed me to find an opportunity to reveal Ms. Squire's previous medical records to her, to make her aware of what kind of person she used to be."

Daniel's expression darkened suddenly.

"What did he offer you in return?"

"He paid me 4,000 dollars..."

"Did he say anything else?"

"No..." Hazel shook her head. "Mr. Bayer simply wanted Ms. Squire to know that she had been pregnant before, had had a pregnancy induction, and that she used to be... impure."

Daniel's eyes blazed with anger, and he clenched his fists.