Ch. 1811..1820

Chapter 1811 Not Interested

“Then think this through carefully. The banquet hasn't started, so it's not too late to change your mind,” said Danrique who was running out of patience.

“Uhm... T-That is not what I meant,” replied William hurriedly to explain himself.

“The bigger the risk, the greater the reward. That is how the world worked. Nothing on Earth comes for free or without risks,” said Danrique calmly.

“Yes, I understand that..."

Danrique put his glass of red wine down and stood up to leave before Prince William could finish speaking.

“Danrique,” said William quickly to stop the guy. “Okay, I admit it. I am a little worried, but that is only because we are friends. That is why I spoke that directly to you. However, that doesn't mean that I will give up on this collaboration. It's as you said. Every reward comes with risks, and I know that well. That is why it never crossed my mind to back out...”

"Oh, it's fine,” replied Danrique as he checked his watch. “You have one more hour to think about it and decide.”

After saying that, he turned around and left.

William's gaze was filled with anxiety as he stared at Danrique’s back.

“Mr. Lindberg's temper is really something else,” said Robin, who couldn't help but sigh a little. “You simply voiced out your concerns. I can't believe he is angry just for that.”

"Oh, shut up,” scolded William sternly.

Robin tilted her head down right away and stopped talking.

“Danrique has always been a weird guy, and it is my fault for choosing the wrong words,” said William. He regretted his words endlessly. “The Laurent family from F Nation had been trying to get on his good side all this time. Yet, he chose to collaborate with me. I should've treasured this opportunity and shouldn't have worried too much.”

“But it's only natural that you voice out your concerns,” refuted Robin. He was heartbroken for his master at the time. “The two of you have equal stakes, and you are only thinking about the mutual benefit, as I'm sure he does too.”

“He is notoriously proud and hates it when others question his capabilities. He especially hates it when others compare him against Zachary Nacht,” said William. The guy was still feeling bad about what had happened. “I should make a mental note and be more careful in the future.”

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You've already accomplished a lot.”

Robin couldn't help feeling sad when he saw his employer blaming himself like that.

"Go set everything up. We'll leave in an hour,” instructed William.

“Understood,” replied Robin. He was going to prepare everything right away when...

"By the way,” called out William all of a sudden. “See if you can make it so that Francesca and I take the same car.”

“Understood.”

Francesca rested lazily on the sofa and munched on an apple.

Two maids were inside the room at the time, and they were packing her things up for her. The nurse, Kerrie, was examining the medical kit. She repeatedly checked the list to ensure that she won't forget anything.

Everything was ready soon after Francesca finished her apple, and the subordinate stationed outside the room reminded them of the time.

In the end, Francesca had no choice but to get up, put on her shoes and coat, then followed everybody out of the room.

They walked past the long corridor, down the spiral stairs, and past the majestic hall before they reached the castle's entrance. By then, a convoy was already waiting for them.

Danrique brought Sean along and was sitting in the Rolls-Royce. Francesca was about to get into the car when Robin suddenly showed up to say, “Dr. Felch, Prince William would like to invite you to travel in our car.”

"Huh?" said Francesca as she instinctively turned to Danrique.

“I've already talked to Mr. Lindberg about this,” replied Robin while grinning. “Prince William's leg is aching a little, so we would like to ask you to examine his condition.”

Francesca didn't know why, but she was suddenly upset. Still, she got into William's car.

The cars’ engines were fired up soon after, and the entire convoy moved slowly toward the road. Danrique leaned against his seat and read some documents on his tablet.

Sean thought about it for a bit before commenting, “You know, it's strange. I get the feeling that they are especially interested in Dr. Felch.”

"Huh? How so?" asked Danrique calmly.

“After you passed out yesterday, Robin came to me and kept asking about Dr. Felch. Now, he has invited the good doctor over to examine Prince William.”

"What's so strange about that?” asked Danrique who didn't think much of it.

“Mr. Lindberg, you really aren't interested in the good doctor, are you?” asked Sean. He sighed before adding, “If that isn't the case, you would definitely have noticed that something is off since you have great observational skills.”

"Huh?" asked Danrique as he shifted his gaze to Sean.

Chapter 1812 Taken Advantage Of

"Well, think about it. Master Felch really is just a regular doctor, and all she did was diagnose Prince William's condition. She didn’t even administer any treatment, so why would he get out of his way to invite her to a meal?

“Moreover, his gaze kept lingering on her when they ate. He even put in a good word for her when the meal was nearing its end.

"And then there's the part where his illness is a long-term issue. It cannot be cured right away.

"He also consulted her and obtained her medical advice yesterday, so why is he complaining about his leg and inviting her over yet again? What could she actually do to help?

“That is obviously just an excuse to get her there and to spend some time with her.”

Danrique nodded after he heard Sean's rational analysis. After that, he said, “That does seem to be the case, but why would William do all that?”

“Well...” murmured Sean. He couldn't quite figure that out at that moment.

"Would his actions cause any trouble or inconveniences for us?” asked Danrique again.

“That doesn't seem possible,” answered Sean before he shook his head. “She is a doctor, and there is no problem with her examining Prince William so long as it won't affect your treatment.”

“Then there you have it," replied Danrique before he turned his attention back to the document he had with him.

Sean understood what Danrique was saying, even though the latter didnt really say much. So basically, he's saying there's no need to bother, so long as it won't affect us.

Danrique’s calm response and nonchalant attitude allowed Sean to sigh a breath of relief. I guess that means Mr. Lindberg isn't into that doctor... That's good news.

“By the way, have you learned anything about her?” asked Danrique. He suddenly thought about that, so he asked the question while messing with the necklace he had on.

"Ah, I was just about to update you on the matter,” replied Sean hurriedly. “I've found the surveillance footage from Maze Hospital, but the lady never showed up there.

“My men also located the vehicle she stole and examined the footage of the camera installed in the car. We learned that she went to a shopping mall after she left Casino Inferno.

"We highlighted the time and period she was in the mall, so I've already sent some men to retrieve the relevant surveillance footage. They are examining it frame by frame, and we believe that we will find her soon.”

“Investigate the matter in person,” ordered Danrique.

“Understood,” replied Gordon while having his head down.

“I'm guessing you wish to find her before returning to Erihal, right?” asked Sean who could tell what Danrique was thinking. “That way, you'd be able to take her there with you.”

“Yeah,” answered Danrique. His lips curved into a smile. “That is the most important task at hand, and I want this done as soon as possible.”

“Understood!” replied Gordon who worked on the matter right away.

“No, the most important task at hand is to find an antidote for the poison and cure you,” said Sean. He was feeling a little uneasy at the time, so he reminded, “That is crucial. We won't be able to relax as long as that poison remains within you...”

“Stop nagging,” grumbled Danrique while frowning.

“Understood,” replied Sean. He tilted his head down and stopped talking.

“I hope we find the cure soon. That way, we can chase that arrogant doctor away,” commented Gordon all of a sudden. “That woman is just too annoying and is relentless. She keeps taking advantage of Mr. Lindberg.”

No one spoke for a moment there

Danrique was slightly taken aback as well. He turned his attention to Gordon and demanded, “What are you talking about? What did she do?”

“Uh...”

Gordon panicked immediately after. Shoot! I forgot that Mr. Lindberg was unconscious the two times she fed him the medicine with her mouth. He is unaware of any of that.

Sean frowned and glared at Gordon. The former then cursed internally. Keep your mouth shut, you busybody. Everything is fine as long as Mr. Lindberg is unaware of it all. Now that he’s discovered the truth, things will become ridiculously bad.

“What the hell happened? Tell me!" demanded Danrique in a scary tone after he put the tablet away. “Please calm down, Mr. Lindberg,” replied Sean quickly. “She didnt really take advantage of you. Dr. Felch was just worried...”

"Err... Yes, that is exactly it. Here's how it all went down.”

Gordon was rather insensitive, so he shared the whole story. He even ended everything with a deadly sentence. “You couldn't swallow the medicine, and it was an emergency, so Dr. Felch had no choice...”

By then, Danrique’s expression had already become scarier than the ominous lightning in the dark clouds. His eyes glowed with so much fury that they seemed vicious.

Even if Danrique regarded the incident at the hot spring as an accident, even if he believed that she was careless when she fell into his arms and kissed him, essentially stealing his first kiss...

Then how the hell does she explain what happened the next two times? She's definitely after me and has malicious intentions!

 

Chapter 1813 That Is Just How She Is

Inside the Lincoln limousine behind the Rolls-Royce, Francesca sneezed twice. She rubbed her nose a little and frowned. “Is someone cursing me?”

“Are you okay?" asked William in a concerned tone.

"Oh, I'm fine,” replied Francesca. “By the way, why did you ask me over?”

“I want to spend some time with you,” answered William. His gaze was warm when he added, “Francesca, I will go to Zarain with you once Danrique is cured.”

"Oh, it won't help, even if you follow me along,” replied Francesca without thinking much about anything. “It'll take a comprehensive medical plan to treat your leg, and there is nothing I can do to cure it soon.”

“I know,” said William while nodding. “Thing is, I'm not following you to Zarain for my own sake. I am doing it because I worry about the injury in your head. What if something were to happen during your travel? Or if..."

"Oh, there's no need for that,” interrupted Francesca right away. “I enjoy being alone and will find it irritating if anyone were to tag along.”

She had always been straightforward and had never worried about being polite.

“Still, I worry. Remember what happened the last time when you took a cruise home? You got into some trouble on the way,” reminded William. His eyes shone with worry when he looked at her. “I am the one who hired you, so I am responsible for your safety. Besides..."

"You are so naggy,” complained Francesca. She was losing her patience by then.

William had no choice but to change the topic in response. “Okay, fine. Let's not talk about this. You didn't get to eat much during lunch, so I had my people prepare some of your favorite dishes. Try it.”

As he spoke, he had his subordinate hand them the tray of lunch.

Francesca's eyes glowed with glee as soon as she saw the food. She took her mask off and started eating right away.

I don't need to hide myself... at least not in front of Prince William, anyway.

William stared lovingly at her the entire time. As she ate, he would do miscellaneous things for her, such as pouring her a glass of water or handing her a piece of tissue.

Francesca didn't hold back and was as barbaric as a person could get. She didn’t care about her reputation at all.

After her meal, Francesca rubbed her bloated tummy in satisfaction and leaned lazily against her seat. “I'm gonna take a nap now. Don't wake me up, okay?”

"Sleep well.”

William waved his hand and had a maid hurry over to help Francesca lower the backrest of her seat. The maid even draped a blanket over Francesca after that.

“I just realized something. You are a lot nicer than that idiot.”

Francesca turned around and began snoring away moments later.

William was delighted. Her words were, in a way, suggesting that she enjoyed his company.

Robin smiled and sighed. “Dr. Felch is just as blunt as she has always been.”

“That's how unique she is."

William leaned against his seat and stared quietly. It was as though he were admiring an exquisite painting in the museum.

“That's true. Dr. Felch is nothing like the pretentious heiresses who enjoy putting on a show,” replied Robin who knew exactly what his employer was thinking. “She is innocent and would say and do what she means. There are no political games or tricks with her.”

"Yeah, I don't need to keep my guard up when I'm with her, nor do I need to worry about anything. It's so liberating and relaxing. She is the only one who can make me feel this way," replied William before he sighed deeply.

“You know, Ma“'am likes her, too,” shared Robin while smiling. “In fact, Ma'am once claimed that she would consider letting you marry her if she cures your leg.”

“It doesn’t matter if I am cured. She is still the only woman I will marry,” declared William.

He kept staring lovingly at Francesca. A glimmer of determination glowed in his eyes when he declared his love earlier.

“But Ma'am said...”

“Enough,” interrupted William. “I will choose my own bride.”

“Understood,” replied Robin. He didn't have the guts to say anything else.

The car kept moving forward, and Francesca was sound asleep. It took the cars about two hours to reach a private property and to stop in front of the villa inside the aforementioned property.

The maid tried to wake Francesca up, but the latter was still tired, so she simply turned around and continued sleeping.

That move prompted the blanket draped over her to fall onto the floor. William rolled his wheelchair over, picked the blanket up for her, then stroked her back gently.

He did all that instinctively and out of habit, but that day, he sensed someone looking at him Hence, he turned around

That was when he saw Danrique standing outside and glaring evilly at them with narrowed eyes.

 

Chapter 1814 Take Your Clothes Off

“Mr. Lindberg,” greeted Robin politely. “Dr. Felch fell asleep on the way. Please go ahead without us. We'll catch up soon.”

Danrique didn't reply. He simply turned around and left.

"Wake her up,” instructed Sean softly. “Mr. Lindberg's fever hasn't subsided, so she has to examine his condition later.”

"Okay, I will have the maid send her there right away,” replied Robin while nodding.

Sean ran to catch up to Danrique after that.

Behind them, Robin lowered her voice and turned to William. “Your highness, it seems Mr. Lindberg is upset.”

“That's just how he is. I don't think he’s angry at anyone,” replied William. He didn't care much about it, but he woke Francesca up, anyway. “Francesca. Francesca...”

Francesca woke up, but she was still groggy when she rubbed her eyes. Her voice was a little thick. “Are we there?”

"Yeah, we are,” replied William while looking warmly at her.

Francesca sat up and put on her mask. After that, she started putting on her shoes to get out of the car.

“Francesca, don't leave the room unless there is an emergency, okay? Also, if possible, please don't attend the banquet tonight,” reminded William sternly.

"Huh? Why? What is this place?” asked Francesca curiously.

“We're in the manor of an M Nation official. He is acting as the middleman, and that is why we're meeting here.

“Danrique will negotiate with the Pastor at the banquet. The official will be there as the middleman, so the latter won't go as far as making a scene in public. However, there is no saying what will happen behind the scenes.

“Danrique and I have plenty of bodyguards around us, but I'm worried about you.”

William then gave her a summary of what he thought. “No one knows who you are at the moment, but things will be bad for you if that information is leaked.”

"Okay, I understand.”

Francesca still hadn't regained her memories, but she understood how dire the situation was.

It would be ridiculously difficult to attack Danrique and William, but the same could not be said for her.

She was an easy target, and if she died, Danrique’s poison will eventually take his life, while William's leg will never recover.

That meant that anyone who wanted to destroy Danrique and William could achieve their goals simply by going after her.

“Oh, and there's one other thing,” said William as he handed Francesca a piece of paper. “Anthony has been looking for you, so you should call him as soon as possible.”

“Anthony?” Francesca was stunned to hear that name. It sounds so familiar.

“Call him, and you'll know exactly who he is. You'll also learn who you are.”

William prayed that she could regain her memory soon and remember everything about them. “Okay, thanks.”

Francesca accepted the piece of paper, finished putting on her shoes, then hopped out of the car. “Mr. Lindberg is waiting for you, Dr. Felch. Please follow me.”

Kerrie and two other bodyguards had been waiting for Francesca outside.

Francesca readjusted her mask before entering the villa with them.

Behind her, Robin and her subordinates helped William out of the car. The person in charge of the villa had shown up to greet them warmly by then.

Francesca followed the path she was led and walked to the third floor. The first thing she did was to settle down in the guest bedroom, then she went to the master bedroom, located right next to her room. Danrique was right inside.

He was sitting on the sofa and reading some documents at the time.

The lighting in that room made him look even more intimidating than usual.

“Dr. Felch is here, Mr. Lindberg,” reported Sean.

"What is his temperature?” asked Francesca as she worked on her medical kit.

“We just checked. It's a hundred degrees,” replied Sean in a worried tone. “The banquet will begin in two hours. Is there any way to make his fever go away quicker?”

Francesca didn't reply. She simply walked to Danrique and put her hand on his forehead to check his temperature. He was so hot that it was frightening.

Danrique slapped her hand away immediately and warned, “Do not touch me.”

"What the hell?” complained Francesca while frowning, “How am I supposed to determine your temperature and treat you without touching you?”

"Use a thermograph.”

Danrique had a scowl on his face. The only reason he refrained from complaining about the way she fed him his medicine was because he still needed her.

But that doesn’t mean I will condone her getting too close to me.

“Crazy idiot,” murmured Francesca.

She picked up the thermograph and pointed it at his forehead to check his temperature. The way she moved and the way she spoke was rude.

“Take off your clothes. We're changing your medication.”

 

Chapter 1815 Anthony

Danrique frowned. Without any prior warning, he reached out to grab her throat and pushed her onto the table. He warned, “Let me make this perfectly clear to you. You are just the doctor. I am the one who spent a fortune to hire you, and you are not to boss me around!”

“You j*rk. Let go of me.”

Francesca struggled angrily, but that only made Danrique tighten his grip on her.

She was on the verge of suffocating, and for a moment there, she felt as though she sensed death nearing her. Her hands gripped his wrists weakly. No matter what she tried, she simply couldn't break free.

“Mr. Lindberg, please calm down. We need Dr. Felch to continue treating you, so please let her off easy. Don't be angry.”

Danrique was still burning with rage, but he let Francesca go. His voice sounded evil when he warned, “Remember who you are. Do not cross me again!”

"You..." Francesca coughed.

A bloody scratch showed up on her neck, and she was in so much pain that she was coughing nonstop. Her throat had also gone dry, and her voice was coarse.

She was tempted to kill him, but she obviously wasn't strong enough to fight against him.

That doesn’t matter, though. Revenge is a dish best served cold, so just you wait!

“Mr. Lindberg is in a bad mood, Dr. Felch, so please forgive him for this. Let's focus on administering the treatment for now,” requested Sean quickly and nervously.

Francesca glared at Danrique before administering the treatment.

That being said, she was deliberately being harsh. She didn’t even warn him before she slapped the medicine, which would sting him greatly, onto his body.

The pain was so intense that Danrique stiffened. He gritted his teeth and glared. If looks could kill, Francesca would be pushing the daisies by then.

She didn't bother arguing with him, though. She simply moved on to bandage him up in the worst way.

That was when she realized that Danrique had been wearing her necklace the entire time...

Huh, that is strange. Why is he wearing someone else's necklace? It's not like him to do something like this.

Francesca sensed Danrique monitoring her, so she quickly diverted her attention back to the task at hand.

She bandaged him up without really paying attention to the details, then tossed the pills onto the table before instructing, “Add hot water, then have him drink it. Check his temperature again in an hour. It'd be great if his fever goes away by then, but if not... Well, there's nothing I can do about it, anyway.”

“Dr. Felch...”

“I will warn you one last time. Go back if you want him to survive this,” said Francesca sternly, “His condition is still deteriorating, and it can be deadly.”

"Understood. We'll go back as soon as we finish conducting our business tonight.”

Sean nodded endlessly.

Francesca shot a look at Danrique before leaving without looking back.

Inside her room, Francesca locked the door and examined every inch. She didn't fish out the phone Sean gave her earlier until she was certain that there weren't any bugs there. After that, she readied herself to call Anthony.

She started keying the number in. Who is he? And why is his name so familiar?

“Hello?”

“Are you...?"

"Oh, my sweet, sweet Francesca. You're finally back. You scared the living hell out of us, you know?” The voice on the other end of the line sounded familiar, and its owner seemed excited.

"Anthony?" said Francesca without thinking. There were many memories that were still out of her reach, but she instinctively knew that the guy was on her side.

"What the hell? You don't recognize my voice?” complained Anthony. He sounded a little hurt. “It's only been a month. How could you have already forgotten all about me?”

"Something happened to me, and my head suffered an injury,” replied Francesca, “Who are you to me?”

Silence. Anthony was so surprised that he was stunned. “Are you kidding me? You don't even remember me anymore? I mean, Prince William warned me that you have amnesia after getting into an accident, but how can you just up and forget about me like that?”

"Quit yapping and answer my question,” growled Francesca impatiently.

“I am your friend, your manager, your supervisor..."

Anthony told Francesca their story after that. He was the first friend Francesca made after she left the mountains, and they stuck by each other through thick and thin. They were even in life and death situations before, and that strengthened their bonds.

They eventually went to M Nation where Francesca studied medicine while Anthony studied business management and economics.

After they graduated, Anthony helped her manage her finances and the orphanages.

 

Chapter 1816 Orphanages

"Orphanages?” Francesca suddenly stiffened. She suddenly recalled how she made it her mission to give every orphan a home..

That was why she built countless orphanages all around the world.

“Yeah, you've built one hundred and eighteen orphanages so far. The annual expenses are high, so you went around treating the sick and asking for a sizeable medical fee every time. You did all that for the kids.

"A few months ago, one of the orphanages was hit by a natural disaster. All sorts of issues rose, and a small fortune was needed. That was why you accepted the case to cure Prince William. Who would've thought that you'd get into an accident on your way back...”

"Ah, everything makes sense now. No wonder I care so much about money, yet am instinctively frugal.”

Realization hit Francesca. Her desire for money had been etched into her bones. That was why she wanted to make money whenever the opportunity presented itself.

She had always found it strange because she knew nothing about spending money.

There were even times when she weirded herself out. She didn’t know why she bothered making all that money, but now, everything was clear.

“You are an orphan, so you don’t want other kids to suffer the same fate you did. Hence, when you are eighteen, you set up the Lovely Care Foundation. Slowly but surely, the organization started building orphanages all around the world.

“You have been busy working as a doctor and making money all these years, so Ms. Layla, Mr. Lincoln, and I have been managing the organization and the orphanages for you.”

Those names sounded familiar to Francesca, and as she listened, her mind showed her the kind faces of her friends.

"Did that help? Can you recall any of that?” asked Anthony.

"Yes, I remember something. Oh, by the way, are we broke right now?” asked Francesca when she came back around. “Tell me your bank account. I will send you the money when I am free.” “Weren't you in an accident? How are do you still have money on you?” asked Anthony in a surprised tone.

“I may have lost my memories, but I have not forgotten how to earn money,” bragged Francesca. “I have a two million cheque with me now and will have a billion in M Nations currency in a few days.” "Oh my gosh, you are incredible,” replied Anthony in astonishment. “That money might not be enough, though. Some orphanages are hit by natural disasters and have to be rebuilt. There are also a few places where viral infections have broken out. We need to move the kids somewhere else.” "How much do we need? Do I have any savings?” asked Francesca immediately.

“The money in your bank account is running low, but you have a safe deposit box in S Nation. Inside it are some rare treasures, famous paintings, and valuable pieces of jewelry inside. They are gifts from the rich patients you treated in the past.

“The items in there would amount to a sizeable fortune. Before you got into the accident, you said that you will go to S Nation to retrieve some of the items there. You were going to sell them, then deposit the money into the organization's account. The safe deposit box has a specialized key. Only the pendant of the necklace you have with you can open it.”

Bhs”

Francesca was stunned. Shoot! I didn't know the necklace was that important.

“Francesca, keep that necklace safe, okay? Do not lose it. If you do, you will not be able to open the safe deposit box. Your life savings are in there. Every penny you made is locked inside.”

“How much is there?" asked Francesca nervously. “Does it amount to one billion in M Nation's currency?”

"Oh, there is so much more in there,” answered Anthony firmly. “That is why, no matter what happens, you must not lose it, okay?”

"Okay, got it.”

Francesca narrowed her eyes. She was so angry that she gritted her teeth. D*mn it. No wonder that j*rk Danrique wanted that necklace. It is so much more valuable than I realize... D*mn it!

"Where are you now, Francesca? Maybe it's best if I meet up with you. Are you in Lightspring or Summerbank?” asked Anthony nervously.

“I was in Lightspring earlier, but I'm in Summerbank now," replied Francesca as she checked the GPS on her phone. “It'd probably be better if you stay away, though. Let me settle the issue at hand for now. I will contact you again in a few days.”

“But...”

"Okay, it's settled. Bye.”

Francesca hung up immediately after. I swear I will retrieve that necklace as soon as possible...

 

Chapter 1817 Kill You

While Francesca was still trying to figure out a way to get back the necklace, she heard someone walking over and calling her name.

She immediately put on a mask and opened to door to take a look.

Danrique had changed into a white suit and walked in her direction, looking all suave and debonair. Gordon and the rest followed right behind him. They were all dressed up for the banquet.

Sean walked up to Francesca and whispered, “Dr. Felch, Mr. Lindberg has a mild fever, and his wound still hurts. Ill need you to change into a fresh pair of clothes and come with us just in case something goes wrong.”

“Me?” Francesca pointed at herself. “You mean I must go to the banquet?”

She remembered Prince William told her to stay in her room and not run around, as danger might lurk in the banquet.

“Yes.” Sean nodded. “Please get changed as soon as possible. Kerrie will come and take you to the banquet.”

“All right. I'll go change.”

Francesca was never afraid of danger. In fact, she thought it might be a good opportunity for her to snatch back the necklace amidst the chaos.

I wouldn't arouse Danrique’s suspicion should the banquet be chaotic.

“This is what you'll be wearing for the evening, Dr. Felch.” Kerrie and two maids came into Francesca’'s room with an evening gown.

"What the hell is this? I'll wear my dress.” Francesca knitted her brows after seeing that elegant and elaborate evening gown. “I'll get changed right now. Don't forget to bring along the medical kit.” “But...” Kerrie turned to Sean for help.

“Do as she say!” Sean ordered.

"Okay."

After putting on her dress, Francesca wore a new black mask and departed to the banquet with Kerrie and two bodyguards.

Clad in a black dress and a black mask, she looked like a mysterious woman whose attire did not seem to match the banquets theme.

All the waiters would give her a weird stare when she walked past them.

But she just ignored their stares and walked straight on.

When Francesca was coming down from the spiral stairs, she bumped into Prince William.

Prince William was surprised to see her there. “Fran... Dr. Felch, what are you doing here?”

Prince William had to watch his tone since the Lindbergs were around. But deep in his heart, he wanted to know why Francesca did not stay in her room. I thought I told you to stay in your room. Why did you come to the banquet?

“Your Highness, Mr. Lindberg is not feeling well, and he needs Dr. Felch to take care of him,” Kerrie explained.

"Oh, yes. I'll go and take a look at him now.” Francesca then caught up with Sean.

Prince William frowned and ordered his men in a deep voice, “Send someone to protect Francesca in secret.”

“All right, Your Highness,” Robin responded.

After a short walk on the lawn, they arrived at the main hall of another villa where the banquet was taking place.

All the guests held a wine glass and greeted each other while waiting for the host to arrive.

Sean and Francesca entered the villa through a side door. He then brought her to a lounge where Danrique was taking a break.

Feeling frustrated, Danrique, who had tossed his coat aside, sat on the couch and unbuttoned his shirt.

His expression looked gloomy as he still had a mild fever.

While Gordon was busy getting someone to adjust the temperature of the aircon, a maid stood beside Danrique and cooled him down with a fan.

"Water, Sir.” The maid then offered him a glass of water.

Francesca could not keep her eyes from Danrique’s neck, as she could somewhat see the necklace “Sir!” The maid once again offered him a glass of water.

Danrique, who had gulped down several glasses of water, got a little annoyed. He stared at Francesca and asked, “Is your treatment effective? How come I still feel ill?"

“Now you're blaming me?” Francesca voiced her dissatisfaction. “The treatment would have gone well had you cooperated with me.”

"How long more do I have to go through this treatment?” the man asked impatiently.

“It depends on your condition,” Francesca answered icily. “I'll have to take a look at the snake when I get back and extract its blood sample to run another lab test.”

“I'll kill you if you can’t heal me in seven days!” Danrique warned.

 

Chapter 1818 Something Is Amiss

"How could you threaten me like this?” Fury surged through Francesca.

“Ehm...” Prince William, who coincidentally entered the lounge, froze for a moment when he overheard their conversation. Worry was written all over his face.

"Your Highness.” Sean immediately greeted Prince William and gestured for Kerrie to do something. “Have some water, Dr. Felch.” Kerrie tried defusing the tension by giving Francesca a glass of iced lemon water.

Francesca was about to explode with rage, but she suppressed her anger to avoid a confrontation with Danrique.

“You look mad. What's wrong?” Prince William took a glance at Danrique and asked.

“I'm all right.” Danrique tugged his collar and continued drinking his iced water.

"You look pale. Are you still having a fever?” Prince William showed his concern.

“Mr. Lindberg doesn't feel well because his body temperature fluctuates throughout the day,” Sean explained. “We would appreciate it if you could assist us when we need help at the banquet later, Your Highness.”

“I'm sure Mr. Lindberg can handle the situation well. He's a steady man,” Prince William said modestly. “Besides, he should be in the limelight. I shouldn't steal his thunder.”

“But...”

“Remove your shirt right now. I'll perform acupuncture on you.”

Francesca noticed Danrique did not look well. It seems the venom could cause a person to become agitated. It might even turn the victim into someone aggressive.

Danrique finally cooperated with Francesca instead of giving her a hard time. He also felt that lately, he had been emotionally unstable.

Francesca started sticking needles into his body once he stripped his shirt to his waist.

Sweat droplets gradually slid down his chest and dripped on the white shirt.

“They've arrived, Sir,” one of Danrique’s subordinates came into the lounge and announced.

Prince William's expression turned grim. He gently clutched his pants, looking a little nervous “There's no need to rush!” Danrique shut his eyes and tried to regain his composure.

"You can leave in five minutes.” Francesca took a glance at her watch after completing the acupuncture session.

Every second of the five-minute wait was unbearable for them as they were afraid of offending that special someone.

All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door. Sean went to open the door and saw Gary standing outside. “Mr. Anderson!"

Gary said in a soft voice, “Pastor is here. Edward would like to invite Mr. Lindberg and Prince William over.”

"We'll be right there in a minute,” Sean replied with a smile.

"All right.” Gary then took a glance at the lounge and reminded Sean, “Don’t make Pastor wait for too long. He has a notoriously bad temper.”

Sean looked at Danrique and read his signals. He then said to Gary calmly, “Mr. Lindberg is not particularly good-tempered either. He doesn't like people to rush him.”

Sean's reply rendered Gary speechless.

Sean tried to defuse the tension by saying, “We'll be there in a while.”

“All right. I'll wait outside then.” Gary lowered his head and stepped out of the lounge.

Francesca removed the needles five minutes later. She then touched Danrique’s forehead with her hand and noticed that his body temperature had finally returned to normal.

After washing his face and changing into new pair of clothes, he stepped out of the lounge with his entourage.

Robin pushed Prince William in his wheelchair and followed right behind. When Prince William walked past Francesca, he reminded her. “Stay here and rest. Don't go anywhere.”

Francesca kept mum but nodded her head.

Now that everyone was gone, the lounge instantly became quiet. Only Kerrie stayed back to accompany Francesca

A few female bodyguards were also guarding the lounge by the door.

Now that Danrique was away, Francesca felt less uptight. She leaned on the couch carefreely and munched on an apple.

But soon, she noticed something was amiss.

Something seemed to have jolted the birds in the trees, causing them to take flight.

She also heard a weird sound from upstairs and felt a vibration on the ceiling.

"What are you looking at, Master Felch?” Kerrie asked out of curiosity.

"Shush,” Francesca warned Kerrie to keep quiet. She looked up, stared at the ceiling, and squinted. “Did you feel it? Someone's walking upstairs.”

"Of course, there are people up there. It's a hall,” Kerrie did not understand why Francesca was being so paranoid.

“No,” Francesca shook her head and whispered. “I could tell it's a group of men, and they are now surrounding a room.”

 

Chapter 1819 An Ambush

"What?" The color drained out of Kerrie’s face. “Are they Pastor's men?”

“No, wait a second.” She paused for a bit before continuing, “How did you manage to hear the footsteps?”

“I have no time to explain to you now.” Francesca urged Kerrie, “Get someone to tell Danrique that there's an ambush here.”

"Got it.” Kerrie then immediately told one of the bodyguards from the Lindberg family.

The bodyguard was a little skeptical. After all, all of Lindberg’s bodyguards had gone through special training, and none of them noticed anything suspicious around the building. Besides, they were not supposed to leave the lounge since Danrique had ordered them to station there to protect Francesca.

"What are you waiting for? Go!” Kerrie urged. “You gotta trust Master Felch. She knows what's going on."

“But...”

Before the bodyguard could react, they heard a gunshot from downstairs. A few foreign assassins arrived and surrounded the bodyguards from the Lindberg family.

Kerrie's eyes widened in shock. She then turned around to look at Francesca.

Francesca rolled her eyes. She did not know what else to say.

They should have heeded my warning. There's nothing we can do now. Even if these bodyguards had believed my words, they wouldn't have been able to reach Danrique in time anyway. Oh, well. It's obvious that they have set up this banquet to trap Danrique.

But somehow, Francesca felt Danrique was not the kind of person who would fall into the enemy's trap so easily.

Meanwhile, in the hall upstairs, a corner of Danrique’s lips quirked up when he heard a commotion. “So this is what your negotiation is all about?”

“I have no hand in this, Mr. Lindberg,” Edward immediately explained. He then questioned Pastor, “Pastor, how could you do this? We agreed to have an open discussion, yet you did this to us? Now you've put me in a difficult position!”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

Pastor was about fifty years old. He was a man with a small body frame and a pair of sunken eyes. A hard glint flashed across as he shot daggers at Danrique. “All this while, you've been doing well in Erihal, yet you chose to venture into M Nation. You've disrupted my business and caused my company to be in the red. Tell me, how should I settle this score with you?”

Danrique responded steadily, “It's a healthy competition. How can you blame me just because you fail to keep up with your business?”

Pastor let out a mirthless laugh. “You're really as stubborn as a mule, aren't you?”

A group of bodyguards in black suits barged into the room and pointed their guns at Danrique. The only two bodyguards around Danrique were Sean and Sloan. Even Prince William only had four men by his side.

Yet, Pastor had dozens of men with him. Clearly, he had the upper hand.

Prince William's expression turned grim. He questioned Edward, “This is not what we signed up for, Mr. Leigh!”

"Pastor..."

“Prince William.” Pastor interrupted Edward and gave Prince William a condescending look. “I understand you're working closely with Danrique, but I'll not harm you because I respect your father.”

"You!"

“Pastor, you've gone overboard.” Edward knitted his brows. “You're at my place. If anything bad happens to Mr. Lindberg, I'll be held accountable!”

Pastor sneered, “Calm down. The Lindberg family had long been exterminated. Even the shareholders in Lindberg Corporation are a bunch of scheming and deceptive folks who can't wait for Danrique to die. You're accountable to no one!”

Danrique lowered his eyes and went deep in thought. What Pastor said is right.

Should anything bad happens to Prince William, the royal family from Danontand would not let Pastor off so easily. That's why Pastor doesn't dare to lay his finger on him.

But if I'm dead, people from Lindberg Corporation would definitely jump for joy.

How pathetic.

"Am I right, Mr. Lindberg?” Pastor gave Danrique a sarcastic look. “No one cares about your life and death. In other words, your death would not bring us any trouble.”

 

Chapter 1820 Do You Want To Die

“Really? Who said so?” Suddenly, a clear voice emerged from a distance, breaking the tension in the room. “Who says no one cares about him? I care!”

Upon hearing that, Danrique’s eyes lit up instantly. It's her.

Prince William shuddered. He turned around and saw Francesca entering the room in a black dress and a mask.

As she was walking into the room, two men in black pointed their guns at her back.

Sean was at a loss for words. Francesca sounded so confident that he thought she had come to their rescue after taking down Pastor's bodyguards. But apparently, she was also held at gunpoint. “Master Felch...” Sloan could not help but worry for Francesca.

“You're nothing but a small fry. Who do you think you are?” Pastor looked down on Francesca. “I hate people who bite off more than they could chew!”

He then gestured for his bodyguards to aim their guns at her.

“No, wait!” Prince William panicked.

"You seem nervous, Your Highness.” Pastor was intrigued by his reaction. “Is she your woman?” Prince William did not know how to answer his question. He turned to Danrique and said, “Save her, Danrique.”

"He's right.” Danrique knitted his brows. “I hate people who bite off more than they could chew too.”

"Danrique...” Prince William got even more frantic.

“Excuse me?” Francesca gave Danrique a sullen glare. “How could you say that? I came here to rescue you!"

Danrique looked at her as if he was looking at a lunatic. You? Rescue me? Are you kidding me? “For the record, I'm only doing it for the money.” Francesca gritted her teeth.

"What did you say, Master Felch?” Kerrie did not catch her words.

“Tell your men to put down their guns.” Francesca warned Pastor. “Quick. Do it before I lose my patience.”

Pastor laughed sarcastically. “Who on earth is this clown? Where did she come from?”

To him, Francesca was nothing but a clown. Who does this woman think she is? How dare she challenge me? She's asking for death.

“Francesca...” Prince William panicked. “Stop it!"

“Kill her!” Pastor ordered as he had run out of patience.

“Yes, Sir!” One of his men then placed his finger on the trigger and was ready to fire a shot at her. Danrique’s eyes narrowed. When he was about to make his move, a tiny green thing suddenly crawled onto the man’s hand.

The man took a closer look at it and was shocked to find that it was a green snake.

He tried to get rid of the snake, but the limbless reptile had bitten his wrist.

He could no longer move!

The gun fell onto the ground, and his arm started to turn numb.

He grabbed his right arm with his left hand and shrieked in fear. “What's going on?"

Everyone, including Danrique, was stunned by the turn of events.

What is this green snake doing here? It's supposed to be in the lab! And the snake seems to listen to her command. How?

Pastor froze for a bit. He then ordered his other subordinates to take her down. “Kill her! Quick!" Before Pastor could complete his sentence, the green snake glided over and wrapped around his neck tightly, suffocating the man.

All his subordinates dared not act impulsively. They went up and tried to remove the snake. "Pastor..."

"Go ahead and touch it if you want a quick death,” Francesca said calmly. “If the snake bites him on the neck, he'll die right away!”

Everyone was stunned. No one dared to look down on Francesca anymore.

Prince William, Edward, Robin, the other bodyguards, and assassins looked at the woman in disbelief.

On the other hand, Sean and Sloan were not as shocked because they knew what Francesca could do.