<b>Chapter</b><b>32</b>
ThatwaswhywhenSusanapproachedher,LilyagreedwithouthesitationtetoLagersfield
Uponherarrival,sheusedherhackingskillstoinvestigatetheentry andexitrecordsofallpersonnttheparticrbureauforthepasttwo decades.Strangely,shefoundnorecordofherfatherever<b>entering</b>thepremises.
Herfatherseemedtohaveneverexistedinthisworld.
Shecouldn’tbelievethata livingpersoncouldjustvanishwithoutatrace.Despitehergrandmother’sdisapproval,shewasdeterminedtogettothebottomofthismystery.
LilyapaniedBelindaforawhile,gentlytackingthenketaroundherbeforeleavingtheward.
Meanwhile,Loidheadedtothedoctor’soffice
Belinda’s<b>doctor</b>hadjustfinishedsurgery,butwhenheheardLoidwaswaiting,herushedoverwithoutamoment’spause.
“Mr.Laurier.”WinstonBarrettstoodbesideLoldwithahintofnervousness.
Loid<b>sat</b>casuallyinthechair,hisgazesointensethatWinston couldn’tmeethiseyes.
Withacurtnod,Loidliftedhisheadandsaidpolitely,“Sitdown,Don’t<b>be</b>nervous,Ijust<b>have</b>afewquestions.
Injustashortwhile,Winston’sfacewascoveredinsweat.HesatrespectfullynexttoLoid<b>and</b>mumbled<b>,</b>“Pleaseaskaway.”N?velDrama.Org is the owner.
“ShowmeBelindaHutchinson’streatmentn.”Loidleanedbackinhischair,hislongfingerstappingrhythmicallyonthedeskashespokeslowly.
Winstonwastaken aback.BelindaHutchinson?Wasn’tsheoneofhispatients?DidLoidlowher?
Winston’sbodyimmediatelytensedup,andhisexpressionwasfilledwithanxiety.“Apologies,Mr.Laurier.Belinda’sconditionisquiteunique,andwehaven’tyetdeveloped.treatmentn.”
Loidnarrowedhiseyes.Achillingairemanatedfromhimasheuttered,“Notreatmentn?”
WinstonshiveredasthekytoneinLold’svoicesentshiversdownhisspine.“It’sbecausewecan’tfindthecause<b>of</b>herillness,”heexinedhurriedly.
“Allher<b>organs</b>areagingrapidly.We’vedests,andit’snotnaturging.Itshouldbepoison,butwehaven’tbeenableto identifyityet.Fornow,wecanonlysuppressitwiththespecintidotefromtheMedicalResearchInstitute.“”
*NowonderEllysenthergrandmothertothishospitalinthecitycenter,”Shaunmused,strokinghischin.“<b>It’s</b>theonlyonewiththeresearchinstitute’sspecintidote.”
Shaunpaused,suspicionflickeringinhiseyesashelookedatLold.“Butherpillscansuppressthepoison,right?Whydoesshestillneedthespecintidote?”
HehadclearlyseenLilyfeedBelindatwopillsearlier.
Withhermedicalskills,suppressingthepoison<b>shouldn’t</b>beanissue.Yet,shewasstillshellingoutafortuneforthe researchinstitute’sspecintidote.That<b>was</b>abitunusual
Loid’seyesnarrowedincontemtion.After<b>a</b>moment,helookedupandsaid,“Thiscanonlymeanthatherpillsaren’tveryeffectiveagainsttheMindshroudpoison.”
Hestoodup,histandslenderframecreatingmandingpresence.Hisintensegazefocusedsharply,narrowingwithpurpose.“Hasanyoneelseusedthespecintidote?”Winstonshookhishead.“Notyet.It’sextremelyexpensive,andmostpeoplecan’taffordit,”heexined.
Withacurtnodandapolitetone,LoldaddressedWinston,“Alright,thankyouforyourattentiontothismatter.”
WinstonwastakenabackbyLoid’sunexpectedappreciation.“<b>You’re</b>wee,Mr.Laurier.It’smyduty,”hereplied.
Hisexpressionthenturnedseriousashesaid,“However,thesespecintidotesarerare,andtheMedicalResearchInstituteonlyprovidesasmamounteachmonth.I’mworriedthat”
Loidtuckedhishandscasuallyintohispockets.“Justfocusontreatingthepatientswholeheartedly,I’llprovidethemedicine,”hesaidnonchntly
Leavinghergrandmother’sward,LilynavigatedthehallwaytowardWinston’sofficeasshewantedanupdateonthetreatment.She<b>paused</b>atthedoor.Hereyebrowsarchedsubtly,aflickerofintriguecrossingherdarkeyesassheoverheardLoid’sconversation
Afteramomentofhesitation,Lilysteppedinside.
Dr.Barrett,Lilysaid,hervoicesoftandrespectfulyettingedwithassertiveness.“I’msorrytotroubleyouagainaboutmygrandmother.”
“Notroubleatall.It’smyduty,”Winstonrepliedwithasmile.
LilyhadbeenstandingwithLoidsinceshearrived,andnowshewasmentioninghergrandmother,Winston immediatelygraspedthesituation