Chapter 10
Chapter 10
+13)
Barry’s words hung in the air, and he glanced at Tobias, who remained silent. Then he let out a low chuckle. “I know you’ve got
a lot on your plate, but if you need someone to take care of things… I’m your man.
“Just say the word. You know, making her disappear is just a piece of cake.”
Mandy’s heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t doubt for a second that Barry was serious. She carefully closed the door, holding her breath as if the slightest sound could shatter the fragile calm.
Last night at the private restaurant, Mandy had seen enough to know what Tobias was up to.
He was convinced his wife was cheating on him and might even be carrying someone else’s baby. But he had no proof. So now, he was quietly setting up a DNA test to get the answers he needed.
Mandy could see where he was coming from, but something still didn’t sit right. She thought, ‘Even if the DNA test shows the kid’s related to his wife, it won’t mean she’s unfaithful. The child could still be his.
‘He should get both cheaters‘ samples and do the tests. The only way to prove his wife’s betrayal is to make sure the kid is another man’s. Why didn’t he do that? Unless… he’s never been with his wife at all.
The thought made Mandy’s heart skip a beat. ‘Could it be that he’s really unable to be with his wife?‘
Mandy shook her head, staring at her reflection in the mirror. ‘Why does it matter to me? No need to keep thinking,‘ she thought.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She ran a hand through her hair, took a moment to compose herself, and then stepped out of the bathroom.
The moment Mandy stepped back into the bedroom, she could sense that something had changed. The atmosphere was tense, and Tobias’s expression was even more brooding than before.
She tried to keep her cool and said, “Mr. Lancaster, I really hope we can keep up with the acupuncture sessions as planned. If we stop now, we’ll lose all the progress we’ve made and have to start over.”
“Got it.” Tobia
nodded, his eyes flickering briefly toward Yaxley.
In an instant, Yaxley was already handing Mandy a bank card. Mandy’s eyes widened as she turned to look at Tobias.
“Dr. Jones,” Tobias said, his voice steady, “there’s 150 thousand on this card. It’s for your medical fees. Once the treatment is done, I’ll give you another 150 thousand.”
Mandy’s mind raced. She knew Tobias was rich, but the amount still took her breath away.
She barely made over 30 thousand a year in the Emergency Department. A hundred and fifty thousand for a side gig? It was more than she could earn in five years. It was impossible not to be tempted.
With this money, she could finally afford a small house. Owning property meant they could settle down in Westbay and avoid the discrimination they faced as outsiders.
Mandy had toughened up over the years, but she worried about Emma. She didn’t want her daughter to be left out or bullied just because they were renters.
Mandy clenched her fists at her sides, forcing a smile. “Mr. Lancaster, I think you might not know how my pricing works.”
Tobias raised an eyebrow. He’d assumed his offer was too low, but he didn’t care about the money. “Go ahead. Enlighten me,” he said.
1/3
17:44 581,217 $68/
Chaper
She end, Yadet, pred to ide prmar y dwg the two wong as w
*** my prided your one be my pr
Kerry‘+egee hetted why they the wood dwy gay day was in the pace, fere in the the ww wwwww you may dem
wann 8 Many red, bet d’
Barry’s en dumped ‘s mation Drawe, ww you kiddwy now That’s Audwaysky
tobias, standing nearby with stay of dude sard dough handy was a beatless dome, the Kand wherd and up to anyone to wave a lite. Now he wredit on www the teams too gúrk so jutr
“Cave her what she wants totes end, the voice und re
Yaxley, ever the loyal wider, nodded and tamed to handy Dr fore,ju
But Mandy cut him off, her tone firm “Hold on 1 thank they’s been a moderseauding, I said Shundred bucks. That’s at
The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the dir
Barry Minked, disbelief written all over his face. “The bundred but tedy
Mandy’s expression didn’t waver, “Three hundred dollars a day, Top clinics charge way more for coupuncture. I’m confident my skills are worth it. If you agree, you can pay me in full once I’m done and we tally up the days?
Barry stared at her, thinking she had to be joking
But Mandy’s steady gaze told him she was dead serious. “Do I look like I’m joking? the asked, her eyes shifting to Tobias.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand will. Tobias’s blue eyes held a depth that made Barry uneasy.
Finally, Tobias broke the silence. “Do as she says, he told Yaxley, his voice a low rumble.
Yazley nodded, his face a mask of obedience. “Yes, sir
Once the consultation fee was squared away, Mandy figured she’d made her point and was ready to leave. “I’ll catch you guys later, she said, grabbing her bag,
But Barry was quick to jump in, all smiles and charm. “Hey, Dr. Jones, how about I give you a lift?”
Tobias raised an eyebrow at this.
Barry just shrugged it off with a grin and whispered to Tobias, “Don’t sweat it. I’ve got this.”
He turned to Mandy, extending his arm. “Ready to go?”
Mandy hesitated. She didn’t want to owe anyone any favors, but before she could say no, Barry was already leading her out the door.
Yaxley, always the voice of reason, stepped in. “Tobias, Dr. Jones is crucial to your recovery. Barry knows that. He won’t mess this up
In the car, Barry kept glancing over at Mandy, his smirk never leaving his face.
She tried to ignore him, focusing on the passing scenery, but his constant staring was starting to get on her nerves. “Mr. Lopez, if you’ve got something to say, just say it,” she finally snapped.
Barry’s eyes lit up. He’d been waiting for her to crack. “Alright, Dr. Jones, if you insist…” He shifted in his seat, leaning a little
2/3
17:44 Sat, 8 Mar MOD.
Chapter 10
closer. “You’re playing the long game, aren’t you?”
+13)
Mandy paused for a moment but soon knew exactly what he was implying. He thought she’d turned down Tobias’s offer of a lifetime because she was aiming for something even bigger.
But she wasn’t she’d turned it down because it felt wrong. Accepting that money would have given her a home, a chance to finally belong in Westbay and escape discrimination, but it would have meant betraying everything she stood for as a doctor,
as a person.
But here she was, being misunderstood.
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
+13)
Barry’s words hung in the air, and he glanced at Tobias, who remained silent. Then he let out a low chuckle. “I know you’ve got
a lot on your plate, but if you need someone to take care of things… I’m your man.
“Just say the word. You know, making her disappear is just a piece of cake.”
Mandy’s heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t doubt for a second that Barry was serious. She carefully closed the door, holding her breath as if the slightest sound could shatter the fragile calm.
Last night at the private restaurant, Mandy had seen enough to know what Tobias was up to.
He was convinced his wife was cheating on him and might even be carrying someone else’s baby. But he had no proof. So now, he was quietly setting up a DNA test to get the answers he needed.
Mandy could see where he was coming from, but something still didn’t sit right. She thought, ‘Even if the DNA test shows the kid’s related to his wife, it won’t mean she’s unfaithful. The child could still be his.
‘He should get both cheaters‘ samples and do the tests. The only way to prove his wife’s betrayal is to make sure the kid is another man’s. Why didn’t he do that? Unless… he’s never been with his wife at all.
The thought made Mandy’s heart skip a beat. ‘Could it be that he’s really unable to be with his wife?‘
Mandy shook her head, staring at her reflection in the mirror. ‘Why does it matter to me? No need to keep thinking,‘ she thought.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She ran a hand through her hair, took a moment to compose herself, and then stepped out of the bathroom.
The moment Mandy stepped back into the bedroom, she could sense that something had changed. The atmosphere was tense, and Tobias’s expression was even more brooding than before.
She tried to keep her cool and said, “Mr. Lancaster, I really hope we can keep up with the acupuncture sessions as planned. If we stop now, we’ll lose all the progress we’ve made and have to start over.”
“Got it.” Tobia
nodded, his eyes flickering briefly toward Yaxley.
In an instant, Yaxley was already handing Mandy a bank card. Mandy’s eyes widened as she turned to look at Tobias.
“Dr. Jones,” Tobias said, his voice steady, “there’s 150 thousand on this card. It’s for your medical fees. Once the treatment is done, I’ll give you another 150 thousand.”
Mandy’s mind raced. She knew Tobias was rich, but the amount still took her breath away.
She barely made over 30 thousand a year in the Emergency Department. A hundred and fifty thousand for a side gig? It was more than she could earn in five years. It was impossible not to be tempted.
With this money, she could finally afford a small house. Owning property meant they could settle down in Westbay and avoid the discrimination they faced as outsiders.
Mandy had toughened up over the years, but she worried about Emma. She didn’t want her daughter to be left out or bullied just because they were renters.
Mandy clenched her fists at her sides, forcing a smile. “Mr. Lancaster, I think you might not know how my pricing works.”
Tobias raised an eyebrow. He’d assumed his offer was too low, but he didn’t care about the money. “Go ahead. Enlighten me,” he said.
1/3
17:44 581,217 $68/
Chaper
She end, Yadet, pred to ide prmar y dwg the two wong as w
*** my prided your one be my pr
Kerry‘+egee hetted why they the wood dwy gay day was in the pace, fere in the the ww wwwww you may dem
wann 8 Many red, bet d’
Barry’s en dumped ‘s mation Drawe, ww you kiddwy now That’s Audwaysky
tobias, standing nearby with stay of dude sard dough handy was a beatless dome, the Kand wherd and up to anyone to wave a lite. Now he wredit on www the teams too gúrk so jutr
“Cave her what she wants totes end, the voice und re
Yaxley, ever the loyal wider, nodded and tamed to handy Dr fore,ju
But Mandy cut him off, her tone firm “Hold on 1 thank they’s been a moderseauding, I said Shundred bucks. That’s at
The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the dir
Barry Minked, disbelief written all over his face. “The bundred but tedy
Mandy’s expression didn’t waver, “Three hundred dollars a day, Top clinics charge way more for coupuncture. I’m confident my skills are worth it. If you agree, you can pay me in full once I’m done and we tally up the days?
Barry stared at her, thinking she had to be joking
But Mandy’s steady gaze told him she was dead serious. “Do I look like I’m joking? the asked, her eyes shifting to Tobias.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand will. Tobias’s blue eyes held a depth that made Barry uneasy.
Finally, Tobias broke the silence. “Do as she says, he told Yaxley, his voice a low rumble.
Yazley nodded, his face a mask of obedience. “Yes, sir
Once the consultation fee was squared away, Mandy figured she’d made her point and was ready to leave. “I’ll catch you guys later, she said, grabbing her bag,
But Barry was quick to jump in, all smiles and charm. “Hey, Dr. Jones, how about I give you a lift?”
Tobias raised an eyebrow at this.
Barry just shrugged it off with a grin and whispered to Tobias, “Don’t sweat it. I’ve got this.”
He turned to Mandy, extending his arm. “Ready to go?”
Mandy hesitated. She didn’t want to owe anyone any favors, but before she could say no, Barry was already leading her out the door.
Yaxley, always the voice of reason, stepped in. “Tobias, Dr. Jones is crucial to your recovery. Barry knows that. He won’t mess this up
In the car, Barry kept glancing over at Mandy, his smirk never leaving his face.
She tried to ignore him, focusing on the passing scenery, but his constant staring was starting to get on her nerves. “Mr. Lopez, if you’ve got something to say, just say it,” she finally snapped.
Barry’s eyes lit up. He’d been waiting for her to crack. “Alright, Dr. Jones, if you insist…” He shifted in his seat, leaning a little
2/3
17:44 Sat, 8 Mar MOD.
Chapter 10
closer. “You’re playing the long game, aren’t you?”
+13)
Mandy paused for a moment but soon knew exactly what he was implying. He thought she’d turned down Tobias’s offer of a lifetime because she was aiming for something even bigger.
But she wasn’t she’d turned it down because it felt wrong. Accepting that money would have given her a home, a chance to finally belong in Westbay and escape discrimination, but it would have meant betraying everything she stood for as a doctor,
as a person.
But here she was, being misunderstood.
Maybe Tobias thought the same thing about her, but she didn’t care. Mandy had always lived by her principles, and she wasn’t about to change now. She just smiled, letting the silence speak for her.
Harry, however, wasn’t one to let things lie. “Too bad for you, though. Your little plan is about to go up in smoke.”
Mandy ignored him, staring out the window.
But Barry was relentless. “You know about him and his wife, right? Well, even if they split, you’re not the one he’s interested in. He’s got his eye on someone else–a widow, to be precise,”
3/3
Maybe Tobias thought the same thing about her, but she didn’t care. Mandy had always lived by her principles, and she wasn’t about to change now. She just smiled, letting the silence speak for her.
Harry, however, wasn’t one to let things lie. “Too bad for you, though. Your little plan is about to go up in smoke.”
Mandy ignored him, staring out the window.
But Barry was relentless. “You know about him and his wife, right? Well, even if they split, you’re not the one he’s interested in. He’s got his eye on someone else–a widow, to be precise,”
3/3
