pter 17
Chapter 17
Tobias exuded such an intense presence that it felt suffocating to be in the same room with him, not to mention in a cramped car.
Sensing this, Mandy instinctively declined as politely as she could. “Mr. Lancaster, don’t bother, I can put grab a car, the
said.
Despite his bad mood, Tobias felt it was right to offer Mandy, his current doctor, a ride. “No problem he uid, and quickly wheeled himself out of the villa before Mandy could respond.
With no way to avoid it, Mandy had to get into the car.
Tobias was exactly as she had expected–quiet. He didn’t say a word during the car ride, just keeping smoking,
Mandy wanted to tell him that if he wanted to get back on his feet, he needed to quit smoking, But one look at his dark. brooding face, and she held her tongue.
She glanced over at him. There was no doubt that Tobias was good–looking, Mandy couldn’t help but wonder what had happened with his wife. He had everything–wealth, power, good looks, loyalty, responsibility, and capability. Yet she had left him for someone who already had a child.
Mandy’s mind raced with questions. ‘Does he have some strange habits? Is he abusive? Some kind of pervert? Is that why she left?‘ She recalled hearing psychologists say, “The more perfect someone seems, the more messed up their mind might be
Mandy shivered and instinctively moved closer to the window. Suddenly, a deep, rough voice beside her said. Im not abusive, nor am I a pervert.”
Without thinking, she blurted out, “How did you know what I was thinking?”
But she immediately regretted saying it. She didn’t know who Tobias was, but she realized he could easily kill her if he wanted to.
If he turned out to be some twisted psycho, revealing her judgment about him would mean she couldn’t rely on him to save her mom, and she might end up dead.
Mandy knew she had to say something to smooth things over. She quickly brushed aside her previous comment and put on a surprised expression. “Mr. Lancaster, what are you even talking about? How could you be abusive or…”
She paused briefly before continuing, “We haven’t known each other long, but I can tell you’re a good guy. If your wife doesn’t appreciate you, you don’t need to be upset or sad about it.”
Tobias let out a laugh, but it was cold and eerie, sending shivers down one’s spine. “Upset? Sad? She doesn’t deserve any of that.”
From Tobias’s remarks, Mandy could sense his strong dislike for his wife. His disdain was evident, and he even became irate when discussing her. Mandy wondered whether it was true that he wasn’t abusive or perverted, and if his wife’s infidelity was indeed unprovoked.
Mandy had been married with a dead man for three years, leaving her with limited experience in maintaining a marriage. Despite this, she understood that relationship issues were rarely the fault of just one person; it took two to tango.
However, because of their different positions, she kept quiet.
Mandy spotted a subway entrance up ahead and quickly spoke up. “Mr. Lancaster, I need to stop somewhere else. Could you drop me off at that subway entrance?”
Tobias simply called out, “Yaxley.”
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Mandy stepped out of the car and watched it disappear down the road. She meant to head straight to Serentara Villa. With in care in eight, die opened her ride app and saw a driver would be there in 8 minutes.
As she checked her watch, tires crunched on gravel. A sleek Mercedes slid to a stop beside her.
The tinted window lowered to reveal Merlin Walker, the hospital administrative director in his forties, leaning across the leather seat with his greasy smile. His glasses caught the light as his eyes raked over her.
They’d had instory the bad kind. Fresh out of eight straight years of medical training, Mandy had been every department’s first pick, Surgery Department had been her dream, until Merlin blocked her placement.
No real grudge there just petty revenge after she’d shut down his creepy advances.
“Mr. Walker” Mandy forced the greeting through clenched teeth, hands tightening around her bag strap.
Merlin’s throat worked as he swallowed, his eyes lingering on her. “Hop in. I’ll get you where you need to go.”
“Already ordered a ride” Mandy held up her phone screen.
“Cancel it” His car door thunked open, “Why pay when I’m right here?” He got out of the car and tried to usher Mandy inside.
Mandy recoiled as he reached for her elbow, Her palm cracked against his wrist. “Mr. Walker, please keep your distance.”
Merlin just chuckled. “I’m just trying to be friendly. Why are you acting like this?”
A car pulled up behind his Mercedes. Mandy shouldered past him. “Thanks, but my ride’s here.”
Merlin inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of her lingering scent. He muttered under his breath, “Play hard to get all you want, bitch. You’ll crack eventually,
Mandy slid into the backseat and immediately told the driver to head to her studio on Mingan Road. She then called Richard to let him know she’d be there in about 15 minutes. Richard just reminded her to be careful on the way.
The streets stayed clear until Raven Lane came into view. That was when she received a call from her colleague.
Left with no other choice, she asked the driver to head back to the hospital. After briefly closing her eyes to collect her thoughts, she called Richard again.
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+13)
Chapter 17
Richard sat parked near Raven Lane’s entrance, scanning the area as he waited for Mandy. Instead of her, Tobias showed up.
“Knew you’d show,” Richard chuckled, climbing into his son’s car.
Tobias ignored his words, his eyes locked on the studio’s floor–to–ceiling windows where Simon was working. He grumbled, “Isn’t she here yet?”
“Said she’d be here in fifteen minutes. It’s been pretty close to that.” Richard’s phone chose that moment to light up. “Speak of the devil.”
He answered with a cheer, “Penny! You here alrea-? Work emergency? No sweat. Handle your business.”
Tobias couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but he could guess from Richard’s words. He sneered, “Changed her mind quick. Guilty conscience?”
Hearing Tobias’s sarcastic tone, Richard countered, “Guilty? It’s a work emergency.” He looked through the floor–to–ceiling window at Simon, who was bustling around inside. “Is that the guy you mentioned, the one supposedly having an affair with Penny?
Tobias just grunted, frowning at Simon.
Richard was out of the car and walking toward the studio when movement caught Tobias’s eye.
Where his father had been sitting moments before, a little girl now knelt on the leather seat. She beamed up at him. “Mr. Handsome, do you remember me?”
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