Chapter 100: Under the Surface

“The gift has already been delivered,” Melody said, descending from the second floor. “Mr. Maurice of Windwell Pharma Group just had a baby girl last month, so we sent a toy.”

She turned to Chase. “I just spoke with him. He has a very favorable impression of our hospital. The success rate is around sixty percent.”

Chase clicked his tongue. “That low?”

Wendy calmly replied, “It’s not low at all.” For investors, sixty percent was more than worth the risk.

She turned to Melody. “You know what to do. Before Cloud Hospital goes public, secure the agency rights and exclusive usage approval for this new drug.”

“Yes, Ms. Quinn,” Melody replied respectfully.

Once Melody and Maggie returned upstairs to continue negotiations, Chase pulled Wendy aside, worry etched on his face. “Aren’t we putting too much pressure on Melody?”

“That’s the nature of project work,” Wendy replied. “If it doesn’t succeed, all effort is wasted. With a sixty percent chance, as long as she handles it properly, even if she doesn’t close it today, she can still push that number to seventy-five.”

Such a precise figure left Chase even more confused.

Henry, wineglass in hand, stepped closer. What he felt, deep in his bones, was hatred. Those two were divorced, yet Wendy still insisted on bringing Chase to these social events, for the sake of Quinn Group’s image and public relations. But the one who should be standing beside her was him!

“Mr. Goodman, I have some business matters to discuss with Wendy,” Henry said bluntly, interjecting. He was certain Wendy wouldn’t refuse him.

Sure enough, Chase instinctively looked at her, and Wendy gave a slight nod. “Then why don’t you go take a break?”

Chase feigned disappointment and headed for the third-floor balcony. The constant toasts and business chatter at the banquet didn’t suit him. He preferred some fresh air. Besides, it gave Henry his chance.

“Hey, Chase, do you remember me?” A voice startled him. He turned to find a man in a white suit.

“You’re…?” Chase hesitated.

“0470!”

The man raised his glass, lightly tapping it against Chase’s. “Caesar. Wendy’s friend. I attended your wedding but didn’t get a chance to speak to you.”

So this was Caesar, CEO of Typhoon Corp. and a close friend of Wendy’s. Damn, he was handsome—even more so than in the news photos.

Chase offered a friendly smile. “Nice to meet you.”

“No need to be nervous,” Caesar said easily. “Wendy messaged me, said someone was bothering her, and asked me to keep you company.”

He leaned on the railing beside Chase, both gazing at the brightest star in the night sky. “Looks like you two are pretty close. I’m relieved.”

Chase finally snapped out of it. “Back at the wedding…”

“I know,” Caesar interrupted. “Back then, you two were just playing a part. But now that it’s real between you, that’s a good thing. Wendy’s always been strong-willed. It’s hard for her to fall in love. You’re the first.” Caesar looked at him directly.

Chase chuckled, unbothered by Caesar’s well-meaning lie. “The first one she loved is clinging to her now. It’s not me.”

Caesar shook his head firmly. “No. I’ve never believed Wendy loved Henry. He approached her with clear motives. He wanted something from her. And she was in a rebellious phase. The more Mandy disapproved, the more she pushed forward. It was nothing more than defiance.”

It was precisely because Chase was the first person Wendy had truly loved that she didn’t know how to deal with it. So she chose to follow her mother’s path, distancing herself and remaining cold to protect the one she loved.

Something inexpressible flickered in Chase’s eyes. “Is that so? That’s the first time I’ve heard it put that way.”

Caesar turned back to gaze over the crowd below, his expression unreadable as he sipped champagne. “In our circle, truly falling in love is rare. Everyone comes with an agenda. Except you. Typhoon Corp is relocating to Gennemont after the New Year. I hope we see more of each other.”

Meanwhile, Wendy was still being pestered by Henry. She couldn’t show even a trace of impatience, and the back-and-forth had dragged on for quite some time.

“I saw Larry earlier,” she said, testing the waters. “Heard he’s started some pharmaceutical subsidiary? Did he really manage to launch it?”

Henry grunted dismissively, about to reply when his tone shifted to something more pitiful. “Yeah. My parents already had it out for me. Now that Larry started that company, they won’t stop nagging me. What am I supposed to do?”

When she was in her early twenties, she couldn’t see through Henry’s ambitions. But now, they were crystal clear. And no way in hell was she helping him.

The conversation lulled until she noticed Larry making his way upstairs. Only then did Henry grow restless and stand. “Wendy, I just remembered I haven’t delivered the gift to Mr. Maurice. I’ll go give it to him now. Wait here for me.”

“Sure,” she replied.

The moment Henry left, Wendy got up and hurried toward the third-floor balcony. She expected Caesar to be the only one there with Chase, but when she opened the massive glass doors, she found Lemon there too.