Chapter 148: The Warning

“Mm, Leigh arranged some classes for me. I was supposed to attend one, but the tutor had a last-minute conflict and rescheduled. I’m free until six tonight. Want me to keep you company for a stroll?”

Lemon considered this. Their scandal had already angered Waylon. If he saw them shopping together now, who knew what kind of trouble it might cause? Best not to risk it.

The two spoke quietly, heads lowered, while Chase watched them. Finally, Wendy grabbed his chin and turned his head. “Still not done staring?”

Chase caught her hand. “Noah said she’s known Lemon for a long time, even before she took over Fenon International. So why didn’t they ever get together?”

The reason… might be standing right in front of him.

The Typhoon Corp. reporters didn't leave the hospital until late. Several interviewed doctors were packing up to go home, including Bernard.

Melody approached her. “Dr. Sean just received a phone call. He looked very tense and rushed out without even changing out of his scrubs.”

Bernard's eyes dropped. “Got it. Send me his home address. I’ll go check it out.”

Melody nodded. “Okay.”

Based on Melody's investigation, Sean had recently approved a drug—completely unrelated to his department. But the medication didn't work as intended; it was likely a dosage issue.

Could it be that he messed something up and is now facing retaliation?

Bernard changed clothes, grabbed her car keys, and left.

Sean came from a modest family and lived in an ordinary apartment complex, far from the hospital. He and Bernard were only nodding acquaintances; he wouldn't recognize her car.

Chase received a call from Bernard, who said something was happening with Sean.

“You followed him already?” Chase asked, stepping out of the room, a little concerned. “Are you sure you can handle it? Should we call Waylon instead?”

“Bro, how can you say a man ‘can’t handle it’?” Bernard retorted.

“That was not meant at all!” Chase exclaimed, freezing for a few seconds before realizing Bernard was joking. “Where’s Sean now?”

Bernard replied, “He’s upstairs. He moved quickly. I’m parked below their building. I can’t just barge in, so I’ll wait and see what happens. What do you think’s going on at his place?”

Sean was already running late that night. He had just finished his work and was about to sign off and head home when his phone rang.

The moment he saw the phone ringing inside his locker, he jumped in fright. It wasn't his phone.

It was a device that had mysteriously appeared in his locker ages ago, similar to what happened with Madeline. This phone contained photos of his parents and secret snapshots of him at work. It looked like someone had been watching him closely.

Sean hadn't answered the calls at first. For days, he lived in fear. Even if he threw the phone away, it would reappear in his locker the next morning. Eventually, he had no choice but to keep it with him at all times.

Every three hours, he would receive a new photo of himself.

After over ten days of relentless psychological pressure, Sean was on the verge of a breakdown. He began replying, demanding to know why they were doing this. Was it some patient's family?

But this wasn't like Simon's situation. Sean was a competent doctor with a decent success rate. He rarely had issues with patients or their families. And even if there were conflicts, he didn't believe they would go this far.

Medical disputes usually exploded immediately—people storming into consultation rooms with knives and lashing out. He had seen plenty of that. But this? Intimidation by phone? Never.

Two days after Sean finally lost it and raged at the phone, the first “task” arrived.

Sean returned home that night, his heart pounding with dread, and found both his parents lying in bed.

It scared him half to death. He rushed over. “Mom! Dad!”

The two elderly people looked like they were asleep, hands neatly resting on the blanket, lying stiffly on their backs.

But his dad had slept on his side for decades. He never slept facing up like this.

Panicked, Sean lunged over, hands trembling as he checked their breathing.

Thank God. They were alive.

He collapsed onto the floor, shaking. He knew this was retaliation. Because he had botched the job.

The drug dosage was unfamiliar to him, as he wasn't from that department. The patient walked out of the hospital unharmed.

This was punishment. A warning. A consequence for failing to complete the task.

But what else can I do? Madeline had already quit her job. It looked like she had gotten away. But what about me? I still have aging parents. Am I supposed to uproot my entire family and flee the city?