Chapter 97: Scapegoats and Secrets

Bernard quickly surrendered. “Of course not. No one can compete with the great Finn. But… I’m sure she’s not popped out of a rock.”

Finn fought back, “…Are you mocking me?”

After some playful banter, Wendy returned to the matter at hand. “Aimee is definitely suspicious. I sent Dawn to follow her. Do you know her home address?”

Chase read the address from her medical file. It led to a very average apartment complex with a modest price tag, perfectly matching Aimee’s purported background.

Dawn had been shadowing Shanelle until recently. Now that Shanelle’s safety was confirmed, he was reassigned to Aimee. He didn’t know the reason, but he would comply if Wendy asked.

“I’ve always wondered,” Maggie said to Zynn as they walked to the meeting room, “you and your brother—one took your father’s surname, and one your mother’s. Isn’t that confusing?”

Zynn, having slept late, looked groggy. Tilting her head at Maggie’s question, she replied, “Would you mix up your son and daughter?”

Maggie chuckled, “I don’t have kids.”

Zynn was speechless for a moment. “…We’re completely different in gender and appearance. Anyone who’s seen us won’t confuse us. As for the surname… I think my dad was told by a fortune teller…”

News of Cloud Hospital going public was everywhere. As honorary chair, Chase had received numerous banquet invitations, but he always maintained a low profile. He rarely attended, aside from occasional events with Wendy. Most invitations were declined.

Between surgeries and hospital affairs, Chase was extremely busy. So Wendy found him a personal assistant.

“Melody Donnet. Your new assistant.” That evening, Wendy picked Chase up and brought Melody along. Melody had previously been a top-tier secretary, comparable to Sammy. However, her former company encountered problems. Her boss used her as a scapegoat, and she was jailed for six months.

Wendy, valuing talent, couldn't let her go. Even though the secretary department was full, she thought Melody would be perfect for Chase. Cloud Hospital operated much like a small corporation. Apart from not scrubbing in for surgeries, Melody’s role was no different from managing a business.

Her salary came from the Quinn Group, and Wendy offered a generous amount. Having recently been released from prison, Melody expected low pay, but Wendy’s offer far exceeded her previous salary. Wendy believed that fair compensation fostered loyalty.

Melody introduced herself to Chase. “Dr. Goodman, nice to meet you. I’m Melody.”

Chase, just opening his car door in the parking lot, was stunned. They had only discussed this that afternoon. Now the assistant was already here?

He hesitated, then said, “Hello, hello. Um… I’ll take you upstairs then.”

But Wendy grabbed his hand before he could leave the car.

“I told you where the office is. Go yourself. We’ll handle orientation tomorrow. After office hours, unless it’s urgent, deal with it yourself. Don’t bother him,” she said to Melody.

Just as Chase was about to speak, Melody replied, “Understood.”

“Get in,” Wendy said, tilting her head. Chase had no choice but to get back into the car.

Wendy had been too busy lately to pick him up. If not for arranging Melody, she would still be at work. It was rare for them to finish early.

It was already dark. Lacking time to cook, they grabbed dinner at a restaurant. Wendy briefed Chase on Melody’s background.

“Melody was framed by her boss and sentenced to five years. When I found out, she’d already served five months. I hired a new lawyer and got her out. So don’t worry. She’s safe. We don’t have to keep secrets from her.”

Chase poured her some tea, curious about how Wendy found someone like Melody.

“In business, there’s always shady stuff. And when things blow up, bosses always pin the blame on those who carried it out,” Wendy said, noticing Chase’s stare. She added, “I’ve never done that.”

Wendy continued, “Her previous company dealt with pharmaceuticals, illegally importing foreign drugs, relabeling them, and selling them domestically. When they got caught, Melody, the secretary, was scapegoated. She thought the medications were made by their own factory.”

Wendy had initially noticed Melody because the secretary department had been short-staffed. However, Sammy quickly found a suitable replacement. Melody had actually been their first choice until her imprisonment.