Roxanne, unfamiliar with nearby restaurants, asked Madilyn for a recommendation and took Archie and Benny there. During dinner, she received a text from Jonathan: "Is treatment needed tonight, Dr. Jarvis?"

Roxanne realized she hadn't explained the treatment plan. She replied, "Old Mr. Queen is still weak; treatment can't be so frequent. He's had two consecutive treatments. Let him rest a day. I'll come tomorrow. Sorry I forgot to tell you."

Jonathan texted back, "Okay. I'll be waiting."

Noticing their mother texting, Archie and Benny curiously asked, "Is something wrong, Mommy?"

Smiling, Roxanne gave them more food. "No, a patient from the other day asked about my visit."

The boys nodded understandingly. "You've worked hard. Eat more, Mommy."

Roxanne's heart warmed at their attentiveness. Dinner was delightful.

Afterward, Roxanne took Archie and Benny to pay. As she reached the counter, she saw Aubree and Frieda entering, arm in arm, chatting and laughing.

Roxanne slowed, wanting to avoid them. Aubree harbored a long-standing grudge, even boycotting Roxanne's research institute with Horington's herb suppliers. Frieda simply looked down on Roxanne's skills and often mocked her. Their close relationship suggested Frieda would join Aubree in reviling her.

Normally, Roxanne would have ignored them. But with Archie and Benny present, she didn't want a confrontation.

Just as she was detouring, Frieda's mocking voice called from afar, "Hey, Dr. Jarvis! What a coincidence! Dinner too?"

Roxanne considered ignoring her, but the boys tugged her sleeve. "Someone's calling you, Mommy."

Roxanne stopped and calmly met Frieda's gaze. "Indeed, a coincidence. But we've finished. Excuse us."

She led the boys to pay.

Frowning, Aubree asked Frieda, "You know her?"

Frieda nodded, then swept a glance at the trio nearing them. In a disdainful tone, she declared, "Don't be absurd. I'm far beneath Dr. Jarvis. Many were helpless with Grandfather's illness, but she revived him with a few needles. My brother now holds her in high regard—her status far surpasses mine."

Aubree's expression subtly changed. "What? You hired her to treat Old Mr. Queen?"

"No, she contacted us. I suspect she's interested in our family's herbs. My brother signed a contract with her after Grandfather recovered," Frieda sneered. She glared at Roxanne. "She doesn't know her place. My brother merely mentioned it, and she immediately agreed. That contract if anything happens to my grandfather, she's finished!"

The final sentence, "Search the FindNovel.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality," is an advertisement and should be removed from the cleaned-up passage.