Melody Strikes Back by Myra Walker (Chapters 591, 592 593, 594, and 595)

Chapter 591

David knew he couldn’t hide the truth any longer and gritted his teeth. “It’s true that Miss Fox is one of the people in charge, but I am also responsible. She has something urgent to deal with right now. If you have something to say, you can talk to me.”

Charlotte, however, found this quite amusing. “She has something to do? More likely, she’s taken off because she knew things were going south.”

“Don’t you dare insult Miss Fox,” someone interjected.

Charlotte looked at them in disbelief. “Even at a time like this, you’re still defending her? She’s smart enough to run off and leave you all holding the bag. And what about you? A bunch of fools left to take the blame.”

“You…”

“Your name is David, right?” Charlotte met David’s gaze and continued, “Melody has already fled. Aren’t you worried that we might shut down your hospital? With my influence, I could make it so that after you leave here, you’ll never find another hospital to work at. I’m giving you one last chance. If you let us two interns at your hospital now, I will overlook everything as if nothing happened. But if you insist on fighting us to the end, so be it.”

Her goal wasn’t to destroy Herbathrive but to secure a position there, so she was willing to give them one final opportunity.

However, instead of softening them, Charlotte’s offer only fueled the anger of those at Herbathrive.

Since Michael had left Herbathrive with a large group of people, those who remained were all deeply loyal to the hospital.

Loyalty could withstand trials.

Felix, the oldest among them, took the lead in resisting. What you’re doing is no different from being a thief. Even if we stop being doctors, we will never give in to your demands.”

David also stood his ground. “Miss Fox didn’t run away. She’s busy treating patients. As for you two, it’s your own fault for failing the assessment. You have no one to blame but yourselves.”

“That’s right. People who cheat and still want to join Herbathrive? What do you think this place is? What do you think other candidates for Herbathrive are like?”

“No matter the cost, we will uphold the fairness and integrity of Herbathrive.”

“Right. Fairness and integrity.”

This phrase, once spoken by Melody, now echoed with the same forceful conviction as a rallying cry from the members of Herbathrive.

They were proud guys who would never submit to tyranny.

Even if Herbathrive were to be shut down, they would follow Colin and Melody’s example, uniting their efforts to reopen a new hospital.

It was just a change of location. As long as they still lived, Herbathrive would never fall.

Charlotte was taken aback by the fact that Herbathrive’s people were still standing firm at this point. Her frustration boiled over, and she turned to Rowan. “Mr. Turner, please conduct a thorough investigation of Herbathrive immediately.”

In her mind, she resolved. ‘Even if I don’t get an internship certificate or graduate, I’ll make these people pay.’

Rowan nodded and signaled. “Investigate them thoroughly. Don’t miss any details. Report back immediately if anything is found lacking.

“Wait a minute.” David stepped forward and said loudly, “If you’re going to conduct a thorough inspection of the hospital, do you have the proper legal documentation? We won’t accept any unnecessary and unjustified inspections.”

Charlotte scoffed and replied, “What documents are needed for an investigation? Mr. Turner, don’t worry about their concerns.”

In contrast to Charlotte’s arrogance, Rowan remained composed.

He gave Charlotte a reassuring look and then addressed David calmly. “Sir, I am Rowan Turner, Deputy Director of the Medicines Control Agency. My job is to conduct periodic checks on food and drug safety, which includes pharmaceuticals. Therefore, I do not require any special documentation to inspect Herbathrive. Moreover, since have received a complaint, it is my duty to personally review the situation. If I don’t, it would be a dereliction of duty and a disservice to both patients and the complainants. I urge you to cooperate with our investigation, or we will have to consider you obstructing official duties.”

The lofty and righteous reasoning left the people of Herbathrive speechless.

Charlotte was immensely pleased and gave Rowan a thumbs up. ‘Mr. Turner certainly knows his stuff. A few words and he’s silenced all their objections.’

She looked at David with a mocking smile. ‘A small traditional hospital daring to oppose the Medicines Control Agency is sheer madness!’

David, feeling the sting of Charlotte’s gaze, was utterly frustrated but powerless to act. He could only watch as Rowan’s team began their search for Herbathrive.

The inspection started in the lobby.

A patient was waiting at the counter for medication when one of Rowan’s agents brusquely pushed him aside. “What’s the meaning of this?” the patient exclaimed angrily. Charlotte, seeing the commotion, approached with a feigned look of concern. “Sir, I advise you to go to another traditional hospital for your medication. This hospital is about to be shut down.”

The man, who had just arrived and was clearly unaware of the situation, looked puzzled and asked, “What are you talking about? I’ve been getting my medication here for ten years. Why would it be shut down?”

“Ten years?” Charlotte laughed. “If after ten years they still haven’t cured your illness, it’s clear this hospital is ineffective. You’ve been deceived for a decade. Their closure should be something to celebrate.

Just as Charlotte expected the man to cause trouble for Herbathrive, he instead looked at her as if she were crazy and said, “You’re an idiot.”

Charlotte’s face darkened, and she snapped, “Who are you calling an idiot? I’m trying to help you by suggesting you seek compensation, and you insult me? Are you out of your mind?”

The man rolled his eyes and retorted, “I’m calling you an idiot. I’m picking up medication for my mother, who has high blood pressure. Do you even understand what that is? It can’t be cured, only managed. For ten years, my mother’s high blood pressure has been stable thanks to Herbathrive’s medication. What’s there to celebrate? Are you the idiot here?”

The pharmacist, pleased to see Charlotte getting verbally attacked, handed over the medication with a polite nod and whispered, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” the man replied, encouragingly. “Don’t worry. A hospital as dedicated as Herbathrive will never close down.”

Charlotte was on the verge of exploding.

Elton quickly stepped in to calm her, which somewhat eased her fury.

With red-hot eyes and a fierce expression, she said, “I’m going to make sure they shut down for good.”

“Of course,” Elton said with a mix of emotions. “With Mr. Turner involved, there’s no way they can stay open. But… well, we’ll have to find another place for internships.” The man, having collected his medication, soon left.

However, the other patients and their families were inevitably affected.

For a time, the lobby was left with only a few regulars picking up their medication and those waiting at the pharmacy for their prescriptions.

Everyone was secretly anxious for Herbathrive.

The hospital had maintained an excellent reputation over the years, and its potential closure was a source of regret.

At that moment, the inspection of the lobby was completed.

Chapter 592

Charlotte eagerly inquired about the inspections, as people came through one by one. “Did you find any issues?”

One of the inspectors shook his head in resignation. “The place where they store the herbs is completely up to standard. The herbs are all high-quality, usable, and within their expiration dates.”

Another person reported, “I checked the decoction room. The hygiene there is impeccable. It’s the cleanest decoction room I’ve ever seen in my career.”

Someone else came over from the emergency area to report, “The emergency area is also up to standard.”

“The storage area for Western medicines showed no issues either.”

“They had no problems in the operating rooms… Everything was spotless, and the equipment was complete, with no damage or flaws.”

“Mr. Turner, the ward area is also up to standard. Everything has met the inspection criteria.”

With each report, Rowan and Charlotte’s expressions grew darker.

Given their extremely stringent inspection, it was impossible not to find any flaws.

Yet, the reality was exactly that Herbathrive adhered to such high standards and stringent requirements that it was practically a model in the industry.

The staff at Herbathrive, who had been anxiously waiting, heard Rowan’s subordinate’s reports and instantly felt relieved.

Felix was grinning so widely that his white beard quivered with delight.

David lifted his head proudly. ‘No matter how nitpicky these people are, Herbathrive has achieved perfection and offers no chance for Rowan and his team to find faults.’

He reminded everyone, “Before Miss Fox arrived, our hospital was doing well in many areas, but there were still some aspects that we overlooked or were too lazy to address. It was only after Miss Fox took over the management from the boss that those previously neglected areas were finally addressed.”

“Indeed,” the others felt a mix of admiration for Melody’s foresight and a tinge of shame.

When Melody assigned them those seemingly trivial tasks, they thought it was a hassle and were initially reluctant to cooperate.

Now, they saw Melody as almost divine. Everything she had them do turned out to be essential.

At that moment, the last Medicines Control Agency staff member who had inspected the first floor came to report. Even Rowan could barely maintain his composure and, eager to hear the outcome before Charlotte could, asked, Was there a problem?”

He refused to believe that a hospital could truly be flawless. In the next moment, the inspector shook his head and said, ” No issues were found.”

“How is that possible?” Rowan and Elton asked almost in unison.

Charlotte’s frustration boiled over, and she shouted, “This can’t be! You must have missed something.”

The inspectors looked genuinely innocent.

They had meticulously examined every nook and cranny of the hospital, using the strictest standards, almost as if they had used magnifying glasses.

The fact was, no issues had been found. Herbathrive truly was a hospital that upheld high standards.

Seeing the looks on their faces, Charlotte was nearly on the brink of collapsing from rage. Especially when she met David’s smug gaze, it felt as though she was being consumed by flames, and she was on the verge of a breakdown.

“I’ll check it myself,” Rowan declared, unconvinced, and headed toward the area where the herbs were stored.

At that moment, he noticed a narrow passage leading to an unknown location.

“What’s down that passage?” Rowan stopped and asked David.

David stepped forward and replied, “That’s the hospital’s backyard, where the owner and his wife rest.”

Rowan paused for a moment and asked, “Is there any medicinal material stored in the backyard?”

“The backyard…” David hesitated, unsure whether to reveal that Colin had a private storage area.

Because of his hesitation, Rowan immediately suspected there was an issue in the backyard. “Let’s go. We need to check the backyard.”

Without waiting for David’s response, Rowan waved his hand, leading his team toward the backyard.

David hurried after them, calling out, “Mr. Turner, wait. The backyard does contain some herbs, but those are privately purchased by the owner for personal collection. They are not used for sale.”

Rowan sneered and said, “Personal collection? Since when do people collect herbs like antiques? There’s no collectible value in them. There must be something wrong here.”

“No…” David tried to stop Rowan, but Elton stepped in to block him first.

“Didn’t you hear Mr. Turner? If you obstruct the investigation, it’s considered interfering with official duties, and we have the right to arrest you,” someone pursued herself.

Caught in a bind, David stamped his feet in frustration. The herbs in Colin’s private collection were all extremely valuable, usually bought only by collectors or high-ranking officials. This was why they rarely went in, let alone cleaned or organized it.

Seeing David’s panic, Elton was even more convinced that there must be something amiss in the backyard.

Since Herbathrive’s staff still refused to let them intern at the hospital, believing that even the Medicines Control Agency couldn’t find anything wrong. it was clear that they were hiding something.

If they found an issue, the staff at Herbathrive would likely yield, which would mean there was still hope for Charlotte to inherit the Wallrich family’s assets.

Elton blocked David with even more determination, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Meanwhile, Rowan and his team had arrived in the backyard. The courtyard house was a hidden gem, exquisitely decorated and vastly different from the rest of the hospital.

The backyard was completely different. It was exquisitely decorated into a small courtyard house.

The other rooms were all unlocked, but one room was securely locked.

As they approached, they could hear barking coming from inside the locked room.

However, the lock was so sturdy that they couldn’t open it.

Rowan hesitated for a moment and pointed to the locked door. “A locked door in broad daylight must indicate something’s wrong. Get that guy who was talking earlier and have him unlock it.”

“Yes, sir,” one of his subordinates responded and went to fetch David.

When David arrived, he immediately positioned himself in front of the door. “This area is private property, not part of the hospital. You have no right to inspect it.” Rowan smirked. “You can refuse to open the door, but I’ll consider your resistance as obstruction of our investigation.”

David’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat, but he stubbornly said, “This is private property. You’re essentially breaking into someone’s home.”

Rowan narrowed his eyes coldly. “It seems you’re deliberately creating trouble. You two, arrest him.”

“Understood.” As soon as the order was given, Rowan’s men swiftly subdued David, pinning him to the ground.

David, unable to match their training, quickly lost his strength and was pressed face-down, his dignity alongside him. “Let go of me. I’m calling the police!”

Rowan, however, ignored David’s pleas and ordered. “Break the door down.”

Chapter 593

Seeing the situation, Rowan’s men glanced at each other, none daring to step forward.

The reason was simple. This backyard was clearly part of a private residence. If they forced the door open, it would amount to breaking and entering.

No one was willing to risk their career just to please Rowan. Besides, Rowan was a man who only valued money. No matter how much they did for him, it would never be as important as bribery in his eyes. He was a major parasite within their Medicines Control Agency, so no one genuinely followed him.

As Rowan saw that no one dared to knock down the door, his anger flared. “Are you all deaf? Can’t you hear me?”

The group immediately lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with Rowan. “You all…”

“Mr. Turner,” Charlotte spoke up. “Your people are useless. Let me handle this.”

She then fixed her gaze on the rockery in the backyard, quickly grabbing a large stone from it. She threw the stone at the lock on the door.

With a dull thud, the lock fell to the ground.

“There we go.” Charlotte clapped her hands, giving Rowan’s men a scornful glance before pushing the door open and walking in.

However, as soon as the door was pushed open, the frame’s vibrations caused a nearby shelf to sway.

With a loud crash, a cylindrical glass container toppled over and shattered on the floor.

Charlotte glanced down to see that the container was a glass cover, and inside it was a plant she had never seen before.

Without the protection of the glass cover, the plant quickly turned yellow and withered in just a few seconds.

“What a lousy plant,” Charlotte muttered, worried about the glass shards cutting her. She kicked the broken pieces, along with the wilted plant, to the side.

Looking around, she noticed that the room was filled with shelves, each packed with various flowers and plants she had never seen before.

These must be medicinal herbs.

Since they were herbs, they fell under Rowan’s jurisdiction.

Charlotte’s eyes lit up, and she called out to Rowan. “Mr. Turner, come in quickly. It’s all medicinal herbs in here.”

Rowan immediately led his team inside.

Upon seeing the shelves filled with herbs, he smirked with satisfaction. “What private area? It’s all nonsense. This is their hospital’s warehouse.”

‘Why else would a private individual have so many herbs? They’re not valuable items, just some flowers and plants,’ he thought, casually sniffing a plant that looked like a weed. He quickly pulled it away. “It smells awful.”

Charlotte’s eyes brightened again. “Mr. Turner, since these herbs have gone bad and they still intended to sell them, shouldn’t this hospital be shut down?”

Rowan nodded. “We need to check for more spoiled items. One plant isn’t enough. We need a significant quantity to justify shutting them down.”

Charlotte nodded and quickly found a refrigerated cabinet. Inside the cabinet, there were dozens of ginseng roots wrapped in plastic wrap, along with some vegetables and fruits. “Mr. Turner, they’re storing herbs with vegetables. Isn’t that a violation?”

Rowan walked over, examined the contents, and said, “Of course it’s a violation. Medicines and food shouldn’t be stored together. It could spoil the herbs.”

“Does this make the quantity sufficient?” Charlotte asked eagerly.

Rowan counted the items, and after finishing, he smiled.” Yes, this is enough. The evidence is sufficient. No need to search further. Take photos for evidence and shut them down immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” The team responded, though one person quietly questioned, “But that’s ginseng, and it’s wrapped properly in plastic. The preservation method seems correct, so shouldn’t it be considered okay?”

But the voice was quickly drowned out by others. “What are you talking about? If Mr. Turner hears you, you’d better watch out. He might start giving you all the hardest tasks.” Hearing this, the dissenting voice fell silent.

After all, he was their leader. Under Rowan’s oppressive rule, they were too afraid to speak out and could only comply with Rowan’s demands to take photos and collect evidence. David, outside the door, was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. But he was pinned to the ground, unable to move, and could only shout weakly, “Let me go… You have no right to inspect this place.”

Just then, a pair of high heels appeared in his field of vision. He looked up with effort and met Charlotte’s smug gaze.

“Let me go!” he shouted.

Charlotte sneered. “David, we’ve already found your loophole. This warehouse is filled with non-compliant herbs. I could have Mr. Turner shut you down right now.” David glared at Charlotte with resentment, grinding his back teeth. “Miss Fox will be done soon, and you corrupt officials will get what’s coming to you.”

“Melody? Huh? Even now, you haven’t forgotten that traitorous disgrace? What a complete fool,” Charlotte said, extending her right hand to lift David’s chin with her index finger. “But given your poor judgment, I’m giving you one last chance. You know what I mean. Do you want this chance, or not?”

The obvious threat made David’s anger boil over.

“Damn you.” He spat directly at Charlotte’s face. “People like you will never get into Herbathrive.”

“Ah!” Charlotte jumped up in disgust, quickly wiping her face with her sleeve. “You scum. Go to hell.”

“Serves you right.” Seeing Charlotte’s reaction, David felt a bit of satisfaction.

Elton, noticing this, quickly took out some wipes to help Charlotte clean the saliva off her face.

Charlotte felt her stomach churning. She took a few steps toward David and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap landed heavily on David’s cheek, but he seemed to feel no pain and continued to stare at Charlotte with a fierce look.

Charlotte, even more enraged, raised her hand to give David a second slap.

However, just as her hand was about to make contact with David’s face, a seemingly slender but incredibly strong hand appeared, swiftly and precisely gripping her wrist before pushing her backward.

Charlotte was caught off guard, stumbled, and fell backward.

Behind her was a drainage ditch, and with a muffled thud, she landed face-up in the muck. “Ah…”

She screamed in shock, instinctively trying to get up, but as she pushed with her hands, they sank into the sludge of the ditch.

Having grown up in luxury, she had never encountered anything like this.

She stared wide-eyed in despair, screaming repeatedly, completely humiliated.

Chapter 594

For someone as proud and delicate as Charlotte, falling into a drain was a complete disaster.

Elton was the first to react. Without a second thought about the mess, he hurried over and pulled Charlotte out of the drain.

Unfortunately, the stench and sludge had covered her from head to toe.

Charlotte, in a frenzy, screamed hysterically. She immediately took off her expensive Chanel coat and tossed it aside. That wasn’t enough. She fished a pack of wet wipes from her bag and frantically scrubbed her hands, which were now smeared with mud.

David watched this scene, feeling a large part of his previous humiliation dissipate.

He was genuinely relieved. He stopped focusing on Charlotte and instead lifted his gaze to the person who had blocked Charlotte’s second slap.

When he saw the face of that person, he was so overcome with emotion that he nearly cried. “Miss Fox. You finally came.”

As he spoke, his eyes welled up instantly, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Though men were often reluctant to show their tears, he felt particularly vulnerable in front of Melody.

Melody gave a slight nod and coldly addressed the staff member restraining David. “Let him go.”

The staff member, intimidated by Melody’s gaze and the immense pressure she exerted, instinctively released David. Melody quickly helped David to his feet.

When she saw the injuries on his face, her eyes, which resembled cold moons, became even more frigid.

David shivered from the intensity of her stare and instinctively said, “Miss Fox, I’m fine.”

“Get those wounds on your face treated,” Melody instructed David, but her eyes remained fixed on Charlotte and the others.

“I’m really okay.” David insisted, refusing to attend to his injuries.

It was just a slap from Charlotte and a few cuts from being pressed to the ground. He wasn’t that weak.

More importantly, he was concerned that Melody, a girl, might get hurt here.

Melody was formidable, but the opposing side had the numbers and a complete lack of scruples. With the rest of the Herbathrive team blocked off at the backyard entrance, he wasn’t confident leaving her alone.

Meanwhile, Elton, acting like a servant, did his best to calm and comfort Charlotte, finally pulling her back from the brink of a complete breakdown.

Charlotte soon noticed Melody.

Charlotte had assumed that Melody would have already sensed the impending trouble and made her escape. To her surprise, Melody had indeed arrived despite her busy schedule.

The shock quickly gave way to a surge of anger.

“Bitch! It was you who pushed me!” Charlotte glared furiously at Melody and made a move toward her. Rowan, quick on his feet, grabbed Charlotte’s arm. Charlotte, don’t be impulsive. Acting on impulse only makes things worse. I will help you get your revenge.” Charlotte barely managed to suppress the urge to strangle Melody, though her eyes still burned with intense fury as if she could kill Melody with her gaze alone.

However, Melody met her stare with unflinching resolve.

Melody’s gaze was colder and more penetrating than Charlotte’s, like an invisible dagger that sent a shiver down Charlotte’s spine.

“Mr. Turner…” Charlotte instinctively stepped behind Rowan. Rowan, who had seen his share of intimidating figures, was not deterred by Melody’s formidable presence. “So you must be the real person in charge at Herbathrive? I’m Rowan Turner, Deputy Director of the Medicines Control Agency. May I have your name?”

He locked eyes with Melody, a hint of condescension unmistakably appearing in his expression.

‘A young girl with a strong presence, but still just a girl. What can she really do against me? A strong aura doesn’t hurt people, he thought.

“Melody Fox,” she said, introducing herself with a blank expression and then questioning sharply, “Since when did the Medicines Control Agency have the right to arbitrarily detain and insult people?”

Rowan smirked. “He obstructed our work, so we had to use these measures to restrain him. This is both legal and appropriate. As for your claim of insult, that’s nonsense. When did I insult him?”

“Pressing someone’s face into the ground and rubbing it isn’t insulting? If you don’t think it’s insulting, should I repeat what you did to David on you?” she said.

Rowan’s face darkened. “Absurd.”

Melody gave a cold smile. “So you admit your actions were absurd? That’s something.”

Rowan’s face reddened with anger, but he quickly regained his composure, demonstrating the poise expected from someone in his position. “You’re Melody, right? I won’t waste time with idle chatter. The Herbathrive herb storage is in serious violation. Many herbs have expired and deteriorated, and their storage method poses significant health risks to patients. As Deputy Director of the Medicines Control Agency, I am now ordering the immediate closure of your hospital. If you have any objections, you may file a complaint with the Medicines Control Agency after the closure.”

Though Rowan made it sound straightforward, it was clear that any appeal would be futile.

Charlotte, momentarily ignoring the stench clinging to her, lifted her chin triumphantly. “Did you hear that? Bitch, your hospital is done for. Even if you beg and kneel, I won’t spare you. You had the nerve to push me, you’re finished.”

Melody, however, ignored Charlotte and focused directly on Rowan. “Mr. Turner, you might be mistaken. This storage room is the owner’s private collection, containing extremely rare and valuable herbs. They are not for public sale, so how could they pose a risk to patient health?”

“That’s nonsense. Rare herbs? Besides a few ginseng plants, I haven’t seen anything rare in there. Don’t try to make excuses,” she said.

“Ginseng?” Melody smirked, “Mr. Turner, it seems your expertise may be lacking. The ginseng plants you mention are among the least expensive herbs in the storage. They’re used by the owner’s wife for health purposes.”

Rowan’s expression shifted. “Are you joking? How could ginseng be the cheapest herb?”

“If you don’t believe me, you can have a professional inspect the storage. If there is anything cheaper than ginseng, you can handle Herbathrive as you see fit.” Melody’s confident demeanor made Rowan furrow his brow, though he soon relaxed it again.

“What’s the point of arguing with you? The issue is that your storage room is in severe violation and poses a great danger to patients.”

“I’ve already said it’s a private storage room. You can have your people verify with our accountants. Nothing in there is part of Herbathrive’s inventory.” She paused, then added, You have no right to dictate how a private storage room is managed.

Rowan sneered, adopting a condescending tone. “I say it’s not a private storage room, so it’s not. I’ll seal it, and that’s final.”

Just as Rowan finished speaking, a deep voice resonated from the backyard entrance…

“Rowan Turner, you really are wielding your authority with such arrogance.”

Chapter 595

Rowan’s face darkened, his anger blazing within him.

‘At this moment, who could be so clueless as to dare call me by my name so casually?’ he wondered.

Rowan glared in the direction of the voice.

But as soon as he saw the face of the speaker, his anger evaporated, and his eyes widened in shock. His pupils shrank to mere pinpricks, and fear replaced the fury that had been there moments before.

‘It’s Orion,’ he thought in disbelief.

Orion was his superior, the director of the Medicines Control Agency.

Among everyone in the Medicines Control Agency, Orion was the only one who would address Rowan so directly.’ Why didn’t I think it would be Orion?’ Rowan cursed himself mentally.

The others, noticing Rowan’s reaction, instinctively followed his gaze.

In the next second, all the staff’s faces fell.

Charlotte, observing Orion’s stern approach from another door in the backyard, looked over at Rowan, who was frozen in shock. Her face showed a mix of confusion. ‘Why does Rowan look so stunned?’

The middle-aged man who had appeared out of nowhere had an unremarkable appearance and was dressed casually, not at all like a significant figure.

Charlotte, who usually judged people by their appearance, couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Mr. Turner, who is this person? Why are you reacting like this?”

But Rowan couldn’t afford to pay attention to Charlotte’s question at that moment.

After a brief moment of panic, his mind started racing.

Orion had taken the day off, so he was dressed in everyday clothes.

Orion had taken the day off, so he was dressed in everyday clothes. ‘Could it be that he knows these people from Herbathrive and came specifically for them? That doesn’t seem right. Orion is notoriously stubborn, never gets along with any hospital or clinic, and doesn’t accept favors from anyone, Rowan thought.

Even though Orion was a level above him, his lifestyle was far from opulent compared to Rowan’s closest subordinates. Orion was always either doing charity work or on his way to do so, living in constant financial strain. He couldn’t possibly have been bought off by anyone from Herbathrive.

So, it was likely that Orion just happened to be passing by, heard something, and decided to check it out.

‘If that’s the case, it should be manageable. I can just cover up a bit. After all, Orion isn’t in work mode today and shouldn’t dig too deeply.’ Rowan reasoned.

With this in mind, Rowan quickly composed himself and put on a flattering smile as he approached.

“What brings you here? Aren’t you on leave today? Had I known you were coming, I would have gone to greet you at the door.”

Orion cast a cold glance at Rowan. “You’re putting on quite an air for someone who’s just greeting me.”

Rowan was momentarily taken aback, a wave of foreboding rising within him.

Although Orion was usually difficult to deal with, he wasn’t typically so pointed. ‘Could it be that he heard everything I just said?’ Rowan wondered.

Startled, Rowan quickly tried to smooth things over. “Did you misunderstand me? I only found out about the violations at Herbathrive and was trying to make sense of their excuses. I didn’t want to keep arguing with them or listen to their lies, so I might have sounded harsh. Please don’t be deceived by them. You’ve been working longer than I have, so you know these hospitals will say anything to avoid punishment.”

Orion, however, was not convinced and his expression grew even darker. “Do you take me for a fool? You think I can’t tell who’s telling the truth and who’s lying? Rowan, is this really how you conduct yourself?”

Rowan’s face turned pale. “That’s not true at all… You must have misunderstood. I’ve been working with you for years. Please believe me.”

“You’d better clear things up and tell me the truth,” Orion demanded firmly.

Rowan knew he couldn’t admit the truth if he wanted to save his career.

He gritted his teeth and reluctantly said, “This is really the truth…”

“Rowan, you’re truly obstinate.” Seeing the man berate Rowan, Charlotte walked over and shouted, “Who do you think you are to insult Mr. Turner?”

Melody, observing Charlotte’s reaction, couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.

She had thought Mabel was foolish, but Charlotte surpassed her in every way.

No wonder Mabel had emerged as last year’s Best Celebrity. If her competitors were like Charlotte, it would be strange if Mabel didn’t take the top spot.

Rowan glared at Charlotte with frustration.

He was already feeling the heat and didn’t need Charlotte adding more fuel to the fire. “Charlotte, you mustn’t be so rude. This is Mr. Riley, my superior.”

Charlotte froze for a moment, confusion crossing her face. ‘ Superior… Mr. Riley…’

She then remembered that Rowan was merely the Deputy Director of the Medicines Control Agency. The real authority was the Director, who was the unassuming middle-aged man standing before her.

But she quickly recovered her composure. ‘So what? Everything can be resolved with money.’

To her, it was all just a matter of paying off the right people.

Realizing this, Charlotte smiled and said, “Oh, Mr. Riley, I didn’t realize your identity. I apologize for my rudeness. Please don’t take it personally. Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Charlotte Wallrich, and Mr. Turner is a friend of my grandfather. I look forward to working with you.”

As she spoke, she took out a check from her bag and, using the opportunity to shake Orion’s hand, discreetly slipped the check into his palm.

Rowan watched in shock, wanting to intervene, but Charlotte’s movements were too swift and smooth.

By the time he reacted, the check was already in Orion’s hand.

“Charlotte…” Rowan was almost beside himself, but with Orion standing right there, he couldn’t openly lash out. Instead, he kept signaling Charlotte with his eyes to tone it down.

Elton noticed something was amiss.

He was much more reserved than Charlotte and Elton quickly realized that Orion might not be someone who could be swayed by money. He tried to salvage the situation but was too late.

Orion, meanwhile, unfolded the check in his hand.

Initially, he didn’t understand what Charlotte had slipped to him. But as he saw the long string of numbers on the check, his expression changed immediately. “What’s this? What do you mean by this?”

Charlotte, still not getting the situation, thought Orion might find the amount insufficient. ‘4 million dollars isn’t enough for him?’

‘It’s 4 million dollars. You think this is too little?’ he wondered; This was all the money she had left for the year. If she needed more, she’d have to either concoct excuses to extort some from the two old guys or sell some luxury items.

While Charlotte internally cursed Orion for being greedy, she reluctantly prepared to issue another check.

“Charlotte…” Rowan snapped, losing his patience and ignoring Charlotte’s status. He yanked her bag away and said, “That’s enough.”

Charlotte, confused, asked, “What’s wrong, Mr. Turner? Don’t worry. Once this is over, I can give you an extra thank-you gift.”

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