After delivering her chilly remark to Caleb, Ember prepared to go inside her house.However, Caleb unexpectedly showed an interest in following her inside.She prevented him from entry by placing a hand on the doorframe, blocking his way.Caleb was left with no choice but to give up. He said hesitantly, "I haven't seen Avery in some time. I was hoping to visit him.""He's out with friends today. You won't find him here. Please, you'll have to leave." Ember made up an excuse and rejected his request.After failing to gain entry to the condominium, Caleb resignedly decided to leave, but not before he made a point. "Don't worry, you've been a great help to my grandmother. Tomorrow, I'll come by with a thank-you gift. She really wants to show her appreciation for your help."Ember had readied herself with a response to decline Caleb, but the words she intended to say got stuck in her throat as he hurriedly left.When she walked into the house, she noticed Avery had been peeking at
An unspoken pact was formed between the two.Given that Dr. N had agreed to her request, Penelope finally grinned and asked eagerly, "What's your plan?"Dr. N gave a nod. He rummaged through several bottles and jars behind him until he came across a small, unassuming bottle.He presented the bottle to Penelope and said, "Use this."Examining the bottle curiously, Penelope questioned, "What's inside?"With a cryptic grin, Dr. N replied, "Something special. It contains mild traces of a toxin that causes discomfort but not immediate death. Prolonged use will lead to loss of appetite, lethargy, and other symptoms. It'll be easy to pin the blame on Ember."Holding the bottle, Penelope felt a mix of trepidation, almost as if she were holding a bomb."Isn't this going too far?" she wondered, thinking about Eva. "This plot will affect Grandma."Dr. N narrowed his eyes, slightly irritated."This is the only way to thoroughly deal with her. Do you want to put up with her any longer?"P
After contemplating, Caleb replied with a grave expression, "Besides us, it seems the caregiver is the only other person who could have accessed the medication."With that, he called and requested the caregiver's presence.Feeling guilty, the caregiver quickly called Penelope to inform her of the situation.Penelope ran over. Her back was drenched in cold sweat, fearing the caregiver might confess everything.Caleb ignored Penelope. His manner was menacing as he addressed the caregiver with a daunting tone, "Tell me, who else has had access to grandma's medication?"Prompted by his serious demeanor, the caregiver hastily answered, "Only Dr. Ember, you, and I have had access."Cocking his brow, Caleb's presence became more intimidating as he probed, "Does that mean you're responsible for swapping the medication?"In a panic, the caregiver shook her head and denied, "Mr. Lane, I haven't done anything wrong! I've only been administering the medicine as per Dr. Ember's instructions.
The caregiver was overwhelmed with fear. She had collapsed to the ground, shaking uncontrollably, yet she chose to remain silent.Ember inhaled deeply and suggested, "If she won't admit to anything, let's send the bottle for forensic analysis. The fingerprints on it should provide some clues. Once we get the results, we can take the case to the police.""Alright. I'll arrange for someone to handle this immediately."The intense interrogation brought the caregiver to tears.During a brief gap in their grilling, the caregiver suddenly gathered her courage.In a desperate move, she grabbed the medicine and swallowed all the pills, her face turning red as she struggled to swallow them.Realizing the gravity of the situation and that they could not allow the caregiver to die like this, Caleb and Ember sprang into action.Caleb patted her back vigorously, causing her to cough up the pills, while Ember applied pressure to her chest and abdomen.Eventually, they saved the caregiver's l
Penelope harbored a sense of unease regarding the unfolding events and approached Dr. N that evening. Frustrated, she commented, "I didn't expect things to be exposed so easily—all that effort for nothing." "Fortunately, we weren't implicated," Dr. N added, his face worried. "Is the caregiver still not talking? We must ensure her silence at all costs. "She likely doesn't know who we are, but what's our next move?" With a sinister smile, Dr. N replied, "Our only option is to take the old woman away." *** The following day, Dr. N conducted a showy but fake check-up. After that, he gravely informed Caleb, "Madam Lane's health is deteriorating. She requires treatment with specialized equipment." Caleb asked without looking up, "What equipment? I'll arrange for its purchase right away." Dr. N shook his head and pretended to answer mysteriously, "That won't work. This equipment isn't available here. We must take Madam Lane overseas for the necessary care." Impatient, Cale
Dr. N looked up at Ember and sneered, "What does it matter? If you're familiar with Dr. Renold, then you should be aware of his esteemed status in the medical community."Ember responded with a sardonic smile, her gaze laced with sarcasm."You recognize Dr. Renold's significant role in our field, yet you seem oblivious to the controversy where he was outed as a charlatan a few years ago. How can you still reference his research? This was common knowledge among attendees of the International Conference."Realizing that others in the room were puzzled, Ember elaborated, "Dr. Renold was unmasked as a plagiarist who fabricated data and made numerous false claims. "Even though the international forum knew about his misconduct years ago, they kept it a secret to protect their reputation. Yet, this is well known among those who participated in that conference."You portray yourself as a distinguished figure who has frequented such conferences, so how is it you're unaware of this and sti
Under Ember's attentive care, Eva's condition showed remarkable improvement. Her skin had a healthy glow, and she was able to move around on her own.Eva frequently voiced her discomfort about being confined to the hospital, yearning to go outside.Caleb's infrequent presence and Ember's inability to make major decisions independently, especially given the Lane family's numerous rivals and the potential risk of malicious intent during Caleb's absence, required them to proceed with caution.Nevertheless, Ember made the decision to get in touch with Caleb after seeing Eva's depressed state.She removed his contact from the blacklist and called him.He picked up immediately, his voice filled with unexpected joy, "Em, I'm surprised you’ve reached out."After a short pause, Ember weighed her thoughts and briefed him on Eva's recent health progress."Grandma's health has improved. If at all possible, we should grant her wish and allow her to rest at home. Being in a place she enjoys m
Avery excitedly rushed toward Caleb, who lifted him into the air, spinning him around like a classic father-son duo.The laughter of the boy echoed in the air as Caleb finally put him down.Watching this tender moment between father and son, Ember felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness in her heart.Noticing Ember's unusual demeanor, Caleb asked with a concerned frown, "Where are you headed? Is it a business trip?"Not wanting to hide anything, she sighed and shared, "There are some students from the school who've gone missing. I just got word that they've been located in Millerville. I'm planning to go there to assess the situation and hopefully bring them back."Caleb's brow creased with worry, and he probed, "Are you intending to go there by yourself?""I've already contacted the local police there."Before Ember could finish, Caleb interrupted her, his tone laced with worry, "You're being too careless about your safety. What would Avery and I do if something happened to you