Chapter 4
After exchanging for game tokens, Lillian and Jesse set off on their adventure at the arcade on the third floor of the mall.
Lillian stood in front of the claw machine, gripping the joystick she swung the claw back and forth. She calculated the distance and predicted the perfect drop.
With a deft move, the claw snagged the plush toy at just the right angle and smoothly lifted it into the prize chute–another
win..
Just then, she felt a tug at her shirt and looked down to see Jess pointing at the claw machine next to hers. He had already spent more than a dozen tokens without whining anything.
Lillian moved over to the machine, casually slipped in two token, and grabbed the joystick. “The blue one?”
“Yeah,” Jesse replied eagerly,
Lillian didn’t have many hobbies, but the few she did were pretty varied, mostly unrelated. One of her favorites was playing those claw machines to grab stuffed toys.
It was addictive–perfect to kill some time or get her creative juices flowing when she needed to concentrate. That was why she still found it enjoyable.
With a quick move, Lillian snagged the blue astronaut toy, Jesse’s eyes lit up with admiration as he proudly held the plush.
Which one do you want next?” Lillian asked, smiling
Jesse was only two years old, and he had to bring his own foldable stool just to reach the claw machine.
Lillian had met him about two weeks ago when she was in Jerisburg for work and stopped by a claw machine store. He was so impressed by her skills that he offered her his tokens when she ran out
Lillian loved spending time with kids like Jesse–adorable, polite, and eager to share her interests. After dealing with a bunch of quirky adults, hanging out with these little angels was a refreshing change.
As they continued their spree, Lillian lazily remarked, “Is that guy with the binoculars upstairs your brother, your dad, or just your family’s driver?” Her eyes were still focused on the machine as her hands worked the joystick.
Jesse was on a break with General in his arms, his big eyes blinknig as he looked around, Willie, who was watching them from a distance, quickly hid behind a column. Not spotting anyone, Jesse turned back to Lillian.
Lillian asked, her eyes fixed on the machine. “Is it that quiet driver from before? You don’t want him coming along?”
Jesse nodded, and Lillian didn’t ask further. In the end, having hit the jackpot, they pushed a cart full of toys and exchanged. them for two large stuffed animals at the prize counter.
As they walked out of the mall, Lillian asked, “I’m feeling a bit hungry. Want to grab a bite? It’s on me.
Without hesitating, Jesse nodded eagerly.
“There’s a place I haven’t been to in ages, and I’m really craving the food there,” Lillian, said, carrying a giant stuffed animal in each arm. “Let’s go, it’s not far
Willie hurried out of the mall with binoculars in hand, only to see Jesse walking away with Lillian. He quickly ran to grab the car and follow them.
After tracking them down a street, he finally spotted them settling at a roadside stall and let out a sigh of relief.
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12:45 Tue, Dec 31 tio.
Chapter 4
Soon, worry clouded his face again. The food doesn’t look very clean. If jesse eats it and sornething happens to him….
The image of Samuel’s stem expression flashed in his mind, sering shivers down his spine. Still, he didn’t dare to intervene -if Jesse got upset, he would be in even bigger trouble,
After wrapping up her order, Lillian grabbed a bottle of milk, inserted a straw, and passed it to Jesse. Then she pulled out her bulky black flip phone, hesitating whether to call Henry
Just then, her other phone started ringing. Her everyday phone hul two SIM cards, and this call was from the backup number–Andrew Goodman.
Lillian stared at the name for a moment, trying to remember when she had added this contact, but couldn’t. In the end, she decided to ignore it.
But Andrew tried again. Frowning slightly, Lillian reluctantly answered the call.
“Is this Dr. Dawn?” Andrew asked cautiously, his voice humble
Not recognizing him, Lillian hung up without saying a word.
Andrew clutched the phone nervously, glancing at the well–dressed man on the sofa. The buzz echoed through the spacious living roont, making Andrew sweat a little.
“Mr. Lewis, it seems Dr. Dawn might be busy, or maybe her number has changed. Should I try reaching Dr. Miller for you instead?” Andrew suggested.
Samuel Lewis, the man on the couch, crossed his long legs and clasped his fingers together. He replied politely but with a hint of cool detachment. “Thank you, Mr. Goodman.”
Samuel was the current head of the powerful Lewis family in Mesville, wielding significant influence as the chairman of the Lewis Group. Also, he held the position of president of the Clus Chamber of Commerce,
“You’re too polite, Andrew replied. Since Samuel wasn’t blaming him, Andrew felt a bit more relaxed and even took a few more quick glances at him
Samuel sat back comfortably, his long lashes slightly lowered to hide his gaze. Dressed in a tailored black suit, the sharp creases in his pants added to his distant vibe.
He didn’t need to say much; his mere presence commanded attention, radiating an aura of ruthlessness not quite fitting for this polished setting
Gathering his thoughts, Andrew said, “Dr. Dawn isn’t affiliated with any hospitals or medical schools in the country, and her information is classified globally.
“I personally witnessed one of her surgeries last year. She wore a mask, so I can only say she’s a young woman. Getting her contact details took a lot of effort, but I can’t provide anything ele useful.”
Dawn, often referred to as the Magic Surgeon, was a mysterious and legendary figure in the medieal world. Despite Samuel’s thorough investigations, the only leads were a few doctors who had worked with her, and one could offer any useful information.
Andrew was still speaking when Luke suddenly lifted his head from the keyboard, excitement and thrill shining in his eyes “Mr. Lewis, I found it! She’s right here in Jerisburg, really close!
Andrew asked, “Found what?”
Samuel stood up and said to his bodyguard, “Take Mr. Goodman back.” He then walked off quickly, leaving Andrew completely bewildered.
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Chapter 4
Tue, Dec 31
G
A plate of delicious macaroni and cheese arrived at the table. Jesse, who was feeding jerky to his dog, General, paused for a moment, then grabbed a spoon from Lillian and took a bite,
Noticing how Jesse was captivated by the aroma, Lillian handed him a piece of stir–fried chicken. “It’s a little spicy,” she
warned.
Just as Lillian was about to dig in, Yale called her and said, “Someone just tried to track your IP address using your phone number. Luckily, the call was short, and I managed to block it for you.”
“That guy is pretty skilled–he should rank in the top three of those attempting to hack your phone. He can brag about this.
for life.
“But I noticed his technique seemed unfamiliar–he’s not really from the hacker community, I’ll look into it later.
“Since your injury four months ago, your phone’s security system hasn’t been updated. I’ve taken care of that for you now.”
Lillian asked, “Is there anything else?”
Yale nodded, “Actually, yes. The Lewis family in Jerisburg is offering a pretty hefty fee for you to perform surgery. The news is spreading through both legitimate and underground channels
Just don’t let the money blind you, okay? Your current condition doesn’t allow for any heavy–duty surgeries.”
Lillian took a bite of the macaroni and cheese, lost in thought. She hadn’t dealt with the Lewis family, but one name stood out–Samuel Lewis.
, a sleek black Maybach with a distinctive license plate pulled up near the street food stall
Soon, a s