Chapter 217
Some tricks worked once or twice. Push them too far, and they start to backfire.
Especially now-Sharon was gone.
The person Carter had sent to watch her had already reported back: she’d gone home.
As soon as Carter left, Nate’s face lit up with the smug satisfaction of a plan falling perfectly into place.
“I knew it. Sharon couldn’t wait for Carter and came running to the hospital instead. Good thing I was prepared, or she really might’ve gotten her way.”
Kelly smiled too, the kind of smile that only comes after enduring too many losses and finally tasting a win. She’d been bested by Sharon too many times lately. She needed this-something to pull her out of the fog.
She turned to Nate, her voice full of praise. “Nate, you really thought of everything. If it were up to me, I couldn’t have come up with all that.”
Nate beamed, clearly pleased. “Kelly, you’re too pure. There’s no way you could outmaneuver someone like Sharon. She’s downright cunning.”
He swore he’d never been this sharp in his life.
Usually, he was careless, impulsive, the kind of person who rarely thought things through.
But somehow, this time, it was like something clicked. Everything fell into place.
Even he couldn’t believe how clever he’d been.
But Kelly’s joy didn’t last long. A cloud passed over her expression, her smile fading into worry.
“Carter didn’t go to see Sharon today,” she said slowly, “but that doesn’t mean he won’t go tomorrow.”
Nate grinned, confident. “Relax. Starting tomorrow, he won’t have the time to see her even if he wanted to. We finally found that alternative medicine specialist I told you about. Carter’s taking you to begin treatment tomorrow. And your concert preparations are about to kick off too. How could he possibly still have time for Sharon?”
Kelly froze. Her expression stiffened. “An alternative medicine specialist?”
“Yeah,” Nate said. “Didn’t I tell you before? I’ve been searching for one to treat you.”
She vaguely remembered him saying something like that before, but she hadn’t taken it seriously.
Nate had made the so-called doctor sound almost mythical, like some miracle doctor. And Nate, as usual, had a habit of exaggerating everything. She hadn’t paid much attention.
But now it seemed the so-called miracle doctor had actually been found.
Nate went on, animated and eager, talking at length. But to his confusion, Kelly showed no sign of happiness.
He trailed off, then asked carefully, “Kelly… what’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
She blinked, then forced a smile. “No, I’m just… I don’t want you and Carter worrying too much about me.”
She lowered her head, a quiet melancholy seeping into her voice. “Nate, I’m really grateful. For everything you and Carter have done for me. But I know my own condition. This body… it’s not worth saving anymore. Let’s just leave it.”
Nate grew anxious. “Kelly, how can you say something so hopeless? Carter and I haven’t given up on you. You can’t give up on yourself!”
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The next day, Sharon called Carter again.
The first call went unanswered.
The second was declined.
Her face darkened immediately.
After missing their appointment yesterday, Carter hadn’t even bothered to explain. Not a single call. Not a word.
As if all of it-ditching her, the silence-was perfectly normal.
It was disgusting.
At that same moment, inside Uriah’s alternative medicine clinic, the elderly doctor cast a glance at the three people standing before him. His gaze finally settled on the tall, composed man with the unreadable expression.
“Young man,” Uriah said, “your phone’s ringing. Aren’t you going to answer it?”
Carter’s tone was flat. “The consultation comes first.”
“It’s been ringing quite a few times,” Uriah remarked. “What if it’s urgent?”
Carter reached into his pocket and casually hung up. “It’s nothing important.”
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