Chapter 239: Unsettled Plans
“Sent someone to help him move?” Ambrose muttered bitterly. “More like tossing his stuff out.”
Alaric’s cold voice reached him as he tried to contain his fury. “I told you, no need to thank me.” He didn’t even look up from the paperwork on his desk. “The project’s due in less than a month. Mr. Vale, you’ve been running between home and the site. It’s better if you stay there to ensure quality. I’ll personally inspect it. My standards are strict. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll deduct from your payment.”
Ambrose’s fists clenched. If it weren’t for his plan, he would’ve punched Alaric then and there.
“Fine, I get it,” Ambrose said, gritting his teeth. “You caught me off guard this time. If you’re targeting me, we’ll see how this plays out.”
He stormed out, his anger flaring. As he left, Alaric’s gaze sharpened, a knowing look in his eyes. He had to be careful with Ambrose—he could feel the tension mounting.
At the entrance to Nexus Innovations, Denny was waiting. When he saw Ambrose storm out, he hurried to meet him. “How’d it go, Mr. Vale? Did Alaric give you a hard time?”
Ambrose didn’t reply immediately as he climbed into the car. Denny quickly followed, sensing his frustration.
“Stellan’s loan, the shop, and the house across from it—he knows about all of it,” Ambrose muttered darkly, his mind racing.
Denny’s eyes widened in shock. “How? Those are secret! How could Alaric know?”
“I underestimated him,” Ambrose sneered. “He knows everything.”
“Is he switching construction companies?” Denny asked, still processing the news.
“No,” Ambrose replied curtly. “The entertainment center’s almost done. He won’t switch now.”
“So, he’s planning to settle the scores after the project’s finished?”
“Pretty much,” Ambrose scoffed. “Settle the scores with me? Once the project’s over, he’ll have no leverage. I’ve got something on him.”
Ambrose looked at Denny, his expression hardening. “Been keeping an eye on Cormac?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Vale. Everything’s under control,” Denny assured him. “Cormac’s unloading cargo at a dock, doing manual labor. He’s exhausted every day. Honestly, I don’t get it. He might as well be dead.”
Ambrose snorted, his face dark. “He can’t die yet. I need him to deal with Alaric.”
“Got it, Mr. Vale. I think so too. Since he’s useful, he can’t die,” Denny said with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Cormac, who had lived a life of luxury, was now struggling with the physical demands of unloading cargo. Ten hours of back-breaking labor each day left him exhausted and sore. His body, once accustomed to pampering, was rebelling against the grueling work.
One afternoon, as he was lifting a heavy crate, Cormac slipped and fell, tearing his clothes and scraping his hands and knees.
Aurora, who had been walking nearby, gasped when she saw his condition. “Cormac, does it hurt?” she asked, her face filled with concern. She quickly grabbed a first aid kit and rushed to help.
To Cormac’s surprise, Aurora’s technique was surprisingly professional.
“It’s just a small scrape. It doesn’t hurt,” Cormac said, trying to downplay the injury, though he was impressed by her skills. “You’re so young. How do you know so much about treating wounds?”
“My dad’s been sick for years, so I had to learn to take care of him,” Aurora explained, her voice steady. The saying “kids from tough backgrounds grow up faster” certainly applied to her.
“So, do you want to be a doctor when you grow up?” Cormac asked, genuinely curious.
“Yes!” Aurora’s face lit up. “Cormac, you’re so smart to guess that. Ever since my dad got sick, I’ve been reading medical books and learning nursing skills. The more I read, the more I like it. I want to be a doctor to help people and make their families less sad.”
Cormac’s heart softened. Aurora’s kindness and determination moved him deeply.
“You’re amazing,” he said sincerely. “With your grades, you’ll definitely be admitted into the best medical school.”
Aurora had always been at the top of her class, excelling in nearly every subject. Despite her tough environment and caring for her sick father, she thrived academically.
“I hope so,” Aurora said, her eyes full of hope. “When I start earning money, I’ll repay you so you won’t have to work so hard.”
“Repay? I’m homeless. You took me in. I should be thanking you,” Cormac said, touched. “What do you have to repay me for?”
Aurora smiled warmly. “Just having you here to keep me company and take care of me makes you my benefactor. Even though I knew my dad would leave me, I was still very sad when he passed away. But you came, and it felt like my dad was protecting me in another way. I’m not sad anymore.”
She paused, her expression softening. “I thought I’d be sent to an orphanage after my dad passed away. This old building is almost empty. I was really scared those first few nights alone. Luckily, you came. With you here, I’m not scared anymore.”
Cormac’s eyes welled up at her words. The more he got to know Aurora, the more he cared for her. She had such a big heart, despite everything she had been through.
He pulled her into his arms, ruffling her hair gently to comfort her without saying anything.
“Oh no, don’t move your hand. I just applied the medicine,” Aurora said, quickly reapplying it with care. “You and my dad are the same. Always so stubborn! I used to tell my dad to take it easy and get some rest, but did he ever listen? Nope!”
Cormac couldn’t help but smile, listening to her playful complaints.
“The medicine’s applied. Don’t get it wet for the next couple of days, and don’t—”
“I’m a doctor,” Cormac interrupted with a grin. “If you really want to study medicine, I can teach you. You don’t need to tell me these basic things about small injuries.”
“You’re a doctor?” Aurora’s eyes lit up, her admiration shining through. “Really? Are you really a doctor?”
Cormac chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Not yet, but one day, maybe.”