?Chapter 1049:


    “Let me see.” The receptionist scanned the screen, then looked up. “I’m sorry, Dr. Duffy’s next avable appointment is in three days, in the morning.”


    Rnd offered a polite, almost apologetic smile. “I have something that day. Never mind.”


    With that, he turned and walked away, eager to escape this overpriced establishment.


    At the entrance, he paused beside a trash can, fishing the business card from his pocket. The midday sun bore down on him, its heat sharp against his skin. He rolled the card between his fingers, then crumpled it and tossed it away.


    He must have been out of his mind even to consider wasting his money like that.


    Just as he was about to leave, the sound of a car door opening caught his ear. He didn’t bother looking, but then he heard a woman’s voice.


    “Hey! Sir, wait a minute!”


    Rnd turned his head, only to find it was Amanda. She was wearing a light khaki trench coat and a pair of white sneakers, looking like a college student.


    This was the first time he looked at her properly. She seemed younger than in her picture, more striking than when he’dst seen her.


    But she was still older than him. And the fact that she could earn two thousand dors an hour just by listening? Rnd mentallybeled her a con artist.


    And now, the con artist stood right in front of him.


    “Have we met before?” she asked. Hands in his pockets, Rnd stood a head taller than her, relishing the subtle advantage. “Have we?”


    Amanda nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. You were about to jump into the river. I gave you my business card. And you came to my clinic before.”


    Rnd smirked inwardly. Not only was she a con artist, but her memory was razor-sharp.


    “You’ve got the wrong person,” he said tly.


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    “No way.”


    Unfazed, Rnd shrugged. “You must be mistaken.”


    Amanda’s response was firm. “Absolutely not.”


    Silence settled between them.


    There was something about her—an unwavering confidence that came not just from knowledge, but from experience. It was the same kind of quiet authority Joelle had, the kind that made him want to listen.


    But Joelle was one thing. Why should he listen to this woman?


    “I was just in the area,” he said stubbornly.


    Amanda smiled, as if indulging a child’s excuse. “Okay, then. How about I buy you a drink?”


    Rnd’s first instinct was to ask if he’d be charged for her time along with the drink. But that would make him seem petty.


    “You’re buying?” he asked.


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