55 vouchers
Alicia smiled, “So, Hank, here’s my offer. I will help Sasha get a kidney and pay for her surgery, and from now on, you help me out whenever I need it. Sound fair?”
Alicia had no intention of winning Hank over with sincerity. After living through so much, she’d learned feelings only made things messier; keeping things strictly business was way safer.
Hank stared at Alicia in disbelief. “What?<b>” </b>
“Did I not make myself clear?” Alicia asked, her tone calm and steady. “Are you in or not?”
“Where are you getting all this money?” Hank asked, his voiceced with suspicion.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Alicia shot back. “So, are you agreeing or not? Just give me a straight
answer.”
“I’m in,” Hank said without hesitation. “As long as Sasha gets better, I’ll do whatever you want.”
“What if I asked you to die?” Alicia pressed him.
Hank froze, then shook his head with conviction. “I can’t do that. My mom’s still sick, and Sasha needs me. I won’t die, not unless they’re both taken care of first.”
Alicia’s mind shed to her previous life. After his mom and sister passed away, Hank chose to end his own life. They were his Achilles‘ heel, yet also his anchor in this world.
Hank was never afraid of death. Back then, with no family weighing him down and all his abilities, he could’ve lived free and easy.
But that he chose to end it all spoke volumes about just how deep his feelings ran.
Alicia sized him up, then let out a soft chuckle. “Rx. I won’t ask you to throw your life away.
“Turns out, I know a hospital with a matching kidney ready to go. Tomorrow, we’ll head over there and see what they can do for us.”
“Are you serious?” Hank’s eyes widened, like he’d just been tossed a lifeline when he was drowning.
Alicia nodded, her voice gentle but firm. “Absolutely.”
“Enjoy your meal,” Alicia said as she stood up. “I’m heading out.”
Hank jumped up, too, looking at her, sincerity in every word. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” Alicia said, her voice cool. “This is a deal. I help you, and you help me. Simple as that.” <fn0d15> Checktest chapters at FindN0vel</fn0d15>
“I will, Alicia. From now on, whatever you say,” Hank replied firmly.
Alicia turned and walked away.
19.12 Wed, Oct 1
Alicia only knew about the kidney source because of her previous life’s experience.
區
Back when Alicia was trapped down in the basement, Tiffany would pop in from time to time just to taunt her, boasting about her newest triumphs and feeding Alicia all sorts of news from the outside world, including this particr nugget.
That happened right after Henry sent Tiffany back to the Lawrence family.
Tiffany stormed in, waving some paperwork, all fired up. “Alicia, guess what? Your bestie Hank is dead.
“What a moron. His mom and sister kicked the bucket, so he finally got rid of <b>his </b>baggage. You’d think he’d be thrilled, right? Nope, he went and jumped off a building
Back then, Alicia had barely flinched. She kept her voice steady as she looked straight at Tiffany<b>. </b>“He stopped being my friend the moment he betrayed me and took your side.
“Whether he’s alive or dead, it’s none of my business. You can’t get to me with <b>this</b><b>.” </b>
Tiffany burst outughing, waving a stack of documents right in Alicia’s face. “Want to know why Hank betrayed you and started helping me?”
“It’s because his mom’s sick and his little sister’s got kidney failure. He didn’t have the money to save them, so I handed it over.
“Let me tell you, hisputer skills are something else. Anytime I wanted to shine in some field, he’d crack into whatever genius’sptop and grab their secrets for me.
“Honestly, I owe my sess to him,” Tiffany bragged, a smug grin on her face.
As Alicia stared at the files, it hit her. She actually found a kidney at Maplewood General Hospital, but now all that info was in Tiffany’s hands.
“So you kept the news about the kidney from Hank?” Alicia asked, her voice low and steady.
“Of course, Tiffany replied nonchntly. “If I let him know, once his sister was cured, how would I control him anymore? He’d walk away and I’d lose my leverage.”
Then her tone turned sharp and mean. “But his sister? Total disgrace. Only managed to hang on for two years -pathetic.
“And Hank was no better. After they both died, he couldn’t handle it and threw himself off a building. Now I have to dig up someone else who’s good withputers. What a freaking waste of my time.”
Tiffany didn’t even bother taking the kidney match files; she just spun around to leave.
Right before stepping out, Tiffany sneered at Alicia, “Go on, hold onto those files and cry your eyes out for your precious friend.”
Lost in these thoughts, Alicia tightened her grip on her phone and called Harvey.
The line barely rang once before Harvey picked up, a smile in his voice. “Hey, Sweet Purr. What’s gotten into
you? Thought of me all of a sudden?”
2
Alicia’s mouth twitched. She really couldn’t stand that nickname. Clearing her throat, she said, “Doctor Johnson, my name’s Alicia. Not Sweet Purr.”
Harvey burst outughing. “You got it, Alicia. No more nicknames, at least for now.”
“Yeah,” Alicia replied quickly.
Harvey poured himself some water, then said. “So, Alicia, what’s up? Did you call because you need something?”
Before she could answer, Harvey grinned. “Or maybe you’re calling because you’ve secretly fallen for me, trying to cozy up a bit?”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “Not even close.”
Harvey let out a dramatic sigh, faking heartbreak. “Come on, Alicia, did you have to be that blunt? My poor heart can’t take it.”
Alicia was caught off guard and not sure how to respond.
Seeing her difort, Harvey dropped the act and got serious. “Alright, alright. What’s up? Is it your stomach hurting again?”
“No, it’s not that,” Alicia replied. “I actually need a favor from you, Doctor Johnson. Are there any kidneys avable at your hospital? I was hoping-
“A kidney donor?” Harvey’s expression shifted, his voice turning serious. “Is there something wrong with your kidney? Does Charles know about this?”
Alicia blinked in confusion. ‘Even if my kidney was in trouble, what’s Mr. Yates got to do with it?” she wondered.
Alicia cleared her throat and exined, “It’s not about me. My ssmate’s sister has kidney failure. Doctor Johnson, is that kidney still up for grabs? Can she get tested for a match?”
<i>“</i>Oh, it’s not spoken for yet,” Harvey replied. “She can definitely get tested. So, where is your ssmate’s sister
now?”
Alicia filled him in on the basics, and Harvey said, “Alright, bring him by tomorrow.”
“Okay, thanks, Doctor Johnson. I’ll treat you to dinner,” Alicia said.
Harvey chuckled, “No need. I’ll just have Charles take me out.”
Alicia finally couldn’t help herself. “Doctor Johnson, why are you always dragging Mr. Yates into this?
“I owe you this favor, so I’ll pay it back myself. This has nothing to do with him, so why should he be involved?<b>” </b>
O
19:12 Wed<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>
Harvey stopped for a second before cracking up.
<b>46 </b>
65 vouchers
‘So Charles hasn’t even let her in on how he feels yet? Guy can’t even work up the guts to chase her openly, Harvey thought, amused. ‘For someone who’s usually fearless?
‘He’s really chickening out when ites to this.
“Alright, we’ll talk about it when the timees,” Harvey said, still grinning.
“Alright, get some rest,” Alicia said before hanging up and heading home.
*****
Meanwhile, back at the Lawrence Manor, the moment Tiffany walked in, she made a beeline for Hugh. “Dad, I know where Alicia’s staying now.”
Hugh looked up at her, his gaze scrutinizing.
Tiffany quickly softened her tone, putting on a worried face. “Alicia’s out there all alone. It’s not safe.
“Dad, you should bring her back home. She’s staying with Sienna Gray, one of our ssmates.”
Hugh raised an eyebrow. “How do you know she’s staying with the Gray family?”
田