Chapter Eight

Liam Williams couldn’t figure out an answer. He rushed back to the company and reported everything to Andrew. Andrew was not surprised by Caroline’s response. He added, “That’s all she said?”

“Yes, Miss Roberts said she won’t accept anything and her only request is that CEO Pierce takes good care of the young master.”

Andrew chuckled, “Ray is my son, I will take good care of him without her telling me to do so. Since she doesn’t want the check, then leave it be.”

“Alright, CEO Pierce. If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave now.” Just as Liam turned to leave his office, Andrew suddenly said, “Wait….”

“Is there something else, CEO Pierce?” Liam turned around to ask. Andrew’s dark eyes shone slightly when he asked, “How is Caroline’s physical condition?”

Liam thought about it and answered honestly, “Miss Roberts appeared to be physically weak, but mentally sound. She was very composed and her eyes held firm during our conversation. She should be fine.”

Andrew was inwardly relieved, “Thank you, you can go now.”

“Yes sir.”

After Liam left, Andrew stared at the returned check and sighed. He was pricked by guilt and felt that he had to do something for Caroline. Maybe he should clear his schedule, and hash it out with her personally. Caroline said clearly that she doesn’t want his money, but for Andrew, the money was originally hers, he didn’t want to owe her anything either. Andrew contemplated on it at length before collecting himself to focus on his work.

Caroline, on the other hand, was disrupted by Cole’s insistence that she go to the hospital. He insisted she go for a body check. He had tried both begging and intimidating but they were all to no avail until….

“Sis, if you continue to refuse to go to the hospital, I’ll call Andrew Pierce to ask for the hundred million. I know your reluctance comes from your refusal to add to our financial burden so the cheque will come in handy!” Cole said threateningly.

Caroline couldn’t help but laugh. She pulled herself up from her bed and gave up, “Alright, you win. I will go to the hospital, but on one condition.”

Cole cheered, “Yes! Fine, what is your condition?”

“If I clear the body check, you’ll stop bothering me if I want to stay home, I don’t like the smell of the hospital.”

Cole nodded hurriedly, “Alright, it’s a promise.”

His immediate mission was to get his sister to the hospital. Everything else that came later could wait. Cole packed their overnight bags in a hurry and escorted Caroline to the hospital. Caroline returned to the hospital that she escaped from yesterday. The doctors and nurses that knew her scolded her lightly. She accepted it with nothing but a smile, and they eventually stopped.

Caroline’s body check turned out to be fine, but the doctor wanted her to stay at the hospital for a few days for future observation. An extended stay at such a prestigious hospital would burn a giant hole in their wallet. Caroline didn’t admit it out loud, but she planned to return home that day. It was not that she wasn’t careful of her health, but she didn’t want to burden her uncle’s family. She was caught between a rock and a hard place because she knew that she had to be physically fit before she could go out and work.

However, lying there on the hospital bed with the IV feeding into her arms, she was wrenched with guilt and anger. She might have dealt with it better if she didn’t regain her memory, but now that she had regained them, she was filled with anger at herself for being so useless. How she wished she could pull out the drip feed and start looking for a job instantly.

As the saying goes, money isn’t everything, but there are certainly a lot of things that one can’t do without money. Caroline at that moment truly felt the restrictions brought on by the lack of money. Cole was also trying hard to earn a living. Even at this moment, he was typing away on his four year old budget laptop.

“What are you doing?” Caroline asked.

Cole lifted his eyes off the screen and smiled. “Doing some freelance work. A senior requested my help in writing a software program. It will get us 300 dollars after I’m done.”

Caroline’s eyes shone slightly. “You get paid instantly after the job is done?”

“Yup, the senior knows about our situation so he always pays on time. Actually, he wanted to offer me another project that pays 2000 dollars but it’s too difficult and he needs it done in two days. I’m writing him a message to tell him I can’t do it.”

“What is this 2000 dollar job about?”

Cole was taken aback. He had no idea why his sister would suddenly be curious about a project that he was going to reject, but he explained it patiently, “it’s to code a mini game. I’ve done something like this before but it took me four days. My senior wanted this done in two days so

I’m sure I can’t finish it on time.”

“Let me take a look at it…” Caroline sat up in her bed. Coke quickly put away his laptop to stop her, adding, “Sis, please sit still, you’re going to pull out the IV.”

“You worry too much. Let me see what kind of mini game you are making.”

Cole was an only son, so after his father took in Caroline, she became the big sister he always wanted but never had. Maybe it was the power elder siblings held over their younger siblings but for some reason, Cole was always ready to entertain Caroline’s request. Caroline had never once coerced her brother into doing things with either force or words, but Cole had an unnatural reverence towards his sister.

He intuited that there was something impressive and extraordinary about his sister even though he couldn’t exactly put his hands on it. The last six years they spent together hadn’t solved the mystery either.

“This is it,” Cole said as he turned the laptop screen around, “but sis, why would you want to look at this?”

Caroline moved the cursor around and clicked on a few buttons. She realized it was really a simple mini game.

“Can you lend me your laptop for one hour?” She asked.

Cole assumed she wanted to play the game because she was bored.

“Sis, you should take this time to rest. If you’re really that bored, why not sleep? Playing video games is not good for your recovery.”

“ I will return it to you in an hour. I saw some books in your bag, that will keep you entertained in the meantime,” Caroline said in a tone that brooked no argument and Cole obediently complied.

As mentioned above, he rarely resisted his sister’s demands. Above all else, he would feel indescribably happy every time he managed to fulfill his sister’s demand….. Cole took out a programming text book and advised worriedly, “I’ll only let you play for one hour, okay? If you don’t return my laptop then, I won’t let you play with it next time. Caroline ignored him.