Chapter 249

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No way ! Arla couldn’t be seduced by Owen , given her stupidity in romance .
After a moment of thought , Derek reached out to Caleb . “ Hey , Caleb , can I stay in your place for some days ? ”
Caleb asked , “ Still on your little runaway adventure ? ”
It shocked the Fletcher couple that Derek was so stubborn this time . Derek didn’t call his parents in the past week and blacklisted their phone numbers .
His father wanted Caleb to pass on a message to Aria and persuade him to go home . Caleb said , “ I can’t tell Aria what to do . ” As a result , Caleb offended
his uncle .
Derek snorted . “ Don’t talk to me as if I were a kid . I can provide for myself .”
Caleb said , “ I’m not home .”
“ You either ? ” Derek smelled fishy , so he asked , “ Caleb , anything wrong ? ”
The Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention had sent several medical teams including epidemiologists to the affected area .
A news blackout on the new virus was imposed to prevent public panic , so Derek was kept in the dark .
Caleb said , “ I am on a business trip . Go to my apartment downtown. You know its password . I have to go now . ” The call was over .
Derek stared at his phone , feeling both confused and lost . “ Why is everyone so busy all of a sudden ? ” he wondered .
Recalling his misfortune that day , he got angry .
He’d gotten the job through a net pal who was good at programming and taught him a lot .
Derek got into a taxi and began to bombard his
net
pal with messages . [ The company you introduced is rubbish . ]
to
anger and contempt .
Derek : [ I despise it . ] Then , he sent a lot of memes
This was the conference room at Nimbus Tech . With all the employees present , the meeting commenced .
“ Our company specializes in the integration and innovation of electronic products and online technologies … ”
Patrick gave a good introduction to his company . His phone vibrated when it was time for his new employees to make self – introductions .
Peyton said , “ Patrick , there may come some important news . Why don’t you check your messages first ? ”
Patrick nodded . “ Alright , you may go on . ” Then , he read the messages from Derek .
Frowning , he typed , [ Why do you think so ? ]
Because Patrick was busy , Peyton presided at the meeting and said , “ Hi , I am Peyton Maddox , a graduate from Kanit University . Patrick and I went to the same university and interned at a large tech company . We didn’t start our business till we had enough expertise in this field . ”
Applause echoed in the meeting room .
Lennox stood up before one of his female colleagues did . “ Hi , my name is Lennox Fletcher , a graduate from Mandino University . My goal is to continue my study at Kanit University … ”
Derek : [ I got fired on my first day at work , and they didn’t give me any notice in advance . I already arrived in Kanit City and rented an artment there . Screw them ! ]
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Derek : [ The nepotism is severe in that small company . They replaced me with Lennox
Patrick read the message , lifted his head , and looked at Lennox who was doing a self introduction . “ Are you Lennox ? ” He asked .
Lennox nodded . “ Yes , Patrick . ”
There were the resumes of the employees on the table , so Patrick flipped through Lennox’s . Patrick then said , “ You are outstanding , and we are glad ( i have you here . However …
“ Derek got an official offer from us . Why was he fired all of a sudden ? Whose decision ? Why didn’t he get any notice before today ? ”
At that moment , Peyton felt more embarrassed than Lennox did . “ Patrick , Derek majored in drug analysis … ” he explained .
“ That isn’t the reason for us to go back on our word , ” Patrick interrupted Peyton . “ I allow nobody to taint the reputation of Nimbus Tech . Whoever made the decision should invite Derek back here , or he should leave this company like Derek .”
“ Russell , this is the painting patched up by the shredded paper , and I let an art student copy it . ” Orlando placed a painting on the table .
“ It is confirmed that she is the daughter of Aria’s adopted parents . She was sold when she was 14 months old . Aria once looked for her and gave up the plan hallway . Russell , don’t you think that they look alike ? ” Orlando added .
Russell stared at the profile , and Orlando failed to read his mind via his expression .
Orlando went on , “ Aria is now in Jamelan to take care of an elderly woman who helped her in her childhood .
“ Owen seems close with her . When they collected the herbs in the mountains , they found a corpse . The police are trying to identify the dead . ”
Russell raised his eyebrows and then tapped the table with one finger . “ Plague her . ”
“ Got you , ” Orlando responded .
“ I want to know more about Owen . ”
“ I will start the investigation right away . ”
“ Dig out Rachel’s past . Take Rachel’s blood and hair for a paternity test with Dominic and Alice . ”
Orlando felt speechless . “ Russell , you gave me so many tasks that I need a hand . ”
Russell squinted at Orlando . “ Don’t you have many underlings ? ”
“ Why didn’t you issue orders to them yourself ? ”
“ Don’t you get paid ? I gave you the Cole Group . ”
Orlando was at a loss for words . Well , the pay was quite generous .
This was Jamelan .
All the medical teams arrived at Jamelan . Whoever got a positive test would be taken away for quarantine .
In case of public panic , the police officers forbade the villagers to spread news about the new virus online .
Gradually , the heavy atmosphere panicked the villagers . Later , they calmed down as the medical teams began their work methodically .
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Hannah was helping the villagers do the testing when she found that Aria , Owen , and Aaron had gathered in Betty’s house . Her eyebrows were knitted unhappily .
She said sternly , “ The virus is contagious , so no gatherings are allowed . After the testings , you guys should go back to your house .”
There came no response . Silence pervaded , and the atmosphere became awkward .
Hannah pursed her lips to suppress her anger . She cleared her throat and said , “ We will collect your blood now . ”
A nurse promptly took the tools over . Hannah looked at Owen and said warmly , “ You first , Owen . ”
Sometimes , Aaron couldn’t help but admire Hannah , whose enthusiasm wouldn’t fade because of Owen’s indifference .
Owen extended his left arm , and Hannah swiftly drew his blood . Now , it was Aaron’s turn .
Hannah lifted her chin and said in a commanding tone when it was Aria’s turn , “ Aria , you , come here . ”
Aria shot Hannah a sidelong glance and then sneered . She found Hannah absurd . She sat down and calmly extended her left arm toward Hannah .
Hannah gave Aria’s arm a hard pat , tightened the tourniquet , and picked up the needle to pierce Aria’s vein .