radicalducati Chapter 131
Chapter 131
In the afternoon, Tiffany walked up to Riley and said, "Dr. Sinclair, I just arrived today and I'd like to invite everyone out for dinner tonight."
Riley stopped his work and looked at the sensible Tiffany, then glanced at the obviously antisocial Enzo. He smiled and said, "Dr. Olsen, I understand what you mean. But you've just arrived, how can we let you treat?"
With that, Riley stood up and announced on the spot, "We'll have a dinner party in the lab tonight to welcome our new colleague. Everyone must attend."
As Riley's words fell, the lab erupted in excitement.
Tiffany glanced at Alessia, satisfied, and returned to her seat, sending a short message to Dominic.
[Dom, we're having a welcome dinner for Enzo in the lab tonight. If you're free, come and join us.]
Soon, a reply came from the other end.
[Depends on the situation!]
No refusal, but no agreement either.
Tiffany tapped her fingers on the table, calculating. If Dominic didn't come, her plan for the evening would fall through.
No, she had to find a way to get Dominic to come to the dinner.
Tiffany secretly decided, and at three o'clock in the afternoon, she received a phone call and told Riley that she was leaving the lab.
Alessia watched Tiffany leave and then resumed her work. By a little past four o'clock, she packed up and left to pick up her three children from school.
When she arrived at the school, Christian, contrary to his usual demeanor, had a gloomy expression on his face, looking visibly unhappy.
Back home, Christian's mood hadn't improved.
She parked the car and was about to enter the house when she noticed Christian waiting at the door.
"What's wrong?" Alessia asked, furrowing her brow.
Christian shuffled over to her like a little puppy. "Mommy, can I go see my friend-Grandma Evelyn? I called her several times at noon, but she didn't answer until almost the end of school. Grandpa said grandma is in the hospital. Mommy, you promised me yesterday that I could go see my friend."
Alessia pondered for a moment. She had indeed promised, and she never went back on her word to her children. However, she didn't want to have any ties with the Laroux family.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Alright. But when you go, you can't mention Mommy's identity to your friend."
"Why?" Christian blinked, then realized something and said, "Oh, I see. Mommy, you're worried that if Grandma Evelyn knows you're Dr. Athena, she'll come to you for medical treatment. Don't worry, Mommy, I won't say a word."
Alessia looked at her clever little son, pursed her lips, and nodded along with his words. "That's right, Christian, you're so smart."
Children didn't need to know too many complicated things, and she didn't want them to know about the grudges between her and Ava or the Laroux family.
Christian smiled, and his previously low spirits disappeared in an instant. He ran into the house to find Aunt Cate and asked her for something to bring to Evelyn.
In no time, Alessia parked her car at the hospital entrance, carrying a fruit basket and supplements with Christian, and headed to the inpatient department.
In the hospital corridor, Gordon and William were holding a stack of test reports and talking to Tiffany.
Tiffany flipped through the test reports and said, "Uncle, Auntie's condition is already very serious, and her attitude towards fighting the disease is also very negative. If she undergoes surgery, the risk will be very high."
"If you were the one performing the surgery, how high would the risk be?" Gordon asked.
"I can invite my mentor from abroad, but even so, it's still less than thirty percent," Evelyn estimated.
"So low..." Gordon's eyes dimmed, murmuring in disbelief.
"Is there really no other way?" William asked, suppressing his emotions.
"There is," Evelyn thought for a moment.
Gordon and William brightened up at the same time, and they heard Tiffany say, "Have you heard of a person whose surgery success rate is ninety percent, praised both domestically and internationally as a genius doctor? If we can find her, Auntie's chances of success will be much higher."
"Are you talking about Dr. Athena?" William asked.
"Yes, that's right, Dr. Athena," Tiffany said admiringly. "Dr. Athena is my idol and my goal for advancement."
At Evelyn's words, the light in Gordon and William's eyes disappeared simultaneously. After a moment of contemplation, Gordon sighed and said, "Tiffany, your suggestion is excellent. Honestly, we've tried to find Dr. Athena, but no one knows where she is."
"Right here!" At that moment, a childish voice rang out.
Gordon, William, and Tiffany turned their heads and saw Alessia carrying a fruit basket and gifts, leading Christian towards them.
"Alessia is Athena?" Tiffany was suddenly startled by her own thought.
Gordon and William's expectant gazes also fell on Alessia simultaneously, but unfortunately, the next words from Christian dashed their hopes.
"Mom, it's right here! This one, Room 5 on the 8th floor of Building A." Christian tilted his little face upward, pointing to the doorplate of the ward.
"Okay." Alessia nodded, her gaze falling on Gordon, William, and Tiffany. She hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence to encounter Tiffany again at the hospital.
As for Gordon and William in front of her, Alessia also recognized their identities.
Yesterday, when Dominic reminded her of Evelyn's identity, in order to prevent similar situations from happening, she checked the details of the Laroux family and even pulled out photos of Laroux family members, matching them one by one.
From the Laroux family, the main lineage was not complicated. Besides Gordon himself, there was only his wife, Evelyn, his eldest son William, and the adopted daughter Silvanna.
Since she had promised to come to the hospital with Christian, she had already prepared herself to meet Gordon.
Alessia nodded slightly to Gordon as a form of greeting.
Christian stepped forward, not afraid at all, and took the initiative to speak.
"Hello, Grandpa, are you Grandma Evelyn's husband? I'm Christian, who talked to you on the phone. I've come to see Grandma."
"Oh, little one, it's you." Gordon's gaze shifted from Alessia, retracting his disappointed expression and patting Christian's head.
Watching Gordon's actions, Alessia felt a subtle emotion flowing within her.
The man in front of her was her biological father, although they hadn't acknowledged each other, her father was affectionately patting her son's head.
In an instant of astonishment, Alessia saw Christian lift his little face and nod in agreement, saying in a childish voice, "Yes, Grandpa, it's me. Is Grandma feeling better? Can I go into the room to see Grandma?"
"Go ahead, dear, go and chat with Grandma." Gordon stepped aside, allowing Christian and Alessia to enter.
William even kindly opened the door for them.
As Alessia entered, she subconsciously glanced at William. Was this her half-brother? He seemed gentle and polite, probably easy to get along with.
"Thank you," Alessia said, walking in.
Upon entering, Alessia heard voices from outside the door once again.
"Uncle Gordon, don't worry too much. I understand your feelings. I have some connections abroad, and I'll ask someone to help find out Athena's whereabouts. If that doesn't work, I also know a bit about hacking. Anyway, I'll do my best to help Aunt Evelyn find Doctor Athena."
"Thank you, Tiffany."
"Uncle, what are you saying? You and my father have been old friends for many years, and besides, I'm also friends with Silvanna. I'm very willing to help Auntie."
"Alright, I know you're a good girl."
"Uncle, you're too kind. It's nothing. I'll leave now."
"William, see Tiffany off."
As the conversation outside ended, Alessia's gaze fell on Evelyn lying on the bed in the room. Evelyn was still sleeping, and the intravenous drip at the head of the bed was quietly flowing.
Christian approached quietly, taking a look at Evelyn lying on the bed without disturbing her.
Alessia also placed the fruit basket and gifts aside. After completing these tasks, Gordon had already pushed the door and walked in.
"Shh, Grandpa, Grandma is still asleep." Christian heard footsteps and turned around, gesturing silently.
Gordon suddenly smiled. He suddenly understood why his wife, who usually didn't get close to people, liked the little kid in front of him so much.
What a sensible, lively, and clever little darling, and on top of that, he was good-looking and likable.
Moreover, this mother also fit his taste.
"Sit down, both of you." Gordon beckoned, without the airs of the head of the Laroux Group, one of the top families in Toronto.
"Okay." Christian nodded and moved a chair to sit down, whispering to Gordon, "Grandpa, let's not wake up Grandma. I'll sit here and accompany her for a while."
"Alright." Gordon had no reason to refuse Christian's sensibility.
Alessia watched the interaction between grandfather and grandson in front of her, not approaching but avoiding contact, and automatically walked to the window.
"Grandpa, Grandma seems to have lost a lot of weight again since she was in the hill. Is she very seriously ill?" Christian looked at the pale-faced Evelyn lying on the bed and asked.
"Good kid, thank you for your concern. Grandma is indeed ill." Gordon thought for a moment and said, "These are things that Grandpa shouldn't tell a child like you, but since your grandma likes you, can you come and spend more time with her when you're free?"
"Of course." Christian readily agreed without even thinking. After agreeing, he glanced at Alessia cautiously, but in the end, he didn't change his mind.
He just liked Grandma Evelyn too much.
Christian hesitated and tapped his fingers, then asked, "Grandpa, does it have to be Doctor Athena to have a chance to cure Grandma's illness?"
***