Chapter 16: Do You Know Who I Am? (2)
Obviously, Adrienne had heard about the Qin family. They were one of the wealthiest families in the country and owned several companies in various industries. The Qin family had subsidiaries and was a major competitor in real estate, banking and investment, and automotive.
She had never thought that the patient admitted across her mother's room was the ninth grandchild of the Qin family. No wonder he had the guts to make a scene without worrying about what others would think.
It's good that he gained some sense after their meeting yesterday, but Adrienne could already anticipate the headache she would have to face later.
"I need you to collect and find my half-siblings around the country before my greedy relatives get their hands on them."
Half-siblings?
While it wasn't unheard of illegitimate children participating in the succession rights, it was unusual for a legitimate heir to look after them without harboring any ulterior motives. Adrienne remained silent but looked at him coldly.
The Jiang family was incomparable to the Qin family in terms of wealth and influence. No wonder Lennox's relatives were eager to see him and his father die.
"My foolish father wants me to take those children under my wing before I can inherit the company." Lennox said as if he knew what Adrienne was thinking. "He must have known what could happen if he suddenly died. Stupid if you asked me, because he never cared about them when he was alive and abandoned them from the moment they were born."
'Ah, so that's why,' Adrienne thought. This man wouldn't bother to waste his time with those children if it wasn't for his inheritance. How selfish indeed.
"I don't care how you do it, as long as you'll be able to make their guardians sign away their custody rights to those children. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them would try to squeeze money before doing that, but I would rather make sure they wouldn't try to ask for more or cause any hindrances in the future." Lennox added.
Adrienne understood his subtle meaning, and she wasn't surprised that he had already considered and thought that far. She sighed inwardly. He made it sound like she was just picking up young children from their school when he was about to send her to war - as his pawn.
"Of course, I will compensate you well. Name your price."
Adrienne turned her gaze to her mother. Some colors were starting to return to her mother's face, but she knew that this wouldn't last long as another complication would show up in a month. Lennox's proposition was so enticing to her ears, it was as if a devil was whispering sweet nothings to her to make her agree.
"I can hire someone to look after your mother or transfer her to another hospital with better facilities." She heard Lennox offer, but she shook her head.
Adrienne needed to get rid of the problematic nurse she had yet to meet again in this lifetime. Transferring her mother right now would also alert Camilla of it. She would like to pull out the weeds one by one without her stepmother noticing.
"Why me?" She couldn't help but ask. Lennox Qin could hire anyone else to do the job.
"Because you wouldn't accept charity, but you need help. I also don't want my relatives to gain any chance of hurting them. They may be my father's illegitimate children, but they are still his, making them an easy target for my uncles and aunt."
"Let me think about it." She told Lennox in the end. It wouldn't be easy for her to decide, but she certainly cannot just decline his offer right then and there.
He was giving her an opportunity to earn money, but the task wouldn't be easy. The danger of being dragged into the Qin family's internal war was also serious. Just looking at Lennox's current state says a lot about how dangerous the Qin family was.
Lennox smiled and nodded. "Take your time, Miss Jiang."
He then made a phone call, and it didn't take too long for a caretaker to arrive to take him away from Adrienne's mother's room. The man didn't forget to remind her that he would be in his room in case she wanted to discuss it further.
Adrienne could finally heave a sigh and greeted her mother as usual. She sat in silence, considering Lennox Qin's proposition. She has already spent over three million dollars in the past two years. This time, she had no more money to spend except for the recent allowance she had received. She didn't have the money to keep her mother alive.
She didn't know how and when, but Adrienne dozed off in her seat. The moment she cracked her eyes open, she froze in her seat, seeing someone standing on the other side of the bed.
"Oh, you're awake." The middle-aged nurse smiled at her, but seeing it made Adrienne's blood boil with rage. The woman was about to inject something into her mother but stopped when she noticed Adrienne woke up. She was obviously startled by her.
This was the nurse who had constantly given her mother the medication to keep her in coma under Camilla's orders. This was also the same person who handed her the 'card' that sent her to ruins. It was also where her deals with Alistair Han started.
"Your mother recently had an infection. It's getting harder for her to recover from them." The nurse continued, failing to notice the menacing aura from the young woman before her.
Adrienne nodded. It was the same thing this woman had told her in the past.
"I understand, Nurse Nova. Thank you for looking after my mom. I'll surely repay your 'kindness' in the future." She smiled evilly.
The nurse smiled back, still oblivious to Adrienne's simmering rage. Instead, she took a black business card from her pocket and handed it to Adrienne.
"This might come in handy to you, dear."