"Ten thousand."

"You... This is blackmail!" the woman roared in anger.

"This includes my pay for treating your daughter. Also, I must send her to the hospital."

"What... No, the police will find out!"

If her daughter was sent to the hospital with such a severe injury, the doctors would certainly call the police.

The police would carry out an investigation and her reputation would be totally ruined.

"I won't say anything. As for what the police will find out, I don't care," Chen Zhao said.

Chen Zhao was not entirely sure if the woman was really not the culprit.

If she was, it would be too dangerous for her daughter to continue staying with her.

Therefore, Chen Zhao had to send the girl to the hospital.

"Whatever you want to tell the police, it's your problem."

"Mr., please don't send her to the hospital. I promise I'll treat her better; I promise. I wouldn't hurt her. If this gets exposed, I'll lose my job."

"What's your job?"

"I'm a KTLL TV news presenter... I'm a celebrity... I can't have any scandals!" The woman panicked. She clearly viewed her work as being more importantly as her adopted daughter.

After some consideration, Chen Zhao said, "She has to go to the hospital. That can't be changed, but I know someone from the police station. I can help you ask how to handle such a situation."

The woman's mistake could be either severe or minor, because she was Ville's guardian.

Not saving her dying daughter was equivalent to manslaughter.

Of course, Ville was not dead yet. As long as she was not prosecuted for it, she would be fine.

It mainly depended on the evidence found by the police, as well as their att.i.tude towards the incident.

Chen Zhao called Melson, "Melson, are you free now?"

"Why?"

"I just had a client..."

Chen Zhao told Melson the situation. After being silent for a while, Melson said, "How do you want me to handle it?"

"As long as it's not against the law, I hope that you won't look into the mother's actions. It would be best if the incident is not exposed to the public."

"How's the girl's injury?"

"I've already performed first aid and her injury is now stable. I plan to call an ambulance and send her to the hospital."

"Let us call the ambulance. You and that woman stay there now. I'll bring a few people there."

"Alright."

After a while, Melson arrived with a few others. Soon, the ambulance also reached.

A few police started gathering evidence at the scene. Melson waved his hand at Chen Zhao and the woman.

"Let's talk."

The three walked into the bedroom. Melson glanced at Chen Zhao, and then looked at the woman.

"Madam Daily Simpson, if you don't want to get into trouble, when you get questioned later, say that you called the police immediately after discovering your daughter's attempt to commit suicide. Don't say anything irrelevant."

"I... Will I be prosecuted?"

"As long as you don't admit that you've delayed any time on purpose, we, the police, wouldn't prosecute you," Melson said.

"I... I understand," Daily Simpson nodded.

"I'll describe the situation to my team first. Don't say anything irrelevant, like about the wound in your abdomen."

"Of course." Despite feeling uneasy, Daily Simpson still accepted Melson's suggestion.

Chen Zhao made a handshake with Melson. "Thanks."

Chen Zhao knew that Melson was helping him only because Melson had owed him a favor last time.

Of course, it was something within Melson's authority.

If Daily Simpson really killed someone, he would not ignore it just for Chen Zhao.

The ten thousand dollars that Chen Zhao had asked from Daily Simpson was not just for treating them. It also included the favor from Melson and fee for Chen Zhao to not expose her.

To be more direct, she was paying Chen Zhao to solve her problem.

As for which of Daily Simpson and her daughter was in the wrong, Chen Zhao could not decide. He liked neither of them anyway.

Moreover, Chen Zhao also did not intend to change their relations.h.i.+p. Their hatred towards each other had been formed over an extended period of time.

Chen Zhao did not even care if they would stab each other with a knife in the future.

Chen Zhao had already done what he should. At least he believed so.

Daily Simpson was wrong, but if she ended up in jail, Ville would have to be sent to an orphanage or another relative's place. This might not be ideal for her either.

　　...

"Chen, why are you giving me two thousand?" Ethan stared at Chen Zhao, confused. "Isn't it supposed to be eight hundred for you? So it should be $160 for me according to our agreement. Have you finally turned over a new leaf and decided to pay for the food that you've eaten here?"

"Take it or leave it. Stop nagging." Chen Zhao rolled his eyes. "Auntie Li, get me some food."

Ethan kept cursing Chen Zhao for his usual dine and dash.

After the meal, Chen Zhao went to the hospital to check Ville Simpson's condition and collect the money.

By the time he returned home, it was already past four in the afternoon.

Chen Zhao saw Ken arguing with a man in front of Ken's own house. Chen Zhao vaguely recalled the man to be a gangster in the town.

That time, Chen Zhao had encountered the gangster in the supermarket. The gangster was going to target him because he was new to town. Luckily, a shopkeeper reprimanded him.

"Ken, is that your friend?" Chen Zhao shouted. Noticing that Ken and the gangster were about to fight, he signaled them his presence.

The gangster glanced at Chen Zhao. He muttered something to Ken and then left angrily.

Ken approached Chen Zhao. "Chen, thanks."

"He's a gangster, right?"

"We were close friends. He wanted to borrow money from me."

"Are Bant and Mary not at home?"

"The winery closed down and both my father and I lost our jobs. We're currently looking for new ones," Ken said.

Chen Zhao could not help their financial predicament. After all, his social circle was not wide enough.

"Will the gangster look for you again?"

"I don't have any money to lend him. I don't think he'll come again," Ken answered, shaking his head.

"That's great. If you have any trouble, come and find me or call the police."

"I know what to do. Thanks."

"This is Leonardo's number. He's the patrolman in town. Perhaps you should take it down."

"Sure. Thanks."

Shortly after Chen Zhao returned home, Fali was also back.

Fali was lying on the sofa lazily. "Chen, have you made dinner?"

"Nope. I just came back too."

"I don't wanna move. You're in charge of the dinner."

"Let's eat out. I'm too lazy as well."