Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Now that Hallie had made up my mind, she didn't waste time.
With plenty of hands on deck, Hallie's absence didn't make any difference at all.
So, she requested to leave two hours early from the lead physician.
Hallie changed into casual clothes and asked a local family if she could use their kitchen. She also bought chicken from them. But the moment they realized she was a doctor, they wouldn't hear of taking any payment.
After finishing cooking, Hallie quietly left 70 dollars in the kitchen before slipping away.
Unable to find Nelson nearby, Hallie had no choice but to look for Peterson first, still carrying the lunchbox.
Hallie looked at Peterson and asked, "Hey, do you know where Nelson went?"
Peterson was verifying the supply inventory when the tantalizing aroma of chicken soup reached him from afar.
He replied, "Seems he went to some place called Arcadia Manor, not far from here. Wait... is that chicken soup you made especially for Nelson?"
Peterson couldn't help but swallow hard. For days, all they had was bread—Peterson was already sick and tired of it.
Seeing Peterson staring longingly at her, Hallie awkwardly hid the lunchbox behind her back.
She gave an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, I only brought one serving."
He frowned, "What?"
Peterson thought to himself, 'So after working my fingers to the bone these past few days, I can't even get a sip of the soup, and all the credit goes to Nelson? Seriously? Such blatant favoritism?'
Peterson looked on the verge of tears, downright pitiful.
Hallie felt a bit awkward. She hadn't meant to overlook Peterson—it simply slipped her mind.
"How about I make you something special later as a thank-you for all your hard work these days?" Hallie paused for a moment, then said to Peterson.
Peterson's eyes lit up, ready to agree—but then he suddenly noticed Hallie's noticeably frail frame and exhaustion etched on her face. The words caught in his throat.
'If we're talking about contributions, Hallie has done far more than I have. How can I shamelessly demand repayment like this? How utterly embarrassing,' Peterson thought.
Peterson forced a smile. "Never mind, I was just joking. Let's go find Nelson first."
At first, when Peterson mentioned that Nelson was at Arcadia Manor, Hallie didn't think much of it. But upon arrival, her brows instantly furrowed in suspicion.
Hallie saw several members of prominent medical families entering Arcadia Manor, their expressions grave.
Every spring, the prominent medical families of Kerriston gather at Arcadia Manor in Berry Bay. There, they'd set prices and determine the distribution channels for Kerriston's herbal medicines.
The supply of herbal medicines from Kerriston was one of Levine Group's key collaborative ventures. Hallie had come here not only for disaster relief, but also to attend the conference as the official representative of Levine Group.
She thought if she could deepen cooperation with Kerriston's leading medical families, maybe she could use this partnership as leverage against Tucker and his faction.
After the earthquake struck, Paul, Dustin's grandfather—the most revered figure among the medical families—publicly announced that the meeting would be temporarily postponed.
Hallie wondered, her suspicion growing, 'But what's going on here?
'Could it be that the meeting was moved up because the roads were cleared ahead of schedule?'
Hallie frowned in thought when suddenly her pupils constricted—a sense of foreboding rose within her.
Peterson called out after her, "Dr. Levine, what's got you running off in such a hurry?"
Peterson stopped in his tracks, confusion written on his face as he called out to Hallie's retreating figure.
Hallie was completely absorbed in her own thoughts and didn't hear a word Peterson said.
This manor blended Victorian architectural elements with a retro aesthetic. Above the grand entrance hung a large stone bearing the name "Arcadia Manor".
Without hesitation, Hallie dashed inside and barged into the main hall.
She heard a man speak, "Mr. Blair, the entire Kerriston is deeply grateful for your personal involvement in the disaster relief efforts. However, we already have established business partnerships that span over a decade.
"It wouldn't be proper for us to break our commitments. As you surely understand, trust is the cornerstone of a century-old family like ours."
The speaker was Lewis Garcia, the current head of the Garcia family—a man in his forties dressed in a suit.
Lewis' voice was lowered to a most respectful pitch, his courteous phrasing barely concealing the deep dilemma beneath.
Seated around him were representatives from over a dozen prominent medical families, including the Mooney and Garcia families.
Paul sat at the head of the table, his long, white beard and deeply wrinkled face showing his advanced years. Aged and frail, he sat in solemn silence.
Outside, a crowd of herb gatherers had gathered, eagerly craning their necks for the meeting's outcome. Zander and Sergio stood among them.
Dustin stood beside Paul, one hand resting on the back of the chair.
The representatives stood in tense silence, facing off against Nelson, who was seated across the long table.
Nelson sat with grace, his elbow resting on the curved armrest of the chair. His slender fingers were interlaced, and the pad of his index finger absently traced the prominent knuckle.
Though accompanied by just an assistant holding documents, Nelson appeared far more composed than the group of over twenty representatives seated across from him.
Nelson's chiseled face betrayed no emotion, his narrow eyes calm and seemingly non-confrontational. Yet an unmistakable sharpness radiated from his entire presence—a clear sign he was dissatisfied with Lewis' answer.
"Dr. Garcia," Nelson said, "the Blair family is also a century-old family. If we didn't understand the value of trust, we wouldn't be where we are today."
Nelson parted his thin lips slightly, speaking in a measured tone, yet his words carried a sharp edge and unmistakable implications.
Lewis replied, "While trust is paramount, it pales in comparison to human lives, wouldn't you agree?"
Hearing this, everything became crystal clear to Hallie.
Hallie thought to herself, 'The moment I heard about Kerriston's disaster, I suspected that business conglomerates would rush in to offer support.
'Then they'll use this favor to strong-arm Kerriston's medical families into partnership, acting like it's only natural.
'Of all people, I never expected Nelson to be the first to swoop in and capitalize on the situation.
'No wonder Paul summoned everyone—he was probably hoping that, by sheer force of numbers, he could pressure Nelson into abandoning his partnership proposal.
'But what good would it do even if Paul summoned every last villager here now?
'Nelson's support had saved countless lives—no one can deny that.
'No wonder Nelson came here personally—even condescending to help me clear rubble and rescue people, risking danger to accompany me into the mountains.
'So he's just been stacking his own chips all along.'
Suddenly, Hallie couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
Hallie thought she was foolish and naive.
One of the younger representatives finally spoke up, "Mr. Garcia, Mr. Mooney, Mr. Blair personally came here for disaster relief—his sincerity is undeniable.
"He not only handed out supplies for free but also sent people to clear the roads. Without his help, we wouldn't even be able to hold this meeting—we'd probably still be trapped in the rubble."
When someone finally took the lead, several others who had been holding back eagerly chimed in to show their support.