On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 102: A Strikingly Similar Face

The atmosphere in the car was awkwardly silent.

They hadn’t expected the old man to summon them just for this.

"Don’t take what Grandfather said to heart," Jasper Lockwood suddenly said. "He doesn’t suspect us. He just said that on purpose."

Chloe Sterling glanced at him and replied, "He did it on purpose?"

"Yeah. He knows me, but I know him better."

Chloe Sterling raised an eyebrow. ’So the old man was just putting on an act.’

Jasper Lockwood turned to her. "Where are you headed?"

"To The Medical College."

"Will you be working late?"

"No."

"Call me when you’re done. I’ll come get you."

"Okay."

After that, Jasper Lockwood drove Chloe Sterling to The Medical College.

Just as she reached the building, Director Xavier was coming out of the lab. "Chloe! You’re back."

"Yes, Director Xavier."

"You’re back just in time. There’s something I need to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"It’s a former student of mine who’s also in the pharmaceutical industry. He recently ran into some research problems and came to me for help. I was wondering if you could go over and take a look for him. Of course, he won’t expect you to work for free—it would be a good chance to earn some extra money. By the way, you’ve probably heard of him: Charles Sterling, the president of Apex Group from Country A."

"Charles Sterling from Apex Group was your student?" Chloe Sterling asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, he’s from Crestfall, too. He used to be a student here at The Medical College, but he left after his family suddenly ran into some trouble."

Director Xavier sighed softly. At the time, he didn’t know anything had happened to Charles’s family, let alone what he’d been through to make him suddenly vanish for twenty years.

"Have you kept in touch with him?" Chloe Sterling asked.

Director Xavier shook his head. "No, he just returned to Crestfall recently. I only just found out that he disappeared so suddenly because his family had run into trouble. I never expected him to come back as the president of a multinational pharmaceutical group."

After a moment’s thought, Chloe Sterling said, "Director Xavier, I don’t think I can accept."

"Why not?" Director Xavier asked, confused. "Are you still busy with your own projects?"

"It’s not that. I just don’t want to get involved with these large corporations," Chloe Sterling explained.

’Charles Sterling’s whole reason for coming to Crestfall was her. There was no way she could just deliver herself to his doorstep. If her identity were discovered, it would be another huge problem.’

’One huge problem like Silas Coldwell was more than enough.’

With Chloe Sterling’s abilities, she would be highly sought after by any major corporation, and her salary and benefits could be several times higher than at The Medical College. Yet she had chosen to work only here. He supposed she must genuinely dislike the corporate atmosphere.

Director Xavier didn’t press her, just nodded. "Alright, then forget about it."

"I’m sorry."

"It’s nothing, really. Go on and get to work."

"Okay." Chloe Sterling walked into the lab building.

Director Xavier took out his phone to call Charles Sterling. "Charles, I spoke to that very talented young woman I mentioned. I told her about your situation today, but she’s not willing to get involved with corporations, so she won’t be able to help you with your problem."

"Why?" Charles Sterling asked. "Is it because I didn’t specify the compensation? If she solves the problem, she can name her price. Any amount is fine."

"It’s not about the compensation. This kid... well, she has a strong personality. It took a lot of effort on my part just to convince her to join The Medical College."

After a brief pause, Charles Sterling said, "Professor, may I meet her in person?"

"That would require her consent. I can’t make that decision for her. But since she’s unwilling to get involved with corporations, I’m afraid she won’t agree to meet you."

"Then I’ll go see her. I’m on my way to The Medical College now."

"Well..."

"Professor, I assure you, it’s only to solve the problem at hand. I absolutely will not try to poach your people."

Director Xavier chuckled. "You couldn’t poach her even if you wanted to. However, you really can’t come directly to The Medical College. You should wait for me to talk to her. She doesn’t like being disturbed by strangers, and I’m worried she’ll get so angry she’ll stop coming to my college altogether."

Charles Sterling laughed. "Sounds like this young woman has quite a temper."

"Not really a temper, she’s just a bit cold. *Sigh.* She’s a pitiful child, too."

"Pitiful?"

"Never mind. Let’s not talk about that. Just wait to hear from me."

"Alright. I’ll wait for your message then."

After hanging up, Charles Sterling sighed. "It seems this trip to Crestfall is destined to be a difficult one."

He couldn’t find Lynn Chester, and now that he’d finally learned of a highly talented young woman, he’d been rejected.

A gentle, elegant woman of about forty walked to his side and asked softly, "What’s wrong?"

Charles Sterling said, "The highly talented young woman the professor mentioned doesn’t want to get involved with corporations like ours."

"Doesn’t want to get involved with corporations? Why?"

"I don’t know. The professor didn’t say much."

The woman took his hand and said gently, "Don’t be anxious. We’ll find a way to solve this."

"Mmm." Charles Sterling gazed at the woman and smiled gently. "Are you getting used to it here?"

"Of course. I like it here very much."

"That’s good."

After a moment’s thought, the woman said, "What’s the young woman’s name? Why don’t you let me try talking to her?"

"You?"

"Yes." The woman’s lips curved into a smile. "What? You don’t think I can do it?"

"Of course not." Charles Sterling squeezed her hand and chuckled. "That young woman has a cold personality. I’m just worried she’ll treat you poorly."

His comment made the woman laugh. After a moment, she said seriously, "Let me go. I’ll just give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come right back."

"But I don’t know the young woman’s name."

"Director Xavier didn’t tell you?"

"No. He said he has to get her permission first."

"I see."

That afternoon, Chloe Sterling received a message from Jasper Lockwood as she was leaving the lab building.

[Chloe, I’m stuck in a bit of traffic. Wait for me in the lab.]

Chloe Sterling quickly replied with a single word: [Okay.]

She was already outside and didn’t feel like going back in, so she continued walking toward the main gate. Just as she was about to reach it, a slender, gentle figure entered her line of sight. She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the woman in astonishment, and subconsciously whispered, "Mom..."

The woman noticed her as well and walked over with a smile. "Young lady, you’re a student at The Medical College, aren’t you? Could I ask you for some information about someone?"

Chloe Sterling stared blankly at the face, which was so strikingly similar to her adoptive mother’s, and didn’t respond for a long moment.

The woman paused, taken aback, then said gently, "Young lady, is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Chloe Sterling finally snapped out of it. Composing herself, she said coolly, "It’s nothing. I... I mistook you for someone else."

’This wasn’t her adoptive mother. Their facial features were just very similar. Her adoptive mother had worked hard all year round, weathered by the wind and sun; she didn’t have such flawless skin. Her hands weren’t delicate and fair like this woman’s, which looked like they had never done a day of manual labor. This woman clearly lived a pampered life.’

"Mistook me for someone else?" The woman smiled. "I suppose I have a common-looking face."

Chloe Sterling gazed at her face, as if she were seeing her adoptive mother—the one who would never return, who now appeared only in her dreams. "You’re very beautiful," she said softly. "Not common at all."