Chapter 7 Buying Her Own Place

Thinking back to what had happened at the hospital earlier that day, Rodger could not help but feel amazed.

He had listened to some people praise acupuncture for years, but he had never really bought into it. After witnessing it firsthand, he finally grasped just how remarkable it really was.

"Dr. Flynn?" Bryan's eyes shifted faintly. "Would it be possible for you to introduce me to her?"

On the other end of the line, Rodger paused for a moment. "I will have to ask for her opinion first."

People who were truly gifted usually had their own rules. He believed it was wiser to check with Eileen beforehand so he would not offend her by mistake.

"I understand." Bryan's voice remained even. "Tell me the moment you get an answer."

Once the call ended, Harold quickly asked, "What did he say?"

"Rodger said he has to get her permission first." Bryan put his phone away, a pensive look passing over his face. "Looks like Dr. Flynn has quite a personality."

Harold did not see that as an issue.

People with real talent usually carried a certain pride.

"That is only natural for someone skilled," Harold said.

Bryan did not respond. His thoughts drifted to the woman from the elevator, the one with the unwavering eyes.

Once she left the hospital, Eileen took a cab straight to the most luxurious housing complex in the heart of the city-Eden Residences.

The consultation fees she had made over the last two days were already enough for her to buy a place of her own.

Homes at Eden Residences cost a fortune, but the money came with benefits. The privacy there was first-rate, and it sat close to both a wellness center and a hospital. It would save her trouble if she ever had to take on clients again.

The sales office was extravagantly styled. Crystal chandeliers threw off crisp glimmers, and the marble flooring shone like glass.

A few sharply dressed people stood around the model as a sales representative walked them through the design. In her plain white T-shirt and jeans, carrying an old canvas bag, Eileen looked especially out of place.

The moment she walked in, the receptionist flicked a glance at her, then dropped her eyes back to her phone without so much as a greeting.

Eileen did not spare it a thought. She went straight to the model and looked over the floor plans.

Just then, a familiar sugary voice echoed from behind her.

"Landen said he's getting me this unit for my birthday. Look at this floor plan. The balcony overlooks the river. The night view is going to be gorgeous!"

Eileen's fingers stilled. She turned her head, and a faint chill flashed through her eyes.

It was Natalie.

Standing beside her was a young woman with heavy makeup, her close friend, Yana Cole. The two had their arms linked, looking inseparable.

Yana beamed. "Natalie, Landen is so good to you. This place has to cost more than two million dollars, doesn't it?"

Natalie lowered her head with a shy smile. "It really is a little too extravagant, but Landen insisted on giving me this..."

Before she could finish speaking, she noticed Eileen from the corner of her eye. Her face changed at once, then melted into a wounded expression.

She looked surprised to see Eileen here.

"Eileen? What are you doing here?"

Eileen?

The one who had just gotten out of prison?

Yana followed Natalie's gaze. The instant she recognized Eileen, a biting laugh slipped from her lips. "Well, well, if it isn't the person who went to prison before. What, fresh out of prison with nowhere to go, so you wandered in here to enjoy the air conditioning?"

Natalie hurriedly caught Yana's hand and gave a small shake of her head. "Yana, don't say something like that."

She walked over and faced Eileen with a timid look, her voice soft. "Eileen, are you still angry with me? I truly never meant for any of that to happen back then. I felt terrible about it..."

Eileen regarded her with an icy stare, the corners of her mouth lifting in scorn. "Natalie, no one's watching. Who exactly are you putting on an act for?"

Natalie went rigid. Something dark flickered across her eyes, but her helpless expression returned almost at once. "Eileen, I know you can't stand me, but we're still family."

Yana's patience wore thin. She pulled Natalie back and shot Eileen an eye roll. "Natalie, why bother talking to a person like her? She's flat broke. She probably struggles to pay for food. Does she seriously think she can afford a house here? What a joke."

She turned toward the sales supervisor nearby and shouted on purpose, "Hey, what kind of management are you running here? You really just let anybody stroll in? Having someone like her here ruins the atmosphere."

The sales supervisor was a man in his thirties with his hair slicked neatly back. The second he heard her, he rushed over.

He recognized Natalie and Yana.

One was the Hewitt couple's daughter, and the other was from the powerful Cole family.

As for the third woman...

He gave Eileen a long look from head to toe.

His face grew openly dismissive.

She looked like she had no money. There was no chance she could buy anything here.

Most likely, she had only come in to enjoy the air conditioning.

The supervisor turned to Yana with an ingratiating smile. "Ms. Cole, please don't get upset. I'll take care of the matter immediately."

Then, he looked at Eileen, and the warmth vanished from his face. "Miss, this is a high-end place. We don't welcome people who have no business being here. Please leave."

Eileen scoffed. Yana's little tricks were still as cheap as ever.

Eileen lifted her eyes, her stare sharp as a knife. "Are you sure you want me gone?"

A shiver crept through the supervisor under that gaze.

Then, he brushed it off. A woman dressed like this couldn't possibly have a high status.

He squared his shoulders and spoke even more haughtily. "Absolutely. If you won't leave, I'll call security."

Yana smirked with satisfaction, deliberately raising her voice. "Some people really have no sense of where they belong. They think stepping out of prison means they can somehow turn their life around. That's delusional."

Natalie lowered her head, but the faintest smile tugged at her lips.

Eileen looked at them, then suddenly let out a laugh.

With complete calm, she drew a bank card from her bag and crooked a finger at a young sales associate standing off in the corner. "You, come here."

He was obviously new here, wearing black-rimmed glasses and looking visibly tense.

He paused for a second, then quickly made his way over. "Hello, how can I help you?"

Eileen pointed at the priciest river-view unit on the model display.

It was the very same one Natalie had been eyeing.

"How much for this unit if I pay the full amount now? I want the contract signed immediately."

The whole room went dead quiet.

The supervisor's eyes flew wide. Yana's smile locked in place. Natalie jerked her head up and stared at Eileen in stunned disbelief.

The young sales associate replied, "The full price is 2.88 million dollars. Are you sure about this?"

Eileen held the card out to him. "Of course."

The sales associate snatched the card in a scramble and rushed off to get the payment terminal.

Yana came to herself and exclaimed, "That's impossible! How could she have that much money? That card has to be empty!"

The supervisor also snapped out of his daze and immediately stopped the young associate. "Wait. We need to check her account balance first."

Eileen gave a cold laugh. She pulled out her phone, opened her banking app, and held the balance up for them to see.