Suddenly, Zeke's received a message on his phone.
Dawn had just sent Linton Group's financial report to him.
After skimming through the report, he passed it to Emma and Madeline. “This is Linton Group's financial report for the year. If you don't believe me, take a look.”
Madeline quickly took his phone and studied the report carefully.
“Well? Is it real?” Emma asked, hurrying over.
To everyone's surprise, Madeline clicked her tongue disdainfully after going through the report and tossed the phone toward Zeke.
“You even had someone make up a fake report to trick us. Do you really think we're idiots?”
Baffled, Zeke blurted, “Fake? Why would you think it's a fake?”
In a matter-of-fact tone, Madeline began listing her reasons. “Firstly, the report shows that the company's profit for the whole year was only one million. Do you expect me to believe that a company worth billions only made a profit of one million? Who do you think you're kidding? Secondly, there's no signature, company stamp, or anything on the report. It's nothing but a fake.”
Zeke could not help letting on an exasperated laugh.
How can you say it's fake when you don't know anything? The unit for the figures in the report is in one hundred thousand, which meant that the company made a profit of one hundred billion! Also, there's no signature or company stamp because Lacey hasn't reviewed it yet. I suppose being illiterate does no good to someone.
Just as he was about to explain it to Emma, she beckoned at him and asked, “Zeke, could you do me a favor?”
Zeke nodded. “What is it?”
“Could you help me watch over Amelia for a little while?”
Having no reason to refuse, he nodded again.
After thanking him, Emma tugged at Madeline's arm. “Mom, let's make a trip back to our old house. I just recalled that I accidentally left something very important there.”
It was clear that Emma had an ulterior motive for returning to their old house. In truth, it was merely an excuse so that she could go and meet with Linton Group's Divine Doctor. She only made up the story to avoid worrying Zeke.
Naturally, Madeline understood her daughter's intentions. Hence, she quickly nodded. “Okay, I'll go there with you now. The house is going to be sold off soon. If we don't collect our things, they'll become someone else's property.”
With that, the mother and daughter duo left.
Emma's parting words to Zeke were, “Remember, don't go running off. You have to help me take good care of Amelia. If she leaves the hospital and anything untoward happens to her, I... I won't ever forgive you.”
Feeling helpless, Zeke could only agree.
Once they left, he went looking for Amelia and found her in the middle of a physiotherapy session with a doctor.
The thin and frail girl was holding onto a pair of crutches and struggling to walk.
Although her movements were stiff, and she did not have a steady footing, she had improved a lot. It was no small feat, considering that she could not even move without a wheelchair before that.
Physiotherapy was a process that required a lot of strength, especially for a child like Amelia.
Despite huffing and puffing and sweating buckets, she still gritted her teeth in determination, driven by her desire to walk.
When she spotted Zeke, she gave him a tired smile.
“Zee, Zee, look... Look at this! I can... I can walk. I can really walk. Thank you for everything, Zee!”
Zeke went up to her and gently lifted her in his arms. “You should rest for a while now.”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, I don't need to rest. I'm not tired. I want to continue practicing. I'm positive I'll be able to walk on my own without crutches soon.”
I want to learn to walk so that I can give Mommy a big surprise!
Zeke consoled her, “Some things just can't be rushed, Amelia. If you tire out your legs and hurt them, it might be much more difficult for them to heal in the future. It's good that you're working hard, but it's also necessary to get enough rest. Okay?”
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