Chapter 42 Alice's Visit
Jared arrived with his team to handle the scene, while James escorted Mary to a nearby hospital.
Her injuries were minor; James simply wanted her to take some time to calm her nerves.
Mary woke up soon after, inquired briefly about the accident, and learned that the coming car had taken full responsibility. The car was sent for repairs through insurance, and compensation of fifty thousand dollars for medical expenses was arranged.
Mary didn't suspect anything amiss. After a short rest and ensuring she was fine, she insisted on leaving the hospital and made James promise not to inform her parents about the car accident.
She didn't want Addison and the others to worry, especially since two accidents had occurred in just half a month.
"Think about your recent string of bad luck, issues at the company, and these constant mishaps, don't you ever suspect it's the amulet?" James seized every opportunity to address the amulet. "I think you should just throw it away."
On the way here, James had thought about using the car accident as an opportunity to smash the amulet but ultimately dismissed such a crude idea.
The amulet was too sturdy; Mary's chest was unscathed, so how could the amulet possibly break? It would be too easy for Mary to suspect his tampering.
Even if Mary believed that the amulet was destroyed in the crash, without internal resistance to it, she might get another one, which could bring an even more fierce and ominous amulet into their lives, truly a case of losing more than gained.
After thorough consideration, James decided to leave the amulet untouched, simply drawing a few symbols to dispel the negative energy, hoping to keep Mary's misfortune at bay.
"Are you looking for trouble again?" Each time James brought up the amulet, Mary became irritable. "It's clear that the other driver was careless. What does that have to do with the amulet on me?"
"If it were truly malevolent, why would I drive to work every day, only have accidents twice?"
"Don't blame the accidents on my amulet. Considering both incidents occurred while you were in my car, perhaps you're the real jinx here."
She looked at James pointedly, grabbed her handbag, and said, "Stop talking nonsense; let's go home."
Worried about James' seeming paranoia, Mary feared he was losing his grip on reality.
James, anticipating this response, could only smile wryly and follow her out.
As they reached the elevator, James received a text message from Jared.
Jared: [Nathan and his team had cleaned up nicely.]
Anastasia and Stanley had been apprehended again.
Jared assured James that he would not be harmed further.
James narrowed his eyes slightly and discreetly deleted the message.
Anastasia's trouble seemed to be resolved.
James didn't want his hands stained with blood, but given that Nathan not only sought his life but also targeted the Smith family, he felt compelled to act.
Reflecting on this, James and Mary returned to their villa, only to find several guests had arrived.
Upon closer inspection, it was Alice Moore and her daughter Lydia Moore.
Charles and Addison sat opposite them, their expressions solemn and resigned.
Alice, Addison's cousin, and a state-owned enterprise employee, had a decent relationship with Addison. They visited each other during the holidays.
However, she usually came empty-handed to the Smith family's home, bringing along her children.
Today, she unexpectedly brought a gift box.
The box, placed on the coffee table, looked rough and was tied with a red string, appearing to be some craft.
"Hello," James and Mary greeted politely.
Alice merely nodded slightly at Mary and didn't even glance at James, showing her disdain for this freeloader. Then, with a frown, she turned to Addison and said, "Addison, I really had no other choice, or I wouldn't have come uninvited."
"Lydia graduated with a degree in archaeology and has been unable to find a job. The companies she's approached are so clueless."
"I told them Lydia is born in the city, raised delicately, and can't handle tough jobs; she also has high material demands."
"I asked them to assign her a light-duty position with a starting salary of about three thousand dollars, but they all refused."
"Either they send her to remote fieldwork, or they offer a salary of mere two thousand dollars, no different from a freshly graduated rural kid."
"Isn't this an insult to Lydia's status?"
Alice, dressed in red, thumped her chest in frustration, her usual shrewdness replaced by anger and resentment.
Lydia engrossed in her phone, didn't even look up, as if the discussion didn't concern her.
Addison gently tried to soothe her, saying, "Alice, I understand your feelings. How about letting Lydia work at my clinic for a few months to gain some experience?"
"The CF Clinic?" Lydia looked disdainful. "Forget about your clinic."
"The patients there are all from the lower classes, either truck drivers or street vendors and even include brawlers."
"Not a decent place at all."
"Besides, I studied archaeology, which is about elegance and refinement. The CF Clinic is like a market; I'd have to serve patients."
She scoffed, "Even for a hundred thousand dollars, I wouldn't go."
Alice chimed in, "Exactly; if Lydia goes there, she might not learn anything useful and could even lower her standards."
Addison's face turned slightly, but she still managed a smile. "If the CF Clinic doesn't suit you, then how can we help?"
She was dismissive towards James but remained wholeheartedly generous with her relatives.
"I've thought about it. Those small companies are looking down on us so that we won't bother with them."
Alice's eyes lit up. "I've decided to send Lydia to Thousand Treasures Corporation."
"I've read the news that Thousand Treasures Corporation has discovered a new jade mine abroad, and their business is booming. It would definitely be a good fit for Lydia."
She laid out her plan straightforwardly. "I'm not asking for her to be rich and famous; just a hundred or eighty thousand dollars a year would do."
"Going to Thousand Treasures Corporation is a good idea, but they have very high professional standards." Charles frowned. "It would be quite difficult."
He added, "They only hire experienced appraisers or exceptionally talented prospects."
Implicitly, the chances of Lydia getting in were slim to none.
"I know, that's why we came to you." Alice winked and nudged, "Addison, you've run a clinic for many years and have countless connections among antiquarians and wealthy families."
"You must be well-acquainted with Thousand Treasures Corporation. It's easy for you to help Lydia, right?" Alice's smile faded slightly. "Unless you don't want to help, or you're worried about spending money or owing favors."
Charles and Addison looked troubled; they wanted to help, but the request was beyond their capabilities.
Raymond made billions of dollars a year, while the Smith family earned only a few million dollars. The difference in their social strata was vast.
They did know Raymond, but they were only his acquaintances, hardly enough to help Lydia.
Even if they could pass a message, their influence was minimal.
James, who had been about to go upstairs, hesitated when he heard Raymond's name. "Mrs. Smith, what's the problem? Something about Thousand Treasures Corporation?"
Already pressured by Alice, Addison snapped impatiently at James. "What's it to you?"
She waved him away. "Go cook dinner; Aunt Alice and her family will dine with us."
James spoke softly, "I just heard you mention Thousand Treasures Corporation. I happen to know Raymond a bit; maybe I can help."
If not for the tense atmosphere potentially affecting Mary, James would not have bothered with them.
"How can you be of help?" Alice roared at James, "This matter would require the intervention of a manager at Thousand Treasures Corporation. Do you know anyone?"
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