Chapter 8 The Richest Man's Plea

Virgil, a middle-aged man in his fifties dressed in expensive suits, exuded a refined demeanor. Anyone who saw him would think he was a big boss rather than someone's butler.

He approached James with a smile and said, "Young man, you have excellent medical skills. Our boss would like to meet you. Would you be willing to accompany me for a visit?"

He exuded an aristocratic air, clearly a wealthy individual, speaking with a friendly tone and a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze.

James had noticed the Bentley earlier; the people inside had been watching him while he was treating the old lady. Initially, James thought they were family members, but now it seemed there was more to it.

James thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. He replied, "I would be delighted."

Upon entering the car, he immediately saw a middle-aged man in his thirties with a square face, thick eyebrows, bright eyes, a full face exuding an air of wealth and nobility, clearly a tycoon.

However, beneath his gaze, James detected deep weariness and sorrow. He was not dull; combining the recent events, he had already pieced together some thoughts.

"Hello, I'm Michael Brown. May I know your name?" the man introduced himself.

James raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "Michael Brown, the wealthiest man in Lindwood City and CEO of the Brown Group?"

Michael was somewhat surprised and asked, "You know me?"

"I've seen your name in the news." James nodded and smiled naturally, showing no excitement or nervousness despite facing a wealthy tycoon.

Michael was taken aback by James's demeanor. Upon closer inspection, he noticed James was dressed in very cheap clothes, with shoes so worn out they were almost unwearable.

At first glance, James looked like a laborer, but upon closer observation, his posture was neither servile nor arrogant. His eyes were calm and inscrutable, a stark contrast to his appearance.

After this scrutiny, Michael became more interested in James. Most young people, even those from wealthy families, would be nervous and excited in his presence, but this young man remained remarkably composed.

James's shabby appearance added a mysterious element to Michael's eyes.

He wondered if the other party knew his identity in advance, hence the composed demeanor. However, he quickly dismissed this thought; he had come here by chance, and apart from him and Virgil, no one knew his whereabouts.

The young man in front of him couldn't possibly know he would be there.

Could it be that he had truly encountered a savior? Was he a miraculous healer?

Michael had a thought and got straight to the point, saying, "To tell you the truth, I called you over because I have a favor to ask."

"What might Mr. Brown need?" James asked.

Michael nodded without further ado, briefly explaining the situation. Finally, he said, "If you can cure my father, I'm willing to pay five million in cash."

'Five million!' James exclaimed in his thought.

To be honest, James was tempted. It had been a long time since he had seen so much money. Since James married into the Johnson Family, he had not worked and had no source of income.

He had been very poor, never having more than three thousand dollars on him. Michael's offer of five million was a huge temptation for him.

Moreover, the main thing was that if he had five million, he wouldn't have to rely on Jennife's money anymore.

After listening to Michael's words, he was confident he could cure the illness. However, he still had five years left on his contract; would this be considered a violation?

Seeing him silent, Michael thought he might find the amount insufficient and added, "Eight million. If you can cure my father, I will immediately pay you eight million."

'Eight million! Another three million added!' James thought as he was indeed a bit tempted and nodded in agreement.

A hint of excitement flashed across Michael's face as he quickly wrote a check for one hundred thousand and handed it to James.

Michael said, "Rest assured, even if you cannot cure my father, T will not let you leave empty-handed. There will be a hundred thousand as compensation."

James was taken aback. Looking at Michael's sincere expression, he decided to accept the check.

For Michael, a hundred thousand was a drop in the bucket, but by giving this amount, his stature was greatly elevated.

James would also view him more favorably, as less experienced individuals would be in awe of him. Becoming the wealthiest man in Lindwood City was not just luck.

As the car continued on its journey, half an hour later, they arrived at a luxurious mansion halfway up the mountain.

Upon getting out of the car, Michael eagerly headed inside, and said, "Mr. Smith, my father is inside. Let's go in quickly."

James hastened his pace and followed Michael inside.

Upon entering the hall, they saw several people present, but there was an eerie silence. Each person wore a somber expression, with some still having red eyes, indicating they had recently wept.

Someone questioned, "Elder brother, where on earth have you been? Why are you just getting back now? Dad, he..."

The moment Michael and James stepped in, all eyes in the grand hall were on them.

A lady of grace and grandeur, her face streaked with tears and etched with grief, addressed Michael.

"What happened to dad?" Michael was taken aback and asked anxiously.

The noblewoman bore a striking resemblance to Michael, hinting at a sibling connection.

She parted her lips to utter words but was choked with emotion. Large teardrops promptly began to fall.

Michael turned pale immediately, swaying as if struck by lightning, and cried out, "Father, has he... passed away?"

"Absurd!" the lady retorted. "Elder brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Father is still alive!"

"What?" Michael was bewildered, and stated, "What's going on? Where is dad? I want to see him!"

Another person approached, blocking Michael, and said sorrowfully, "Michael, your father's condition has worsened in the past few days. The doctor who came by earlier said your father's time is running out, and we should start preparing for the worst."

"This can't be! Dad was fine just a few days ago. How could things have deteriorated so suddenly? The doctor must have made a mistake!" Michael's eyes reddened, tears welling up.

Others gathered around Michael, trying to console him and urging him to stay strong.

"Elder brother, why did you bring the servant in?" The lady noticed James, frowned, and asked.

Indeed, James's current appearance was too shabby, resembling a servant. Some might even believe he was a laborer from a construction site.

It was then that it dawned on Michael, who quickly retorted, "Right, right, right...wait, no, no! Servant, what are you talking about? This is a doctor I've specifically recruited from the outside, capable of curing my father's peculiar ailment.

"You all threw me off track; I nearly slipped my mind! No more chatter. I'm going to usher him in to attend to father's illness this instant."

"What? A doctor? Hold on!" The lady stopped Michael and questioned, "Elder brother, have you lost your mind? How does he look like a doctor? He doesn't even have a hundred dollars to his name."

She added, "At first glance, he seems like someone from the lowest rungs of society. How could he possibly cure our father's illness? Elder brother, have you been too busy lately and driven yourself crazy?"

Someone remarked, "Michael, I know you are respectful to Dad, but you also need to take care of yourself. The entire Brown Family needs you to manage it."

Another chimed in, "Take a rest, don't wear yourself out."

The people in the hall tried to persuade Michael, showing indifference towards James.

With everyone's words, Michael began to waver. Upon scrutinizing James's ordinary appearance, he started to doubt.

James could easily discern Michael's thoughts. Since the other party didn't believe in him, there was no need for him to stay and be scrutinized. He promptly said, "Since Mr. Brown doesn't require my services, I will take my leave."

"Wait." Michael, unwilling to give up, stared at James and asked, "James, can you really cure my father?"

James didn't make any promises and simply replied, "I need to assess the patient's condition."