The Return Of the Invincible Heiress

Avery was moved by the thought of saving hundreds of children and elderly patients. She couldn't ignore an act like that. Closing the medical report, she asked, "Where is he now?"

Two minutes later, Avery found herself in the first-floor reception room, facing none other than the legendary Alexander Moran. She couldn't help but think, "Is that really him? He's even more striking in person. And he looks so damn young!"

Avery noted that he seemed only three or four years older than her, yet there was something about him—an air of authority, a blend of maturity and calmness—that made him seem older than his years. "But seriously, why the hell is he wearing a bucket hat indoors in the middle of summer?" she thought, amused by his odd choice.

Meanwhile, Alexander was sizing her up, too, his gaze steady and appraising. Up close, Avery was even more stunning. Her delicate features were paired with flawless, glowing skin. Her large eyes, framed by long lashes, were bright and expressive, giving her a feline-like grace. A smooth forehead, a perfectly sculpted nose, and full, rosy lips completed her striking appearance.

Every detail of her beauty was flawless, and Alexander finally understood why Louis had always sung her praises. Louis wasn't exaggerating.

Their eyes locked in an intense stare, neither of them blinking, like two deer caught in headlights. The moment seemed to drag on until Louis quietly appeared with two glasses of water, clearing his throat just loud enough to snap them out of it.

Alexander's voice was calm and polite, but with an edge that hinted he wasn't someone you'd want to mess with. "Nice to meet you, Miss Carter. Please, have a seat," he said.

Avery blinked and mumbled, "Thank you," before sitting across from him at the conference table. Alexander mirrored her, taking his seat with the same composed demeanor. Louis set a glass of water in front of each of them before retreating to the corner, standing there like some sort of silent bodyguard.

Alexander's eyes were fixed on Avery's, calm and sharp.

"Miss Carter," Alexander began, his tone measured and deliberate, "I understand that Dr. Annie mentioned you should contact her if your grandmother had any post-surgery concerns. I'd like to ask if you could contact her on my behalf and see if she'd be willing to treat my sister."

Alexander recalled the hospital staff mentioning that Dr. Annie had personally reached out to perform surgery on Avery's grandmother. Though the reasons were unclear, he suspected Avery's connection with Annie might help.

Avery raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have Dr. Annie's contact info? Why not reach out yourself?"

Alexander stayed calm. "I've sent countless emails, but she hasn't responded."

Avery shook her head slightly. "Dr. Annie is very particular. She's made it clear she won't take on any new patients for a year. Even if I ask, I doubt she'll agree."

"I've heard," Alexander replied, maintaining his composure. "But if Dr. Annie agrees to treat my sister, I'll give her the latest model of the Miracle 3.0—it hasn't even hit the market yet—as a token of my appreciation."

Avery's interest was piqued at the mention of the Miracle 3.0. Noticing her shift in expression, Alexander continued, "The Miracle 3.0 isn't just earthquake-proof, collision-proof, drop-proof, and smash-proof. Now it's waterproof, too. It can switch between an SUV and a sedan, and there's only one of them in the world right now."

Avery's eyes widened, and she gasped softly. A car like that would dramatically improve anyone's chances in an emergency. She'd always wanted a Miracle car, but with only 100 produced each year, they were nearly impossible to get. The reservation process was a nightmare, demanding so much personal information that she wasn't willing to share.

Alexander's subtle smile widened as he observed her reaction.

"Miss Carter," Alexander pressed on, "if you could help me get in touch with Dr. Annie, I'd be incredibly grateful. Even if she says no, I'll owe you one. But if she agrees, I'd be in your debt in a big way. Trust me, your help won't go unnoticed."

What Alexander didn't mention was that anyone who crossed him would quickly regret it.

As Avery mulled over his request, she looked up, wondering if it was worth having Alexander owe her a favor. With his powerful connections and impressive skills, a future partnership could definitely work in her favor.

Alexander gave Louis a subtle nod. As she weighed her options, Louis stepped forward with a respectful nod. "Miss Carter, I've got Ms. Lucy Moran's medical records ready. Would you like them in hard copy or digital?"

Avery was stunned. The name hit her like a wave of recognition. "The Lucy Moran? The business genius?" she thought in surprise.

Avery had admired Lucy for years and had followed her incredible rise to success. If she ever had a role model, Lucy was it. But Lucy had disappeared from the public eye years ago. Avery had no idea she was sick, let alone that she was Alexander's sister.

After a brief moment of thought, Avery decided. "Written documents would be best."

Louis immediately pulled a carefully sealed packet from his briefcase and placed it respectfully in front of her. "Thank you, Miss Carter, for helping out Mr. and Ms. Moran."

With a hint of concern, Louis added, "I apologize if this is an inconvenience, but Ms. Moran's situation is extremely sensitive. If word gets out, it could have serious repercussions for Mr. Moran and the Moran Group. Please make sure the records are destroyed after you're done with them."

"You don't need to worry about that," Avery replied seriously. "Only Dr. Annie will see these medical files."

Alexander glanced at his watch. "Alright, our ten minutes are up. Thanks again, Miss Carter. Until we meet next." He stood up and offered his hand to Avery.

As she rose to her feet, she couldn't help but notice how perfect his hand was—a flawless combination of proportion and grace, almost like a work of art. It took Avery a few seconds to snap out of it before she extended her own hand to meet his.

When their hands touched, she felt a subtle spark, a faint jolt of electricity that tingled up her right arm. "How many milliamps could that be?" Avery wondered, amused despite the situation. "One? Two? Maybe three?"

Meanwhile, Louis, standing off to the side, was struggling to contain his shock. He adjusted his glasses, eyes wide with disbelief.

Mr. Moran initiated a handshake with her. And it lasted more than a second? Everyone who knew Alexander knew how much he hated physical contact. Even when a handshake was expected, his greetings were always brief—never lasting more than a second. But today, it seemed, he had made an exception for Avery.

Louis mentally counted the seconds. One, two, three, four… Mr. Moran held on for four seconds before letting go, he thought, stunned.

As Alexander released Avery's hand, he gave her a small nod before turning to leave. As he passed, she caught a whiff of a subtle, refreshing scent that she found oddly attractive.

Outside the hospital, Alexander slipped on his mask and glanced down at his hand.

Adjusting his glasses, Louis cautiously asked, "Mr. Moran, are you planning on not washing your hands today?"

Alexander shot him a cold look. "What the hell are you trying to say?"

A mischievous glint reflected off Louis's glasses. "Your hand still carries Miss Carter's warmth and scent."

"If you're not feeling well, go see a doctor," Alexander replied coolly, shoving his hand into his pocket as he walked away.

Back in the VIP ward, Avery pulled out Lucy's medical records, carefully going through each detail. The records revealed that five years ago, Lucy had been in a catastrophic car accident. Her head had been struck first and then crushed under the vehicle. Although emergency surgery saved her life, the severe skull fractures caused irreparable damage to her brain, leaving her in a prolonged coma.

The accident also left her face badly disfigured. Over the last five years, Lucy had undergone more than twenty surgeries to partially restore her appearance and improve the condition of her skull fractures. However, several bone fragments remained lodged in her brain tissue.

One fragment, in particular, was dangerously close to the transverse sinus, where even the slightest movement could cause fatal bleeding. The surgery required to remove these fragments was extremely complex and risky, and no doctor had been willing to take it on. Delaying the procedure increased the risk of Lucy falling into a vegetative state—or worse, brain death.

Avery assessed Lucy's critical condition by glancing over the medical records. Even Dr. Annie would admit this surgery is a tough one, Avery thought, torn between getting involved or staying out of it.

Deep in thought, she pulled out her phone and started searching for news about Lucy's car accident. Since Alexander mentioned the incident was being kept under wraps, it wasn't a shock that no detailed information was available online.

However, she did come across some scattered articles about a major fallout between Lucy and the Moran Group's board of directors five years ago. The board had issued a public ultimatum: if Lucy didn't step down from all her roles, they'd offload the majority of their shares to her rivals within the Moran family.

As the board's deadline loomed, Lucy vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a few documents. These papers revealed that she had agreed to most of the board's demands, keeping only her director position and transferring 12% of her shares to Alexander, while holding on to just 3% for herself. After that, she disappeared from the public eye, and Alexander assumed the role of CEO of the Moran Group.

In the years that followed, rumors swirled that Lucy had died, but no evidence ever surfaced.

As Avery sifted through the reports, her mind raced. Lucy must have seen the danger coming and made sure her brother was set up for success. Avery reasoned internally. She also noticed that Alexander had launched the "Miracle" brand around the same time. Could his sister's accident have fueled his obsession with creating it? she wondered.

"The twisted mess of wealthy families…" Avery sighed, putting her phone down. At least Lucy was a loyal sister, and Alexander seems to have been just as dedicated to her. I've gotta admit, that's something I respect," she thought.

"But should I take on Lucy's surgery?"

After a moment of hesitation, she snapped a photo of Lucy's medical records and sent it to a group chat labeled "Dr. Annie," with the message:

[I've got a high-stakes patient here, and the reward is a Miracle 3.0. Who's in?]

Avery was, in fact, the elusive Annie. But Annie wasn't just her—it was an alias for her entire medical team.