414-416

Chapter 414: A Perfect Duet 

The Medical Center 

With Meredith’s authorization in hand, Adam started helping Alice Grey with her pre-surgery prep.  

Adam was a pro at this—he had the skills and the charm to back it up. Playing himself naturally, he got Alice Grey to cooperate like it was no big deal. 

Since Surgical Chief Richard couldn’t operate himself, he called in Dr. Burke, the guy he trusted most.  

The surgery itself? Nothing much to say. After a rush biopsy on the tissue sample, it turned out to be a benign tumor. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief—Adam most of all. 

“Meredith, want to grab dinner tonight to celebrate?”  

Once the good news spread to everyone who needed to hear it, Adam tracked down Meredith and tossed out the invite with a grin. 

The second he said it, Liz, Cristina, George, and Meredith all whipped their heads around to stare at him, their eyes dripping with suspicion. 

“What’s up?” Adam asked, shrugging. 

“Something’s off with you,” Cristina said, her voice low and teasing. 

“Super off,” Liz chimed in with a nod. 

“Count me in!” George blurted out, antsy. 

“Okay, spill it. What’s your angle?” Meredith cut through the noise, glaring at him. “This about my mom, isn’t it?” 

“…” Adam’s mouth twitched.  

What kind of way is that to put it? he thought. It sounded so awkward—like he was some creep rounding up favors or something. 

“Can’t it just be a normal hangout between friends? You know, celebrating your mom’s health and everything going smoothly?” 

“Psh!” Liz, Cristina, and George scoffed in unison. 

“That’s it? You think we’re buying that?” Cristina smirked. 

“I’ve got it!” George shouted, pointing at Adam. “You’re trying to keep learning from her!” 

“Learning from her?” Cristina’s sharp little eyes lit up with interest. 

George spilled the whole story—how Alice Grey had sized Adam up, plus her glowing review of him. “She seriously said that, and you guys actually believe her?” 

Cristina, Liz, and Meredith went quiet, their gazes flickering over Adam uncertainly. 

“You’re not seriously buying this, are you?” George asked, feeling a bit awkward when no one backed him up. His eyes darted between the three women, and after a few rounds of silence, it clicked. He gasped. 

“If it were you, I wouldn’t believe it,” Cristina said, throwing him a side-eye. 

“Yeah, if it were anyone else, I’d call BS,” Liz added with a sigh. 

“Remember that nurse with pancreatic cancer?” Meredith said softly. “She was my mom’s surgical nurse for eighteen years. My mom’s got Alzheimer’s—doesn’t even remember me, her own daughter. But when that nurse came up, Mom lit up instantly, laughing, asking if she was still scrubbing in, calling her the best surgical nurse ever.” 

“Totally makes sense,” Cristina said matter-of-factly. “How much time did you spend with her compared to that nurse?” 

Meredith froze. She’d never thought about it like that.  

Now that she did, it hit her—her mom barely took her anywhere as a kid. For decades, Alice Grey practically lived in the OR. Twenty-seven years as her daughter, and Meredith’s time with her probably didn’t even add up to a fraction of the eighteen years that nurse clocked. Her mom forgetting her but remembering the nurse? It tracked. 

“So, here’s the thing,” Adam said, grinning. “I’ve got an idea. How about we rent an office for Dr. Grey here at the hospital? Keep her in an environment she knows like the back of her hand. Pair that with the latest meds to boost brain metabolism and cognition, and we could really slow down her Alzheimer’s. Sure, there’s no cure yet, but with the right combo, we can delay it big-time.” 

“And then you can keep picking her brain!” Liz rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think that’s a little too self-serving?” 

“It’s a win-win-win-win—and no, I’m not winning four times!” Adam shot back. “It’s good for Dr. Grey, good for Meredith, good for me, and good for you guys too! A legendary doctor’s knowledge and experience are priceless. Letting it go to waste would be a shame—not just for medicine, but for all of humanity!” 

“I say we try it,” Cristina said, predictably the first to jump on board. “Adam’s willing to shell out his own cash to help Meredith’s mom ease her Alzheimer’s, improve her quality of life down the road, and pass down some medical legacy while he’s at it. What’s that? Pure, selfless vibes! Why would we stop him?” 

“No way,” Meredith said, shaking her head, conflicted. “I don’t want to see her. I’m scared of seeing her…” 

“That’s it?” Adam cut in. “I can set her office up far from where we hang out and get some seasoned nurses to keep an eye on her so she doesn’t mess with hospital ops. If you don’t want to see her, I’ll make sure you don’t. How’s that?” 

“Meredith,” Cristina jumped in without missing a beat, tag-teaming like a pro. “Alzheimer’s can be managed. Your mom’s sharpest memories are from her doctor days. Put her in that setting, recreate those scenes, reinforce those memories—it’s good for her. Who knows? She might even remember you one day.” 

“And even if she doesn’t,” Adam added, “letting her live in her glory days beats leaving her to rot alone in some nursing home by a hundred miles, right?” 

“If it were me, I’d pick this in a heartbeat,” Cristina said, nodding. 

“Meredith,” Adam said earnestly, “she’s your mom. Back then, she didn’t have time for you. Now, I’m willing to pull every string to create the perfect setup so you can spend time with her, let her be there for you, help you, watch you grow, and be proud of you. This is a chance to start over with her—do you really want to throw it away just because it feels weird at first?” 

“Think straight, Meredith. This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot to fix some regrets!” Cristina piped up. “Plus, with her condition, keeping her in the hospital is way better than a nursing home. If something goes wrong, we can handle it on the spot. A nursing home? Good luck with that. Time’s life. You really want to risk the delay?” 

“Meredith…”  

“Meredith…”  

“Meredith…”  

Adam finished, and Cristina jumped in seamlessly. Cristina wrapped up, and Adam picked right back up. It was a perfectly synced duet—George and Liz were floored. 

Meredith’s face twisted in indecision, then she clutched her head, and finally she couldn’t take it anymore. “Fine, stop! I’ll agree, okay? Just stop!” 

“Smart move!” Cristina grinned. 

“It’s gonna be a beautiful fresh start,” Adam said, his smile genuine. “Meredith, trust me, you won’t regret this. Oh, and I hear you’ve got a stash of your mom’s old surgery tapes at home. Bring ‘em over sometime—replaying those could help her condition.” 

“Great idea!” Cristina chimed in. 

Meredith, George, and Liz: “…” 

P.S. Thanks to Anita for the tip!  

Chapter 415: Money Rains Down Like Flowers 

Medical Center 

“It’s me. Tomorrow, you go…” 

Amid the stunned silence of Meredith and the other two, Adam immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Assistant No. 3. 

“By the way, Meredith, which nursing home is Dr. Gray at again?” 

Adam asked, holding the phone in one hand while looking at her expectantly. 

What choice did Meredith have? She could only reluctantly give him the name and address of the nursing home. 

“Did you hear me? Go there and recruit the healthcare workers who cared for Dr. Alice Gray.” 

Ignoring Meredith’s inner turmoil—and with Christina giving him a silent thumbs-up—Adam nonchalantly laid out his orders to Assistant No. 3. 

“Alright, find me six—preferably three men and three women so they can work in pairs. They need to be ready to start tomorrow. And yes, compensation isn’t an issue.” 

Though Meredith felt completely overwhelmed by the back-and-forth between Adam and Christina, she ended up agreeing. When it comes to matters like these, it’s best to strike while the iron’s hot and settle things decisively. If Meredith used to have a 60% chance of backing out afterward, Adam’s dazzling shower of cash has now crushed that chance to less than 1%. 

George and Liz couldn’t help but grimace. 

With one swift move, Adam ensured that six healthcare workers would be at his beck and call around the clock. 

To poach them quickly, money’s no object, right? 

But seriously—how much money does that take? 

The compensation here is leagues above what a typical nursing home worker earns while juggling care for several, sometimes even a dozen, seniors. 

With money, you really can do anything. 

“Also, order a gourmet meal and have it delivered to this address—attention: Monica Geller. And make it fast.” 

After securing the healthcare staff for Dr. Gray, Adam remembered one more thing. 

After hanging up, he turned to Christina and said, 

“I was originally planning to have dinner with friends tomorrow night, but now with Dr. Gray’s situation, it looks like I won’t get that chance—for tomorrow night or for a long while after. So let’s move it up to tonight. Christina, cover for Dr. Gray until early morning; after your dinner, I’ll come back and take over. Sound good?” 

“Don’t worry,” she replied with a nod. 

Unlike the unmotivated slackers George and Liz, Christina and Adam were completely on the same page. After all, this was the legendary Dr. Alice Gray—a textbook example of excellence. Getting a chance to learn from her is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it’s like living the dream straight out of a novel. Adam had already spent a fortune and worked tirelessly to set this up. Now, as long as Christina just puts in a little effort—even if it means sacrificing her free time every night—she was more than willing. 

“I’ll go talk to the director about renting an office space at the hospital,” Adam said. 

Looking at Meredith, he smiled, “Meredith, get home tonight and organize Dr. Gray’s surgical footage, notes, and all those valuable records. See you tomorrow.” 

Then, shooting Christina a look that said “keep holding the fort,” he headed off to see Chief of Surgery Richard. 

Although showering money like confetti is Mr. No-Trace’s signature move, this tactic was a bit too flashy—leaving too many traces. Even if Meredith were metaphorically pinned down by these glittering financial ultimatums, there’d still be a slim 1% chance she could break free if she mustered the courage. Christina, however, was a different story. As Meredith’s best friend—and the kind who always has her back, even tossing out sayings like, “If you can’t fight it, why not just lie down and enjoy it?”—she left no room for resistance. 

Chief of Surgery’s Office 

Adam laid out his plan. 

To his surprise, Chief of Surgery Richard didn’t immediately agree; he seemed just as conflicted as Meredith. Meredith’s hesitation was because of her troubled relationship with her mother. 

“So what’s your excuse?” Adam asked, his gaze turning strangely toward Richard. 

“Alright, I’ll help sort it out,” Richard replied, noticing Adam’s odd look. He forced a smile—he really had no choice. 

Adam had already detailed a long list of benefits regarding Dr. Alice Gray—plus, he’d anticipated potential disruptions to the hospital’s operations and was ready to fix them with cash. As a longtime colleague and good friend of Dr. Gray, handling the office rental was just a small favor. How could Richard possibly refuse? 

“Thanks, Chief,” Adam said, setting aside his nosiness and speaking sincerely. “It’d be best if you could get this done quickly—ideally by tomorrow. Dr. Gray is only scheduled for a few days in the hospital before discharge, and I want her transferred immediately. I need her new office arranged to look just like her old one.” 

“Got it,” Richard replied. 

Unable to hold back, Chief Richard exclaimed, “Dr. Duncan, you really put your heart into this!” 

Setting aside some unspeakable thoughts, he felt genuinely pleased—even a bit envious—that an ailing old colleague and friend could receive perks that far exceeded the norm. After all, even at their level, they were still just working for the man. If you’re a worker and you still expect extra perks after you’re done for the boss, dream on! Remember, the promised perks can always be unilaterally revoked. Without legal protection, even if you died right in front of your boss, no one would bat an eye. And when unforeseen circumstances hit, it’s really tragic. 

In short, Meredith surrendered before things got ugly—otherwise, Adam had a knockout punch waiting for her. 

“Alright then,” he thought. 

You, because of your past and your busy schedule, didn’t want to see your mom—so you put her in a nursing home. But do you realize how high the crime rates are in Western nursing homes and assisted living facilities? They’re shockingly high—enough to send shivers down your spine, not to mention the abuse. Your mom is a legendary doctor. Not only was she a beauty in her youth, but even now she carries herself with a charm that far exceeds the norm—making her an easy target. And on top of that, she has Alzheimer’s. Even if she were victimized, she might not even remember. Doesn’t that only make her even more vulnerable? 

She’s your mom, for crying out loud! How can you stand by and let that happen? 

If Adam were to confront Meredith with these real investigative reports, he’d have her so full of shame and regret that she’d be bawling her eyes out, maybe even break down completely. But there’s no way around it—Adam is a good guy. He wouldn’t resort to that unless absolutely necessary. 

Hmm… That’s just how thoughtful he is. 

“Monica, it’s me. The dinner with friends originally scheduled for tomorrow night has been moved up…” 

With Chief Richard’s agreement, Adam left with a beaming smile. As he headed toward the locker room, he called Monica and the others. 

“Your cousin Kathy is there as well? No problem—more people means more fun. I’ll have an extra order placed.” 

Chapter 416: I’ve Never Seen Such a Shameless Bastard 

Medical Center 

Adam had called Monica—and then he called Tool Man #3. By that time, everyone had already eaten. So Adam had Tool Man #3 order that French gourmet dinner—scant portions but outrageously expensive. Since Monica’s cousin was coming too, of course there’d be a serving for her as well. 

He hung up the phone and headed to the locker room to change. Once dressed, he walked toward the elevator, ready to leave the hospital. But before he got there, he suddenly overheard an intense conversation. 

“You really are a devil—you know it, don’t you?”  

Dr. Shept’s voice, laced with anger, responded, “If Satan ever showed up, he’d look just like you. Why don’t you hop on a broom and fly back to Boston?”  

“Don’t be so narrow-minded,” came a casual retort from Dr. Montgomery, Shept’s wife.  

“Then stop acting like a damn bitch!” Dr. Shept snapped coldly. 

“  

“You’ll eventually forgive me, won’t you? I mean, we used to be the best of friends. Even though love hit a crisis, you can’t just throw away such deep friendship, can you?”  

“I once thought you were the love of my life,” Dr. Shept added in a chilly tone. “But plans don’t always go as expected. When you shamelessly got intimate with my best friend Mark—in our marital bed, flaunting our wedding photo—everything changed.” 

At that moment, it all suddenly made sense to Adam. No wonder earlier, when Alex was caught in that real shooting incident, Dr. Shept (like all the other doctors) had initially shown concern for him. But as more details emerged—especially the scandal about Alex and the shooter’s wife getting frisky on the shooter’s wedding bed while posing with his wedding photo—Dr. Shept’s attitude had shifted dramatically. He couldn’t hide his revulsion for Alex. The truth was finally laid bare: Dr. Shept truly felt the betrayal, and what made it even worse was that the one who cuckolded him was none other than his best friend. 

Adam stopped in his tracks, not wanting to get any closer, yet he wasn’t about to leave. 

“Divorce papers?” 

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Dr. Shept’s surprised voice broke through. Clearly, he hadn’t expected that after clinging on as if her life depended on it, Dr. Montgomery would now lay everything on the table—and proactively present the divorce papers. 

“Your lawyer said it’s all fine,” Dr. Montgomery said calmly. “I haven’t signed yet; the decision is yours. If you sign, I’ll sign. Once that’s done, I’ll catch the fastest flight out of New York.” 

“I’ll sign right away. I want you to leave immediately,” Dr. Shept replied coolly. 

“Derek, have you ever thought about something?” Dr. Montgomery laughed. “Even if I were Satan—even if I cheated on you with your best friend—I might still be the love of your life!” 

Dr. Shept fell silent. Adam was speechless. That classic line—“I smoke, I drink, I have tattoos, but I know I’m a good girl”—pales in comparison to Dr. Montgomery’s zinger. Who does she think she is? The Black Widow? Dr. Shept, what are you waiting for? Get up there and give her a piece of your mind! 

In his shock, Adam couldn’t help but root for Dr. Shept—not just as a man, but as a fellow human being. His emotions were so intense that even the usually composed Adam stepped out from the corner. Merely eavesdropping wasn’t enough to satisfy his ever-growing craving for gossip; he had to witness live as Dr. Shept delivered that classic insult: “I’ve never seen such a shameless bastard!” 

But then something even more shocking happened. Dr. Shept stood there, dumbfounded, watching as Dr. Montgomery—sporting a slight smile—stepped into the elevator and left, divorce papers clutched in her hand. The hand that was poised to sign froze mid-air. 

“No way?” Adam muttered, his lips twitching. “You’re not really going to change your mind, are you? Is Dr. Montgomery’s mouth really that persuasive?” 

Dr. Shept lingered with the divorce papers for a long moment before looking up at the sky with a soft sigh. He lowered his pen and, with the papers still in hand, pressed the elevator’s down button. 

Adam walked over. 

“Dr. Shept.” 

“Dr. Duncan.”  

They exchanged brief greetings as the elevator arrived. Stepping inside, the elevator began its descent, and a brief silence fell over them. 

Unable to contain himself, Adam blurted out, “Dr. Shept, if anything like that night ever happens again, I can watch over Meredith for you.” 

There was a pause. Dr. Shept looked puzzled but still nodded and said, “Thank you.” 

According to the latest gossip posted, that night, his wife had suddenly shown up and his mistress, Meredith, had fled—leaving him no chance to chase after her. So he’d asked Adam to take care of Meredith. It was, after all, a personal favor. 

Adam smiled. At first, he’d been reluctant—after all, Meredith had an uncanny knack for, well, dropping her pants when she was drunk. If things went wrong, not only would the favor go unearned, but it could also land him in a huge mess. And as it turned out, even with all the tight security that night, Meredith still ended up hooking up with George. Emmm—strictly speaking, it was only a half affair. It started with a bang but fizzled out. Still, in the end, Dr. Shept got cuckolded. 

Adam had been a bit worried before, but now it seemed completely unnecessary. Even if Dr. Shept knew what happened between Meredith and George, it wouldn’t be a big deal. He even seemed ready to forgive his beloved wife and his best friend for cheating—especially since he was the one who’d initially wronged Meredith. After all, she was just lashing out in drunken heartbreak. Of course, he was 100% going to forgive her. This was an utterly risk-free favor—too good to pass up. If you’re not taking it, you lose. 

520 Apartment 

Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. 

“Come in.” 

Adam knocked, and upon hearing Monica’s voice, he opened the door and stepped inside. 

“What’s going on?” 

The moment he walked in, Adam sensed something was off. Rachel and Phoebe were sitting on the couch, all eyes fixed on the door. Ross was slumped in an armchair, looking awkward, while Monica stood there nervously wringing her hands—practically buzzing with anticipation. Chandler hovered behind her with a helpless look, and Joey still hadn’t shown up. On the table, an exquisitely arranged set of plates lay covered by a beautiful cloche. Clearly, the French gourmet dinner that Adam had ordered via Tool Man #3 had already been delivered—because when money talks, efficiency is off the charts. 

“Hold on a minute,” Monica motioned to Adam, then called out to the bathroom, “Casey, are you done yet?” 

“Almost,” came a young female voice from inside. 

“What’s going on?” Adam muttered, a bit confused. 

Casey—Monica’s cousin—stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a bathrobe, tossing her long, flowing hair as she did. The three women all fixed their gaze on Adam, while Ross and Chandler’s expressions turned blank.