A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Hearing that, Joseph realized the girl had misunderstood him. Then again, he figured this might simply be how this mother and daughter pair survived, so he asked, “This isn’t some kind of scam, is it? I pay the money, then you call someone over to extort me?”

The girl said, “How could that be? You’re a little dumb, mister. Think about it. If it were a scam, you wouldn’t be able to escape once you stepped into my house, right? Don’t worry. It’s completely safe here.”

Joseph asked, “How safe? Will the police come knocking?

The girl shook her head. “There’s no chance of that happening! If you’re caught, I’ll pay you back double. I’ll keep watch outside for you. If anything happens, I’ll warn you.”

Joseph had already looked over the entire apartment. It was simple and modest. The girl was a student at a nearby school. She was only in fourth grade and seemed to be a good student. But Joseph couldn’t bring himself to agree with how they did things.

Joseph sighed. “Fine. I’ll book the whole night. But as you noticed, I just came out of that alley over there. I’m not made of steel. I just need a place to sleep tonight.”

After weighing his options, Joseph pulled out his wallet. “Can I book a whole month instead? How much would that cost? Is there a discount?”

The little girl seemed to brighten up instantly. “Absolutely! It’ll be five thousand a month.”

Joseph said nothing more. He counted out five thousand dollars and handed it to the girl’s mother.

She took the money and carefully counted it in front of him to make sure the amount was correct. Then, she told her daughter to go out and come back in an hour.

After the girl left, the woman looked at Joseph awkwardly. “I… I have one condition. We can’t actually do it. I… I can help you with my hand instead.”

Joseph walked over to the couch. “We’ll talk about that tomorrow night. I’m not in the mood tonight. This couch is pretty decent. Find me a pillow and a blanket. I’ll sleep here. Ask your daughter to come back and do her homework in your room. After that, do whatever you want.”

Joseph found that the couch was sturdy enough. He went to wash his hands and returned to find everything already prepared. So, he lay down on the couch.

When the girl came back and saw Joseph sleeping there, she looked puzzled. Entering her mother’s room, she whispered, ” Mom, that was fast. Is he one of those quick guys? Or is there something wrong with him?”

The woman seemed to be insulted as she tried to pull her hand free. “I’m not the kind of woman who breaks my word!”

Picking up his briefcase, Joseph headed out. As he closed the door behind him, he could hear the woman coughing inside.

Joseph remarked to himself, “She had a mild cold and some menstrual pain. Other than a weak spleen and stomach, there were no serious conditions. They sure are a strange pair.”

Joseph left and went straight to the hospital. He prescribed a few medications for her and left them in his office before attending the morning meeting and going about his work.

Warren remained unconscious.

As he expected, Warren’s family was beginning to panic. They demanded another expert consultation, even bringing in specialists from other hospitals. Yet, nobody could offer a clear diagnosis, much less a targeted treatment plan.

Joseph, the true architect of the situation, remained perfectly calm. In fact, he was secretly delighted. Anyone who slept with his wife would have to pay the price.