Chapter 10 A Visit to Pinecrest Hospital

"W-Who is he?" Faced with Preston's curious gaze, Quinn instinctively avoided eye contact. Howard shot Preston a glare and turned to Quinn, speaking softly, "Just an old cellmate of mine. Let's get in the car. Bianca is going to be late." The Maybach, worth over 300 thousand dollars, offered unparalleled luxury and comfort inside. After dropping Bianca off at school, Howard began to understand why Quinn's life was so challenging—Bianca's school was clearly high-end, with exorbitant tuition fees. "Preston, head to Pinecrest Hospital," Howard ordered from the back seat. Hearing this, Quinn immediately shook her head. "No, Preston, don't go to Pinecrest Hospital." "Howard, my face doesn't need to be treated. Besides, it's too expensive." She still wasn't used to calling him that, but she didn't want to go to the Pinecrest Hospital—she knew it would be futile. Preston chuckled, turning his head to reply, "Expensive? Sir Howard has more money than he knows what to do with." Pinecrest Hospital was famous across Yorkhaven and the entire Norrath. Its founder, Harold Finch, was a retired doctor from Regalia. Though its fame preceded it, Pinecrest Hospital's fees were equally notorious. After Quinn's disfigurement, she had once visited Harold, only to be quoted a million dollars for treatment—a figure that extinguished any hope of recovery. The Pinecrest Hospital building was a ten-story building, with glazed tiles, dragon-carved eaves, and imposing red lacquered doors. A red plaque with bold golden characters hung above the entrance, flanked by two imposing security guards. The three of them stepped into the spacious and brightly lit main hall, which was furnished with luxurious wooden chairs and sofas. To the side, there was a payment counter and a medicine cabinet. Quinn sat nervously on one of the sofas. The moment she entered this place, her palms began to sweat with unease. Meanwhile, Howard lit a cigarette and leaned back, while Preston stood silently behind him. A young female receptionist in a white coat approached them, her eyes scanning their modest attire. "May I ask which doctor you've made an appointment with?" "Tell Harold to come down and see me," Howard said calmly, exhaling a plume of smoke. Quinn's heart skipped a beat, and she bit her lip nervously. The receptionist froze, thinking she had misheard. "You're asking Mr. Finch to come down and meet you? Do you have an appointment?" she asked, her tone suddenly much more respectful. "No, we don't have an appointment. Is Mr. Finch in?" Quinn quickly interjected. The receptionist blinked in surprise before rolling her eyes and scoffing. "To see Mr. Finch, you must make an appointment at least a week in advance. And you'll need to pay the registration fee upfront of 3 grand." Preston frowned and glanced at Howard. "I'm Howard. Tell him I'm here to see him. If he can treat the illness, money won't be an issue," Howard said calmly. "My boss told you to tell Harold. Are you deaf?" Preston bellowed, his voice like a roar of thunder, startling the receptionist. The female receptionist sensed that these two exuded an unusual aura. She nodded slightly and turned toward the counter. She picked up the phone, made a quick call, and then came back just as quickly. However, her expression this time was even colder, and her tone matched it. "You're Howard, and you must be Quinn?" Quinn nodded slightly. The receptionist sneered. "Mr. Finch said he won't see you. Please leave immediately, or I'll call the security to throw you out!" "Why won't he see Quinn? Whatever the cost, I'll pay," Howard said, his brows furrowing even deeper. The receptionist rolled her eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Mr. Finch sees whoever he wants. If he doesn't want to see you, no matter who you are, it wouldn't make a difference. Leave now!" "As expected of Yorkhaven's famous doctor—truly not someone just anyone can summon." Howard chuckled softly and looked at Preston. "Go upstairs and see if you can bring him down." Preston immediately moved toward the inner area. The receptionist's face twisted with alarm. She spun around and shouted toward the entrance, "Guards! Someone is trying to barge in! Get over here!" Two burly security guards charged over, their expressions fierce. However, before they could even approach Preston, he grabbed one in each hand and flung them aside. Witnessing the scene, Quinn's heart pounded wildly. She turned toward Howard, her voice low and urgent. "Hey, maybe we should leave. The Finch family has a lot of influence." "He charges such high fees to make money. Yet, just hearing our names, he refuses to treat you? Doesn't that seem suspicious?" Howard turned toward her, his tone calm. Quinn bit her lip and murmured, "It's probably because Uncle Gavin had a hand in this." "Gavin certainly has the means to do so. But today, I will ensure your face gets treated. Otherwise, I'll tear this Pinecrest Hospital apart!" Howard chuckled lightly as if he were speaking of a trivial matter. Hearing his nonchalant declaration of tearing the hospital apart, Quinn's heart leaped into her throat. Her hands nervously gripped the hem of her clothes. She knew Howard was serious about that.