As Marissa accepted a new scalpel from Ferris, she proceeded with her medical task, replying icily, “Mr. Warren, you burst into my operating room challenging me to fair play. I’m busy at the moment.”
When it became apparent that Aelfric wasn’t backing down, Marissa added, “As a doctor, my first responsibility is to my patient. If you dare to initiate a fight here, know that this scalpel will be in your sister’s skull the moment you make your move.”
Melinda’s face paled with fear, and she found herself unable to utter another word. Gone was her earlier bravado, replaced now by sheer embarrassment. Tomorrow was supposed to be her engagement party, a day she had envisioned filled with joy, bolstered by her brother’s support. Yet here she was, not only failing to unleash her wrath but also with a patch of her hair crudely shorn off. How could she possibly radiate as the stunning bride-to-be tomorrow?
Aelfric glanced at his sister, his own anger simmering just below the surface. Leaving now would only invite ridicule, damaging his reputation irreparably. How could he hope to intimidate other formidable clans in the future? But staying posed its own risks. Riss’s combat prowess was undeniable; Aelfric had witnessed it firsthand and knew he might not be able to safeguard Melinda if they lingered
As he wavered, a chilling voice sliced through the operating room. “Aelfric, causing a ruckus in my mother-in-law’s operating room? Do you really think so little of me?”
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice to see Connor standing in the doorway. His presence was unnervingly cold-a kind of cold different from his usual indifferent demeanor. Today, he exuded a bone-chilling aura. His gaze, sharp as twin blades of ice, pierced directly through Aelfric, leaving a palpable chill hanging in the air of the operating room
Aelfric was taken aback by Connor’s arrival. Everyone knew of Connor’s dislike for Tiffany. For Arabella’s sake, he had to protect Tiffany, but he didn’t have to involve himself in the Sanchez family’s issues. Yet here he was, handling their affairs and even acknowledging Caylee as his mother-in-law. Were the rumors about Connor being involved with Tiffany actually true?
Aelfric couldn’t suppress a laugh at the thought. Connor had always been successful and arrogant, rarely giving women a second thought. Yet now, he seemed tied to Tiffany, whose reputation was less than stellar. With a smirk hidden behind a courteous facade, Aelfric said, “I’m here to visit Dr. Riss.”
“Why can’t you wait until after Dr. Riss’s surgery to visit her?” Connor asked, his voice deep and stern. “What’s the difference between you breaking in and intentional homicide?”
“I was too reckless,” Aelfric admitted, stepping back from the operating room
The others quickly followed suit, leaving the room in silence. Connor shared a glance with Marissa before he too exited. Under Connor’s directive, Marc and Terry guarded the operating room, deterring anyone from approaching. Seeing that Aelfric still showed no signs of departing, Connor asked, “You got something else on your mind?”
“I’m waiting for Dr. Riss,” Aelfric responded. Indeed, he was waiting for her. Initially, Aelfric hadn’t intended to interact with Riss during this trip, but her recent performance had captured his interest profoundly. Now, he was eager to meet her face-to-face, to remove her mask and discover her true identity
“Then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed,” Connor said with a tone of indifference. “Dr. Riss is now employed by me as the attending physician for my brother. After the surgery, I will be picking her up. She won’t be available to meet with you today.”
A tightness gripped Aelfric’s chest. His disdain for Connor was so intense that he clenched his teeth in frustration, yet he restrained himself. “In that case, I’ll schedule a meeting with Dr. Riss later.”
With those words, Aelfric turned to leave
“Mr. Warren,” Connor called after him, halting his departure. “Since Dr. Riss is now the attending doctor for my brother, she falls under my protection. Should you attempt to offend her in the future as you have today, I won’t hesitate to respond harshly.”
Aelfric, now facing away from Connor, let his eyes grow cold. Without another word, he departed
Melinda tugged at Chloe’s sleeve and whispered, “Chloe, let’s leave as well.” Chloe, however, was not in a hurry to exit. She glanced at Connor and then toward the operating room door, sensing a looming threat. Initially, Chloe had considered Marissa her most formidable rival, but now Riss had entered the scene. Observing Connor’s concern for Riss, Chloe couldn’t tell if his feelings were solely for his brother or if they stemmed from his own feelings for Riss
Marissa was simply a village girl. Though undoubtedly beautiful, she was unsophisticated. However, Chloe’s confidence waned when it came to dealing with Riss, the famous doctor. Chloe felt confident in her ability to handle Marissa, but Riss was another matter entirely
Lost in thought, Chloe was jolted back to reality when Melinda tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Chloe, what are you thinking about?”
Chloe snapped out of her daze but dismissed Melinda and approached Connor. With a sweet smile, she asked, “Connor, may I wait with you for Dr. Riss?”
Connor gave Chloe a blank look and asked in a flat tone, “Why do you want to see her?”
Chloe maintained her gentle demeanor. “My father hasn’t been well lately. I was hoping Dr. Riss could examine him.”
“She’s not available today,” Connor replied curtly
Chloe’s eyes shimmered with affection, yet beneath that, she felt humiliated and frustrated due to Connor’s consistent coldness. Overwhelmed by her emotions, Chloe blurted out, “Connor, I have a secret about Tiffany to tell you.”
Chloe’s mind was unsettled by Marissa’s presence. At the Sanchez family’s banquet that night, she watched Connor show care towards Marissa, and it left her feeling sour. Connor had always maintained a distant and cool demeanor towards women, never offering Chloe a smile. Despite this, she continued to seek his attention, flattering him in the hope of sparking some interest. She had convinced herself that his aloof nature was simply part of his allure, to which she was hopelessly drawn
Yet, that evening, Chloe saw a different side of Connor. It turned out he could show warmth, but only towards those he truly cared about. Chloe might not have been so upset if he had been kind to any other woman. However, it was Marissa-someone she deemed inferior to her in every way-who received his affection. Even if he had shown kindness to Riss, Chloe wouldn’t have felt such intense fury; she believed Riss was her equal
In Chloe’s eyes, both Tiffany and Marissa were insignificant. Regardless of whether Connor was aware that his current wife was a fraud, Chloe felt slighted. Impatient for further investigation, she was determined to get rid of Marissa by exposing her as an impostor. Regardless of her ties with Connor, Marissa had to be ousted from the Daniels family. As Chloe plotted, her excitement surged, and her eyes reddened
Noticing her changing expression, Connor frowned and asked, “What secret?”
At the mention of a secret about Tiffany, everyone leaned in, eager despite their contempt for her, as she was a frequent topic of their gossip. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Chloe began to speak. “Tiffany…”
But she stopped herself, swallowing the words she had been about to reveal. Her jealousy pushed her to spill the secret, yet in that moment, her rationality prevailed. What if Connor had orchestrated Marissa’s situation? Recklessly exposing the secret could alienate him, making it even harder for her to gain his favor. She decided to deal with Marissa indirectly
Thus, she forced a smile and altered her approach. “Connor, Tiffany once confided in me that she was falsely accused in the incident where she supposedly stabbed her classmate. I hope you might help prove her innocence.” The audience, expecting scandalous revelations, was let down by her words
“Miss Brock, your compassion for Tiffany is well-known, but let’s not overlook her past. Marrying into wealth doesn’t erase her actions,” someone commented
“Tiffany’s guilt in the stabbing was confirmed by surveillance footage and police reports. She has already faced the consequences. It’s been years; you can’t change the facts now,” another added
Their words were exactly what Chloe desired to hear. Yet, feigning distress, Chloe turned to Connor. “Connor, I truly believe Tiffany is kind-hearted. Please, trust her.”
Connor, seasoned in observing people, saw through Chloe’s poor acting. Disinterested in engaging further and indifferent to Tiffany’s past, he felt no obligation to revisit resolved matters. Not everyone merited his attention. Therefore, despite Chloe’s attempt to appear sincere and warm-hearted, Connor remained distant
He dismissed her curtly. “Miss Brock, if there’s nothing else, please go home.” Chloe’s plan had failed, and she was forced to leave in an awkward retreat. Melinda followed close behind. As they turned a corner in the hallway, they came upon Aelfric, who appeared to have been waiting for them. Seeing them, Aelfric immediately began to ask questions
“Chloe, are you all right?” Aelfric inquired
Chloe wiped her tears and sobbed, “I’m fine, Aelfric.”
“Chloe is upset because of Tiffany,” said Melinda, her voice tinged with indignation
Aelfric turned to Melinda. “What happened?”
After explaining the recent events, Melinda added emphatically, “Chloe’s kindness is being wasted on Tiffany, who is nothing but ungrateful. And as for Connor, he’s just blind and heartless.”
“Melinda, please,” Chloe interjected, pulling at Melinda’s sleeve. “Tiffany has endured a lot since her childhood. She’s truly miserable, and all I want is for her to have a brighter future.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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