Chapter 16
The commotion outside the exam room drew Steven out.
“What’s going on here… Aline?” Steven walked over, surprised.
“Dr. Chase-” Aline started to speak, but Penny immediately cut her off.
“Dr. Chase, this woman is vicious! Can you believe she told me to go see some regular doctor for my eyes? I’ve al- ways trusted you! Thankfully, it won’t be much longer-my son’s finally divorcing her and marrying someone who’s actually worthy of him!”
“Mom, I told you-Joyce and I are just friends,” Clayton said awkwardly, pulling Penny aside.
“Friends? Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve always had a thing for Joyce. Now that she’s back, of course you should be with her. And Aline? She’s just an orphan. How could she possibly compare to Joyce-the country’s first female pilot from the Hill family?” The more she spoke, the more disgusted she looked at Aline.
Steven’s expression turned stern. He looked straight at Penny and said, “In that case, I suggest you find another doctor for your eyes. The only reason I agreed to treat you was out of respect for Aline’s parents. But since you clearly look down on her, there’s no reason for me to continue.”
“What?” The Hill family stood there in shock.
“Her parents are dead! What kind of ‘respect’ is there to talk about?” Penny said without thinking.
Steven’s face darkened. “Watch your mouth. Who do you think you are to speak about her parents like that?”
They were martyrs-heroes who gave their lives for the country.
Penny fell silent instantly, but her eyes burned with even more resentment toward Aline.
Clayton quickly stepped forward. “Dr. Chase, my mother truly hopes you’ll keep treating her.”
“My brother’s got plenty of money-just say how much you want!” Tanisha added arrogantly.
Steven’s face showed clear disdain, but as a doctor, he couldn’t outright reject a patient. “Fine. You’ll need to register the normal way. If you manage to book one of my appointment slots, I’ll see her.”
With that, he instructed the hospital staff to block the Hill family and led Aline alone into the consultation room.
“Is it true? You’re getting a divorce?” Steven asked gently once the door closed.
Aline nodded. “Yes.”
He didn’t pry. “Probably for the best. That kind of family never deserved you. You deserve someone far better. Your parents wouldn’t have wanted to see you treated like this-they were so proud of you.”
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Chapter 16
At the mention of her parents, Aline couldn’t help but feel her eyes sting with tears.
“I heard you brought your parents’ ashes back. Have you buried them yet?” Steven asked softly.
Aline shook her head. “I plan to take them back to our hometown soon, to lay them to rest properly.”
“When you do, let me know,” Steven said. “I want to be there to send them off.”
“Okay,” Aline replied, her voice catching as emotion rose in her throat.
As soon as the divorce was done, she would take her parents’ ashes and leave for her hometown-no looking back.
That evening, when Aline returned to the villa, she was surprised to find Clayton already home.
a
Ever since Joyce had returned to Uslille, Clayton had rarely stayed at the villa.
“My mother still hopes Steven will continue treating her,” he said. “Talk to him for me, see if he’ll agree.”
Aline let out a cold laugh. She thought, ‘Does Clayton really think a doctor like Steven-someone practically a national treasure-is at their beck and call?’
Steven regularly treated people with life-threatening conditions, and most of his patients were top-ranking officials and national figures.
The only reason he had ever agreed to treat Penny was because Aline’s mother Nita, a respected military doctor, had been a close friend of his.
“You’re free to book the appointment yourself. Steven is a doctor-he doesn’t turn patients away. As long as you man- age to get on his schedule, he’ll treat your mother,” Aline said coolly.
