Chapter 2

At the gate of Azure Garden District, Benedict turned around for one last look. Mixed feelings filled his heart.

He had thought that he would spend the rest of his life with Chelsea, but ended up divorced instead.

A while later, a black luxury car stopped right in front of Benedict. It was worth millions, and the sleek lines and swanky design threw the car into the center of everyone's attention.

After the car ground to a halt, a stunning beauty with a figure to die for stepped out. She was very tall, perhaps over five feet and seven inches. She wore a red windbreaker and skintight jeans, paired with black heels that made her look like a queen with a commanding aura.

There was, however, a hint of anxiety in her eyes. The moment she stepped out of the car, she dialed a number on her phone and looked around her.

Just then, Benedict's phone rang.

The woman turned to look at him as she put her phone away. She hurried over to Benedict and asked, "Are you Dr. Drake?"

Benedict nodded. "Yes, I am. How are you related to Derrick Marshall?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Drake. I'm Victoria Marshall, Derrick Marshall's daughter. Just call me Vicky!" she said with reverence as she bowed to Benedict.

Before she came, Chad had reminded her to be polite to this legendary doctor.

Not only was Chad her father's good friend, but he was also the chief of the Southshore Chamber of Commerce. Plus, he was one of the wealthiest men in the country. Victoria didn't dare to disregard his reminder.

Benedict acknowledged her self-introduction with a nod. "Time is of the essence. Let's get in the car."

Victoria was a mesmerizing beauty and on par with Benedict's ex-wife, Chelsea, in the looks department. However, her beauty did nothing to him.

"Dr. Drake, please head in," Victoria said politely as she opened the door for Benedict.

She then ran to the other side, opened the door, and hopped in.

Coincidentally, Landy drove out of the district at the same time. She spotted Benedict seated at the back of the luxury car, and their eyes met.

Landy was flabbergasted. What was Benedict doing in such a high-end luxury car? And why was there a stunning beauty seated right next to him?

Benedict retracted his gaze as the luxury car he was in sped off.

"Good on you, Quinn. As it turns out, you have an affair with someone! Or maybe you're her gigolo. Here you are, eagerly running away with your sugar mommy right after divorcing Ms. Yarwood!"

Landy gritted her teeth in anger as she glared in the direction Benedict had left. She quickly sped toward Dragonfire Group's office building and relayed what she had witnessed to Chelsea, not forgetting to add some exaggerated details to her story.

"What did you say? Benedict has an affair, and it's with a stunning beauty who owns a luxury car?"

Chelsea looked up at Landy, her attention drawn from preparing the documents required for this afternoon's interview. Her face turned dark with displeasure.

"That's right, I saw it with my own eyes!" Landy nodded profusely. "Ms. Yarwood, thank goodness you're divorced. You would've been kept in the dark about this. I finally understand why he refused to put in an alimony amount in the divorce papers. Turns out, he's serving as a gigolo to a rich woman and doesn't care for that paltry sum you offered him!"

A cold look flashed past Chelsea's eyes.

She had felt guilty for demanding a divorce from Benedict, but now, she realized how laughable that guilt was.

"I thought that despite his lack of ambition, he was at least honest and loyal. I never expected him to be so disgusting as to have an affair while our marriage was still intact. Just as well. I no longer feel guilty about divorcing him."

Chelsea then instructed Landy, "Call for an executive meeting in ten minutes. We'll do our final preparations for the interview with Starlight Group!"

Landy nodded.

When Chelsea was left all alone in her office, she pulled open a drawer and retrieved a photo frame.

It held her favorite photo, one of the shots from her wedding photoshoot with Benedict. She had been displaying this frame on her desk during the first two years of their marriage.

Over the past year, however, she kept the frame in the drawer for various reasons. At the very least, there was a place in her heart for Benedict.

Now that she had found out about Benedict's affair, she was ready to let go of their relationship.

She stared at the photo, opened the frame, and tore it in half—right in the middle, separating them. She flung the torn photo into the bin together with the frame.

"From now on, we're done."

-

The eighth villa in Silverpeak Compound belonged to Derrick Marshall.

As the chairman and founder of Starlight Group, worth billions of dollars in market value, Derrick Marshall was a well-known entrepreneur in Arlen City.

In this first-tier city, he was one of the top three wealthiest men.

Yet now, this awe-inspiring man who was greatly admired by many was lying unconscious on the bed, his face pale and haggard, looking on the verge of death.

He lay on the bed in the middle of a luxurious bedroom, surrounded by many doctors. All of them were famous specialists and professors in major hospitals in Arlen City. It was nearly impossible for ordinary people to secure an appointment with them.

"Professor White, how is Derrick? Have you found a way to treat him?" an elegant-looking middle-aged woman asked anxiously.

She saw that the experts and professors still looked helpless even after all the examinations and discussions.

She was Derrick's wife, Faye Dixon. She thrived in high society as the wife of one of the most prominent and wealthy men in Arlen City.

As the vice-principal of Arlen City's medical university and the vice-president of its affiliated hospital, Professor James White was the most highly regarded expert in his field. At the same time, he also served as the chief doctor of the neurology department.

It wasn't a stretch to call him the most authoritative expert in neurology in the whole of Arlen City.

He glanced at Faye and said, "Mrs. Marshall, don't worry. We'll have a quick meeting outside to come up with a treatment plan. We'll have an answer for you very shortly."

With that, he brought his medical team out of the bedroom to the study, where they began their consultation meeting.

Faye could do nothing but pace around anxiously in the bedroom.

A while later, Victoria rushed back with Benedict in tow. "Mom! I managed to get Dr. Drake introduced by Mr. Webber!"

Victoria hurriedly introduced Faye to Benedict and urged him to take a look at Derrick.

However, Faye's brows furrowed at the sight of how young Benedict looked. He didn't look anywhere close to being a doctor, not to mention a legendary one.

She stopped Victoria. "Are you sure this lad is really a legendary doctor and not a quack?"

Victoria replied in a hushed tone, "Probably not. Mr. Webber recommended him. How could he be a quack?"

"Chad Webber isn't all-knowing. He might be fooled, too. What if he's a scammer and puts your father's life in danger?"

"Well…" Victoria said hesitantly.

Benedict's eyes flashed as he overheard the conversation between the mother-daughter pair. He turned to look at Derrick lying on the bed and seemed to immediately know what was going on with Derrick.

"The patient is in critical condition. He'll die if he isn't given immediate treatment. I'm only here on Chad's account. If you don't want me treating him, I'm leaving."

"Dr. Drake, sir! Please don't be angry," Victoria said. She grabbed his arm and turned back to look at her mother. "Mom, let Dr. Drake give it a shot. I trust him!"

Faye took a deep breath. "You seem to know my husband's condition at one glance? Since you're so capable, why don't you tell me what's wrong with my body? If you can identify the problem, I'll believe that you are indeed a legendary doctor and let you treat Derrick."

Victoria grabbed Benedict's arm tightly. Her hands were sweaty and balmy, probably out of anxiety and concern for her father's condition.

Seeing her so concerned about her father, Benedict tolerated Faye's disrespect toward him.

"Your throat is dry, and it's causing your coughing bouts," he began. "There's a yellow tinge on your tongue, and you often have ulcers in your mouth. That's because of the excessive heat in your lungs. In addition, you have a weak liver, which manifests in heavy vaginal discharge, irregular periods, and long-term insomnia."

Faye was thoroughly shaken.

Benedict had hit the nail on the head. Everything he listed were problems she had been facing over the years.

Was this young lad truly a legendary doctor?