Chapter 15

Patience's POV

"Madison, I've told you, Hazel and I are just friends," Kelsey said awkwardly, holding back Madison.

"What kind of friend?" Madison shook off his hand, growing more agitated. Her look at me was full of disdain.

Turning to Kelsey, she said, "You've always had a soft spot for Hazel. Now that she's back, you should be with her! How can Patience, a parentless orphan, compare to Hazel?"

Dr. Harvey's face darkened instantly.

Looking at Madison, he said seriously, "Perhaps you should seek another doctor for your eyes. I treated you out of respect for Patience's parents. If you look down on her so much, there's no need for you to return."

"What?" The Hoffmans were all stunned, disbelief on their faces as if they'd never known Dr. Harvey.

"She's dead to the world. What respect can she possibly have earned?" Madison shouted rudely, her voice brimming with contempt.

Dr. Harvey's face fell, and he snapped, "Enough! You can't speak of her parents so casually!"

Madison shuddered at his roar and fell silent, though her eyes brimmed with even more loathing for me, like venomous needles.

Kelsey stepped forward, softening his tone, "Dr. Harvey, Madison truly wishes for you to continue her treatment, please…"

"Kelsey has plenty of money!" Hattie put on her arrogant airs again, as if money could solve everything. "Just name your price!"

Dr. Harvey's face twisted with visible disgust, but as a doctor, he didn't drive them out directly.

He only said coldly, "Then queue in the appointment system yourselves. When you secure a slot with me, I'll treat her."

With that, he had the hospital staff hold back the Hoffmans and took me into the examination room.

"What's this about—you getting a divorce?" Dr. Harvey asked concernedly as soon as we were in, his eyes brimming with worry.

I nodded, my voice a little hoarse.

Dr. Harvey didn't press for details. He sighed and said, "Well, he's not worthy of you. You deserve so much better. Your parents would be heartsick seeing you treated like this—they'd be devastated. You were their greatest pride."

Hearing Dr. Harvey mention my parents, my eyes welled up.

The long-buried grievances and longing surged up at the slightest touch.

"I heard you've brought back your parents' ashes. Have you buried them yet?" Dr. Harvey asked gently.

I shook my head. "I plan to take their ashes back to my hometown for burial in a few days."

Dr. Harvey nodded. "Let me know on the day you leave. I want to see them off."

"I will," I said, my nose stinging. I quickly turned away, blinking back tears.

Once the 30-day cooling-off period was over, I'd take my parents' ashes and head back to my hometown without delay.

When I returned to the villa that night, I was surprised to see Kelsey there.

Ever since Hazel had returned to New York, he'd hardly set foot in the villa, likely spending most of his time at Hazel's place.

"Madison wishes for Dr. Harvey to treat her going forward," he said flatly, as if it were a given. "You speak to him and ensure he continues to handle her care."

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Did Kelsey really think a top-notch expert like Dr. Harvey could be ordered around so casually?

Numerous complex cases awaited his attention. His typical patients were high-profile individuals.

Back in the day, I'd only managed to get Dr. Harvey to see Madison because my mother, a former Royal Legion medic who'd worked closely with him for years, had earned his deep respect.

He treated Madison out of respect for my parents, not for money.

"You can try your luck in the appointment system yourself," I said coolly. "As a doctor, Dr. Harvey won't turn away genuine patients. If you can secure a slot with him, he'll treat Madison."

Kelsey frowned, clearly caught off guard by my outright refusal.

"By the way," I glanced at him, adding, "I hear you're quite wealthy. You could hire people to snatch up appointment slots. Maybe you'll get lucky."

Before Kelsey could retort, his phone rang.

As he listened, his face grew increasingly grim, his knuckles whitening around the phone.

After hanging up, he snapped at me irritably, "The restaurant incident has been leaked to the tabloids. The news says I'm married and implies Hazel's a homewrecker. You'll immediately join me in issuing a statement to clarify that Hazel and I have nothing going on—it's all a misunderstanding."

I froze, the back of my neck, already tender from the damaged mating bond, twitching sharply.

Kelsey continued, his pheromones sharp with agitation, "Also, you'll state that Hazel is your friend too, and that you had me protect her out of concern for her safety at the time."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing, staring at him in disbelief.

My claws dug involuntarily into half-moons in my palms. "Kelsey, do you have any shame left? How can you even say that?"

Was he unaware that when I was shoved aside by him during the gunshot, only to see him shield Hazel, the temporary mark on the back of my neck had seared with pain, spreading like wildfire through my veins?