Chapter 40
894 Words
“I heard the hospital's packed with flu cases, not a room available yesterday.”
“Yet Carter secured this one for us.”
“We're indebted to him.”
Natalia's eyes went wide.
“Did he arrange this?”
“Sweet. I must thank him.”
“He really is a good kid.”
Isabel jumped on the opportunity.
“Mom, since Carter has been so good to you.”
She barreled on with a dramatic sigh.
“The Knight family wants Carter to lead R&D, but the veteran researchers won't respect him.”
“If Doctor N came on board, even as a consultant, Carter would gain the authority he needs.”
After she finished speaking, Isabel watched her mother's face.
Sure enough, she saw the conflict there.
Natalia had principles.
She hated calling in favors, but she hated owing them even more.
Natalia hesitated for a moment before saying:
“Fine, I'll ask Dr. N.”
“But if they say no, that's the end of it.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Isabel smiled broadly, knowing from experience that Dr. N never said no to her mother.
Natalia took out her phone and found Dr. Ren's contact.
She carefully crafted a message before sending it.
“Hi, Doctor. Are you free? I need to ask you for a favor.”
Ruby had just gotten back from taking Matilda for a walk downstairs.
When the message came through, she frowned at the screen.
“Why is Mrs. Anderson reaching out?”
All of a sudden, she mumbled to herself tensely.
“God, I hope she's all right.”
A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach.
“Please take Grandma back to her suite,” she instructed the nurse and dashed off toward Natalia's room.
Owen, who was working in the outer room, saw his grandmother come in and instinctively glanced behind her.
When he didn't see the woman he was looking for, his gaze darkened slightly.
“Where's Miss Anderson?”
“She went to her mother's room,” Matilda replied.
Owen raised an eyebrow.
“Is Mrs. Anderson all right?”
Matilda's face immediately creased with worry.
“Well, she did seem to be in a hurry.”
“Go on, you troublemaker. Go check on her.”
Owen's lips thinned.
After a moment's hesitation, he stood and walked out with Leo close on his heels.
Meanwhile—
Ruby hurried to Natalia's room, only to find it crowded.
Carter was there, and so was Sheila.
Someone must have just cracked a joke because the room was filled with laughter.
The laughter stopped the moment Ruby stepped inside.
She froze in the doorway, suddenly feeling out of place.
At least Natalia looked well.
That much was a relief.
Lowering her eyes, Ruby prepared to turn around and leave.
“Ruby,” Natalia began—
but her gaze flicked to the others in the room.
With so much tension in the air, it might be better if Ruby left for now.
She could talk to her later alone.
But Sheila didn't let that happen.
“Well, well,” she said with a sneer.
“If it isn't Ruby the Great.”
“What's wrong now that you're busy clinging to Matilda Knight?”
“Are the rest of us beneath you?”
Ruby didn't say a word and turned to leave.
But Sheila grabbed her arm.
“I hear you've been waiting on that old woman, hand and foot.”
She continued loudly.
“Do you really think she sees you as family?”
“Don't be ridiculous.”
“You're nothing but a pet to her.”
“Don't say that,” Isabel cut in quickly.
“Mrs. Knight is very fond of Ruby.”
Sheila's voice rose shrilly.
“Fond of her? And what's that worth?”
“The way Carter takes care of you, Izzie, is what really counts.”
She turned to Carter, her tone suddenly sweet.
“I heard there wasn't a single room available yesterday.”
“Even wealthy families were turned away.”
“It's all thanks to Carter that Mrs. Anderson got a private room.”
Carter glanced at Ruby coldly, then turned to Natalia with a modest smile.
“It was nothing. Just doing what I should.”
“It's a very big deal to this family,” Sheila said sharply.
Then her eyes slid back to Ruby.
“Someone like Ruby could never manage that unless she tried to latch on to Owen Knight.”
“But please, he wouldn't spare her a second glance.”
“No matter how hard she tries, he would only see her as a passing amusement.”
Ruby's hands clenched at her sides, but she stayed silent.
The last thing she wanted was to upset Natalia.
She shook Sheila's hand off and turned around—
only to stop short.
Owen stood just outside the doorway.
He had heard everything.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were cold.
He shot Leo a brief look.
Leo understood instantly.
Clearing his throat, he stepped into the room.
“Mrs. Anderson,” he said evenly.
“I'm here on Mr. Knight's behalf.”
“He wanted to pass along his regards and to make sure you're comfortable in this room.”
His revelation made the room go dead silent.
- Writer
