Edge of love and hate

Chapter 2

"Your father has congenital heart disease. There are two treatment options. One is conservative treatment to sustain life, but no one can guarantee how long it can last, and the condition may recur at any time. The other option is immediate surgery, but the location of the lesion is very rare, and only three doctors in the world can perform it, only one of whom is in the United States— Dr. Patrick Roberts, the old Roberts."

Olivia gasped upon hearing this. Not only because Patrick Roberts was the father of Matthew, but also Dr. Roberts was a renowned authority in cardiology and neurology, famous across America, known to operate only on politicians and celebrities, with fees that were astronomical.

Should she contact Matthew? Anyway he is the son of the old Dr. Roberts. Olivia pulled out her phone to call him, but was directed to his voicemail. Blocked!

"Let's start with conservative treatment for now. Please move my father to the best room available, and I'll figure out the rest." Olivia planned to mortgage her property and her father's company shares to raise the money. Through the glass, seeing her father's pale face covered with an oxygen mask, she silently urged, "Dad, you must pull through. I will find a way to cure you, no matter what."

"A new patient?"

A magnetic voice came from behind her. Olivia turned around to see a tall figure in a crisp white lab coat, his features chiseled and his gaze cool and restrained, exuding an air of self-possession.

She felt he looked familiar but couldn't place him. It seemed she had seen him somewhere before.

"Yes, Dr. Adrian Roberts."

Roberts! That was Matt’s brother! Olivia remembered now; Matt had mentioned he had a younger brother by two years. No wonder he looked familiar.

Adrian glanced at her briefly before entering the room. After a while, he emerged, and his secretary motioned for Olivia to follow.

Olivia entered Adrian's office on the top floor of the hospital. Pushing open the door, a massive floor-to-ceiling window offered a panoramic view of Manhattan.

Adrian, ever the gentleman, pulled out a chair for Olivia, who sat down awkwardly.

"I am aware of your father's condition. We can arrange for conservative treatment in the best room available, provided you can cover the weekly treatment cost of one hundred thousand dollars."

"And the surgery?" If they didn't operate, her father's chances were slim. Being confined to a room, wasn't that akin to being dead?

Adrian leaned back in his chair. "My father won’t perform the surgery. I assume you know he performs only a limited number of surgeries each year, and not everyone gets the opportunity, even if they have the money."

"Is there nothing more important than life? Reputation, status..." Olivia stood up anxiously.

"Miss Olivia Williams, I must remind you to watch your words," Adrian’s tone was calm yet commanding.

Olivia calmed down a bit and sat back down.

"I was actually with your older brother..."

"He's engaged to someone else, isn't he? So you're his ex-girlfriend? Does that status provide any legal protection, Olivia? I think you don’t need me to remind you of that."

Olivia was at a loss for words, tears swirling in her eyes, but she held them back.

"I'll ask him again," she said quietly, pulling out her phone to message Matthew.

"Speaking of last night," Adrian tapped lightly, whether unintentionally or not, his expression quickly returning to neutral. "Miss Williams, it would be better if you didn’t walk by the pool when you’re drunk next time."

"What? How did you know?"

"And I suggest you drink less—for your health," Adrian stood up, nearly face-to-face with Olivia as he spoke each word, "and for your reputation. So you don’t mistake people and end up in the wrong bed again." His voice was as gentle and calm as ever, but to Olivia, it felt like a thunderclap. “What?! Did we do something last night?"

Adrian's eyes suddenly twinkled with mischief. "You might want to refresh your memory."

Olivia, worried about her father’s illness, had no heart for frivolous romantic entanglements.

"Dr. Adrian Roberts, he's the only family I have left. Please, help me convince your father to do the surgery," Olivia pleaded earnestly, standing with her head bowed.

"How old are you this year, Miss Olivia?"

"22. Why?"

"Why do I feel like you're only 12? If pleading worked like this, the world would be far too kind."

"To save my father, I'm willing to do anything."

"That sounds much like you were when trying to keep a man," Adrian opened a file on his desk, seemingly preparing for other work.

Olivia felt embarrassed and uncomfortable, remembering last night's events. "Then you want...?"

"What?" Adrian didn't look up and continued to look down at the papers on his desk.

Olivia didn’t respond but lowered her head and undid a button at her chest, pulling her neckline down slightly. Clearly, in the not-so-kind world Adrian spoke of, a world of transactional relationships, all she could offer this arrogant, talented heir was physical satisfaction.

Adrian stroked his palm and took a deep breath.

Yes, he was like his brother, a veteran of romantic games, but seeing Olivia like this somehow unnerved him. She was naive and awkward, like a green peach, just ripe and tempting.

"Did you do this with my brother too?"

"What?" Olivia was surprised, looking up into Adrian’s eyes, "I guess you're all the same."

"Maybe, or maybe you're wrong," Adrian looked down to start on another document, writing something. "Patrick Roberts won’t handle your father's surgery. Please go home."

"I wasn’t with Matthew." Olivia didn’t know why she felt the need to clarify, perhaps fearing Adrian’s judgement might keep him distant.

Adrian looked up at Olivia, as if she really was a naive child who had caused trouble.

Olivia avoided his gaze.

Adrian walked over, gently pinching her chin to turn her face towards him. Face-to-face, so close Olivia could feel his breath on her skin, warm and scented with tea.

"What?" Olivia doubted her ears. What? Here? Take off my underwear here? Her eyes darted around in panic, her body stiffening.

"Hmm," Adrian chuckled, maintaining his proud, calm demeanor, "Don’t bite off more than you can chew."