Chapter 3: Love Triangle
1381 Words
Ashlie's ex-boyfriend lay on the hospital bed, with one leg suspended high, looking disheveled and comical, resembling Jerry caught by Tom. He glared at Ashlie with bloodshot eyes.
"Do you think I'll believe your lies?!"
"Carlyle, Carlyle... I just found out that you liked other men before me. I used to think you were a pure saint!"
Ashlie restrained her anger, trying not to beat the patient to the ICU.
"There is no law in San Jose that says a woman cannot have feelings for two men. Oh, how I regret liking scum like you!"
"Ashlie!" James became infuriated with embarrassment. "Anyway, if you can continue to be with me, I may consider withdrawing the lawsuit against you and your father for intentional harm!"
Ashlie looked perplexed at her father. "Is he insane?"
Mr. Watson was a bit awkward and rubbed his hands. "I just mentioned a few things about Carlyle, that outstanding young man, but it seems your boyfriend misunderstood."
Ashlie irritably corrected him, "Ex-boyfriend."
Mr. Watson shrugged helplessly. "Alright, ex-boyfriend. I've always said that James isn't right for you."
The wise father's words snapped Ashlie back to reality. She realized she was still entangled in an argument with James and immediately calmed down. Looking at James was like watching a monkey in the zoo, jumping up and down.
"I don't want to discuss my personal matters with you. It's my privacy."
James leaned against the pillow, his gaze sticking to Ashlie like adhesive. "Then what do you want to talk to me about? Just so you know, I won't withdraw the lawsuit!"
"If you can continue to serve me until I fully recover, I might consider not sending your pitiful father to jail!"
Mr. Watson sighed, "This scoundrel really latched onto me..."
Mr. Watson didn't want to engage with this thug and used the excuse of going to the restroom.
Ashlie clenched her fists. "You deceived me, used illegal means to make me the legal representative of your company, and now you're threatening me with the enormous debt you caused?!"
James sneered, his voice filled with malice. "But it was willingly done by you, my dear Lily. Both the lawyers and colleagues can testify for me."
"They were all deceived by you, but I won't fall for your tricks again!"
James struggled to sit up, attempting to grab Ashlie's arm. "Then be prepared to pay me one million dollars as compensation! Otherwise, if I go to jail, I'll make your father join me!"
Ashlie was caught off guard, and the rough palm of the man's hand hurt her.
"James! Let go of me! You disgust me!"
James trembled with rage, his tone filled with disbelief. "Disgust? You clearly said you loved me the most! You were just a legal representative, yet you betrayed me!"
James, in his anger, almost twisted Ashlie's arm, and everything happened so suddenly.
Suddenly, a white figure hurriedly entered through the door. He was like a chilling gust of wind that interrupted James' act of violence. With one hand, he twisted James' wrist and slammed him forcefully onto the bed.
James was thrown off balance, his head spinning, and his leg pulled in a painful manner, causing him to grimace.
"Are you okay?" Carlyle checked Ashlie's arm, his slender fingers delicately touching her delicate bones through the skin.
How did Carlyle end up here? Could he really be James' attending physician?
Carlyle, wearing a white coat and physician's robe, his broad shoulders filling the coat while his slim waist perfectly proportioned, the robe fitting snugly, presented an elegant silhouette from top to bottom.
Ashlie, still in shock, did not resist Carlyle's touch.
Carlyle's gaze unintentionally swept across Ashlie's startled face, then he calmly asked James, "Mr. James, it seems like you're recovering well. Perhaps the hospital can consider discharging you tomorrow."
Standing by the bedside was a tall and handsome male doctor. James instinctively didn't want to appear weak.
"I'm recovering pretty well, as expected of a doctor from Bonaventure Hospital," James reluctantly said with a smile. "Doctor, I have only one request: regardless of the medication, please make my leg feel as if it's not injured at all. The price doesn't matter; someone will cover the expenses."
As he spoke, James secretly glanced at Ashlie, who was staring at him with anger. She had such vitality, Lily, while he could only lie in the hospital bed.
"Prosthetics are both effective and expensive. Would you use them?" Carlyle glanced at him with a cold expression.
James froze.
Carlyle's tone was stern as he urged, "Try moving your foot a little. Let me examine it first."
"Oh, okay." James no longer had the smug smile on his face. He had to rely on the person in front of him to treat his leg, so he naturally didn't dare to offend him.
Seeing the chaotic situation being stabilized by Carlyle's few words, Ashlie silently stood by the side. Why was it that every time she encountered Carlyle, she was in such a miserable state?
The scariest thing about reuniting with an ex-boyfriend after a breakup was that one side rose while the other fell into despair.
As Ashlie pondered, she heard Carlyle's deep and cold voice say, "Lift your leg."
James attempted to move his toes, but his lower leg and foot were wrapped up like a mummy, making it difficult to move even a bit.
Carlyle reminded him, "Try sitting up."
The nurse on the side hurriedly helped James, but this man, who had an extremely strong ego, stubbornly refused and instead looked at Ashlie, who remained silent.
"Ashlie, until the lawsuit is resolved, I am still your boyfriend. Moreover, my leg is the result of your father's doing. Won't you help me a little?"
Ashlie's heart inexplicably trembled as her gaze swept across Carlyle's broad back. She had just claimed that they had already broken up, and she had solemnly declared that she didn't love him anymore in front of Carlyle.
Would he think she was a fickle woman?
Before Ashlie could say anything, James cried out in pain, "Ah! It hurts, it hurts..."
The blond man on the bed suddenly sat up like a resurrected zombie.
Pushing aside Carlyle's hand pressing on the side of his knee, James shouted, "Doctor, what are you doing?!"
"You have a serious knee joint effusion," Carlyle remained unaffected by James' harsh words, his expression still blank and serious. "I will arrange for fluid aspiration."
The nurse nodded quickly, "Yes."
James was stunned, "Aspiration?"
The young nurse made a gesture, forming a circle with her thumb and index finger, and replied, "Using a needle with a diameter of about 3 centimeters, we will puncture the synovial membrane of the knee and extract the fluid. Otherwise, your condition will deteriorate."
James shook his head in refusal, fear evident in his eyes. "No... No... I won't agree without anesthesia!"
The nurse didn't think much of it. "Sir, this is definitely not as painful as falling down the stairs."
James looked at Ashlie, his previously arrogant face pleading. "Ashlie, at least we once loved each other. If you stay here with me, I won't hold you or Mr. Watson responsible. Just reimburse me for my medical expenses, and I won't ask for any other compensation or for Mr. Watson to go to jail."
Ashlie saw through James' true nature. "I no longer believe in you."
James could only beg, looking towards Carlyle. For the first time, his gaze searched for the name on Carlyle's badge. "Dr. Lautner, there must be another way, right?"
James' words came to a halt as he suddenly stared at Carlyle's name badge. Carlyle Lautner?!
The man with no flaws and the perfect man whom Mr. Watson praised and who had grown up with Ashlie, Carlyle Lautner?!
A surge of heat rushed to James' head, and he swung a fist towards Carlyle, but Carlyle easily dodged it.
"Ashlie! You're colluding with your lover to harm me!"
Ashlie remained indifferent, coldly saying, "If your mouth could be cut off, that would be great!"
"I'll file a complaint! Complaint!"
James shouted until Carlyle succinctly stated, "Please watch your words, Mr. James. If you defame my wife again, you will receive a letter from our lawyer."
James widened his eyes. "Wife?!!"
- Writer
