Charles was livid. He slammed his hand on the table with a loud thud and stood abruptly. Pointing at Martha, he shouted, “Damn it! You should go out and ask about my reputation! How dare you defame me like this!” The tension was palpable. Everyone knew he had returned to work at Dudore Hospital only after being dragged back by Anthony.
As the argument began to escalate, Hazel quickly intervened, offering an apologetic smile and waving her hands as she explained, “I’m so sorry. That’s not what we intended. It’s just that…” She knew that if the situation escalated, securing a future appointment with Charles would be challenging. Her compliments flowed freely, despite not having seen Charles’s face clearly. Charles brushed a stray hair off his forehead, and his expression softened as he replied, “That’s more like it. I’ll forgive you for not recognizing my true value.”
Martha’s apprehension intensified. She was even more convinced that this incompetent doctor had secured his job through connections. Choosing to disregard Charles, she stood up, grasped Hazel’s wrist, and said bluntly, “Hazel, let’s find a different doctor.”
Hazel, caught in a dilemma, sensed a heated argument brewing between the two. “Martha…” Even though she was concerned about Martha’s health, she couldn’t make her accept treatment from a doctor she didn’t trust.
Martha’s action was a direct affront to Charles’s medical expertise. Charles quickly rose to his feet, stepping forward in haste. “Hey, hey, hey! You can’t just leave. I’ll treat—” Letting a woman disregard him like this was unacceptable. How would Charles maintain his reputation in the capital?
Hazel was nearly in tears. If a fight broke out, her employment prospects would surely be affected. The two glared at each other, and Hazel could almost sense the charge crackling between them. It was frightening to see them face off like this. Charles, having left to argue with Martha, swiftly headed toward the door. The consulting room door swung open. Martha, having donned a mask, followed Hazel closely. Just outside the door, an elderly man with a purple-black bruise appeared.