Chapter 38: Yvette Ignored My Calls Again

“What should we do then?” I asked anxiously, my face etched with worry. “Doctor, do you have any suggestions?”

The doctor replied with a serious expression, “I recommend you take him to the best cardiology hospital as soon as possible. You’ll need to consult a specialist to assess his condition and develop a treatment plan. Your uncle’s situation is critical, and the earlier he receives proper care, the better.”

As I left the doctor’s office, I slumped onto a bench in the corridor, drained and hopeless, as if the life had been leached from my body. Could it be that even after being given a second chance at life, I was still unable to save Uncle Benjamin?

Where would I even begin to find a top hospital? And even if I did, how would I afford the astronomical costs of treatment? How could I possibly raise such a huge sum in such a short time? Yvette might be able to help, as she had plenty of resources. But after the argument we just had, I couldn’t bring myself to ask her for help.

As I weighed my options, a sudden idea struck me. I pulled out my phone and called Nancy. Though Nancy’s family wasn’t as influential as Yvette’s, she still came from a prominent background and was one of Yvette’s close friends. Surely, she had some useful connections.

The call went through quickly, and Nancy’s casual voice greeted me. “Owen, what a surprise! Why are you calling me all of a sudden?”

“Nancy, I need your help with something,” I said bluntly.

“No problem,” she replied cheerfully. “Just tell me what you need; if I can help, I’ll do it.”

Her straightforwardness made me skip the pleasantries. “Do you have any connections to top cardiology specialists?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. “Um, then… did something happen to your uncle?”

“Yes,” I answered.

Nater, who had been so enthusiastic moments ago, hesitated. Her voice faltered as she said, “Owen, if you need a designer, someone in the entertainment industry, or a model, I could get you plenty of options.”

“But top-tier doctors, especially cardiologists? I don’t know any. I’ve barely been to a hospital my whole life,” she added quickly. “Yvette definitely knows someone. She has such an extensive network—she can connect with anyone you need. You should ask her!”

I pressed my lips together and replied, “The whole reason I called you was because I didn’t want to ask her. Can you help or not?”

Nancy hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “Owen, let me be honest with you. It’s not that I don’t want to help—I simply can’t. If you don’t tell Yvette about your uncle’s situation, and she finds out later, she’ll be furious. She already snapped at me earlier today.”

Hearing that, I was so angry my teeth ached. “You were the one who told Yvette I was in the hospital, weren’t you? I specifically told you not to tell her. And what did you do? You immediately spilled the beans. And you call yourself a friend?!”

“Owen, I only did it for your own good,” Nancy tried to defend herself.

I cut her off immediately. “You spilled my secret, Nancy. Help me get in touch with that hospital, and we’ll call it even.”

I could hear Nancy sighing on the other end of the line. “Alright, Owen, I’ll try.”

I frowned. “What do you mean, ‘try’?”

She quickly backtracked. “I’ll be right on it. I’ll do my best.”

Finally, I let out a small sigh of relief. “That’s more like it. Once this is over, I’ll treat you to a fancy meal.”

Nancy agreed, but she added a serious reminder, “Just keep in mind, the top-tier hospitals don’t come cheap. You’d better be prepared.”

Her words hit my weak spot. Money was precisely what I lacked. Anxiety crept into my voice as I added, “How much are we talking about?”

“Well, conservatively, at least a million.”

“Got it. Thanks.” I didn’t say much more before hanging up. As I leaned back in my chair, my mind was consumed by one number. One freaking million dollars.

If I managed to pull through, I’d soon have a lead. Then, the only problem left would be the money.

I started weighing my options carefully. First, earning it through work was an option. While stable, it would take over a year to save that much, but that was far too slow.

Second, divorcing Yvette and taking the remaining amount from the settlement fee. This was the fastest short-term solution and the most obvious option. However, Yvette’s recent intransigence meant the divorce wouldn’t be as straightforward as I hoped.

Third, going back home to reclaim what was rightfully mine from my father. Calling it “reclaiming” might sound dramatic, but it was about taking back what I deserved. Dul’s company only achieved its current success thanks to Yvette and my post-marriage input. To put it bluntly, at least half of the equity was mine.

That said, compared to my dad, Yvette was much easier to deal with. Reclaiming my stake in the company would take time, but once it was done, we wouldn’t just be talking about a billion. I’d be talking about millions, maybe even hundreds of millions. With that kind of money, why would I need to struggle anymore?

After weighing my options, I decided to pursue all three paths simultaneously. As long as any one of them succeeded, my uncle’s life could be treated. However, the most critical step was to finalize my divorce with Yvette as soon as possible—that was the fastest way to secure the funds.

The problem was, Yvette had made it clear yesterday that she would never agree to a divorce, no matter what. After some thought, I decided to let things cool. I’d wait until she was less angry.

When I returned to the hospital room, my mood was still under, and Lila had come back with the fruit she’d gone out to buy. She was quietly looking down at her phone. I called her name subtly, and she immediately looked up and smiled faintly. In a low voice, she asked, “Where did you go just now?”

Not wanting to worry her, I brushed off the question with a vague reply. She didn’t press further, but her gaze behind her glasses dropped slightly, as though lost in thought. The next day, I slept until midday. After a tiring night, I’d finally overslept in the morning.

By then, Uncle Benjamin glared at me. It would be a good time to focus on things. Ella had already promised not to buy lunch. I picked up my phone and called her. "A brush-up fresh. I grabbed you some sandwiches to tide you over until lunch in a while.”

I gave her the sandwiches, and dealt with the coins only to find the number was temporarily unavailable. Checking the time, I figured Yvette would be at the office by now. She had likely already had breakfast, so this would be...

Chapter 22: Yvette Ignored My Calls Again

“Yvette, are you seriously ignoring my calls again!”

Where had she picked up such an irritating habit? Frustrated, I hung up and called Oliver instead.

The call connected quickly, and Oliver’s crisp, efficient voice came through. “Mr. Yates, how can I assist you?”

Oliver was always dependable. Keeping his number last time had been a smart decision. I got straight to the point. “Mr. Grase, where’s Yvette? Tell her to answer my call.”

Oliver hesitated slightly before replying, “Mr. Yates, Ms. Jennings is a bit busy right now and may not be available.”

I knew Oliver’s style—he was straightforward and honest. If something genuinely urgent was going on, he’d call me directly. His hesitation now made it clear that Yvette simply didn’t want to deal with petty issues in this lifetime.

I supposed she was still angry. Hell, why was Yvette so petty? I issued a warning, “Mr. Grant, tell Yvette that if she doesn’t pick up my call, I’ll expose a certain scandal about one of her secretaries. Let’s see how she maintains her reputation then.” Oliver didn’t flinch. “Mr. Yates, Chase Sterling has already been dismissed.”