Chapter 1012

Someone joked, “Let’s clear the room. With Dr. Lake here, the rest of us are just background decor.”

“Once Mr. Phelan Senior takes Dr. Lake’s medicine, he’ll recover in no time!”

The chorus of flattery made Mosby smile. He tried to maintain his dignified image, but the praise still went to his head. He said, “You’re all too kind. I just had a few extra years of study. Medicine is a vast field, and I’m sure you’ll all reach greatness someday.”

His humble reply earned another round of admiration.

Luna stepped forward, and she was actually smiling for once. “Dr. Lake, thank you for tending to my grandfather.”

Mosby flushed with pride. “Ms. Luna, it’s my honor. Keeping Mr. Phelan Senior healthy is my privilege.”

The others quickly bowed to Luna as well. After all, she was the Phelan family’s prodigy, the capital’s undisputed genius–her military rank of major-general at such a young age rivaled even Chetvine’s elite.

Her status made her the capital’s brightest star, outshining even Joe from the Driscoll family.

Amid the fawning cheers, Andrew’s calm voice cut through. “Mr. Phelan Senior’s constitution can’t handle strong meds. He shouldn’t take that prescription. Also, it’s lithiasis, not indigestion.”

Francis gasped, then snapped, “Shut your mouth! This room’s full of the capital’s elite–you don’t get an opinion here!”

He could not believe Andrew would speak up and wondered who gave this kid the audacity. With Mosby and the capital’s top medical minds present, questioning them was suicide.

However, Mosby and the others had already heard. Soon, dozens of eyes turned to Andrew, glaring.

Someone hissed, “What did you say? Are you doubting Dr. Lake’s diagnosis?”

“Ignore the fool–he’s just a clueless kid.”

Another chimed in, “What trash! Since when does the Phelan family let strays wander in? Disgraceful!”

Every response dripped with scorn. They took one look at Andrew and dismissed him.

Only Mosby kept smiling. “Young man, are you a medical student?”

Andrew shrugged. “I know a thing or two.”

Mosby nodded. “Questioning authority takes courage. I admire that spirit. But youth often leads to recklessness. Consider this a lesson from your elders.”

His tone was patronizing, like a wise teacher schooling an ignorant pupil.

Andrew just scoffed. To others, Mosby sounded courteous, but Andrew heard the contempt beneath his words. Obviously, his interruption had bruised Mosby’s ego, and this was the retaliation.

Mosby did not expect Andrew to be so dismissive and scoff at him. His face turned grim, and he asked, “Oh, you find this amusing? You disagree?”

Andrew met his gaze. “Dr. Lake, you misunderstand. I’m not questioning you. I’m correcting you.”

The room instantly erupted. The professors and experts, all Mosby’s devotees, exploded in outrage.

“You arrogant brat! How dare you!”

“Dr. Lake is the capital’s leading physician! Who do you think you are?”

“Apologize now! We won’t tolerate this disrespect!”

Amid the shouting, Luna’s icy voice silenced them. “Andrew, apologize to Dr. Lake and then get out. The Phelan family doesn’t welcome stubborn fools.”

Back when Montgomery was in Chetvine, he ran into trouble. In the end, it was Marvin who stepped in to help, and that was how the bond between their families began.

Walking ahead, Luna asked, “How is Marvin doing these days?”

Andrew replied, “Perfectly fine. He still puts away full plates at every meal. What worries me is his refusal to find a wife and settle down.”

Luna frowned. “You’re his junior, and your flippant attitude displeases me. Moreover, an elder’s affairs are none for you to casually judge.”

Andrew said flatly, “I’m speaking within reason. No issue here.”

Luna stopped walking and turned, her face icy. “Marvin once saved my grandfather’s life. That’s why I respect him. But you? All you’ve done is cause trouble and pick up bad habits.

“Out of respect for Marvin, the Phelan family is willing to give you a place in the capital. But if you keep this lazy, hopeless attitude, we don’t take in trash.”

Luna was never one to argue. After all, no one around her was worth her attention, let alone her anger. Yet, Andrew’s words stirred something in her calm heart.

She thought maybe he was so rotten to the core that it triggered her disdain. If even she could not stand the sight of him, that was a talent in itself.

Francis growled, “Andrew, remember this: The only reason you’re stepping into the Phelan estate is out of respect for Marvin. Otherwise, you’d already be a corpse rotting in some back alley in the capital.”

Andrew shrugged. “First, I never asked for the Phelan family’s charity. So, Ms. Phelan, Francis, spare me the condescension. Second, I’m only here because Marvin asked me to check on Mr. Phelan Senior. Otherwise, I’d never set foot in this nightmare you call home.”

Francis flushed with rage. “Ms. Luna, did you hear this brat's nonsense? Let’s just throw him out. He doesn’t deserve an audience with Mr. Phelan Senior!”

Luna sneered. “It’s fine. The Phelan family welcomes all–geniuses, prodigies, and even mediocre deadweights.”

Andrew was getting annoyed. If he had known earlier, he would not have listened to Marvin.

He silently grumbled, ‘So much for the Phelans being a top-tier family in the capital–everyone here is an idiot! Francis was bad enough, an old man still posturing like a big shot when he was actually just here to serve Montgomery. And Luna? A young major-general, a true prodigy–but arrogance was the worst sin of all.

If not for his promise to Marvin, Andrew would have walked out already.

After winding through opulent halls, they reached Montgomery’s room. Inside, a crowd of specialists–doctors, professors, and experts–debated his condition.

The capital’s famed miracle doctor, Mosby Lake, declared, "Mr. Phelan Senior just has mild indigestion and a seasonal chill. A single prescription to regulate his blood flow will suffice.”

The others hurried to agree.

“Dr. Mosby’s genius diagnosis strikes again!”

“No one in the capital compares–where he goes, illness flees!”