Chapter 5 Their Shadows Overlap
Chapter 5 Their Shadows Overlap
Vivienne came back to negotiate the divorce with the Hartwell family, yet things got out of hand.
Due to fury, Lillian’s blood pressure spiked. Her blood vessels hardened and burst, causing a cerebral hemorrhage.
Due to the massive hemorrhage volume, she might very well be in a vegetative state after surgery.
For fear of the Hartwell family’s influence, doctors all kept their distance, afraid they might get into trouble if anything went south.
Roderick Carlson, the director of St. Avalon Hospital, recommended Frederick Kingsley to Sebastian. Frederick was a medical professor who had recently returned from overseas.
But tomorrow was the day Frederick officially started.
Roderick gave Sebastian Frederick’s number to give it a go.
An hour ago, Sebastian came back with frustration on his face, which was quite rare.
Frederick was a refined gentleman, but he was also quite quirky.
After he answered, Sebastian told him the purpose of the call and made a generous offer.
Then he said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Hartwell. Maybe you should find someone else.”
But Sebastian didn’t give up. He asked Roderick about Frederick’s address and paid Frederick a visit.
To his surprise, Frederick stared at his injured forehead for a while and then asked meaningfully, “Who did this to you?”
He found it weird-what did that have anything to do with Frederick? He just wanted Frederick to perform Lillian’s surgery.
He didn’t answer, and Frederick turned him away.
For some reason, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that Frederick was hostile toward him.
Richard said firmly, “It’s gotta be Dr. Kingsley who performs the surgery.”
Then he turned his gaze toward Vivienne.
He said viciously, “I don’t care what you do-invite him over. If anything happens to Lillian… Think about Corelynx Hearth
Center.”
Corelynx Hearth Center was in Rivemont, built by Vivienne and Sebastian under the name of Corelynx Technologies.
It was a shelter for numerous earthquake survivors with disabilities.
Richard was the chairman of Corelynx Technologies, and he had every right to deal with Corelynx Hearth Center however he
wanted.
Vivienne clenched her fists tightly. She had to admit that Richard had found her weakness.
Richard left. Without even glancing at Vivienne, Sebastian was going to ask Roderick to arrange for another surgeon.
He didn’t believe for a second that she’d make Frederick have a change of mind.
After all, Frederick didn’t show any interest in the priceless collectibles he had offered.
Covering her injured arm, Vivienne called out to him as he was heading to Roderick’s office.
He turned around, his face expressionless.
She said, “I have a condition. If I invite Dr. Kingsley over to operate on Lillian, you must sign the divorce papers with no strings attached.”
His body obviously stiffened for a second. “We’ll talk once you really get him here.”
When saying this, he thought, “She’s so full of herself.
“Maybe she hasn’t realized this, but I’m the only man who’d put up with her nonsense.
“Bad news to her-from now on, even I won’t put up with her anymore.”
****
Vivienne sighed heavily as she gazed at the card in her hand.
She thought, “If I had known I’d ask Frederick for help, I would have been nicer to him in Rivemont yesterday.
‘At this point, I can only brace myself and give it a go.”.
She dialed Frederick’s number.
As she waited for him to answer, her heart pounded erratically, which was something she’d never experienced in all these
years.
He answered at the very last second before the call disconnected.
His voice was pleasant to the ear and-maybe it was her illusion-was trembling slightly.
“This is Frederick. Who am I speaking to?”
He was so polite that Vivienne was at a loss for what to say.
“This is … Vivienne.”
–
Realizing he didn’t know her name, she quickly added, “We met in Rivemont last night.
“I led you and Harriett the way out of the cemetery.”
“I remember,” he said.
Measuring her words carefully, she said, “I’m sorry to reach out so abruptly. My mother-in-law had a brain bleed and was admitted to St. Avalon Hospital…”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Huh?” She was stunned, wondering if she had heard wrong,
He repeated, “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes or so.”
“O-OK…”
Vivienne was still dumbfounded after hanging up.
She thought, “I invited him here… just like that?
“Maybe it was because I had ‘helped’ Harriett last night.
“I guess it’s true after all-one should do good deeds as it always brings surprises and good luck.”
***
Vivienne skipped lunch. As she pressed against her aching stomach, Frederick’s voice rang out above her head.
“You got hurt again?”
She looked up slowly and saw his gaze on the blisters on her arm.
His chiseled face was stunningly handsome, giving off an aura of nobility, elegance, and gentleness.
“Dr. Kingsley.” She stood up and was about to brief him on Lillian’s condition.
But he beat her to it. “I’ll deal with your injuries first.”
His voice was so gentle and soothing.
She said, “I’m fine. My mother-in-law is in a much more serious condition.”
He mused, “The order of arrival matters to me. I find it hard to treat the next patient unless I deal with your injuries first.”
She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Alright then.”
They walked forward, keeping a proper distance from each other.
A male doctor in his hospital gown greeted Frederick, “Fred? Why are you here today? You start tomorrow, right?”
As his gaze fell upon Vivienne, a trace of surprise flashed across his eyes.
“Hey, isn’t this…”
Frederick said immediately, “Dr. Holden, I’m treating a patient. You may get on with your business.”
Daniel Holden caught his drift and said meaningfully, “Alright. I see.”
As Vivienne sat down, she casually tucked her shoulder-length curls behind her ears, revealing her fair, round earlobes.
She seldom smiled and definitely wouldn’t smile at a time like this. Her demeanor was nothing but cold and detached.
But Frederick seemed like the naturally sociable type. He struck up a conversation with her and asked her if the injuries on her face and arm were caused by her husband.
She changed the subject because she found it uncomfortable opening up to someone she had barely known.
“Dr. Kingsley, my mother-in-law has suffered from long-term unstable blood pressure. She got agitated, which caused a brain bleed. I’m counting on you to treat her-it’d be the best if there aren’t any complications afterward. This is very important to
me.”
Frederick’s hand paused slightly as he applied ointment to her arm. “Are you very close to her?”
“It’s quite the opposite.
“Anyway, Dr. Kingsley, thank you for doing this. It’s a huge favor, and I promise I’ll repay you when there’s a chance.”
Frederick gazed at Vivienne intently.
Her eyes were charming, and the words that came out of her mouth were so touching. However, he clearly saw the coldness and sadness hiding deep down in her eyes.
His gaze darkened as he thought, “She’s been suffering over the years?”
After Sebastian left Roderick’s office, he first called Eliza, who was at home.
He knew how timid she was, and what had happened must have given her a fright.
Sure enough, she was still crying when she answered.
Even her voice was trembling.
“Sebastian, how’s Lillian? Is your wound still bleeding? I’m worried sick. Is Vivienne still there? I wanted to go to the hospital so much, but I didn’t want to upset her…”
Instead of saying anything in reply, Sebastian stared intently at a man and a woman not far away from him.
The two were very close to each other.
The man was slightly bent, his shadow enveloping the woman’s frame entirely.
Their shadows on the ground overlapped.
