Chapter 58 How Can She Be Willing?
Delphine was already asleep, but Janet couldn't hold back her anxiety any longer. She stepped out of the hospital room and headed toward Cordelia's office.
Cordelia was chatting with some patients by her office door. She wore a gentle smile, friendly and approachable—a stark contrast to how she treated Janet.
Janet took a deep breath and walked over.
"Dr. Stone, I need to talk to you."
Cordelia glanced at Janet, her eyes cold. "Ms. Martin, are you asking about Mr. Hughes again? I've already told you, my relationship with him isn't good. Stop asking."
Janet's scandalous affair was common knowledge among the long-term patients. The patient talking to Cordelia shot Janet a disdainful look.
"Disgraceful."
"Homewreckers are getting bold these days."
Janet's face flushed at the elderly woman's words.
Cordelia turned to the patient and spoke softly. "Please return to your room. I'll check on you shortly."
The patient nodded, gave Janet a contemptuous look, and walked away, barely restraining herself from spitting in Janet's face.
Janet felt humiliated, clenching her teeth in anger but holding back from arguing.
Cordelia turned and went back into her office.
Sensing Cordelia's reluctancek, Janet pressed her lips together. "Dr. Stone, I finally understand why you've been so cold to me. You see me as your rival, don't you?"
Cordelia paused but didn't answer.
Janet bit her lip and lowered her voice. "Dr. Stone, I never thought you'd have feelings for your brother-in-law."
Cordelia frowned, her expression tinged with disgust as she looked at Janet. "Are you done?"
Seeing Cordelia's previously calm face showing signs of anger, Janet smirked coldly. "I thought Dr. Stone was a person of high morals, but it turns out you're just as ordinary as the rest of us."
"You must feel awful watching me struggle in this relationship, especially since Mrs. Jennings mentioned you've liked Alaric for years."
"You became a doctor because of Ms. Rivera, and now you have to watch the man you love marry your sister. You must be suffering more than I am."
Cordelia looked at Janet calmly, walked over to her desk, and sat down.
Janet saw her regain her composure and bit her lip. "Your relationship with Alaric isn't as bad as you claim. You're just trying to hide it from me."
Janet now saw Cordelia as her rival because Alaric was interested in Cordelia. If Janet hadn't accidentally interfered, Alaric would have been with Cordelia.
Janet's deep-seated fear was that Alaric's affection for her stemmed from visiting Aurora, not from any genuine feelings. In reality, Alaric was attracted to the girl Aurora described—Cordelia, not Janet.
Cordelia looked at Janet's determined expression, rubbed her temples, and answered softly. "You're right. My relationship with Alaric is quite intriguing. We even shared a bed last night."
She paused. "Ms. Martin, do you want more details? I can tell you slowly."
Janet's face turned pale. She gritted her teeth and spat out, "You're shameless!"
Cordelia chuckled lightly, as if she had heard a joke.
Just then, a colleague passed by Cordelia's office. "Dr. Stone, Dr. Schmidt needs you in room 28."
"Alright, I'll be there soon," Cordelia nodded, glanced at Janet, and stood up.
As she walked past Janet, Janet grabbed her hand. "Is it really worth turning against your sister for a man?"
Evelyn was a strong-willed woman with a fierce sense of possession. She would never allow such a situation to occur.
Cordelia smiled faintly. "Ms. Martin, don't worry. My sister won't turn against me because of Alaric. She doesn't mind."
Janet looked up sharply at Cordelia, her pupils shaking. "She knows?"
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, removed Janet's hand from her arm, and left the office.
She thought Janet's worldview must be shattered and would need time to rebuild.
No wonder Evelyn was so excited when Janet mistook her for Alaric's wife. Watching Janet's helpless expression was quite amusing.
Janet sat in Cordelia's office for a long time, dazed, before leaving in a state of despair.
She knew Alaric well enough to understand he wouldn't act out unless he couldn't control himself. When she first returned to the country, Alaric was indifferent to her. She tried everything to win him over, but he always remained calm and distanced himself.
Janet walked out of the hospital, lost in thought.
Outside, she ran into Alaric, who was coming to the hospital.
She bit her lip and stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
Alaric frowned and looked down at her, his deep eyes filled with detachment.
Janet looked up, her gaze meeting his cold eyes. "Alaric, did you ever love me?"
Alaric's eyes remained cold. "There's no point in asking that now."
Janet bit her lip, her eyes full of hurt. "You've been coming to the hospital a lot. Are you here to see Mrs. Jennings or someone else?"
Alaric's cold eyes didn't answer her question.
Was it that obvious?
Janet saw Alaric's expression and felt a chill in her heart.
She was afraid to uncover the truth about Alaric and Cordelia, fearing that if she did, she'd lose any chance of staying by Alaric's side.
She stepped aside silently.
Alaric glanced at her briefly, then turned and walked into the hospital.
Janet watched his back, tears streaming down her face.
She remembered when Alaric confessed his feelings to her, saying, "I heard you like me. Do you want to date me?"
It had felt strange at the time. No one knew she liked Alaric.
Deep down, she had always felt inferior. Her background didn't match Alaric's, and her looks were average. If it weren't for her being Aurora's student, she and Alaric lived in completely different worlds.
Where had Alaric heard it from?
From the beginning, the girl he heard about wasn't her.
Alaric liked the girl he heard about, not her.
How could she accept that?