Chapter 9 What an Enviable Feeling
Cordelia quietly watched Janet's anxious face and replied slowly.
"Fake."
Janet's expression froze for a moment, then she gave Cordelia a subtle look.
"So, after my surgery, will it be hard for me to have kids?"
Her voice shook, making her seem vulnerable.
If this were any other patient, Cordelia might have offered some comfort. But Janet was her rival in love.
Cordelia looked at her calmly, her tone indifferent.
"Nothing's set in stone, Ms. Martin. You need to be mentally prepared."
After saying this, she walked past Janet, thinking to herself that she really wasn't a good doctor.
Janet's eyes welled up as she grabbed Cordelia's arm and asked softly, "Dr. Stone, do you dislike me?"
She just realized that now?
Cordelia stopped, her gaze landing on Janet as she forced a professional smile. "Of course not, Ms. Martin. You're my patient, and as a doctor, I naturally care for my patients."
"But I'll do my best to save your uterus, so you and Mr. Hughes can have a child together."
Janet bit her lip, looking at Cordelia cautiously, clearly not believing her.
Alaric, who hadn't found Janet in her room, came to Cordelia's office and overheard the conversation.
When Alaric saw Cordelia's radiant smile, his expression stiffened. Anger rose in him, and his gaze turned cold.
Cordelia pursed her lips, noticing Alaric's presence. She gently removed Janet's hand from her arm.
"Ms. Martin, I'm very busy. If you don't have any other concerns, please stop bothering me and go to your boyfriend."
Janet followed Cordelia's gaze and saw Alaric standing not far behind her. She smiled sweetly, walked over to him, and wrapped her arm around his in an intimate manner.
"I thought you said you were swamped with work? How come you're here so early?"
Alaric withdrew his gaze from Cordelia and looked down at Janet, a complex emotion flickering in his deep eyes.
"I was worried you'd be bored, so I canceled a meeting."
Janet looked touched. "Even though staying in the hospital is a bit dull, I still hope you handle your work first before coming to see me."
"Your grandmother already disapproves of us being together. If she finds out about this, she'll probably blame me and try to keep us apart."
Janet's voice was soft, with an undeniable hint of sadness.
"She won't."
When Alaric looked up, he saw Cordelia already stepping back into her office, ignoring them.
Her indifferent attitude made him suddenly realize that her purpose in maintaining their marriage was solely for the Stone Group.
And he was just a pawn.
His face darkened as he looked towards Cordelia's office, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Janet sensed his mood shift and looked up at him, her hand clenching slightly.
"Alaric, what's wrong?"
Alaric withdrew his gaze and replied calmly, "I'll take you back to your room."
Janet didn't ask further, obediently following him back to her room, though a flash of malice crossed her eyes as she lowered her head.
Ruth was restless in the hospital and insisted on being discharged.
After finishing her work, Cordelia went to take Ruth back to the Hughes Manor.
As she supported Ruth's hand, they walked out of the elevator, chatting and laughing. But as soon as they stepped out, Ruth stopped abruptly.
Cordelia, puzzled, followed Ruth's gaze and saw Janet holding Alaric's arm with one hand and an apple in the other, eating leisurely.
"Alaric!"
Ruth's face darkened instantly.
Janet paused, her expression shifting several times before quickly tossing the apple into a nearby trash can.
"Mrs. Hughes."
Her voice carried a hint of worry, her expression dazed.
Seeing Janet clinging to Alaric's arm, Ruth was nearly apoplectic with rage.
"You shameless woman, do you know he's already married?"
Janet's face turned pale, her body stiff as she looked at Alaric in shock.
"You're married?"
Her voice was already choked with sobs, tears streaming down like pearls.
Alaric didn't answer, his brow furrowed.
Cordelia stood quietly beside Ruth, looking up at Alaric.
As expected.
His cold, sharp gaze fell on her, his expression full of disdain, as if accusing Cordelia of being manipulative.
Clearly, he believed this encounter was a deliberate setup by her.
"Go upstairs."
Alaric gently removed Janet's hand from his arm, his tone warm and reassuring.
But this warmth was never meant for her.
Janet didn't want to leave, looking at Alaric with teary eyes, full of grievance.
"Alaric, are you really married?"
Her face was pale, her hospital gown making her look frail, as if she might faint any second.
Ruth, furious, was about to speak when Cordelia interrupted.
"Grandma, there are too many people here. It's not good for our reputation."
Ruth, who cared about her reputation, noticed the busy hospital and hesitated, glaring at Alaric.
"Come home with me now."
Ruth ordered sternly, and Cordelia helped her out of the hospital.
Once outside, Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Ruth hadn't revealed her and Alaric's marriage in the heat of the moment.
Gossip spread quickly among hospital patients, and Cordelia didn't want to become the subject of idle chatter the next morning.
After helping Ruth into the car, Cordelia noticed Alaric was still inside the hospital.
She withdrew her gaze from the window, softly comforting Ruth.
"Grandma, let's go home. I believe Alaric will handle it."
Ruth sighed, her tone slightly reproachful. "You trust him too much, which is why Janet has the chance to provoke you."
Cordelia remained silent.
After waiting a few more minutes without seeing Alaric, Ruth instructed the driver to leave with a cold expression.
Half an hour after they returned to the Hughes Manor, Alaric finally came back from the hospital.
His expression was calm, and his deep eyes were no longer as sharp as they had been in the hospital.
Clearly, he had soothed Janet's emotions, which is why he seemed so relaxed.
Cordelia averted her gaze from him and smiled bitterly. What an enviable relationship.