Chapter 133 Bigger Chest Competition
Matilda was working her shift at the clinic.
Since her return, her office now had a plaque reading 'Associate Chief Physician' hanging outside. She was busy seeing a patient when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Zoey. She ignored it until she'd finished with her patient, then finally checked her phone.
[Matilda, you're really gonna have to call me sister-in-law now! Hahaha, Charles came to my house today to propose!]
Matilda froze for a moment, then laughed. She hadn't expected Zoey to actually land Charles, much less for Charles to propose so quickly.
That hypocritical old man—his mouth said no, but his body was honest enough.
She texted back: [Congratulations!]
Did Wentworth know about this yet? Since their last chat, she hadn't heard from him in ages. Was he on some mission, or what?
...
Matilda put away her phone and called the next number.
Someone walked in—a woman. From her outfit and bearing, clearly from money.
The woman sat down across from Matilda with a contemptuous look. "So you're the wife?"
"If you already know that, then we must run in the same social circles." Matilda glanced at the name on the appointment sheet. Cave. So she was from the Cave family.
These days, Phoenix City's upper crust was full of gossip about her. Sure, the news articles and online posts had been scrubbed, but rich people had their channels. Over cocktails and canapés, the favorite topic was the Gonzaga family's second daughter-in-law. Naturally, that meant people would come looking for trouble.
The woman sat down and gave her a dismissive once-over. "I'm Natalia, from the Cave family. I was there that day when those people showed up to make a scene at your place."
What a coincidence. Because of Mrs. Cave's provocation that day, Matilda had made a mental note of the Cave family.
"Here for a medical consultation? This is pain management. Think carefully about where it hurts." Matilda didn't believe for a second she was actually here as a patient.
"My chest hurts. Can you treat that?"
"I'd suggest seeing a gynecologist."
"But I only want to see you."
"Fine by me." Each hospital department ran on its own budget. Lots of conditions didn't require the exact corresponding specialist—like kidney stones. If you knew an internist, they could order the tests too. If they really couldn't handle it, then you'd go to urology.
"Lie down. Let me examine you."
Natalia didn't hesitate. She lifted her top, revealing a pair of C-cups.
Matilda understood now. Natalia wasn't just here to provoke her—she was here to flaunt.
Matilda offered a compliment. "Nice rack."
"You know your husband's touched these, right?" Natalia said.
"Don't believe you," Matilda replied evenly. She put on gloves and examined her. "You've got a fibrocystic condition—benign breast disease. Have you had children?"
"As if."
"Then you've got a temper problem. People with bad tempers are prone to this. As your doctor, I'm advising you—try to be more chill about things."
"I can't be chill. In every single way, I'm better than you, right? Even my boobs are bigger. So why doesn't he like me? Why'd he marry you instead?" Natalia demanded.
"Who knows? Maybe it's just fate."
Natalia stood up, fixed her clothes, and looked down at Matilda from her full height. "I really don't like you. I've met plenty of people from the lower classes. When they see me, they grovel. But you? You're all stubborn and defiant, never playing by the rules. I guess that's what Wentworth likes about you. You're poor, but you're pretty, and you're stubborn. If I had to name one thing I don't have that you do, it's probably poverty. I was born into money, grew up confident and happy. But Wentworth's the type who likes to protect people. He couldn't find anything to protect with me, so he went and protected poor, pitiful you. You trigger men's protective instincts."
Matilda couldn't help laughing at that.
"Love doesn't need a reason. Wentworth really does love me. I don't care why he fell for me—the point is, he loves me."
"Ms. Cave, you should really get an ultrasound to see how extensive that fibrocystic condition is."
Natalia sneered. "Forget it. A hospital like this isn't equipped for patients like me. Getting an ultrasound here? How many people have laid on those exam tables? If I used one, I'd have to go home and disinfect my entire body. I came today to get a look at you, and also to warn you—don't cross me, or you'll regret it."
Matilda let out a cold laugh. "Cross you? I don't even live with the Gonzagas. I just quietly do my job as a doctor. We can stay completely out of each other's way. What's there to scheme about?"
Natalia slung her bag over her shoulder. As she left, she deliberately bumped into Matilda, then strutted out with her head held high.
Matilda rubbed her sore arm and muttered, "Psycho."
...
That was the morning with Natalia. In the afternoon, a man showed up.
The moment Matilda saw him, she knew he wasn't a real patient. Real patients walked in either anxious and worried—desperate to tell the doctor about their suffering—or hostile, ready to complain about the wait times. Matilda could handle both types.
But this guy? He was ridiculously good-looking, with that air of someone who'd grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. Yet there was something ruthless about him too, like someone who'd been cutthroat and competitive his whole life, willing to do whatever it took to win.
"Sir, this is a hospital. No smoking, please," Matilda reminded him.
He'd gotten impatient waiting outside and had pulled out a cigarette the moment he walked in. At her reminder, he put it away.
Matilda glanced at the name on the appointment sheet: Nason Everly.
She didn't know much about Phoenix City's elite social circles, didn't realize the Everly family was one of the Gonzaga family's main rivals.
Nason sat down and proceeded to look Matilda up and down.
"Wentworth picked himself a pretty wife," he said, his tone cocky and flippant.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Me? My heart hurts. Can you take a look?"
"I'll order you an EKG. You can go get it done yourself."
"It's heartache. An EKG won't help."
Matilda dropped the pretense. "So what are you to Wentworth? A rival? Or did you have a crush on him growing up too?"
"Me, crushing on him?" Nason looked like he'd just heard the funniest joke.
"This morning a woman from the Cave family came by. Said she wanted to see what I looked like, figure out what she didn't have that I do. You're not here for the same reason, are you?"
Nason let out a derisive laugh. "You're pretty blunt, aren't you? Just like Wentworth—cut from the same cloth."