Chapter 16
Joanna understood that if she didn't agree to this approach, John might kill her directly to keep that five million.
So she nodded. "You give me a letter of understanding right away. Once my brother is released, I'll delete the surveillance footage."
John still didn't quite trust her, looking her up and down several times. "Are you serious? You won't suddenly change your mind, will you?"
Joanna's palms were sweating from nervousness. "Of course not!"
"Then get yourself a lawyer first before you come back!" John slammed the door in her face.
Joanna immediately turned and left. It wasn't until she got in the taxi that she completely relaxed.
Of course, she was lying to John. She would submit all of this to the court.
Just then, Luke's message came back: [Jo, I'm so sorry. Not having you join us is St. Mary's loss!]
With Chris there, Joanna didn't want to work there anyway.
With her abilities, finding another job wouldn't be difficult.
After briefly replying to Luke, she sent her resume to other hospitals.
Then she gave the recording to Peter, who was very happy after receiving it, saying that combined with the surveillance footage, they would definitely win the case this time!
Joanna immediately cheered up.
But a few days later, every single hospital she'd applied to shot her down.
Getting turned down by one or two places? She could deal with that. But getting blacklisted everywhere? That was sketchy as hell.
Joanna asked Fiona, a former classmate who worked at one of those hospitals, to find out what was going on.
Fiona was very helpful and soon replied, "I heard someone put in a word not to hire you. Joanna, did you offend someone? Your professional skills are really strong!"
Joanna thanked Fiona and promised to treat her to a meal next time.
After hanging up, Joanna thought of Chris.
Only he knew she was looking for work, and only he would stop her.
The more Joanna thought about it, the more depressed she felt.
Did she have to beg Chris just to find a job?
Chris was absolutely terrible!
Joanna directly called Chris. If he wouldn't let her have peace, she wouldn't let him have peace either. She'd curse at Chris to vent her anger!
At this moment, Chris was still at St. Mary's Hospital.
Last night, the entire hospital had been preparing for David's surgery.
Even though they'd gone over the game plan a million times, things went sideways during the operation and almost turned into a total disaster.
If Dr. Gordon hadn't thought fast and switched to the surgical method Joanna had pitched, getting those complications under control, David would've been circling the drain last night.
Dr. Gordon had been scared ever since, nervously reporting the surgery results, clearly seeing Chris's face darken. "So what you're saying is, Joanna is capable?"
Dr. Gordon sighed. "I know you don't want to hear this, but if she'd been the one holding the scalpel yesterday, she probably could've shut down those complications before they even started." Only someone like Dr. J could pull that off, Dr. Gordon thought to himself, but kept his mouth shut about that part.
Chris sneered. "I know her abilities very well. Maybe she was just lucky, and this approach just happened to be something you guys didn't think of."
Dr. Gordon couldn't get through to Chris and threw up his hands. "David's surgery went out of our ability. So you need to get him transferred ASAP and figure out a new plan to stop these complications from spreading."
"Okay, got it." Chris tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose. Just then, his phone rang—Joanna.
Before, he wouldn't answer her calls, always having Matthew handle them. But thinking she was probably having trouble finding work, and now knowing she was wrong, she was coming back to beg him, Chris answered the call. "Do you know you were wrong?"
So it really was Chris! Joanna was so angry her heart hurt. "Chris, we're just getting divorced, and you go and blacklist me from every hospital in town?"
Chris was stunned for a moment when he heard this. He hadn't done these things. But it didn't matter anymore. Joanna really wanted to work; that did surprise him a bit.
"Joanna, even if you successfully join a hospital, you won't have a chance to do surgery. Isn't it better to just come home and be my wife?"
Of course not!
She was sick of being humiliated by Chris!
"You've never seen my abilities, how do you know I can't do it?" Joanna said defiantly. "What, is Cynthia the only hotshot in the world? So freaking amazing that everyone else has to step aside for her?"
It was about Cynthia again. Chris was very impatient.
"You have to compare yourself to her? Joanna, you two are different! Stop making a fuss and go back to how things were before, okay?" Chris couldn't help but sigh. "Just come back home. I'll have Matthew arrange a secretary position for you at the company. You'll just help me run errands."
With that, he hung up.
When they didn't see each other, they could actually have a calm conversation, which was better than fighting every time.
Chris felt that everything had changed since Joanna's mother got sick. He sent Matthew another message, asking about Joanna's mother's condition. Learning that she had already had surgery, he thought for a moment and told Matthew: [Contact some neurological experts and have them check on her and create a treatment plan.]
Matthew immediately went to arrange it after receiving the message.
Cynthia was nearby and heard Chris's phone call with Joanna. Hearing him say he wouldn't go through with the divorce, then listening to him set up doctors for Joanna's damn mother, she was about to lose her shit from jealousy!
How could Joanna still be clinging to Chris after all this?
She had to find a way to make Joanna and Chris divorce as soon as possible! The position of Mrs. Cooper would be hers sooner or later!
But no matter what she thought inside, Cynthia's face still wore a caring smile.
"Chris, let's go check on David."
Chris relaxed his brow. He really liked Cynthia's thoughtfulness. At work, Cynthia was a good helper, and in life, Cynthia always knew what he needed.
Unlike Joanna, who was always throwing tantrums, completely ignoring how hard he worked.
Joanna, who had been hung up on, stopped caring about what Chris thought. She went to the hospital to be with her mother.
The caregiver was holding water to wipe her mother's face. Seeing her arrive, she was very happy. "Joanna, visiting your mother again? Your father and brother didn't come again this time?"
Joanna forced out a smile. "They have things to do, they won't be coming recently."
The caregiver smiled and went out with the water.
She didn't point out that, actually, the Jones father and son had never come even once.
Joanna sat for about two hours before leaving the hospital.
As soon as she got home, Matthew sent her a contact with a note: [Ma'am, Mr. Cooper has arranged a consultation with Dr. Powell for your mother. You can talk to him about her specific situation and arrange an examination ASAP.]