Chapter 182
Hearing Bradley's gentle voice on the other end of the phone, Elaine felt something stir within her.
"Thank you for helping with Vera. I appreciate you going out of your way."
"No need to thank me. I'm happy I could help," Bradley replied, his tone still warm and gentle.
Just then, Elaine felt someone lightly tap her shoulder from behind.
She startled slightly, instinctively turning around while still holding her phone.
To her surprise, Bradley's handsome face with that gentle smile appeared right before her eyes.
He was standing just a few steps away, also holding his phone to his ear.
Elaine looked at him in confusion, then glanced down at her phone screen, still showing an active call, momentarily unable to process what was happening.
"Bradley? What are you doing at the hospital?"
Bradley lowered his phone and walked the few steps to stand in front of her, carefully studying her pale, haggard face.
"I noticed something was off back at the research center. I was worried, so I followed you here to check on you," he explained naturally, concern evident in his voice. "Looks like my instincts were right—you don't look well at all."
Seeing his sincere gaze, Elaine felt a warmth spread through her chest, but then remembered his recent injuries and frowned. "I'm fine, just a bit tired. But what about your injuries? Didn't the doctor insist you stay in bed and rest? You shouldn't be running around like this."
Noticing that her first concern was for his injuries, Bradley's eyes crinkled with a deeper smile.
He shook his head. "Don't worry, the wound is healing nicely. As long as I don't exert myself, it's fine. You, on the other hand..." His gaze swept over the dark circles under her eyes. "You look like you're the one who needs rest."
The two stood talking in a corner of the busy hospital corridor, the scene intimate and familiar. Neither noticed Emily standing around the corner, taking in the entire exchange.
She immediately pulled out her phone and took several photos, deliberately choosing an angle that made Bradley and Elaine appear extremely close, their posture seemingly intimate.
A malicious glint flashed in her eyes as she turned and quickly walked toward Arthur's hospital room.
In the hospital room, Arthur had just finished listening to the special care nurse's report on Vera's condition, his brow still furrowed with concern.
Emily walked in, instantly replacing her expression with one of hesitation and reluctance.
"Arthur..." She called softly, her voice uncertain.
Arthur looked up, giving her a dispassionate glance.
Emily, as if gathering her courage, carefully began, "I just saw Elaine downstairs... with Mr. Lewis from Lewis Group."
She paused, observing Arthur's expression before continuing with embellishments, "They were laughing together, standing very close... I know I shouldn't interfere, but with Vera lying unconscious in her hospital bed, for her mother to be not by her bedside but instead with another man in the hospital... if others saw this, they might gossip."
As she spoke, she quietly held out that carefully selected photo taken with a trick of perspective in front of Arthur's eyes.
Arthur's gaze fell on the phone screen.
In the photo, Elaine and Bradley appeared intimately close, with the hospital corridor clearly visible in the background.
His pupils contracted sharply as an icy chill emanated from him.
Vera was seriously injured and unconscious. He had just been furious about Elaine abandoning their child to run to the lab, and now she was openly flirting with Bradley in the hospital?
A wave of rage surged through him, instantly consuming all his rationality.
He didn't even consider the suspicious angle of the photo before abruptly standing up and storming out of the room without a word.
Emily watched his furious retreating figure, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
Arthur quickly reached the end of the corridor.
Elaine was still standing with Bradley, and seeing this scene, Arthur's last shred of reason instantly burned away.
He strode forward and grabbed Elaine's wrist with such force that she cried out in pain.
"Elaine!" Arthur's voice was restrained, his gaze ice-cold. "Vera is lying in there between life and death, and this is how you act as a mother? Eagerly chatting and laughing with another man? Do you even care about Vera anymore?"
Elaine was momentarily stunned by his sudden accusation and roughness, then felt a surge of anger.
She tried to shake off his grip but failed.
"Arthur, let go of me! What nonsense are you spouting?"
Arthur laughed coldly, his sharp gaze sweeping toward Bradley, whose expression had darkened. "Do I need to describe again how you two were happily chatting? Vera is lying in a hospital bed, and you're out here flirting with some guy. Elaine, you disgust me!"
"Arthur!"
This time, it was Bradley who intervened.
He stepped forward, his gaze carrying an undeniable pressure, and broke Arthur's grip on Elaine's wrist. "Show some respect. Elaine is more concerned about Vera than anyone."
"You have no right to speak here!"
Arthur suddenly turned his anger toward Bradley, his eyes fierce. "Bradley, I warned you to stay away from her!"
Bradley didn't back down, instead meeting his gaze with steady eyes. "You're the one who should keep your distance. You're her ex-husband—what right do you have to criticize her?"
The words "ex-husband" instantly provoked Arthur.
A vein pulsed at his temple as his hostility intensified, and the conflict seemed about to escalate.
But in the next second, his peripheral vision caught sight of the closed door of the hospital room nearby.
Thinking of Vera sleeping inside, he forcibly suppressed the surge of angry words.
He couldn't make a scene here, outside Vera's hospital room.
Taking a deep breath, he struggled to control his tone, though his eyes remained like poisoned ice as he stared at Bradley. "Fine. Very well, Bradley. If you're man enough, let's talk outside. No need to disturb the child."
With that, he didn't spare Elaine another glance before turning and striding toward the elevator.
Bradley gave Elaine a reassuring look before following.
Elaine watched the two men leave one after the other, her anxiety growing.
She rubbed her painful wrist, hesitated for a moment, then followed quickly, unable to shake her concern.
In a secluded area of the hospital garden.
Arthur had barely stopped before he turned and threw a vicious punch at Bradley, clearly harboring deep resentment.
Bradley seemed prepared, dodging to the side, his demeanor completely different from his usual gentle image.
"Is Mr. Smith embarrassed and angry now?" Bradley stood firm, methodically adjusting his cuff. "It seems I hit a nerve. What's wrong? Can't handle seeing someone who appreciates Elaine more than you did by her side?"
Arthur's eyes darkened as he moved closer again. "Don't think I don't know what you're after! Using your connection with Kathy to get close to her, putting on this devoted act—you think you can take advantage of the situation?"
Bradley let out a soft laugh, though his eyes had grown cold. "Aren't you the one who created this situation? You made her miserable throughout your marriage! Now that she's left you, you're playing the victim of betrayal? What a ridiculous joke!"
Every word Bradley spoke struck at the truth Arthur refused to acknowledge.
"What happens between Elaine and me is none of your business, outsider!" Arthur was completely enraged, throwing another punch.
This time, Bradley didn't completely dodge it.