Chapter 34 Joshua's Bewilderment
Gilbert's voice was calm but carried undeniable authority. Lyra couldn't help but tremble. Under everyone's gaze, she hung her head low, not daring to look up at Gilbert at all.
She felt like someone had slapped her face twice—it burned with pain.
Right now, she just wanted to escape this awkward situation as quickly as possible.
"I... I'm sorry, Dr. Davis. It's my fault. I shouldn't have spoken out of turn."
Lyra quickly finished speaking and sat down. She felt like she'd lost all her dignity for a lifetime. It was all that bitch Ava's fault.
Gilbert actually stood up for Ava... Mia clenched her uniform tightly.
"Sorry, Mr. Miller, for taking up your time. Please continue."
"No problem, take your seat." Joseph wasn't upset and nodded for Gilbert to sit down.
Gilbert nodded and, ignoring everyone's surprise, walked over to the empty seat next to Ava and sat down, looking at her with gentle warmth in his eyes.
Mia and Lyra's faces looked terrible. When they turned around, they saw the strikingly handsome Gilbert sitting beside Ava, exchanging smiles with her.
Gilbert came here for Ava.
Why did Ava deserve this?
Why her?
She was such a dirty, shameless woman—why would such an excellent man choose her?
Joseph looked deeply at Gilbert and Ava, seeming to understand something. He raised an eyebrow with a smile, then continued the meeting. "Next, everyone report on your work for this month..."
After the morning meeting ended, Ava walked out of the conference room with her meeting notes, alongside Thora. They saw Mia and Lyra fleeing in embarrassment.
Thora couldn't help but laugh. "They got what they deserved."
"Ava." A clear, gentle voice called out.
Ava turned to see Gilbert standing behind her. Thora, being perceptive, glanced at Ava a couple of times, her eyes full of knowing smiles. "Well, Ava, I'll head off first. You two chat. I need to check on a few patients, so I won't join you for lunch."
"Okay."
Gilbert nodded politely at Thora, his refined and gentle demeanor making Thora blush.
"Want to grab lunch together? If you have time, Ava, could you show me around the hospital?"
Ava smiled slightly. "Of course. Let's go."
Gilbert looked at Ava's smile, his gaze flickering, his gentle expression mixed with a hint of affection.
"By the way, how's our teacher doing lately?"
"He's living the good life, fishing every day. But he talks about you all the time, worried you'd be treated badly back home with no one to look after you. It's 'Ava this, Ava that.' He also misses those two little troublemakers, Finn and Cleo. You three are his treasures. If he were ten years younger, he'd definitely come drag you all back."
Ava's delicate brows furrowed, her eyes lowered, a flash of guilt crossing her pupils.
"I made him worry. I've been so busy lately, I forgot to call and let him know I'm okay. Next time I go back, I'll apologize to him in person."
"You're his favorite. He definitely won't blame you..."
Just then, a nurse rushed over. "Dr. Davis, something's wrong! The patient in bed 306 had a sudden episode. The afternoon surgery has been moved up—they're already being taken to the operating room."
"What? Okay, I'm coming right away." Ava's expression turned urgent, and she was already running toward the operating room. She quickly said to Gilbert, "Sorry, Gilbert, I can't have lunch with you. Dinner's on me—I have to go..."
Gilbert understood the urgency and immediately nodded. "Okay, go quickly."
At the same time, at the Thomas Group.
In the conference room with its understated luxury décor, the atmosphere was particularly oppressive.
All the executives present were sweating profusely, not daring to breathe loudly, heads bowed as they checked their submitted reports over and over for any possible errors.
The head of the administrative department had just finished his report and stood at his position, nervously waiting for Joshua to speak.
After a long while, he was breaking out in cold sweat, his legs trembling. He carefully lifted his eyelids to glance at Joshua in the main seat.
Joshua leaned back in his executive chair, his long fingers tapping the table intermittently, the watch on his wrist gleaming coldly.
Joshua's deep gaze was fixed on one spot, lost in thought.
Even Samuel couldn't read Joshua at this moment.
After working by Joshua's side for so many years, this was the first time he'd seen Joshua distracted during a meeting.