Chapter 214 He Has Always Regretted Divorcing Cordelia Three Years Ago
Alaric had a keen eye for investments and handled matters with exceptional precision. Over the years, almost no one had managed to uncover any dirt on him.
It was no surprise people called him a golden boy in the business world.
"Mr. Hughes is indeed very thoughtful."
Alaric walked to the suite door and glanced at Ronin.
"Anything else?"
Ronin immediately shook his head. "Nothing else."
Alaric didn't respond and walked into the suite.
After the bedroom door shut, Ronin said to Robert with admiration, “Mr. Hughes is so careful with everything he does. He’s probably never experienced regret in his life, right?”
Over the past three years, Alaric had steered the Hughes Group through a period of rapid growth, hardly making a single mistake.
Ronin truly admired Alaric.
Robert's expression stayed calm as he smiled faintly. "Is it possible that Mr. Hughes became so cautious precisely because he's tasted regret?"
Three years ago, Alaric's decision to divorce Cordelia left a mark of regret that still weighed heavily on him.
Ronin was stunned. He hadn't expected that someone like Alaric had also made decisions he regretted.
"Ronin, it's getting late. You should head back and rest. I won't see you out."
Seeing that Robert didn't intend to pursue the topic further, Ronin didn't dare press him. He simply nodded and took his leave.
After Cordelia returned to her room, she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
Early the next morning, just as she finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door.
When Cordelia opened the door, it was Robert.
"Ms. Stone, the hotel has prepared breakfast. Mr. Hughes asked me to come up and invite you."
Cordelia politely declined, "Please thank Mr. Hughes for his kindness, but I'll just have breakfast with Ms. Ramirez."
Robert remained respectful, "Deborah has already gone downstairs."
Cordelia paused, then had no choice but to follow Robert downstairs.
When they reached the restaurant, Cordelia saw Alaric and Deborah from a distance.
Deborah was sitting across from Alaric, and they seemed to be talking about something.
"Dr. Stone is here."
Seeing Cordelia, Deborah waved at her.
Cordelia quickened her pace and walked over.
Deborah immediately moved to the side chair to let Cordelia sit down.
As Cordelia took her seat, she ended up right across from Alaric.
Once she arrived, Alaric waved for the waiter to serve the food.
During breakfast, Alaric's eyes were almost constantly on her, his lingering gaze making Cordelia feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Cordelia quietly took a breath, put on a smile, looked at Deborah beside her, and asked softly. "Ms. Ramirez, what were you and Mr. Hughes talking about just now? Please continue."
Hearing this, Deborah looked at Cordelia and smiled.
"If we really talked about it, I'm afraid you'd feel uncomfortable."
Cordelia paused. "What? Does the topic have something to do with me?"
Deborah smiled and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Cordelia looked at Alaric, seeking an answer.
Alaric didn't answer either.
Throughout the meal, Cordelia couldn't help but keep wondering what exactly Alaric and Deborah had talked about.
Why had he invited Deborah down first?
By the end of breakfast, Cordelia barely remembered what she had eaten.
After breakfast, several managers from the Hughes Group's Ravenshollow branch came to pick up Alaric.
Cordelia and Deborah returned to the hospital.
On the way back to the hospital, Deborah kept talking to Cordelia about the child patient's condition.
Cordelia listened very carefully throughout, putting aside the question from the restaurant.
The patient, Molly's, family wasn't well off.
Her parents had already sold their house to pay for Molly's treatment.
Yesterday, the hospital held a social fundraising event, and Cordelia shared the fundraising message on her personal account.
As Deborah and Cordelia reached the entrance, they ran into Molly's mother.
Molly's mother was very emotional, grabbing Deborah's hand and crying with excitement.
"Molly can be saved! Yesterday's fundraising event raised a lot of money, enough to cover treatment costs for a while. Plus, a famous celebrity is willing to keep promoting for Molly."
Hearing this, both Deborah and Cordelia were genuinely happy for Molly.
After Cordelia and Deborah arrived at Molly's room together, they paused when they saw the celebrity Molly's mother had mentioned.
Cordelia hadn't expected to run into Janet here.
Janet was sitting by Molly's bed, gently massaging the back of Molly's hand.
Molly had been undergoing treatment for a while, so her hands and feet would occasionally go numb.
Deborah walked over to thank Janet.
Janet smiled and said politely, "I'm just doing what little I can."
As she spoke, she saw Cordelia, and her expression changed slightly, feigning surprise.
"Dr. Stone, what are you doing here?"
Cordelia remained natural and replied, "I didn't expect Ms. Martin to be here either."
Janet smiled helplessly and said softly, "Yes, what a coincidence."
"I didn't know Molly was Dr. Stone's patient. If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have appeared in front of you."
Cordelia frowned.
Everyone in the room turned their eyes to Cordelia.
Janet's words were essentially telling everyone that she and Cordelia had a conflict.
And it was a deep conflict, so deep that Cordelia disliked seeing Janet.
Cordelia remained composed, not letting Janet's words disturb her emotions.
"Why would Ms. Martin say such a thing? I don't think we have any deep conflict between us. Besides, I'm not Molly's primary physician. If Ms. Martin minds, I can withdraw from the treatment team. I hope Ms. Martin won't give up supporting Molly because of me. Please continue to help Molly."
Janet was caught off guard by Cordelia's words, her expression showing some awkwardness.
In just a few words, Cordelia had thrown the problem back at her.
Everyone's eyes returned to Janet.
Janet could only smile stiffly and say, "Of course I won't give up supporting Molly because of you."
Hearing this, Deborah smiled to ease the atmosphere.
"Everyone is here for Molly's sake. Whatever conflict Dr. Stone and Ms. Martin had before, I hope you both can set it aside for Molly."
Cordelia smiled graciously and nodded, proactively extending her hand toward Janet.
"Ms. Martin, let's make peace."
Hearing this, Janet felt uncomfortable inside.
Cordelia clearly disliked her, yet now she was talking about shaking hands and making peace, which made her feel uneasy.
But with so many people watching, she couldn't be willful. She could only smile slightly and extend her hand to briefly shake Cordelia's.
Cordelia wore a composed smile on her face, lightly shook Janet's hand, then withdrew her own.
Janet looked at the smile on Cordelia's face and found it glaring.
Yet Cordelia's composed appearance showed no flaws, which reminded Janet of three years ago when she mistakenly thought Evelyn was Alaric's wife.
Back then, Cordelia had been just as calm and collected.