Chapter 32 Leftovers
"So you really like my leftovers that much. Cynthia, you have such unique taste!" Joanna said with a cold laugh, then turned to leave.
Cynthia wasn't bothered by those words at all. Instead, she blocked Joanna's way even more stubbornly. "Joanna, you don't know this yet, do you? Chris spent $50 million to buy out those photos and dealt with all the accounts trashing me online. The board originally thought my damaged reputation made me unfit to represent the company in the competition. But Chris went to bat for me—he put his own credibility on the line, promised I'd bring home an award, and even gave up his entire year's dividend payout to reassure the shareholders. How could such a wonderful person be someone else's leftovers?"
She smiled smugly. Watching Joanna's expression go from shock to silence made her feel very satisfied. "Oh, I forgot. You've never experienced how good Chris can be. After all, all this time, he's only treated you as a bed warmer. Joanna, I actually thought that when you signed the divorce papers, you had truly seen through Chris's heart and were bravely pursuing your own life. I never imagined you were playing hard to get, wanting Chris to come begging."
Cynthia tossed her hair and finished with a challenging look, "But no matter how hard you try, Chris will never treat you the way he treats me. Because the difference between you and me is like heaven and earth. People should know their place. I advise you to stop fantasizing about him."
Joanna hadn't expected that to be how the public opinion issue was resolved.
For Cynthia's sake, Chris was willing to give so much? He had never treated her this way.
At first, she felt a bit sad, but hearing the rest, she knew Cynthia was telling the truth.
What really hurt her wasn't actually Cynthia's taunting, but the fact that Chris had never taken her seriously.
After listening, Joanna said nothing and raised her hand to slap Cynthia across the face.
"You!" Cynthia couldn't believe it.
"To make homewrecking sound so noble, Cynthia, you shouldn't be studying design—you should go straight into PR!" Joanna slapped her again with her other hand, suppressing the pain in her heart, and said coldly, "As for Chris? If you really thought he'd make you Mrs. Cooper after divorcing me, you wouldn't be here blocking my way now, afraid we might reconcile."
Caught in her shameful thoughts, Cynthia's face turned ugly and embarrassed. She had indeed panicked when she saw signs of Chris and Joanna making up, which was why she came to remind Joanna not to forget who Chris really treated well. In her view, it would be best if Joanna kept fighting with Chris, ruining their relationship to the point of no return!
Since she'd been seen through, Cynthia stopped pretending. She stared at Joanna and asked, "You're not still thinking about being Mrs. Cooper after all this, are you?"
Joanna laughed coldly, "What do you think? After all, Chris is really rich, and he can help me deal with my father and brother's problems."
With that, she completely ignored Cynthia and went straight back to her office.
Cynthia's face twisted with anger at those words. If Joanna really loved Chris that much, once Chris found out, the two of them would make up even faster! She had to think of another plan.
Back in her office, thinking about the wedding gift being given away and Chris spending a fortune to clear Cynthia's reputation, Joanna couldn't help spacing out for a long time.
Even though she'd known these things in her heart, she still couldn't help feeling sad.
Dr. Lawson noticed her mood. Thinking something serious had happened, he took the initiative to say, "Dr. Jones, I heard from other doctors that you've been at the hospital day and night lately. If you're not resting well, take some time off and go home to rest. Don't wear yourself out."
Feeling the concern, Joanna was a bit touched. She quickly shook off her bad mood. "I'm fine, Dr. Lawson. I was just thinking about something. By the way, I heard there's a patient who still needs their surgery scheduled. I've got room on my caseload if you need me to take on someone new."
Joanna planned to keep herself busy and stop worrying about Chris's mess.
Dr. Lawson was also happy that Joanna was so proactive and agreed. "Great, here's the patient's information."
With something to do, the day passed quickly. And Joanna didn't go see Chris again.
Chris had no choice but to go hungry all day.
At noon, when Joanna didn't come, he stopped a nurse to ask. Learning that Joanna had taken on a new surgery, he was very unhappy that she had ranked him lower than other patients.
However, since Joanna had taken the initiative to feed him today, she would definitely remember to come see him.
As a man, he'd be generous and wait patiently.
But he waited until the end of the day.
Joanna didn't show up for either meal, and Chris finally couldn't lie there anymore. He went straight to Joanna's office.
But before he got close, he saw that familiar guy giving Joanna a card. The two were talking about something, laughing happily.
"Angelo, I already got paid for your uncle's surgery. Let's just forget about this last payment. Honestly, after everything you've done for me, I shouldn't have charged you at all. Think of this as my way of saying thank you."
Angelo shook his head and firmly tucked the card into her coat pocket. "That's different. You curing my uncle with surgery is your skill, and it's right to charge for it. I didn't help you so you could repay me. Look, now you have the ability to help more people escape suffering from illness. Isn't that great?"
Joanna was very touched. She smiled helplessly and said, "Angelo, you're still so kind. I'll pass on your kindness and help more people in need."
"Joanna, what I really hope is that you can just be happy and be yourself." Angelo smiled gently. Noticing her hair was a little messy, he reached out instinctively to fix it. But just as his hand brushed Joanna's hair, someone suddenly rushed over and bumped into him, causing him to stumble back a few steps.
"Angelo!" Joanna cried out, quickly going to support him. "Are you okay?"
Angelo shook his head, a bit surprised to see Chris wearing a hospital gown.
Joanna angrily stood in front of Angelo and demanded of Chris, "What are you doing!"
Chris stared at her protective stance toward Angelo, grinding his teeth in anger. "Joanna, I never thought you'd be so cheap, actually taking his money now. The hundred grand I used to give you every month wasn't enough? Is he paying you even more?"
So that's why Joanna didn't come take care of him—she'd been seduced away by this Angelo again. Why was he giving Joanna money? Had their relationship already reached the point of him keeping her? Jealousy burned so hot that Chris's stomach hurt.
Joanna just found it ridiculous and looked at Chris with no pleasant expression. "I don't understand what you're talking about. Looking at you just now, you don't seem like someone who needs to be hospitalized. I'll tell your attending physician in a bit that you can be discharged. Stop wasting resources here!"
With that, she looked at Angelo. "Angelo, I just got off work anyway. Shall we go?"
"Joanna! I'm still hungry. Who gave you permission to get out of work without taking care of me? Do you even know how to care for patients?"
Chris's stomach hurt from hunger, and he angrily tried to pull Joanna back.
"I don't care how much money he's giving you, I won't let you leave with him!"