Chapter 75 Quit Your Job
"Grace General Hospital has been in talks about a new drug collaboration recently. Dr. Lawson must have mentioned this opportunity to you, right? Joanna, you're excellent. Pull yourself together soon. I hope you can shine in this collaboration."
At the mention of work, the worry on Joanna's face cleared and she smiled, "Developing new drugs will benefit more patients. I'll work hard!"
Angelo breathed a sigh of relief and asked with a smile, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? The nursing home cafeteria is pretty good. Let me take you there?"
Joanna had been watching over Sandra all last night and indeed hadn't eaten yet. She nodded.
After leaving the nursing home, Joanna went to the law office to meet with Peter.
"Miss Jones, regarding the appeal, I can only help you get a court date as soon as possible. From what I know, Nicole's side is also contacting lawyers. This case isn't easy to handle - we don't have enough evidence."
Joanna pressed her lips together and handed Peter the surveillance footage she got from Dr. Bruce. "Chris's mother went to my mom's place to threaten her. This is the hospital room surveillance. She wanted to force me to drop the lawsuit. I'm not sure if Cynthia had a hand in this, but I don't want to let either of them off."
First spreading rumors and defaming her, then after receiving the lawyer's letter, still coming to upset Sandra - she almost lost Sandra.
If Joanna did nothing, she really wouldn't deserve to be called a daughter.
Peter took the video, watched it on fast-forward for a while, then nodded at Joanna. "This video can serve as evidence. I've also collected the IPs of those accounts that posted rumors about you. Now it depends on what kind of compensation Miss Jones wants."
Joanna actually felt that no amount of compensation could compare to Sandra's life.
She thought for a moment. "Let the law decide. I only ask that they apologize and clear my name, and they need to compensate for my mother's surgery and follow-up care costs."
Peter nodded - these were all reasonable demands.
He asked about the progress of the divorce, then as he saw Joanna out, he remarked, "Miss Jones, you're truly one of the bravest women I've ever met. Many people, even if they're unhappy after marriage, don't dare file for divorce. Plus, the Coopers actually have a complex network of connections in Austin City. Things that can be solved with money rarely go to court. But whether it's your divorce or this defamation lawsuit, your demands have never been about money."
Joanna looked at the wide road and the passing cars, then said quietly, "What I want is perhaps just respect."
During the three years of marriage, she had lost that respect.
Naturally, the process of taking that respect back would be even harder.
"That's also why I admire you." Peter smiled and watched Joanna get in her car and leave.
Chris returned to the company in anger. Matthew came over with his laptop to report, "Mr. Cooper, the research institute's new drug symposium is about to be announced. Dr. Gordon got an invitation. This is the list of doctors our hospitals are sending. Please take a look."
Faced with work, Chris regained some composure.
He flipped through the list a few times and asked, "Get me one too. Dr. Gordon alone can't represent headquarters for the new drug collaboration. I need to meet with the head of the research institute. We must win this project!"
"Chris!" Cynthia walked over with a smile. "I heard everything. Are you going to the Aeterna Institute of Clinical Sciences? They're in Valeria, right? My teacher happens to be there. This would be a great opportunity to visit and learn. Can I come with you?"
Chris hesitated. "Aren't you busy with the company's design department? These medical projects are complicated and difficult. There's not much learning opportunity for your field."
Cynthia pouted at him playfully. "Do you really need me to spell it out? I just want to travel abroad with you. Plus, my teacher is there. He helped during the design competition last time, so we should visit to thank him. Besides, I also want to invite you to meet my parents."
Cynthia's parents had gone abroad a few years ago. The two families used to be close when they were young, but gradually lost touch after they moved abroad.
Chris: "But you're pregnant now. It's not really suitable to travel far, is it?"
"This is also Mrs. Cooper's idea. She hopes you can meet my parents. We can't hide my pregnancy from them." Cynthia blushed, seeming a bit shy.
Hearing this, Chris couldn't find a reason to refuse.
He really should go apologize to Cynthia's parents. And Nicole's intention was probably hoping he would bring up marriage between the two families. After divorcing Joanna, for the sake of the child and responsibility, he should marry Cynthia.
Logic told Chris he should go, but his heart felt uncomfortable.
He and Joanna... could they really only end in divorce?
"Okay."
Chris handed all his work to Matthew and hid in his office to smoke.
After returning to work at Grace General Hospital, Dr. Lawson came to find Joanna and gave her an invitation. "This is from Mr. Smith's instructions. Joanna, our department was planning to send you anyway. For the new drug symposium, I think your abilities are more suitable to represent our hospital."
When Joanna joined, many people didn't know she was Dr. J. It was only after she performed several surgeries that Dr. Lawson vaguely realized her abilities exceeded many doctors.
He had worried at the time that Joanna might replace his position after just a few months on the job.
But later he discovered Joanna just worked seriously, absorbing all surgical experience, which made him admire Joanna even more.
Joanna took the invitation, somewhat surprised, but more grateful inside.
She really valued this learning opportunity. "Thank you, Dr. Lawson! I'll definitely work hard and won't embarrass our hospital."
Dr. Lawson smiled and went to handle other work.
After work, Joanna took the invitation home.
She didn't expect to find Chris at her apartment door. After a moment of silence, she asked, "If you want to continue saying those things you yelled at me during the day, you can leave now. I'll call security."
Chris threw away his unfinished cigarette and walked toward her. "My mom wants me to take Cynthia to Valeria to discuss our marriage. Do you want me to go?"
Joanna lowered her eyes, hiding the bitterness in her heart, her voice calm. "Whether you go or not has nothing to do with me. I've known this day would come. If you have any sense of guilt, just go with me to the marriage registry office to finalize the divorce as soon as possible."
After being played last time, Joanna hadn't had time to schedule the next appointment.
She'd had a lot going on recently, and Matthew also reported that Chris's new project work schedule was very full with no free time.
Chris looked at her with somewhat sorrowful eyes. He couldn't say he didn't want a divorce, but he also couldn't bear to watch Joanna move toward another man.
If he ever saw Joanna holding hands intimately with Angelo, he felt he would die of anger.
"Quit your job at the hospital and come back to Cooper Corporation's research institute."