Chapter 39 Who Touched Her
Quinley drove David back to the hospital. Throughout the ride, he sat in the passenger seat conducting his very "busy business."
"David, are you there? Do you miss me?"
"Dr. Brown, can I call you?"
"Mr. Big, your little baby just finished her shower—want to video chat?"
The phone buzzed with various sweet, chirping voices. Quinley caught bits of the conversations and felt goosebumps covering her entire body.
David lounged in his seat with his legs crossed, foot bouncing as his fingers rapidly replied on the screen. He was handsome and wore his white coat well, but carried an inherent roguish air. This stark contrast was undeniably attractive to women.
Fortunately, Quinley was immune to his charms.
When the car reached the hospital's underground parking garage, Quinley completed her task and prepared to get out. David was still glued to his phone, chatting away.
"Dr. Brown, thank you for helping me out today." Quinley reached for the door handle.
David didn't look up, his eyes still fixed on his phone screen. Though busy with his digital admirers, he didn't forget to shake Quinley down. "How are you going to thank me?"
"I'll buy you a late-night snack."
David glanced at Quinley and snorted. "You're dismissing me with just one meal?"
"Two meals," Quinley entered negotiation mode.
David rolled his eyes. Quinley held up three fingers and wiggled them. "Three?"
Just then, David's phone rang. The screen displayed: Princess.
He quickly covered it, his usually carefree face showing a flash of nervousness. "Get out first. I'll let you know once I've decided." He urgently ushered Quinley out of the car.
The moment Quinley stepped out, David immediately locked the doors. Quinley had no interest in prying into others' privacy, especially David's, so she quickly walked away.
At that time, she had no idea the call was actually related to her.
At 9:30 PM, the Jennings family estate was brightly lit. Usually by this time, Sylvia would already be in bed, but tonight was an exception.
Alicia sat on the sofa, sobbing pitifully. A doctor wearing a mask carefully treated a wound on her face—small but with a large affected area, several spots had broken the skin and were red and swollen.
"Ms. Parker, I really had good intentions. Ms. Elikin has been by Zach's side for so many years—even without great achievements, she's worked hard. When she asked me to help introduce her to someone, I genuinely put effort into it. That Mr. Thomas might not look like much, but he has money and capability. If they got married, Quinley wouldn't have to work for others anymore."
Alicia rambled on while Sylvia frowned and nodded frequently. Alicia's eagerness to marry Quinley off was really about cutting off Zachary's foolish hopes.
Sylvia had investigated Percy—the man had no character or conduct, and aside from money, had absolutely no redeeming qualities. Worst of all, he was a mama's boy with a tyrannical mother-in-law.
Finding such a "wonderful" match for Quinley showed just how much "heart" Alicia had put into it. Unfortunately, she'd used her heart a bit too much and achieved the opposite effect.
"Alicia, Ms. Parker knows you were thinking of Quinley's best interests." Sylvia agreed.
The doctor applied medicine, and Alicia suddenly sucked in cold air. "Doctor, be gentler."
Sylvia scolded the doctor with concern.
"Ms. Parker, I feel so wronged by that slap!" Alicia continued crying.
She recounted the evening's engagement dinner events to Sylvia—Zachary's appearance, David's intrusion—adding her own embellishments to certain parts.
"I will get justice for you." Sylvia took a stance, but Alicia hurriedly grabbed her arm.
"Ms. Parker, please don't mention this to Zachary. It's not his fault. I was careless and didn't notice that man, giving him the opportunity."
Her face was red and swollen, and the medicine seemed to make it look even worse. A woman's face was sacred—it couldn't be touched, much less struck. Yet an hour ago, Alicia had been slapped.
The person who hit her also warned her to stay away from Quinley from now on.
Sylvia was furious and immediately called Quinley. "Get over here right now."
Sylvia was livid, and Quinley didn't dare delay. She rushed over immediately.
Upon entering, Quinley immediately spotted Alicia leaning against Sylvia, crying heartbrokenly.
"Come here," Sylvia commanded.
Though Quinley sensed trouble, she still did as Sylvia ordered. The moment she approached, Sylvia raised her hand and slapped her across the face.
The sharp crack echoed as half of Quinley's face turned red.
"Ungrateful thing," Sylvia scolded.
Seeing Quinley get hit, Alicia immediately played the good person, rushing forward to support Quinley's arm. "Ms. Elikin, are you alright?"
Their eyes met—Alicia's showed fragility and concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Ms. Davis. I'm fine." Quinley pushed away Alicia's hand.
Sylvia's anger was uncontainable. She slammed the sofa armrest and shouted, "Inciting someone to hurt Alicia—you've got some nerve!"
Quinley looked completely confused. She wouldn't admit to something she hadn't done. "I didn't."
"You didn't?" Sylvia raised her palm and with another sharp crack, left another handprint on Quinley's pale face.
Alicia immediately rushed over to shield Quinley. "Ms. Parker, please don't hit Ms. Elikin anymore. She's definitely not that kind of person."
Sylvia's face turned iron-gray with rage. "What kind of person she is, don't I know? Ungrateful thing! Alicia arranged your marriage for your own good, yet you plot such schemes behind the scenes. Absolutely despicable!"
Sylvia's voice boomed like a bell, striking Quinley's heart with each word.
For her own good? How was any of this good?
A cold smile flickered in Quinley's heart. Could everyone use the excuse of "doing good for her" to trample and humiliate her at will, treating her like clay to be molded into whatever shape they preferred?
"I truly did not incite anyone to hurt Ms. Davis." Quinley's eyes were clear as water. She understood the consequences of defying Sylvia, yet she did it anyway.
"Ms. Elikin, quickly apologize to Ms. Parker. Her health is poor—she can't handle getting upset," Alicia resumed her good-person act.
Quinley's clear gaze swept over her, and suddenly a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. In that moment, Quinley suddenly felt sorry for Alicia.
To win Zachary's love, she'd lowered herself and tried desperately to please him. No, she wasn't just pitiable—she was pathetic.
Her tragedy lay in abandoning herself yet still failing to win Zachary's favor.
Quinley stood there with her back straight as an arrow. What Sylvia hated most was Quinley's upright posture.
She grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Quinley. Quinley wasn't about to take a beating for nothing—she dodged slightly, and the cup grazed her ear before flying past.
By sheer coincidence, it struck the person standing in the entryway.