Chapter 289 Apology
Juno lowered her eyes guiltily, "I didn't mean to."
"That's still no reason for you to humiliate Sophia! When she comes back, you better apologize to her properly." Maddox's voice was cold and stern, his attitude leaving no room for argument.
Juno felt even more wronged, but she was used to being strong-willed. No matter how turbulent her emotions were inside, her face remained cool and aloof.
Not hearing her response, Maddox got even angrier and roared in a low voice, "Did you hear me?"
Juno was startled by his harsh tone and instinctively looked toward Xander.
She thought her husband would take her side, but instead Xander agreed, "You really need to work on that temper of yours."
Juno nearly choked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open. Elodie walked in with Sophia and Benjamin. "Mom, apologize to Sophia right now."
Juno hadn't expected even her own daughter to turn against her.
Her chest heaved up and down in anger, an embarrassed expression crossing her face.
Sophia slowly shook her head, "No need. I'm not a dollar bill - I don't need everyone to like me. But—"
She changed her tone and continued, "I can take responsibility for my medical skills, and I'll take responsibility for my patients. So Juno, please take responsibility for your own actions too."
She had never wanted Juno to apologize.
For someone as proud as Juno, making her apologize would be worse than killing her.
She just wanted to tell them that she didn't care about the Armstrong family or the Smith family, and she didn't need them either.
She wasn't afraid of being misunderstood - she just didn't like being humiliated and insulted to her face.
I won't bother others unless they bother me, but if they do, I'll pay them back a hundred times over.
Juno's face suddenly turned pale. Her hands gripped her clothes tightly as she turned to look at Ernest lying weakly asleep in the hospital bed, a sharp pain rising in her chest.
After a long silence, she swallowed her embarrassment, crushed her pride and dignity bit by bit, and slowly uttered the words she least wanted to say in her life: "I'm sorry."
If Ernest suffered any consequences because of her interference, she would be to blame.
As a businesswoman, she was best at weighing pros and cons.
She knew she only had one choice at this moment.
When she spoke those words, everyone present was stunned.
Especially the people from the Armstrong family and the Smith family.
Maddox had watched Juno grow up and knew her temperament best.
This woman wouldn't easily admit defeat even if her bones were crushed.
Yet today she actually said those words of apology in front of everyone.
Sophia was also stunned. She hadn't expected Juno to actually choose to apologize, and for a moment her feelings were complicated.
If Juno had maintained her cold attitude, she could have just ignored it, but now... she didn't know what to say.
Sophia stood there in a daze for a long time before she slowly came to her senses.
Under everyone's gaze, Sophia cleared her throat and spoke somewhat uncomfortably, "You don't need to apologize. I know you care about your nephew, and you didn't get anything good out of dealing with me anyway."
Juno's lips twitched slightly as she looked at Sophia with increasingly complicated eyes.
She had been a princess since childhood and had never suffered a loss at anyone's hands - Sophia was the first.
Seeing this, Elodie immediately stepped in to ease the atmosphere, "Alright, alright, we're all family. Let's just let this go, okay? Sophia, come quickly and check on Ernest's condition..."
Sophia collected her thoughts and sat down by the bed.
She slowly took out her medical tools and glanced in Juno's direction.
Juno's body immediately tensed up, and she quickly explained, "I didn't say anything this time, don't look at me. If you can't cure Ernest's illness, the Armstrong family definitely won't let you off."
Sophia: "..."
Sophia had no intention of indulging her and lightly retorted, "Don't worry, I can cure his illness, as long as you don't get in the way."
Juno: "..."
She was quite angry, her chest heaving violently. She glared hard at Sophia, then said, "I'm going out for some air."
After dropping that line, Juno turned and left the hospital room.
Maddox shook his head helplessly and couldn't help but laugh.
Juno was good in every way, except her temper was too stubborn.
Sophia soon treated Ernest and instructed everyone in the room, "His condition has stabilized. The next step is to develop the antidote."
Everyone's hearts lifted with joy. Marigold looked at Sophia excitedly, "Really? He can really be cured?"
Sophia nodded, her tone certain, "Yes. But there's still one very important medicine we haven't found yet."
With that, she took out a piece of paper from her bag with the name and properties of the medicine written on it.
"If we can find this medicine, Ernest's poison can be cured."
"But where should we look for it?" Marigold picked up the paper, her fingers beginning to tremble.
Ernest finally had hope, and they were just one step away, but she still had no clue.
"This medicine is very rare. We might have to try our luck at an auction." Sophia reminded her in a low voice.
If it were really that easy to find, the poison in her own body wouldn't have dragged on for so long.
After leaving the hospital room, Elodie called her back again.
"Sophia."
Sophia stopped and turned to look at her, "Is there something else?"
Elodie clenched her fist and said to Sophia, "Thank you for not holding grudges, and thank you for treating Ernest."
"There's nothing to thank me for. It's what I should do."
Elodie pressed her lips together, sneaking a glance at Benjamin, and said in a low voice, "Can I talk to you alone?"
Sophia was taken aback, then looked up at Benjamin.
Benjamin's face was expressionless, his eyes seeming to hide a storm of coldness.
Sophia gently shook his hand, "Wait for me outside."
Benjamin hadn't wanted Sophia to have too much contact with the Smith family, but now that she had spoken, he had to go along with her wishes.
"I'll be right outside the door. If anything happens, just call out and I'll hear you."
As Benjamin spoke, his eyes looked coldly at Elodie.
Elodie's lips twitched, and she couldn't help but silently complain in her heart - this was a hospital, did he really think she would do something to Sophia?
Sophia knew his temperament and could only nod helplessly, coaxing him to leave.
When only Elodie and Sophia were left in the hallway, Sophia slowly asked, "What did you want to tell me?"
Elodie didn't answer immediately, but said meaningfully, "I heard you and Benjamin have a business marriage, but your relationship seems really good?"
"Yes, everyone says he's cold and violent, but actually he's human too. He has emotions, he can feel wronged, he can laugh, he can get jealous, he can act cute..."
Benjamin was standing outside the door at that moment, sunlight falling on him, coating him with a golden glow that dispelled the coldness around him.
"Act cute? Are you sure you're talking about Benjamin?" Elodie's eyes were full of shock.