Chapter 172 The Taste of Being a Substitute is Too Bitter
Theron hesitated for a moment, caught between answering the call and ignoring it. After a brief pause, he ultimately decided to end the call and hang up.
After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to answer someone else’s phone without their permission. He didn’t want to accidentally cause any unnecessary misunderstanding between husband and wife. If Daniel got the wrong idea because of something like this, it would only complicate matters.
On the other end of the line, Daniel stared at the screen of his phone as the call abruptly disconnected. A faint crease appeared between his brows as confusion crossed his face.
He was standing at the far end of the hospital corridor, right beside a large window that overlooked the emergency building outside.
Just moments earlier, while standing there, he had the strange feeling that he had seen a familiar figure being carried into the emergency department by a man. The sight had been fleeting, but it had left him feeling uneasy.
Why wasn't she answering?
Daniel was just about to dial the number again when a woman’s voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
Hearing the voice, Daniel turned around. When he saw who it was, he nodded slightly, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
Without saying much more, he turned and began walking toward the hospital room.
Scarlett was at the Wilson Mansion. How could the woman who had just been rushed into the emergency department possibly be her?
Most likely, Scarlett had simply hung up on him because she was still upset that he had stood her up earlier and failed to come back to have lunch with her.
She had always been like that ever since she was little.
She rarely lost her temper with anyone else, but with him, she would occasionally throw small tantrums. Still, those little fits of anger never lasted long. She was always easy to coax and comfort.
Thinking about it, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared in Daniel’s eyes.
However, the moment he pushed open the hospital room door, that trace of a smile slowly faded away.
Meanwhile, in the emergency room.
Scarlett lay quietly on the hospital bed. Her face was pale, almost devoid of color. Although her expression had gradually calmed down, she still looked extremely weak, as though all her strength had been drained.
“The patient experienced abdominal pain due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, triggered by extreme emotional agitation. The intense anxiety and fear stimulated gastrointestinal spasms,” the doctor explained calmly. “Fortunately, it’s nothing serious.”
The doctor said.
Hearing the explanation, Scarlett pressed her colorless lips together and forced a bitter smile.
No matter how hard she had tried to stay calm, reminding herself over and over again not to blindly believe Alice’s one-sided story, the fear and pain brought on by Alice’s words had still taken root in her heart.
Even worse, those emotions had manifested physically. Her body had reacted before her mind could suppress it, leaving her unable to lie to herself any longer.
So this was what it meant to love someone deeply.
When you loved someone to that extent, every word about them could easily shake your emotions and disturb your entire world.
So this was what it meant to love someone deeply.
When you loved someone to that extent, every word about them could easily shake your emotions and disturb your entire world.
“Since she’s pregnant, we won’t prescribe medication casually,” the doctor continued. “Come here, I’ll show you a few pressure points you can massage to help relieve the discomfort.”
He gestured for Bruce to step forward. Bruce quickly moved closer and asked seriously, “Where exactly should I press?”
As the doctor explained the specific points, Bruce listened attentively, lowering his head and focusing carefully on every detail so he wouldn’t miss anything.
Seeing his serious attitude, the doctor nodded approvingly. “You seem to care a lot about your wife,” the doctor said with a faint smile. “In that case, try not to upset her or make her angry in the future. Pregnant women are already emotionally sensitive, and their moods can fluctuate quite a bit. If something like this happens again, the consequences could be much more serious.”
Scarlett was about to explain the misunderstanding when Bruce suddenly raised his hand and spoke first.
“It definitely won’t happen again. Thank you, doctor.”
He even winked at Scarlett discreetly, signaling for her not to say anything.
Seeing this, Scarlett decided not to explain further.
“Alright,” the doctor said. “Help her to a temporary ward so she can rest for a while. Once she feels better, she can leave.”
After giving a few final instructions, the doctor turned and walked out of the room.
Scarlett slowly sat up on the bed with some effort.
“Bruce, thank you for helping me today,” she said softly. “I’m already feeling much better.”
Bruce sat down beside her and gently took her hand, beginning to massage the pressure points the doctor had just mentioned.
“Scarlett, what exactly happened earlier?” he asked with concern. “Please don’t run into the street like that again. It was extremely dangerous.”
Scarlett smiled and nodded, but after a moment she pulled her hand back slightly.
“I can do it myself,” she said. “Was the person who came with you to bring me to the hospital your brother? Please help me thank him as well.”
It was obvious that she didn’t want to continue talking about what had happened to her.
Bruce hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t press the issue any further.
“That’s actually my cousin,” he explained. “He’s waiting outside right now. Let me help you—look at you, you barely have any strength left.”
Scarlett tried pressing the pressure points on her own hand, but her fingers felt weak and powerless. She couldn’t apply enough pressure to make much of a difference.
Bruce gently took her hand again and continued massaging the points for her.
Scarlett found herself staring absentmindedly at his hands.
Bruce had very nice hands, long and slender fingers with a slightly bony elegance. His nails were neatly trimmed and had a healthy pink color.
But for some reason, Scarlett suddenly thought of Daniel’s hands.
Daniel’s hands were just as beautiful, with faint crescent-shaped half-moons on each nail. They were similarly slender, yet Bruce’s hands still carried a hint of youthful thinness.Daniel’s palms were broader, stronger, and carried a sense of stability and security that always made her instinctively want to be held by them.
Yet when she needed it the most…
Daniel’s hands had never been there in time to hold hers.
Where was he right now?
Scarlett’s eyes stung painfully, and tears almost welled up again.
Startled by her own emotions, she quickly pulled her hand back, jumped off the bed, and said hurriedly, “I really do feel much better now. Let’s not keep occupying emergency resources. We should leave.”
Bruce nodded and carefully supported her as they walked out.
The moment they stepped out of the emergency room, Scarlett suddenly noticed a tall and upright figure standing not far away.
The man had his back to the emergency room while talking on the phone. He wore a dark suit, and his posture was straight and dignified.
At first glance, he looked strikingly similar to Daniel.
Scarlett froze in place. Her heart tightened sharply.
“Scarlett, what’s wrong?” Bruce asked immediately, noticing that she had suddenly stopped walking.
At that moment, the man turned around.
Scarlett could now see his face clearly, handsome brows, sharp eyes, and refined features. His expression carried a relaxed, almost casual air.
He was a completely different type of man compared to Daniel, yet he possessed an equally powerful presence.
Scarlett quickly realized who he must be.
This should be Bruce’s cousin, the person who had helped save her earlier.
“Alright, there was a small incident. I’ll bring him back right away,” Theron said into the phone before hanging up.
Theron said into the phone and hung up.
Realizing that she had delayed them, Scarlett felt extremely embarrassed. “I’m really fine now,” she said quickly. “Thank you both so much for helping me. You should go.”
She reached out to take the purse that Theron had been holding for her.
Theron handed the bag back but said calmly, “There’s no rush. We can walk you to the ward first. By the way, your husband called earlier. I hung up for you.”
Scarlett gripped the strap of her bag tightly and instinctively replied, “Thank you, Mr. Howard.”
Theron raised one eyebrow slightly. “You don’t need to thank me for that,” he said casually. “I just found the call a bit annoying.”
Scarlett fell silent for a moment. Not knowing how to respond, she forced an awkward smile.
However, Theron suddenly took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to her. Scarlett was a little puzzled, but she still reached out politely to accept it.
“You looked somewhat familiar earlier,” Theron said. “Now I remember. I once saw you dance at a dance academy selection competition.”
He paused slightly before continuing.
“Ms. Lewis’s dance performance left quite a strong impression on me at the time. It’s a pity that you eventually gave up joining the dance company. May I ask why?”
Scarlett froze for a moment. Then she also remembered the selection competition Theron was referring to.
It had been the recruitment selection for the Black Swan Dance Company under Howard Enterprises.
At that time, Howard Enterprises had been heavily investing in its cultural and entertainment industries.
Their women’s volleyball and soccer teams had already achieved impressive results, and afterward they established the Howard Enterprises Song and Dance Company.
The company had visited the dance academy to recruit new dancers. Scarlett had been personally recommended by her instructor to participate. She had performed extremely well and even received an offer afterward, with a very strong chance of becoming the company’s principal dancer.
But in the end… she never went.
Over the past four years, the Black Swan Dance Company had grown into one of the top three dance companies in the entire country.
Scarlett’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, and her voice suddenly sounded hoarse.
“As Mr. Howard can see… I went home and got married.”
She had abandoned a promising career and returned home to wait for a man who rarely came back.
Four years later, she had ended up in such a miserable situation.
Speaking those words aloud made her feel both ashamed and deeply embarrassed. Scarlett slowly lowered her head.
However, neither Bruce nor Theron showed any sign of surprise or contempt.
Theron simply nodded calmly.
“People make different choices at different stages of their lives,” he said.
“The Black Swan Dance Company is currently rehearsing a large-scale musical called Coral Reef Hotel. There’s a role for a pregnant woman in the production. If Ms. Lewis is interested, you can contact me.”
Scarlett looked up in surprise and thanked him again.
Theron’s thin lips curved slightly.
“You might not know this,” he added, “but we’ve actually met once before at the police station. The person you saved that night was my sister. If anything, I should be the one thanking you properly.” I should be the one properly thanking you."
Scarlett blinked in surprise before finally remembering. They had indeed met that night.
No wonder he had looked so familiar earlier. But she had been so mentally distracted today that she hadn’t recognized him.
Feeling a bit more relaxed now, she smiled lightly.
“I helped Mr. Howard’s sister, and Mr. Howard helped me today. That means we’re even,” she said. “Mr. Howard, Bruce, please don’t be so polite with me. You should go now—I really can manage on my own.”
Since she insisted repeatedly, Theron didn’t continue to press the matter. He left together with Bruce.
Scarlett then walked alone toward the temporary ward.She placed Theron’s business card into the inner compartment of her purse.
When she saw her phone inside, she suddenly remembered that Theron had mentioned Daniel calling earlier.
She took out the phone and dialed his number.
However, what she didn’t expect was that the moment the call connected, she looked up, and saw Daniel standing not far away.
He wasn't alone - walking beside him was Waverly.