Chapter 15
News of Philip’s dismissal spread like wildfire through the hospital, leaving staff in shock at the unexpected turn of events.
“Serves him right! That creep’s been harassing nurses for
ages.”
“What an amazing news! It’s about time someone stood up to the Hacketts. Dr. Lloyd’s got guts!”
Many were relieved Andrew had come out unscathed, while those who had hoped to see him go were baffled. They wondered how Bernard–lost this battle, as it simply did not add up. After all, Andrew no longer had Christina’s support, and he was nothing in their eyes.
Some of the more imaginative male doctors exchanged knowing glances, wondering if Andrew had somehow charmed Francesca too. If so, they would never forgive him for snagging such a prize.
On the other hand, Nyla’s colleagues could not resist teasing her.
“Dr. Lloyd played the hero for you, Nyla. Shouldn’t you show your appreciation?”
“That’s right, Nyla! You’re the belle of our hospital, and I think the only one who could sweep you off your feet is Dr. Lloyd. You should go for it!”
Nyla felt her cheeks flush. She bit her lips, gathered her courage, and walked toward Andrew’s office.
Andrew was alone, and when he saw the blushing nurse enter, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry. You heard the news–Philip’s been fired.”
Nyla fiddled with the hem of her shirt and stammered, “Dr. Lloyd, I wanted to thank properly and also… tell you something I’ve been keeping to myself for a long time.” Andrew smiled encouragingly. “Go ahead, Nyla. You can speak freely with me.” With twinkling eyes, Nyla whispered, “Dr. Lloyd, I–I want to be yours.”
you
Immediately regretting her boldness, Nyla covered her face and turned to flee. She was worried that she might have come off too strong and made Andrew uncomfortable. In her haste, she bumped into the desk, crying out in pain and falling right into Andrew’s arms.
Before Andrew could react, a cold chuckle from the doorway made them both freeze. There stood Francesca, her face a mix of shock and anger.
“Andrew, you’re despicable,” Francesca spat.
Confused, Andrew asked, “What did I do?”
Francesca sneered, “What did you do? In broad daylight, in your office, you’re having a nurse
perform indecent acts. You’re nothing but a sleaze, and I’m going to make sure Lauren
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knows exactly what kind of man you are.”
As Francesca stormed off, Andrew was left bewildered by her intense reaction. Looking down, he realized the awkward position Nyla had landed in, her face uncomfortably close to his lap.
“Um…” Even with his quick thinking, Andrew could not find the right words to say.
Before he could react, the office door burst open and a crowd of curious colleagues poured in.
“Whoa, Dr. Lloyd, you’re a real player! And with Dr. Aicker watching? That’s next level!”
“Nyla, we told you to confess, not put on a show!”
Amidst the laughter, Andrew sighed, knowing this misunderstanding would be impossible to explain.
Meanwhile, Christina and Shawn arrived early at Wealthroller Investments, owned by Marvin. They were there to submit their proposal for the orphanage property.
Shawn boasted confidently, “Christie, don’t worry. With Stevens Corporation’s reputation and the Fields family’s backing, Marvin’s bound to choose us for the development project.”
Christina remained cautious. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Marvin is cunning, so we need to tread carefully.”
Just then, a Wealthroller employee approached them.
Shawn grinned, “See, Christie? Good news already.”
However, his smile quickly faded as the employee spoke. “I’m sorry, Ms. Stevens. Your company’s proposal doesn’t meet our requirements.”
Christina felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Did Mr. Yates personally review it?”
The employee replied matter–of–factly, “Mr. Yates himself called it ‘garbage‘, and that’s why it was rejected.”
Christina stood frozen in disbelief. Her carefully prepared proposal, which she had considered. flawless, was dismissed as garbage.
Shawn was enraged and demanded, “I don’t believe it. We need to speak with Mr. Yates directly.”
The employee barely glanced at him before scoffing, “Meet Mr. Yates? Do you really think you’re important enough?”
With that, the employee turned and left, leaving Shawn fuming but unable to retort. As a member of the Fields family, he realized he was indeed nothing compared to Marvin, Jayrodale’s richest man. He had only intended to show off in front of Christina, but instead, he had made himself look like a fool. 1
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Christina sighed, disappointment evident on her face. “Wealthroller Investments is too big for us to take on right now. Let’s go. We’ll have to give up on that property.”
Unwilling to admit defeat, Shawn bragged, “Hold on, Christie. I’m not useless like Andrew. I promised to help you get that land, and I will. I’ll have my dad call Marvin right now.”
Christina looked skeptical. “Can your dad really influence him?”
Shawn puffed up his chest. “Marvin might be a big shot in Jayrodale, but he still respects the Fields family.”
He immediately dialed his father’s number.
“Hey, Dad. I need you to call Marvin, you know, Jayrodale’s richest guy, and ask him for a favor,” Shawn said confidently.
Tony Fields, Shawn’s father, could not believe his ears. “What did you just say? Repeat that.”
Shawn obliged, repeating his request, “I need you to call Marvin and ask him for a favor.”
“Are you out of your damn mind? You want me to ask the richest man in town for a favor? We’re not even among the top ten families of Jayrodale! Besides, I don’t have his number, you idiot!”
With that, Tony hung up, clearly furious. Shawn stood there with his phone still pressed to his ear, realizing he had just made a complete fool of himself
