Chapter 7

As expected, everyone in the corridor looked in Leroy's way. He felt a dull ache in his chest as it continued to linger with pain. An exasperated Samuel approached and stated, "This dude is trying to start trouble on purpose. Let me kick him out for you, Dr. Olson!" Leroy's hand waved weakly in the air. "Forget about it. I'm tired and need some rest." He had prepared to leave, yet Cedric strode over and blocked him with his arms crossed. "Come on, Dr. Olson. Are you this eager to run away from us?" Scarlett's expression was unreadable. "Cedric, come on. Let's not waste our time with him here." He smiled. "Oh, trust me, we're not. Besides, I only intend to thank Mr. Olson for his contribution. I'll be sure to leave you a good seat at our wedding dinner, Mr. Olson. By then, let's have a toast." Leroy's countenance grew increasingly grim, his breath hitching with every second. Samuel had had enough of it. He stepped forward and yelled, "That's enough, young man. Don't push your luck!" Cedric couldn't help but glare at him. "Excuse me. Who do you think you are to chime in our conversation?" Samuel huffed, threatening, "Dr. Olson is my family's savior. You better apologize to him, or your consequences will be unimaginable." Cedric believed Samuel didn't know his place and burst into laughter. "Lettie, look at this dude. I was talking to Dr. Olson, and he thinks he can interrupt us when this has nothing to do with him. He sure is loyal and protective. "And did you hear how he wanted me to apologize? Gosh, he really thinks he's someone important. In reality, he's nothing but a clown." When Scarlett glanced over in Samuel's direction, her body stiffened immediately. Her focus had been on Leroy all this time, and she failed to notice the presence of an influential man. "Cedric, stop talking…" she gently reminded him, then switched to a more respectful tone. "Uh… Nice to meet you, Mr. Black." A cold sneer escaped from Samuel's lips. "So, is this your new beau, Ms. Payne? I gotta say… your taste in men has gotten worse." Scarlett stayed silent, her hands clenching into fists. As of then, Payne Group did not have the strength to go head-to-head with Black Group." At that point, Cedric's face shifted drastically. He quickly went up to Samuel and behaved like a boot-licker. "Oh, so you're Mr. Samuel Black. A pleasure to meet you. I've been wanting to visit you." He put on a smile and extended his hand but was completely ignored. "Visit me? Who do you think you are?" "I…" Cedric froze awkwardly in his spot, his hand hanging in midair. "Apologize to Dr. Olson, or I'll make sure you won't survive another day in Ashbourne. Try me." Samuel spoke calmly, but his tone left no room for argument. Scratching his head, Cedric was at a total loss for what to do. At that moment, Leroy piped up. "Save the apology. I don't need it anyway. I'm off, so goodbye." He turned around, and the sight of his desolate silhouette made Scarlett even gloomier. … When Leroy returned home, he remained troubled, his mind repeatedly wandering to the image of that striking figure. On the other hand, Scarlett had completed her medical checkup. The report showed that her legs had healed entirely. Cedric hugged her waist. "That's great news, Lettie. You're completely healed! I told you you're the lucky one." She forced a smile, and it was evident she didn't feel as happy as she used to. He then told the doctor, "Thank you so much, doc!" The doctor merely glanced at him and replied coldly, "Don't thank me. If anything, you should thank Dr. Olson. This is all his work." The couple was somewhat embarrassed. While exiting the hospital, Cedric held Scarlett's hand affectionately. "Lettie, you don't have to worry about your legs anymore. Let's get married as soon as possible. Anyway, you should finalize the divorce with Leroy now. You can't keep dragging it on." She didn't promise him immediately. Instead, she avoided eye contact and appeared hesitant. He wrapped her arm around her waist again and spoke longingly this time. "After everything we've been through, the challenges and hardships, we're finally together, Lettie. So, what are you worried about? "Are you still mad that I disappeared? I swear I didn't have any way to contact you at that time. But no matter what, my love for you cannot be questioned." Due to his sweet words, Scarlett once again succumbed. "Okay. I'll tell him to do it soon." Goal accomplished. Cedric revealed a smug smile. "That's a deal." … Leroy took only one day's rest at home before returning to the hospital. He had initially planned to take a short break and have a proper rest, but now, it seemed unnecessary. The reason was simple—being at home only made him feel emptier and lonelier. At this point, only the business of work could temporarily help him forget the pain. He completed three high-intensity surgeries in one go, his breath growing increasingly labored. A colleague handed him a towel and some sugary snacks to replenish his energy. "You should rest. You haven't recovered from your gastric disease, and you're only going to wear out your body. The dean has permitted your leave anyway. You should take this chance to spend some time with your parents." His colleague patted his shoulder and kept his words vague. However, Leroy shook his head. "It's fine. I'll have nothing to do at home anyway. I'm okay." The colleague was helpless. All he could do was advise him to rest at his office. Leroy's phone rang with a text notification just as he entered his office. When he saw the name of the sender, his heart skipped a beat. As he opened the message, the following text appeared. "Come over to the courthouse. Let's finalize the divorce." Drawing a deep breath, Leroy knew deep down that this was inevitable. At the courthouse, Scarlett and Cedric had waited for some time. When she saw Leroy's weak face, she was not only concerned but also smug at the same time. It appeared this man had lost sleep and appetite lately because of the divorce. Cedric ridiculed him, saying, "Oh no. Why did your complexion worsen so much in a day? Are you sad it's going to be over? I may be grateful to you, but you can't force love. I hope you feel better soon, Dr. Olson." He wore a sinister smile, his words provocative as always. Nevertheless, Leroy kept his words brief. "No, it's been hectic at the hospital, so I didn't get much rest. Let's get on with the procedure. I need to get back to the hospital soon." Scarlett didn't pay much heed to his words as she assumed it was a script he had prepared beforehand. The two parties proceeded with the divorce with no objections, and the process was completed quickly. For some reason, Scarlett felt a twinge of pain as the stamp hit the divorce papers. Meanwhile, Leroy had long been numb from the pain he felt over the last few days. "It's done. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Let's not see each other again." He turned and prepared to leave. "Wait." Scarlett stopped him. She pulled out a property deed for Ashbourne Villa. Ashbourne Villa, located in the renowned affluent district of Ashbourne, was home to the elite—people who were either immensely rich or highly influential. A single property there was worth tens of millions. Scarlett said softly, "Take it. Consider it a gift." Before Leroy could respond, Cedric swiftly snatched the property deed away. "You shouldn't do this, Lettie. You'll hurt his ego."