Chapter 10

Zelda looked up at Faye with a cold glint in her eyes. "Keep an eye on your fiancé and make sure he doesn't wander into other women's rooms." Faye's face flushed with anger. She pointed at Zelda, struggling to find words. "You…" Virgil stepped in to restrain her, his voice calm but firm. "Faye, you're pregnant, and it's not good for you to get worked up. I came to clear things up with Zelda. There's no relationship between us anymore." The hypocrisy was glaring. Zelda had no interest in watching their performance. With a decisive motion, she slammed the door shut. As she recalled her own words to Virgil, Zelda felt a pang of regret. She had been impulsive, suggesting that she and Damian attend the wedding together. Her marriage to Damian was merely a transaction. After a moment of contemplation, Zelda sighed. She was set to visit Damian's grandmother the day after tomorrow. Perhaps she could take that opportunity to discuss things with him and see if he would agree to attend the wedding with her. Now that Osbert was settled, she wouldn't face any trouble from Edric. Zelda had a few free days. Her phone rang, breaking her train of thought. Zelda glanced at the screen and saw that it was the doctor, Ingram Farmer, she had been in contact with. A smile of anticipation crossed her face as she answered the call. "Is this Ms. Wade?" The voice on the other end was very respectful. Sheila Wade was the name she used professionally. Zelda nodded and said, "Yes, it is. What's the update from the hospital?" "Ms. Wade, Daprien Hospital is very eager to have you join them, but they have a small request," Ingram said with deference. Zelda wasn't surprised. There was no such thing as a free lunch. She said, "Please go ahead." "The hospital hopes you can visit for a few days each month. In return, they'll cover all of your grandfather's medical expenses, and you can negotiate your salary as you wish," Ingram explained. Sheila was a renowned name in the medical field. Not only was she the protege of the medical legend, Ainsley Brown, but she had also developed a vaccine during a major epidemic and distributed it for free, saving many lives. She thought, "Work at Daprien Hospital?" Zelda furrowed her brows slightly. In the past, hospitals had offered her substantial salaries. However, since Harlan had difficulty moving and was accustomed to staying in the countryside, she always stayed with him. Now that Harlan's health was deteriorating and his organs were failing, she needed financial support. Zelda took a deep breath and considered the offer before agreeing. "Alright, but I still have some matters to attend to in Phoypolis. It might be a few months before I can move to Daprien." "As long as you're willing to come, we can work around that," Ingram replied. Zelda then asked, "When can my grandpa be transferred to Daprien?" Given Harlan's critical condition and Edric's focus on wealth and power, Zelda knew she couldn't count on him for support. "Daprien Hospital has a branch in Phoypolis. Your grandfather will need to be transferred there first. Once his condition stabilizes and his tests are complete, he can be moved to Daprien." That made sense. Given Harlan's frail health, it would be risky to move him directly over such a long distance. "Alright, please expedite the transfer for my grandpa," Zelda instructed before ending the call. The smooth progress of the situation brought her some relief. She felt a weight lift from her chest, and the frustration she had been carrying began to dissipate. Without the threat of Harlan's condition looming over her, Zelda no longer felt the need to endure mistreatment. The next day, Zelda spent the morning at the hospital handling Harlan's transfer paperwork and didn't return to the Cantrell residence until evening. Upon entering the house, she heard Faye's scathing remark. "Dad, look at her. She's always coming back late. Who knows where she's been—probably out with some shady man. If Mr. Ferguson finds out, he might get angry." Edric turned his head, his sharp gaze landing directly on her. "Zelda, I've told you before. You need to be more respectable. A young woman shouldn't be out running around all the time." Now that Osbert had taken a liking to Zelda and transferred a hefty sum to Edric, it had relieved the Cantrell family's urgent financial crisis. So, Edric had been treating Zelda with a bit more respect lately. Zelda glanced at them with indifference. To her, Edric was nothing more than a stranger she happened to share blood with. Now that Harlan's situation was settled, she no longer had to pretend. "You don't need to put on a show. You've ignored me for years. Isn't it too late to start caring now?" Her voice was cold and detached. Edric hadn't expected Zelda, who had always been obedient, to suddenly talk back. He shot up from the couch, his anger flaring as he raised his hand to strike. "You ungrateful girl! How dare you speak to me like that?" Zelda let out a derisive laugh as she slowly stepped forward. She gazed coldly at Edric."Are you really going to hit me? Aren't you afraid Osbert might have a problem with that?" His hand froze mid-air. She was right; he didn't dare. Right now, Zelda was the Cantrell family's lifeline. He was so angry that his body trembled, but he finally swung his arm back down forcefully and said bitterly, "Since you know Mr. Ferguson is interested in you, you'd better stay out of trouble." Zelda ignored him, walking past and heading straight upstairs. It didn't matter what he said. She had no intention of ever marrying Osbert. That evening, a message from Damian lit up Zelda's phone, confirming the time for the next day. He had changed the time to 4:00 pm and asked if she could join him for dinner with his grandmother. She agreed without hesitation. The following afternoon, Damian arrived punctually to pick her up. Zelda got into his car a few streets away from the Cantrell residence. She carried a small box in her hands and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Damian glanced at the box, noticing it looked like health supplements. He said casually, "I've already prepared a gift for my grandma. You didn't need to go to the trouble." Zelda cleared her throat, her voice dropping to an embarrassed murmur. "It's not for your grandmother… It's for you." As she spoke, her gaze darted away. She was too nervous to meet his eyes. Her voice softened, barely above a whisper. "We're legally married now. It's only natural for me to be concerned about your health." Damian was momentarily baffled. As he stopped the car at a red light, he looked closely at the box in her hand. "In your eyes, am I really that weak?" His hands tightened around the steering wheel, his voice becoming hoarse. Zelda cleared her throat awkwardly, coughing a couple of times. "I didn't mean it that way. What I meant was—" Before she could finish, Damian's expression darkened. "I didn't realize you were so concerned about my health. What? Would you like to… experience it for yourself?"