Chapter 5

Samantha chuckled to herself. She had expected Joseph to stay and argue with her, but it seemed she had overestimated her importance. Compared to Erica, she was just a nobody in his life. Samantha lowered her eyes to mask the flicker of disappointment in them. She pursed her lips and turned to Xander, saying, "Mr. Wembley, it's quite late, and it's not safe for us to go back alone. We'd appreciate it if you could give us a ride." Both Mina and Xander were taken aback. They couldn't believe their ears. It was clear that Samantha had been momentarily shaken by Joseph's departure. It meant that he still held some sway over her emotions. Mina was aware of Samantha's feelings for Joseph. She wanted Samantha to move on and find someone more suitable, but Xander was definitely not that person. After all, Xander was known for his frivolous relationships. He wasn't someone who could genuinely care for Samantha. "Sam..." Mina's voice was filled with worry as she gently tugged on Samantha's hand. Samantha turned to her and offered her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Minnie." With that, she smiled at Xander and gestured toward the exit. "Let's go, Mr. Wembley." Xander snapped to his senses. "It's my pleasure to drive you ladies home. My car is just outside. Please, follow me." He took the lead, guiding them out of the club. Of course, Xander knew it was improper to pursue a friend's wife. But Joseph wasn't attracted to Samantha, and they were about to get a divorce. He thought it wasn't a big deal to try and win Samantha's favor. Xander's car was a sleek and understated, yet luxurious, black Porsche. Ever the gentleman, he stood by the door and held it open for Samantha and Mina. Once they were seated, he circled to the driver's side and got in. The car was filled with a strong cedar scent from the air freshener. Samantha was sensitive to strong smells. So, she wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in front of her face after just a few minutes in the back seat. She wasn't fond of woody fragrances. Upon noticing this, Xander rolled down her window to let in some fresh air and disperse the scent. "You don't like the smell?" he asked curiously. He remembered that Joseph had the same freshener in his car. Samantha nodded. Her face was pale as she explained, "I'm quite sensitive to odors. This woody fragrance is too strong, and it makes me uncomfortable. So I don't really like it." Xander gripped the steering wheel and started the car. "I never heard Joseph mention that. My apologies. I should have been more considerate." He then asked Mina for their address, set the GPS, and drove off toward their destination. ... Meanwhile, Joseph arrived at Yorkshire Residence. Erica was in the living room, knitting a scarf. The sound of his footsteps rang out behind her. She instinctively tossed the yarn aside and turned around. Her face lit up with surprise as she stared at Joseph. "Joe, you're finally here!" Joseph's expression remained indifferent as he scrutinized her. He asked flatly, "You said on the phone that you weren't feeling well. What's wrong?" Upon hearing Joseph's cold tone, Erica smiled awkwardly. The excitement on her face faded away. "Joe, I'm fine. Maybe the food at lunch didn't sit well with me. It made me feel nauseous, but I'm feeling much better now. I initially thought I might be pregnant, so that's why I was so eager to call you back. "I made a mistake. I'm sorry, Joe." Erica lowered her head apologetically, and her eyes gradually turned red. She looked as pitiful as ever. A trace of indistinct emotion flickered across Joseph's face. "As long as you're okay, everything is fine. If you didn't like the food prepared by this chef, I'll have Xavier arrange for another chef to come tomorrow. How did your check-up go this morning?" At the mention of this, Erica's mood instantly fell. "The doctor said my condition is still the same as before. There are no significant changes. I don't know when I'll be able to recover. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so focused on my career before, I wouldn't have ruined my body," she lamented softly while sobbing. Upon hearing this, Joseph sat down beside Erica and patted her back soothingly. "You've been getting treatment at this hospital for over a year, and there's no improvement. It's probably not your fault. "Maybe the doctor isn't skilled enough. I'll have Xavier instruct them to change your attending physician and see if that helps. If it still doesn't work, we'll switch hospitals. We'll find a way to get you better." Joseph's voice remained as cold as ever, but his words greatly comforted Erica's emotions. She hugged him excitedly and rested her head on his shoulder. "Joe, I knew you always cared about me the most." Joseph's body turned stiff for a second. After coming to his senses, he slowly extended his arm and gently stroked Erica's back. "It's just what I should do." Erica reluctantly released her embrace after holding onto Joseph for a while. She wiped away the tears on her face, revealing a smile, and hurriedly stood up. "Joe, it's so late, and you haven't eaten, have you? Just wait for a while. I'll make you something." Before Joseph could refuse, Erica went straight to the kitchen. Upon seeing this, Joseph didn't say much. Instead, he walked to the balcony. Feeling agitated, he took out a cigarette from his pocket, held it between his fingers, and quickly dialed Xavier's number. "Ring, ring…" The call was quickly answered. "Hello, Mr. Lynch. What can I do for you?" Xavier asked respectfully. Joseph took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Investigate Erica's attending physician at the hospital. See if he's skilled enough to be a good doctor. Otherwise, just replace him and find a more competent doctor for Erica. "He can't even treat such a minor illness after a year. I guess he's not that great, after all." Xavier fell silent briefly before cautiously responding, "But, Mr. Lynch, Mrs. Lynch is currently Ms. Fitch's attending physician. Are you sure you want to replace her?"