Jude Miller had the call on speaker, so the voices on the other end came through clearly.
And amidst the cacophony, I clearly made out Vincent Lombard’s frantic, accusatory voice, obviously directed at Theodore Grant.
"You knew she has depression and can’t handle being provoked, yet you still pushed her like that! Are you trying to kill her?"
"This isn’t the time to be assigning blame. The priority right now is to contact the media and calm down the public outcry as quickly as possible!"
"What? Feeling sorry for her?" Theodore Grant’s voice was low, laced with sarcasm.
"W-what nonsense are you spouting? Clara is your fiancée! As her elder, can’t I show a little concern for the younger generation?" Vincent Lombard sputtered, exasperated.
Hearing this, Chloe Miller and I couldn’t help but exchange a look. The same word flashed through both our minds—shameless.
His affair with Clara Langley was practically public knowledge, yet here he was, stubbornly denying it!
’Does he really need Theodore Grant to catch the two of them in bed to finally give it up?’
Of course—
’Judging by the thick skin on that adulterous pair, Vincent Lombard and Clara Langley, they’d probably still try to argue that they were just having a friendly chat under the covers!’
’After all, they’re the two most ’innocent’ people in the entire world!’
"Concern for the younger generation?" Theodore Grant scoffed. "I never saw you show any concern for Chelsea before..."
"How dare you bring that woman up?" Vincent Lombard snapped. "If it weren’t for her, would things have gotten this bad? It’s all because you married a woman like that, stirring up trouble in our home!"
"That old—" Chloe Miller rolled up her sleeves, ready to let out a string of curses, but I quickly covered her mouth.
’We’re eavesdropping on the drama through Dr. Miller’s phone, after all. We can’t cause trouble for him.’
’But forget Chloe Miller—I wanted to curse him out even more than she did!’
’I never would have imagined Vincent Lombard could be so utterly shameless, blaming something like this on me!’
’Did I hold a knife to his and Clara Langley’s throats and force them to have an affair?!’
"Heh..."
Just then, Theodore Grant’s cold laugh came through the phone. "What? Did Chelsea force you to have an affair with Clara Langley?"
"You—"
Vincent Lombard, furious, was about to say more, but before he could, the crisp sound of a slap echoed through the line—
followed by my mother-in-law Hailey Langley’s voice, seething with anger. "Vincent Lombard, you shameless old bastard! You may have no shame, but we still do!"
I don’t know if he got too excited listening in on the drama, but on Dr. Miller’s end, there was a sudden sharp intake of breath—
"Who’s there?" Theodore Grant heard the noise and demanded sharply.
’We’re screwed!’
Chloe Miller and I quickly glanced at each other. ’We’ve been discovered!’
"It’s me."
Just then, Jude Miller’s calm and steady voice came through the phone, as if he wasn’t the one who had just been caught eavesdropping.
"Jude Miller?" Theodore Grant frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I heard Clara Langley was in trouble, so I came over to see..."
"Here to watch the show, are you?" Theodore Grant said coldly.
"Think what you want. If you don’t appreciate it, fine..." Jude Miller made a show of turning to leave.
But just then, my mother-in-law, Hailey Langley, quickly stopped him. "Jude, Theodore Grant is in a bad mood. Don’t mind him..."
"Don’t worry, Aunt Langley, I understand."
Hailey Langley sighed. "They say every family has its own problems. But this concerns the Grant Family’s reputation. I know you must have overheard quite a bit just now. Can your aunt ask you for a favor...?"
Jude Miller looked completely flattered. "Aunt Langley, you’re being too polite. Just tell me what you need."
"Could you please not spread around what happened today?"
"This is the Grant Family’s private matter. I certainly won’t get involved."
"That’s good. Thank you."
Listening to their conversation over the phone, Chloe Miller kept pouting.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
I knew Chloe was feeling indignant on my behalf.
Because I had told her more than once how good my mother-in-law was to me, how she always treated me like her own daughter...
But now, Hailey Langley’s actions were a clear slap in the face to my past self...
Of course, I had already seen my mother-in-law’s true colors long before this. Seeing her act this way now, my heart was already calm.
"Hello..."
And just as my mind was wandering, Jude Miller’s voice suddenly sounded through the phone.
I quickly snapped back to reality. "Dr. Miller, I’m here..."
"So? Did you enjoy all that drama?"
I couldn’t help but laugh. "Thank you, Dr. Miller."
"Don’t thank me just yet. I actually have a favor to ask of you, Miss Joyce."
"Go ahead, Dr. Miller."
"I have a friend who’s run into some... romantic troubles recently. I was wondering if you could help me solve them, Miss Joyce?"
Chloe Miller and I exchanged a look. ’Usually, when people say ’I have a friend,’ they’re just making that ’friend’ up and talking about themselves...’
"Go ahead, Dr. Miller."
"Well..." Jude Miller struggled to find the right words. "I have this friend who, by a strange twist of fate, did something to wrong a girl. He originally wanted to confess his feelings to her, but now he’s afraid she’ll reject him and they won’t even be able to be friends anymore. He’s completely stuck..."
I let out a soft laugh. ’I never thought Dr. Miller could be so anxious and insecure. He must really like that girl...’
"Miss Joyce, if you were that girl, would you forgive my friend?"
"I think I would?" I thought about it seriously. "Didn’t you say your friend wronged the girl by a strange twist of fate? It wasn’t intentional. I think as long as he clears up the misunderstanding, it’ll be fine. As for everything else... it really depends on whether the girl likes your friend or not..."
"Of course she likes him! My friend is incredibly outstanding. The line of girls who like him would stretch from the entrance of Kington University Hospital all the way to the sea! And besides, he’s a hopeless romantic who’s had a secret crush on that girl for over ten years!" Jude Miller retorted.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. ’Who praises themselves like that?’
’Still, I’m a little curious. Just how amazing must the girl Dr. Miller likes be, for him to have a crush on her for over a decade...’
"Alright, I get it. I’ll go tell my friend right now! Tell him to hurry up and confess. If he doesn’t make a move soon, his chance will be gone!"
After I hung up with Dr. Miller, Chloe Miller excitedly started gossiping with me.
"Who do you think the girl Dr. Miller has a crush on is?"
I instinctively moved my lips to speak, but before I could, my phone suddenly started vibrating.
"Hello, good afternoon. May I please speak with Miss Joyce?"
"This is she..."
"I’ve finally reached you; I couldn’t get through earlier... I’m a doctor from the Women and Children’s Health Center. Miss Joyce, the abortion you scheduled three days ago has been arranged. I’m calling to confirm, do you still wish to go through with it?"