“This time she messed with the Yale family. Even if the Joyner family could help, I wouldn’t lift a finger. I’m not about to side with the villain.”
“If it were any other issue, maybe I’d put in a word. But from this point on, she has absolutely nothing to do with the Joyner family.”
The man warned, “Mr. Stanley, if you don’t help her, I doubt Scarlett’s walking out of this hospital alive.
“Hmph. That’s her choice. If she hadn’t gone looking for trouble, she’d still be living large as the heiress. Anyway, I’ve got to help Rebecca pick out some jewelry.”
“Of course, of course. I heard Ms. Rebecca’s going to be speaking at the medical symposium. Congratulations to the Joyner family for raising such a prodigy.”
Stanley’s voice finally softened, a hint of pride sneaking in.
“Yes, Rebecca’s always been exceptional. But she’s still young–needs something elegant to back up her presence. When the time comes, I hope you’ll help look after her.”
“Absolutely, Mr. Stanley. You can count on me.”
After hanging up, the man returned to the crowd and, hearing the buzz of conversation, chimed in deliberately.
“Scarlett’s been cut off for a while now. Everyone should steer clear of dragging the Joyner family into this. No need to make them upset or think we’re trying to latch on.”
Inside the room.
Scarlett poured the warm water into the powdered mixture and quickly molded it into thirty herbal pills.
Her hands moved fast.
Clearly, she’d done this many times before.
Wayne and Wendy were practically dizzy watching her work.
Once she finished, Scarlett sealed the pills and placed them at Dora’s bedside.
“One a day. That’s a two–week supply.”
Wendy hurried to store them away, nodding nonstop.
By now, her admiration for Scarlett had hit the ceiling.
“Ms. Scarlett, will my daughter be fully recovered in two weeks?”
Scarlett thought for a moment.
“She’ll be out of danger. That’s all.”
Wendy froze. The hope that had just begun to rise instantly plummeted. Her face turned pale, and she nearly lost her balance.
“W–what do you mean?”
Scarlett glanced at the now–sleeping Dora, then at Wayne–who was clearly worried but too nervous to speak, as if afraid she’d snap at him.
“Is it not a good time? I’ll step out.”
Wayne’s tone was gentle. He gave his granddaughter one last look before turning to leave.
“No.”
Scarlett smiled.
“I was brought in to save her life, not to fix everything else.”
“After all…”
Though she was smiling, her eyes were icy.
“I’m morally bankrupt, right? Always slandering my peers and smearing the school’s name.”
“Oh, and it’s already six a.m. In two more hours, once the workday starts, I won’t have peers or a school anymore.”
Was it too late to slap himself?
“No, Ms. Scarlett, you’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t know how skilled you were.”
Wendy, finally calming down now that her daughter was safe, turned on her father with frustration.
“Dad, did you even look into anything before you said all that?”
Wayne, thoroughly embarrassed, tried to defend himself.
“Calvin and I are friends. I know his temper–he’s always protective of his students, but he’s never smeared one before. So when he said it, I just…” –
Wendy rolled her eyes. “Expelling someone? That’s their whole future! How could you not investigate first?”
“And seriously, with Ms. Scarlett’s skill? Sounds to me like Calvin was jealous his student outshined him and worried it’d tarnish his precious reputation as an old master of alternative medicine.”
Wayne scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
“Ms. Scarlett, I apologize on my dad’s behalf. He’s old and losing it. Don’t hold it against him.”
She was poised, even about to bow.
Scarlett quickly waved her off. “You didn’t do anything wrong. No need to apologize.”
Wendy gave her father a frantic look, trying to push him to act.
Wayne gritted his teeth. No point hiding now.
He had been wrong, and it was time to own up.
“Ms. Scarlett, I misjudged you. I’m sorry. But don’t worry–I already made a call to cancel the disciplinary
action.”
“As for the lies Calvin spread about you, I’ll form an independent investigation team. You’ll get a proper
answer.”
“I only hope you’ll be generous enough not to let my mistake interfere with Dora’s treatment.”
At first, he was a little embarrassed.
But the more he spoke, the more serious–and sincere–he became.
Owning up to mistakes wasn’t shameful.
“Oh, and you were kicked out of Calvin’s lab, right? Don’t worry about that either. I’ll find you a better one.”
“Whatever equipment you need, just name it. I’ll spare no expense to get it for you.”
Scarlett said nothing. She lowered her head in thought.
Wayne grew uneasy. He had looked into her before, after all.
Scarlett didn’t have the best reputation.
After joining the Joyner family, she’d acted like a bully. And when it was discovered she was the mistaken heiress, she’d even been accused of mistreating the real one–Rebecca.
