The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Arnoldâs eyes widened, as if he had heard something extremely
hurtful to his self-esteem. His face flushed with anger, and it took
him a moment to respond. âHuh?â
âDr. Larson, have you been in Meridan for too long that your English has regressed? Do you want me
to translate that into French for you?â
Bellaâs beautiful eyes hid a hint of cunning, and her smile carried an
invisible pressure, suppressing Arnoldâs free-spirited soul. Few
women could pull off such a commanding smile.
Arnold asked through gritted teeth. âAre you saying that I didnât
accept him as a patient because I couldnât cure Justinâs illness? Is that what youâre implying?â
âIs there any other explanation?â Bella shrugged.
âWhat a joke!â Arnold slammed the table in frustration. âMs.
Thompson, have you been out of the country for too long? Donât you
know that my reputation in Meridan is even greater than that of Dr
Brown? I have solved countless difficult and complicated cases in my medical career, and I lost count
of how many people I have saved
from the brink of death. Even the Grim Reaper takes a backseat when
Iâm on duty. Saying my medical skills are not up to par is simply
insulting!â
Bella smiled without saying a word, quietly watching him get angry.
Suddenly, Arnold seemed to catch on. He leaned back, squinting at
her playfully. âNice try, Ms. Thompson. Thatâs a nice trick, but Iâm not buying it. I wonât fall for your
schemes.â
âYou know, Dr. Larson, I always thought you were more open-
minded.â Bellaâs tone held a mix of surprise and disappointment. âI mean, despite claiming that you
donât treat the rich, you should know
that Mr. Salvador isnât just some rich guy. Heâs a well-known figure among the countryâs top
entrepreneurs, and he has done a ton of charity work since taking over as the President of Salvador
Corporation. He has helped countless people through his foundation.
Surely, youâve heard about all that, right?â
Bella added, âAnd yet, despite knowing all this, you still stick to your so
-called âprinciplesâ. Donât you think youâre being a bit too rigid and
inflexible?â
Even as she spoke, Bella couldnât help but be surprised by her own
words. It had been years since their divorce, yet she found herself defending Justin without hesitation.
Setting aside her emotions, it was a fact that Justin was undeniably
skilled. If one were to look past his emotional flaws, he could be said
to be almost perfect.
Otherwise, Bella wouldnât have silently loved him for so many year
without growing tired. When a woman feels both gratitude and
admiration for a man, thereâs no easy way out. Unfortunately for
Bella, she felt both for Justin.
Thatâs why she has been obsessed for thirteen years.
âMs. Thompson, itâs pointless no matter what you say,â Arnold insisted, though he seemed to be
swayed by her words. âNo matter
what you say, I wonât give in. Just the fact that you used your brother to kidnap me back from abroad
says it all. There is nothing to talk
about between us. You rely on your wealth and power and donât even
have the most basic respect for other people. Iâm booking a ticket
back immediately, and if you dare to stop me, Iâll call the police!â
1
Just as Arnold was about to leave, Bella calmly took a sip of tea and
sighed softly, âEven Dr. Brown couldnât solve the problem. I thought
you were our only hope, but nowâ¦â
Arnold froze in his tracks, his eyes widening in shock. âWho? Who are you talking about?!â
âDr Brown.â
âYou mean, Dr. Brown is treating Justin? That old doc is so unwise!â Arnold couldnât help but sigh.
Bella, who was usually calm and collected, couldnât contain her
excitement. She slapped the table suddenly and said, âHey, donât
insult her like that. Dr. Brown is not old at all!â
âIâm being respectful! Dr. Brown is my idol!â Arnold exclaimed with
admiration. âAlthough I havenât seen her in person, in my mind, sheâs
perfect in every way.â
Bella remained silent, listening intently.
âIn our field, achieving Dr. Brownâs level of expertise and performing numerous high-profile surgeries
would take at least thirty years! So whatâs wrong with calling her an old doctor?â