Chapter 3
That afternoon, Melody received a call from Andrew right as she finished her work.
“Dad,” Melody greeted respectfully.
“Come over to Regallo Villas tonight. I have something to discuss with you.”
“Okay.” Melody was always meek and obedient toward the Wardolf family.
“Bring Jeremy with you.”
Melody did not have a chance to respond before Andrew hung up the phone. The dial tone that followed sounded unfeeling and impatient, like it was rushing her.
She looked toward the direction of the doctors’ offices, hesitating slightly.
In the end, she headed over. Just as she was about to knock on the door, Harold Franklin walked up next to her.
Harold was none other than the doctor who had praised her earlier that day. He had a patient’s file in hand and smiled at Melody when he saw her.
“Ms. Wardolf, are you here to see Dr. Chesson?”
Melody nodded. “Yes, I’ve something to tell him.”
Harold handed the file over to her. “Everyone’s gone to grab a bite. He should be inside resting. Since you’re going in anyway, could you hand Bed 4’s patient file to him? The chief is waiting to discuss something with me.”
Harold had spewed out the words rather quickly, seeming to be in a real rush. While he was at it, he even opened the door for Melody before he turned around and left.
Thus, she had no choice but to head inside with the patient file.
The moment she walked in, however, she heard an alarmed gasp and a suppressed sob from a woman.
Melody was startled. Instantly, she heard Jeremy’s low voice asking, “Who let you in?”
Melody froze and turned to look at Jeremy. A female patient came into view. She was sitting in front of Jeremy’s desk, her face covered in tears.
Melody immediately snapped back to her senses. Most patients in the neurology ward had major issues. Most of them struggled to accept the reality of their conditions and would have meltdowns.
It was natural that these people didn’t want others around to witness their breakdown.
Melody immediately lowered her gaze and apologized softly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Jeremy didn’t respond and turned to comfort the patient before him. His lowered voice had a reassuring quality to it.
“How about you go back to your room first, or you could go down for a walk to clear your head. Feel free to come find me if you have any questions.”
The female patient was soothed by his gentle voice. She then hurried out of his office with her head down.
Melody continued to stand there, feeling helpless.
She had always known that Jeremy’s gentleness could get anyone to do anything. Unfortunately, his gentleness was never directed at her.
With her head hung low, she softly explained, “Dr. Franklin asked me to give this file to you.”
She did not mention that she wasn’t the one to open the door.
“The door was closed. Do you not know how to knock?”
As always, Jeremy was dressed impeccably. His face was emotionless as he continued to question her. “Did no one tell you about the rule of not invading the patients’ privacy?”
“I didn’t.”
Melody wasn’t someone who shirked responsibility, but right then, she didn’t know how to explain herself either. So, after denying it, she fell silent again.
Jeremy was holding a pen in his hand, and his eyes were so dark that they looked like the abyss. He rarely showed any outward emotion, but in that moment, Melody could clearly tell he was angry.
She bit her bottom lip and placed the file on the desk. She spoke slowly because of how nervous she was. “I won’t do it again.”
Jeremy tossed his pen onto the table, and it landed with a dull thud. “Remember to use your brain when you do things,” he said, his tone unpleasant.
As Melody stood there, a deep sense of embarrassment surged within her. She had never known how to communicate with others.
After her hearing was impaired when she was young, her speech soon became affected as well. So, she usually talked slowly.
She had even been mocked by others for stuttering. Since then, she became more quiet and withdrawn.
Jeremy, naturally, didn’t notice any of this. He just spat coldly, “Get out.”
Melody bit her lip again before speaking in a small voice, “Dad called earlier. He asked us to go to Regallo Villas for dinner tonight.”
The only thing that answered her was Jeremy’s silence.
She thought he hadn’t heard her, so she repeated herself. “Dad said—”
This time, however, Jeremy interrupted her before she could finish.
He grabbed the patient file and then put it down again. His sharp gaze fell on Melody, visibly irate. “You’re very noisy.”
Melody abruptly fell silent, not daring to say anything more.
Under Jeremy’s icy stare, her fingers clenched together slowly. Her usual smile was plastered on her face, and she fought to keep it there, not daring to let it falter.
She sniffed, then blurted out softly, “Then, I’ll wait for you to get off work.”
With that, she rushed out of the office. Even in her rush, she did not dare make too much noise. She shut the door carefully and gently, worried that she’d disturb Jeremy.
The hospital was as busy as usual that afternoon. By the time she finished her handover, it was already 6:00 pm.
Melody hurriedly changed out of her scrubs and went to find Jeremy.
However, when she arrived at his office, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. There seemed to be a meeting going on inside, so she could only wait outside.
When colleagues who had just gotten off work saw her waiting there, they all chuckled knowingly and teased, “You’re waiting for Dr. Chesson to get off work again? Keep going at it, Melody! We’re still looking forward to your wedding!”
Melody pursed her lips and didn’t respond, but her lowered head looked slightly flushed.
She waited outside the office for about half an hour before the door opened. A swarm of doctors came out, but not Jeremy.
Just as Melody was feeling lost, she saw Harold walking over to her. “Ms. Wardolf, why haven’t you left? I remember you being on the day shift today.”
“Where’s Dr. Chesson? I don’t think I’ve seen him,” said Melody.
Harold blinked in surprise. “Dr. Chesson left a while ago. He had a meeting this afternoon, so he left a little after 2:00 pm. Did he not inform you?”
Melody’s breath hitched for a second. “I guess he didn’t tell me because I didn’t ask him.”
Harold looked at her a little sympathetically and sighed. “It’s okay. He’s busy, after all. There are times when he doesn’t even reply to my messages.”
Melody smiled and thanked him before leaving the hospital herself.
She didn’t call Jeremy or text him to visit Regallo Villas. She knew that Jeremy would always pay attention to matters with the Wardolf family.
And, as expected, when she arrived at Regallo Villas, she found Jeremy already there.
