Chapter 45
sharp as he said, “Cedric, there are some things you can’t just say recklessly. Should I call Mr. Black to clarify exactly what
Letox fromed, his voice steady but sharp happened?”
Upon hearing that, Cedric faltered, his confidence suddenly wavering………
Before Leroy could continue, Scarlett arrived, striding toward the group with purpose.
“Go ahead. I’d love to see if you can actually pet Mr. Black here,” she said coldly, her gaze fixed on Leroy. “Leroy, what have you become? You’re not the same person I used to know.”
Leroy blinked, surprised by her accusation, before shaking his head. “I haven’t changed, Scarlett. You have,” he said with a quiet sigh.
He turned to leave, but Scarlett stopped him with her next words. “That’s it? You’re just going to walk away? Are you not even going to resolve this?” Hertone was cutting, and Cedric took the opportunity to chiline in, his confidence returning.
“That’s right, Leroy. Don’t say I’m being unfair–pist apologize to me in front of everyone, and we’ll call it even.” He smirked, his tone dripping with smugness. Leroy’slips curled into a cold smile. “Why should I apologize?” he asked, his voice calm but icy.
“Scarlett, do you even know the full story, or are you just taling Cedric’s word for it? Are you really going to pass judgment without understanding what actually happened?
scarlett’s brow i
trustration
furrowed, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “What are you trying to say? Are you accusing me of being unreasonable?” she asked, her voice tinged with
It was the first time someone had spoken to her this way, and the fact that it was Leroy–the man who had once cared for her so selflessly–only added fuel to her growing anger
Just then. Zoe arved, her face flushed with anger as she pushed through the crowd. “What’s going on here? Why are all these people gathered?”
she quickly spotted Cedric hiding behind Scarlett and rolled her eyes. “It’s you again?” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Didn’t you get enough earlier? Are you looking for more trouble?”
Cedric instinctively stepped back using Scarlett as a shield. “Lettie, do you hear this? Is this how your employees treat people?”
Scarlett frowned. “Black what are you trying to say? Are you saying the hospital has the right to act this way?”
Zor’s expression hardened, and she stepped forward, unflinching under Scarlett’s gaze. “Ms. Payne, with all due respect, you’re out of line here,” she said firmly. “My father, Samuel, was the one who handled Cedric earlier today. Not the hospital staff. If you want to make this a formal complaint, I’d be happy to call him over
he can explain himself.”
Het words landed heavily, and Scarlett’s expression grew conflicted. Zoe wasn’t finished. Tuming to the crowd, she raised her voice so that everyone could bear. “Let me clear this up for everyone here. Tids man,” she said, pointing to Cedric,
- burn unit this morning for nothing more than a small blister. He
iscated on seeing Dr. Olson, a surgeon, to treat it. He was being completely unreasonable.
*Then, when Di Olson refused because he had a surgery scheduled for my grandfather, Cedric came here to cause a scene. If my grandfather’s surgery had been delayed, the consequetors could have been seriouL=
Zoe tumed back to scarlett, ler expression calin but him. “Ms. Payne, telline–does a blister require a surgeon? Or a scalpel, for that matter?”
The crowd umuured in disbelief, their earlier judgment of Leroy shitting into curiosity and sympathy.
Scarlett’s face darkened, her eyes darting toward Cedric
Cedric’s face draidied of color as he stated, struggling to form a colerent
Seeing his traction, Scarlett’s frustration only deepened was begunding to see the situation for what it was Cedric’s antics had not only made a public spartacle but also jeopardized her standing in front of a prominent figure like Samuel. Her jaw tiglatened. This was not a battle she wanted to light, not with the Black family,
