Chapter 206
Chapter 206 An Uninvited Audience
“Let’s go,” Ethan said flatly.
“Why are you getting in the back?” Alfred looked at him, clearly taken aback.
“Is there a problem?” Ethan replied, utterly unperturbed.
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“Yes, there’s a problem–you’re treating me like your personal chauffeur now?” Alfred stared at him, his annoyance evident.
Arabella watched their exchange quietly from the sidelines.
“Nobody forced you to come. If you’re joining us, you drive. Otherwise, stay home,” Ethan stated in a tone that brooked no argument.
“You’re unbelievable,” Alfred muttered, letting out a resigned sigh. For Arabella’s sake, he decided to let it go for now.
“Arabella, make sure you’re comfortable. We’re heading out,” Alfred said, his voice softening into a gentle smile as he addressed
her.
“All set,” Arabella replied with an amused smile, entertained by her brothers‘ dynamic.
Turning back, Alfred started the car and drove toward Kindwell Hospital.
Just as Carter and Freya were stepping into the hospital’s main lobby, Alfred pulled the car up right under the porte–cochère at the main entrance.
Alfred retrieved the wheelchair from the trunk. Once Ethan had helped Arabella settle into it, he spoke up, “Go park the car. Meet us in the outpatient treatment room.”
“Huh?” Alfred hadn’t expected Ethan to instruct him to park and stared back in surprise.
After issuing the order, Ethan paid him no further mind and wheeled Arabella into the bustling hospital lobby.
With no other choice, Alfred got back in the car to find a parking spot.
Ethan pushed Arabella directly to the outpatient treatment area. A physician noticed Arabella and approached immediately. “Dr. Macdonald, you’re here. Let me take care of your wound care today.”
Arabella felt a flicker of puzzlement. Usually, a registered nurse handled her dressings–why was a doctor attending to her today?
Glancing around the treatment bay, she saw all the other patients were being assisted by nurses. She was the only one with a physician. Slightly confused, she asked, “Doctor, is there a reason you’re handling my dressing today?”
The doctor smiled kindly. “Mr. Stewart left specific instructions. I am to oversee your wound care personally for each visit.”
With practiced, gentle hands, the doctor continued cleaning and redressing the injury on Arabella’s foot.
Arabella understood then–Matthew must have arranged this. She didn’t press the matter further.
She knew the staff wouldn’t disregard a directive from Matthew Stewart, and even if she asked the doctor to delegate the task, it likely wouldn’t happen.
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Chapter 206 An Uninvited Audience
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She decided not to put the physician in an awkward position. While she felt a minor injury like this only required a nurse’s attention, she kept that thought to herself.
Freya and Carter were making their way noisily down the corridor toward Edward’s private room.
Instead of knocking, Freya first pressed her ear against the door, listening intently for any sound from within. If Arabella was inside, she planned to burst in and give her a piece of her mind.
After listening for a moment, Freya thought she heard multiple voices. She turned to Carter. “Listen–doesn’t it sound like Arabella brought a whole crowd with her?”
Hearing this, Carter immediately frowned and began to speculate. “You don’t think she knew we were coming and brought people here to ambush us?”
“Stop your ridiculous guessing and just listen,” Freya whispered insistently.
Scolded, Carter quickly stepped forward and pressed his own ear to the cool wooden door, trying to decipher the murmurs from inside.
“Why does it sound like so many people in there?!” Carter exclaimed in a hushed tone the moment his ear made contact with the door.
“See? Now listen carefully–try to make out if you can hear Arabella speaking,” Freya instructed.
Together, Carter and Freya remained hunched by the door, utterly absorbed in their attempted eavesdropping.
At that moment, Owen was making his rounds with a nurse. Before they even turned the corner, he spotted two figures crouched suspiciously outside Edward’s door, clearly listening in. They looked dubious from every angle.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” Owen called out sternly, his voice sharp and carrying down the hall.
Carter and Freya, completely absorbed in their task, hadn’t anticipated someone shouting right behind them. They were startled half to death, both freezing in place with stunned expressions, their hands flying to their chests.
“I’m talking to you! Explain yourselves,” Owen repeated as he and the nurse strode closer, seeing they hadn’t answered.
After a moment to collect herself, Freya glared at Owen. “What are you yelling for?! You nearly gave me a heart attack! If I have health issues because of this, you’ll be paying my medical bills!”
“First time I’ve encountered someone trying to pull a scam right in the hospital corridor,” Owen retorted coolly, his gaze assessing the flustered man and woman. “What exactly were you doing pressed against that door?”
“Nothing of your concern. We’re here to visit a patient. Is that a crime?” Freya shot back with practiced arrogance.
She then gave Owen a dismissive once–over, pushed the door open, and barged straight into the room.
“Hey this is a patient’s private room! You can’t just charge in!” Owen called out, moving to intercept them, but they were already
inside.
Acting as if they hadn’t heard him, Freya and Carter strode confidently into the center of the room.
Edward was completely taken aback to see his parents suddenly appear. “Mom? Dad! What are you doing here?” he exclaimed, his
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Chapter 206 An Uninvited Audience
surprise evident.
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The two of them had been convinced Arabella and a group of others were inside. But once they entered, they found the spacious, sunlit room contained only Edward, resting alone in his hospital bed.