A Parting Regret

A clear female voice came from the ward door.

I turned around.

It was my wife, Noelle. A faint tiredness showed on her face as she walked toward me. Her assistant and two bodyguards followed behind her while carrying a briefcase. “Sorry, Jensen. The meeting for the cross‑border merger case took longer. We also got stuck in traffic on the way. I am late.”

I shook my head. “It is fine. You are pregnant. You should rest. Let your assistant handle the work. I can take care of my mom.”

Chelsea stood frozen. Her gaze moved between Noelle and me. The superiority she felt earlier because I had been alone disappeared the moment she saw Noelle.

“Jensen, is this the woman you married?”

Chelsea looked Noelle up and down. Her tone carried open hostility and bitterness. “Madam Scott is still in a coma. Your wife arrived at the perfect time. Anyone who did not know better would think she was extremely busy. She did not even care about her mother‑in‑law’s surgery. What do you want from her?”

Noelle’s assistant stepped forward and handed Chelsea a gold‑embossed business card with both hands. Her expression did not change. “Dr. Stone, correct? This is Ms. Beckett’s business card.”

Chelsea frowned and took it. Her pupils tightened when she read the name.

[Noelle Beckett, Head of Extend Medical Technology Group]

No one in Jimmyville’s medical circle could possibly be unfamiliar with this name. The group controlled a third of the national medical device market and was the controlling shareholder behind this private hospital.

It was fair to say that the cutting‑edge equipment Chelsea used in her surgeries came from Noelle’s company.

Chelsea’s face darkened at once. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the business card.

Noelle looked at her. “Dr. Stone, you do not need to worry about my mother‑in‑law’s surgery anymore. Your hospital’s medical staff lack basic professional ethics. I already arranged for another hospital to take over.”

Chelsea’s throat tightened as she tried to hold on to the last bit of dignity expected from a lead surgeon. “Ms. Beckett, I have been handling Madam Scott’s case myself. Forcing a change of surgeons like this is irresponsible.”

Noelle let out a soft laugh. “You are the irresponsible one. You protect your subordinate. I cannot trust you with my mother‑in‑law’s surgery.”

Two groups of people entered the corridor at that moment.

The hospital director ran ahead, drenched in sweat, followed by a private medical transport team. “Ms. Beckett, I am very sorry. This happened because of our mismanagement.”

The director shot Chelsea a sharp look before bowing with a forced smile.

The head of the transfer team stepped forward. “Ms. Beckett, Mr. Scott, the chartered plane and the nursing home are ready. We can transfer the patient at any time.”

Noelle took my hand and led me out. “Let us go. Mom will get the best care there.”

I nodded and left with her.

Chelsea stood in place, staring at the business card in her hand. Her nails almost dug into her skin.

Adam entered the ward and stood beside her. He asked in a quiet voice, “Chelsea… is Jensen’s wife that influential?”

Chelsea crushed the business card into a ball and sneered through gritted teeth. “So what if she is rich? A woman that rich cannot have any real feelings for him. Jensen is just a kept man of hers. He is a man who married into the family. He must have suffered a lot.”