Chapter 24

Isabella's eyes widened, and her heart, which had just calmed, began racing again. How could he do this? She was utterly shocked. She tried to push Samuel away, but he remained motionless.

Samuel had initially intended only to punish Isabella, but when his lips touched hers, he found it hard to stop. He closed his eyes, struggling to control himself before finally pulling away. In a low voice, he warned, "This is your punishment. I don't want to hear you say 'thank you' again."

Isabella's mind went blank. Even after Samuel lay back down and pulled the blanket over himself, her cheeks burned. She clenched her fists, trying to steady her frantically beating heart.

She thought she'd have trouble sleeping, especially since it was her first time sharing a bed with a man. Yet, amid her swirling thoughts, she drifted off.

The next day, sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains as Isabella slowly opened her eyes. The memory of last night hit her instantly, and she shot up in bed, only to find the space beside her empty.

She breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that she was overreacting, but the situation had left her feeling awkward. Sharing a bed was one thing, but at least the kiss had happened in the dark.

The sound of her phone ringing brought Isabella back to reality. She lifted the blanket and reached for the phone on the bedside table. Seeing it was George calling, she answered without hesitation. "Hello?"

George could tell from Isabella's voice that she wasn't yet awake. He chuckled lightly. "Still in bed? Get ready. We've got a new gig."

Isabella immediately sat up. "Alright, send me the address. I'll be there soon."

Her enthusiasm pleased George. It seemed Isabella was more passionate about her work than ever. He replied eagerly, "Will do. I'll get everything arranged."

After hanging up, Isabella went to her walk-in closet and chose a professional dress. Once ready, she headed downstairs. Megan called after her, "Mrs. Howerton, you haven't had breakfast yet!"

Isabella glanced at her watch. It would take at least an hour and a half to drive to George's location. Feeling pressed for time, she said, "I have something urgent; I'll skip breakfast." If there was traffic, it could take even longer. Without waiting for Megan's response, she left.

Isabella arrived at the Fantasy Hotel, one of Draxenport's top hotels. At midday, the entrance bustled with activity. A valet approached to take her car as soon as she parked. Handing him the keys, she admired the lavishly decorated lobby before adjusting her outfit and going inside.

When she opened the door to the private room, she saw a slightly overweight, middle-aged man in a suit and tie. His fingers were adorned with a large gold ring set with an emerald, and a thick gold chain around his neck gave him a nouveau riche air.

The man's eyes lit up upon seeing Isabella, clearly impressed by her beauty. George quickly stood, smiling. "You're here."

Isabella nodded. George immediately turned to the man, still smiling. "Mr. Cooper, this is Queenie Lovett." Then, turning back to Isabella, he added, "This is Mr. Shawn Cooper."

Isabella nodded, but Shawn instantly frowned, his eyes filled with doubt. "Queenie Lovett?" He suspected George had merely found someone to dismiss him. Isabella, who was about to greet him, froze.

George's smile faded slightly as his face darkened. "Mr. Cooper, are you doubting me?" George's name carried considerable weight in this business—nobody dared question him. Shawn quickly plastered on a fawning smile. "No, no, Mr. Sampson. How could I ever doubt you?" Though his words denied it, his eyes couldn't help but glance at Isabella, who remained silent.

Isabella pulled out a chair and sat down, her hand lightly tapping the table. The atmosphere in the room grew tense. Shawn instinctively swallowed. The young woman before him was undeniably beautiful, but the aura of strength surrounding her made him uneasy. He regretted his earlier remarks.

With a forced smile, Shawn poured half a cup of coffee for Isabella. He looked at her apologetically. "Dr. Lovett, I've never met you before, and I didn't expect someone so young and pretty. Please forgive me."

Isabella's gaze fell on the half-filled cup of coffee, her fingers pausing their tapping. She slowly picked up the cup and took a small sip. "Mr. Cooper, you're thinking too much. It's fine." After all, it wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

Shawn breathed a sigh of relief and sat down with a smile. Isabella lifted her eyes to meet his. "Mr. Cooper, tell me the situation."

Her direct approach caught Shawn off guard, but he quickly realized how refreshing it was to deal with someone so straightforward. Shawn's smile faded, and he sighed heavily before speaking. "I've always been caught up in business, and I left everything at home to my wife. So, I haven't really been attentive to my family."

Talking about this clearly stirred up regret. "Over the years, I've made a lot of money, but now…" He paused.

Isabella exchanged a glance with George but stayed silent, while George gently encouraged Shawn. "It's alright. We're doctors. You need to be open about everything so Queenie can find the best course of treatment." They both understood that privacy was often delicate in their line of work. Shawn nodded, then continued, "It's about my son. He's been married for five years, and they don't have any children. After getting checked, we found out that…"

His voice trailed off, frustration flickering in his eyes. He tapped his fist against his knee. "It's his development… he didn't fully develop in that area after birth. If I'd paid more attention to my family, to him, and taken him to the hospital sooner, maybe he wouldn't be in this situation now!" His head hung low. After a moment, Shawn composed himself and looked apologetically at Isabella. "Dr. Lovett, that's why I was surprised when I first saw you—a young lady. I felt like I might be putting a burden on you, asking you to treat him…"

Isabella remained silent, and even George looked at her. She took another sip of her coffee, then raised her eyes to Shawn.

"I'm a doctor. To me, there's no difference between male and female patients. The relationship between me and my patients is strictly professional. You don't need to worry about that," she said calmly. She had encountered situations like this countless times.

George, visibly relieved, chuckled and turned to Shawn, saying, "Mr. Cooper, Queenie's not like us common folk."

Isabella remained quiet but shot George a quick look. She almost wanted to smack him, feeling tricked. Sensing her gaze, George averted his eyes, awkwardly rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Hearing that Isabella didn't mind treating his son, a spark of hope flashed in Shawn's eyes. He looked at her with anticipation. "So… my son's condition…?"