Chapter 306: Fists, Feels, and Hospital Bills

Morty, acting as if he hadn’t heard Ellis a moment ago, stood up and asked the doctor, “Doctor, could you please check her again?”

“There’s no need for a second check; she’s awake now. You should take her home and let her rest,” the doctor suggested as he motioned for Ellis to get off the bed and leave the hospital with Morty.

Ellis, clearly understanding the doctor’s pointed look, felt too embarrassed to continue lying down and decided to stand. However, as soon as her foot touched the floor, her head spun dizzily, leaving her feeling woozy. Unable to keep her balance and on the verge of falling, she suddenly found herself in a warm embrace. A few seconds later, the embrace gave way to a pair of strong hands steadying her.

Looking up, Morty asked anxiously, “Are you feeling very dizzy?”

Damnit!

Reflecting on the past year, with three hospital visits including the time she first woke up in a hospital after being kidnapped, she had never let go of Easton, always hoping he’d stay by her side, soothe her with his gentle voice, worry about her, and more. Yet, here she was, finding what she lacked with Easton in Morty.

Seeing is just seeing. Ellis remained unmoved. She was a woman of principles; if she didn’t like someone, that was it. No matter how nice a suitor was to her, her feelings remained unchanged.

“What are you two doing?”

Just as she was about to remove Morty’s hands from her shoulders, a voice filled with rage boomed from the doorway, causing her to reflexively look in that direction. There stood Easton, his face ashen, his eyes cold as ancient ice, his whole demeanor radiating an intense fury, as if he wished to set the world ablaze.

Ellis wasn’t afraid of Easton, but his predatory gaze was hard to ignore. Upon seeing Easton, Morty let go of her shoulders nonchalantly and greeted him, “Easton, you’re here.”

The pair, even without intimate gestures, stood uncomfortably close to each other, barely four inches apart, close enough that any movement might result in a touch. Easton’s hands involuntarily clenched into fists as he stepped forward. Then, he pushed Morty away. Prepared, Morty didn’t…

A hospital, a place where all walks of life converge, saw all this as nothing unusual. As the doctor left, he reminded them, “Remember to settle the bill on your way out.”

Compared to Easton’s extremely upset expression, Morty remained calm, utterly composed.

Suddenly feeling a firm grip around her waist, Ellis frowned slightly. Glancing sideways, it was Easton who had pulled her close.

“You…” Her lips parted to speak, but Easton cut her off. “Morty, you have a death wish, don’t you?” Easton’s chest heaved with both jealousy and anger, recalling the scene he had just witnessed. “Didn’t I warn you just last night? Did you take it as a joke?”

After dealing with Andrew, he hadn’t intended to show off to Ellis but rather hoped to see her to mend their strained relationship. He hadn’t expected, upon his arrival at Tate Group, to hear from Lois that Ellis had fainted and been taken to the hospital. He had rushed over, only to find a scene that greatly displeased him. Ellis had nearly fallen, but Morty had caught her, supporting her so intimately that it nearly drove him over the edge, wanting to silently erase Morty from existence.

“I didn’t ignore your warning; I just didn’t listen,” Morty, tired of pretending upon being caught by Easton, said. “We may have known each other since childhood, but I’m under no obligation to live by your dictates.”

“You! You’re asking for it!” If not for the fear of letting go of Ellis and causing her to fall, Easton would have liked to smash his fist into Morty’s face. If he had doubted last night, today he was certain—Morty harbored inappropriate thoughts towards Ellis! He would not allow the woman he loved to be coveted by another man. Ellis belongs to me!

As tensions escalated between Morty and Easton, Ellis had no interest in playing peacemaker. She couldn’t care less about their feud. Both men were detestable to her; they could do whatever they liked, and it was none of her business. She shrugged off Easton’s possessive hand from her waist, checked her appearance in the reflection on the glass beside her, and turned to leave.

“Ellis, wait, you don’t have any money on you, and you didn’t bring your phone,” Morty called after her, realizing she was about to leave.

That’s right, she thought, she didn’t have any money or her phone; she couldn’t go back to her place. Just as she was pondering her next move, Morty’s words abruptly stopped, followed by a muffled groan from behind.

What now? She immediately turned around.