Chapter 23

Leroy smiled faintly. “I still think the hospital suits me better,” he said. “Even if I’m not performing surgeries, I can still see patients.”

Upon hearing this, Zoe finally dropped the subject.

“Leroy, do you remember that guy who tried to smear your reputation?” she asked, leaning in with a conspiratorial look.

“Cedric?” Leroy frowned instinctively. He wondered why Zoe had suddenly brought Cedric up.

“My dad mentioned him last night,” Zoe said, shaking her head. “I don’t know what kind of luck that guy stumbled into, but he managed to help the Payne Group solve a big project issue and found them a partner. From what I heard, the company’s reputation has shot up since then.”

Her expression turned sour as she spoke. Just the thought of Cedric made her disgusted. “Leroy, you’re so much better than that guy!” she added quickly, trying to…

Leroy merely smiled. “It doesn’t have anything to do with our hospital. Let’s focus on work and stop talking about irrelevant stuff,” he said as he stood up. Leroy noticed a familiar figure walking past the door out of the corner of his eye. He froze for a moment and quickly stepped out. “Leroy, where are you going?” Zoe called after him, following him down the hallway.

Cedric was on the phone in the corridor, a smug grin plastered on his face. The moment he spotted Leroy, his smile disappeared. “Leroy, didn’t I tell you to stay out of my sight?” Cedric sneered, his voice filled with disdain. “You never learn your lesson, do you?”

He raised his fist as if to intimidate him, but Leroy barely glanced at him before furrowing his brow. “Why are you here again? Didn’t Scarlett eat properly?” he asked, his tone carrying a trace of frustration.

It hadn’t been that long. Did Cedric not care about Scarlett at all?

Cedric took a step closer, his eyes cold. He told Leroy, “Stay out of it, Leroy. This has nothing to do with you.” Then, he added sharply, “Why don’t you just get lost?”

The arrogance in Cedric’s expression was unmistakable.

“Oh, by the way,” he continued, his lips curling into a smirk, “I almost forgot to mention. I just helped the Payne Group land a massive deal. What can you do for Scarlett, huh?”

Leroy clenched his jaw, his pride stinging at Cedric’s words.

“This is a hospital, sir. Please mind your behavior,” Zoe cut in quickly, unable to listen any longer. She couldn’t believe Cedric had the nerve to compare himself to…

“Ms. Black, I’ve always been respectful,” Cedric shot back, a fake politeness dripping from his voice. “Unlike Dr. Olson here, who keeps meddling with my fiancée. Isn’t that a little out of line?”

His gaze was full of disdain as he looked at Leroy. Leroy’s fists tightened, but after a moment, he let them relax.

For years, he’d been there for Scarlett, but what could he really offer her? That question gnawed at him, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

He didn’t want to stay a second longer. He had no reason to linger. They were divorced now. Why should he even look back?

Just as he was about to walk away, the door to the examination room opened. Scarlett stepped out, her gaze landing on him.

Leroy’s heart sank. She looked thinner, just as Grace had mentioned. Words of concern hovered on the tip of his tongue but never made it out. Her hand rested in the crook of Cedric’s arm.

“Scarlett, are you feeling better now?” Cedric asked, his voice softening. “I was just having a quick chat with Leroy. He’s about to leave.”

He sighed dramatically and added, “Leroy, I know you still care about Scarlett, but you two are divorced. You should think about what’s best for her.” Cedric’s tone shifted, almost sounding wounded. “You’re divorced now. Why can’t I stand by Scarlett’s side?”

Scarlett frowned slightly and patted Cedric’s back as if to calm him down.