Chapter 45
Sharp as he said, “Cedric, there are some things you can’t just say recklessly. Should I call Mr. Black to clarify exactly what happened?”
Upon hearing that, Cedric faltered, his confidence suddenly wavering.
Before Leroy could continue, Scarlett arrived, striding toward the group with purpose.
“Go ahead. I’d love to see if you can actually pet Mr. Black here,” she said coldly, her gaze fixed on Leroy. “Leroy, what have you become? You’re not the same person I used to know.”
Leroy blinked, surprised by her accusation, before shaking his head. “I haven’t changed, Scarlett. You have,” he said with a quiet sigh.
He turned to leave, but Scarlett stopped him. “That’s it? You’re just going to walk away? Are you not even going to resolve this?” Her tone was cutting, and Cedric took the opportunity to chime in, his confidence returning.
“That’s right, Leroy. Don’t say I’m being unfair—just apologize to me in front of everyone, and we’ll call it even.” He smirked, his tone dripping with smugness. Leroy’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Why should I apologize?” he asked, his voice calm but icy.
“Scarlett, do you even know the full story, or are you just taking Cedric’s word for it? Are you really going to pass judgment without understanding what actually happened?”
Scarlett’s brow furrowed, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “What are you trying to say? Are you accusing me of being unreasonable?” she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
It was the first time someone had spoken to her this way, and the fact that it was Leroy—the man who had once cared for her so selflessly—only added fuel to her growing anger.
Just then, Zoe arrived, her face flushed with anger as she pushed through the crowd. “What’s going on here? Why are all these people gathered?”
She quickly spotted Cedric hiding behind Scarlett and rolled her eyes. “It’s you again?” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Didn’t you get enough earlier? Are you looking for more trouble?”
Cedric instinctively stepped back, using Scarlett as a shield. “Lettie, do you hear this? Is this how your employees treat people?”
Scarlett frowned. “Black? What are you trying to say? Are you saying the hospital has the right to act this way?”
Zoe’s expression hardened, and she stepped forward, unflinching under Scarlett’s gaze. “Ms. Payne, with all due respect, you’re out of line here,” she said firmly. “My father, Samuel, was the one who handled Cedric earlier today. Not the hospital staff. If you want to make this a formal complaint, I’d be happy to call him over; he can explain himself.”
Her words landed heavily, and Scarlett’s expression grew conflicted. Zoe wasn’t finished. Turning to the crowd, she raised her voice so that everyone could hear. “Let me clear this up for everyone here. This man,” she said, pointing to Cedric, “insisted on seeing Dr. Olson, a surgeon, to treat a blister. He was being completely unreasonable. Then, when Dr. Olson refused because he had a surgery scheduled for my grandfather, Cedric came here to cause a scene. If my grandfather’s surgery had been delayed, the consequences could have been serious.”
Zoe turned back to Scarlett, her expression calm but firm. “Ms. Payne, tell me—does a blister require a surgeon? Or a scalpel, for that matter?”
The crowd murmured in disbelief, their earlier judgment of Leroy shifting into curiosity and sympathy.
Scarlett’s face darkened, her eyes darting toward Cedric.
Cedric’s face drained of color as he stammered, struggling to form a coherent sentence. Seeing his reaction, Scarlett’s frustration only deepened. She was beginning to see the situation for what it was: Cedric’s antics had not only made a public spectacle but also jeopardized her standing in front of a prominent figure like Samuel. Her jaw tightened. This was not a battle she wanted to fight, not with the Black family.