Chapter 61
Luckily, Lorey had left earlier, or things could have gotten messy. Just as this thought crossed Zoe’s mind, the light above the operating room flickered off, and everyone turned their attention to the doors.
Valda nudged him forward. “This is your chance to show how much you care,” she whispered. But as the doors opened, it wasn’t just any surgeon who stepped out.
Both Cedric and Valda froze in shock.
“Lorey Olson!” Cedric blurted, his tone laced with disbelief. It only took him a moment to realize that, of all people, Lorey was the most qualified to handle Scarlett’s surgery. Of course, it had to be him.
“Is there no one else in this hospital?” Cedric’s mother hissed under her breath, glaring at Lorey like he was an uninvited guest at her party.
Zoe, standing off to the side, smirked. “Actually, Dr. Olson is the youngest lead surgeon in the hospital. And let’s not forget—he fixed Scarlett’s leg the first time. Who better to operate on her now?”
Her words shut Valda up, though she responded with an irritated huff. Zoe raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her little victory.
Grace wasted no time rushing to Lorey’s side. “How is she, Dr. Olson?” she asked, her voice trembling with worry.
“She’s stable,” Lorey replied, his voice calm but firm. Then, his gaze flicked to Cedric, and his expression hardened. “You’d better straighten things out.”
Lorey turned and walked away without elaborating, leaving Cedric frowning in confusion. What was that supposed to mean?
The stretcher rolled out of the operating room, and Cedric sprang into action. “Scarlett! Are you okay?” he called, his voice full of concern. But Scarlett was still unconscious.
Grace stepped in. “Dr. Olson said she’ll be fine, but she needs rest. Let’s move her to the ward I’ve prepared.”
Cedric hovered anxiously as they wheeled Scarlett to the ward while his mother stayed back, her expression a mix of unease and suspicion. As the group moved away, she broke off toward the consultation room.
Cedric didn’t notice her leaving, but she had spotted something. The hospital’s roster showed that Lorey wasn’t even scheduled to be working that day. This meant he had stayed behind specifically for Scarlett. The thought made her bristle.
Meanwhile, Zoe leaned against the counter in the room, watching Lorey. “Why the long face, Lorey? You pulled off another perfect surgery.”
Lorey responded with a curious expression. “It’s not the surgery. It’s Cedric. His leg isn’t injured—he’s been faking it this whole time.”
Zoe’s eyes widened, then narrowed as a knowing smirk spread across her face. “I knew it. Something about the way he was limping just didn’t sit right. So, are you going to tell Scarlett?”
“That was my plan,” Lorey admitted. “But then the accident happened.”
As Lorey explained the events of the day, Zoe’s expression shifted from amusement to surprise. “Wait, you were already on your way before the paramedics arrived? No wonder you showed up so fast.”
Lorey rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly self-conscious. “I had a feeling something was wrong, so I called Grace. I didn’t expect to end up performing surgery.” Zoe crossed her arms, her tone turning serious. “Look, if Scarlett doesn’t believe you about Cedric, don’t bother trying to convince her. She’s too deep in denial to appreciate everything I’ve done for her.”
Lorey frowned, conflicted. “I’ve known Scarlett for years. I can’t imagine she’d take Cedric’s side over mine, especially after everything I’ve done for her.” Zoe rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Lorey. You’re giving her way too much credit. She’s got Cedric whispering in her ear 24/7. If it comes down to choosing sides, she’s not picking you.”
Lorey’s expression darkened, though he said nothing. Zoe shook her head and said, “Well, if you don’t believe what I said, you can wait until Scarlett wakes up and see for yourself.”
Lorey had forgotten that Scarlett was with Cedric.