Chapter 16

The sleek car rolled to a gentle halt at the front of the hospital. The driver stepped out first and opened the door for Amelia.

Amelia offered Wyatt a quick goodbye, slung her bag over her shoulder, and climbed out of the back seat.The vehicle slipped out of sight as she lingered for a moment. Then, she turned and started for the hospital entrance.

Hardly a second passed before a hand clamped around her wrist. Jaxton's voice, sharp with accusation,rang out close to her ear. "Amelia, you're sneaking around with another man now?"

Dayna was being discharged today, and Jaxton had come here to pick her up.

Catching Amelia with another man was the last thing he had expected.

Seeing the easy smile on Amelia's face as she exited the car, Jaxton felt his jaw tighten.He could not remember the last time she had smiled at him like that.

That car might not have stood out to most people, but Jaxton recognized it at once. Only a handful could afford that model, which had not even reached the public yet.

Jaxton often imagined owning that model himself, though he understood it was out of reach for someone like him.

Watching Amelia step out of a car that rare left his hands trembling with anger and his vision clouded with jealousy.

Nervousness flickered in Amelia's eyes. Rather than feeling fear, she had the awkward realization that she and Jaxton had yet to end their engagement. The idea of Wyatt being dragged into unnecessary trouble unsettled her.

Yet Jaxton mistook the look in her eyes for shame. He asked, "Who was that man?"

Without waiting for an answer, Jaxton continued, "When have you sunk so low? Did you really think landing a wealthy old man meant you could just toss our engagement aside? Amelia, you have no shame. I-"

Amelia cut him off, voice steady, retorting, "Watch your mouth!"

With a burst of anger, she tore her wrist free from Jaxton's grip and delivered a stinging slap to his cheek.

Insulting her was one thing, but she would not tolerate any disrespect toward Wyatt.

Seeing the confrontation, Dayna hurried to Jaxton's side, only for him to brush her off with a harsh glare.He then said to Amelia in anger, "So now you are flaunting your new man and think you can lay a hand on me?Don't test me, Amelia. I will ruin that man easily!"

Casting a cold look at Dayna, Amelia said with contempt, "How about taking a long look in the mirror before hurling accusations at me? Just so you know, I helped cover up your last scandal. If you cause trouble again,don't expect me to help you."

She vowed she would never help him again.

Jaxton's features tightened after he heard her words; the fire in his eyes quickly snuffed out. Even so, he refused to let the matter go.

He tried again, warning her, "You'd better remember your grandmother's still a patient here. Do you think l

Amelia cut him off, her voice cool and firm, saying, "My grandmother's treatment is no longer your concern."

Those words hit Jaxton like a slap, leaving him speechless. He had always relied on using Amelia's grandmother to control her, but now, the tactic failed for the first time.

He panicked for a moment, but then, he quickly composed himself, convinced that the old man Amelia was involved with must have given her the confidence to be like this.

Wearing a smug grin, he said, "Don't fool yourself, Amelia. Only Marc has the skills to treat your grandmother. The man you are involved with can't buy Marc's help. Marc will never agree to-" Interrupting him again, Amelia's voice held no room for doubt. "Marc has already agreed to be my grandmother's attending physician and will oversee all her future treatments."

Her certainty left Jaxton reeling; he was unable to believe what he had just heard.

How could this be possible?

Securing Marc's medical expertise was nearly impossible. Even when Marc had agreed to help the Morrison family, it had been merely because he had felt like it.

In Jaxton's mind, Marc managing ongoing care for Amelia's grandmother was impossible.

Holding onto his conviction, Jaxton blurted out, "That's a lie!"

Amelia, tired of him, saw no point in arguing. She prepared to step past him, only to see a familiar nurse making her way over-the same nurse who had once treated her injuries.

The nurse offered a pleasant smile. "Miss Flynn, Dr. Chapman has asked for you. Let me walk you to his office."

"Let's go," Amelia said as she followed the nurse.

Left behind, Dayna leaned in and said to Jaxton, "Turns out her new man really has pull. He managed to get Marc to take her grandmother's care."

Jaxton's lips curled in derision. "Marc's ego is legendary. He never listens to anyone, not even the Flynn family. There's no way her rich lover managed to convince Marc to treat her grandmother."

To Jaxton, the nurse's appearance was just part of Amelia's ruse. He felt certain that before long, Amelia would come crawling back to him, desperate for his help.