Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Lewis went downstairs and had just sat in his car when he received a call from Doris. “I’m staying here with Mom tonight, so Sis can go home and rest. You don’t need to come to the hospital. Just go home and catch up on sleep.”
“Alright,” Lewis replied. “If you need anything, let me know, and I’ll bring it over.”
“No need. Sis will bring it for me tomorrow.” Doris paused for a moment. “Did my dad give you a hard time?”
“He wants me to divorce you,” Lewis said bluntly.
Doris felt her heart clench. Her palms began to sweat. “And what did you say?”
“Take a guess.” Lewis was in the mood for a little teasing.
Doris couldn’t figure it out. After all, their marriage was only in name. “I can’t figure it out,” she said.
“You think I’d just divorce you because he told me to? I’m not that obedient.”
“Then my dad must have said a lot of awful things.” Doris knew her father never gave up until he got what he wanted.
Lewis said lightly, “His talent in that regard doesn’t even measure up to a tenth of mine.”
Doris understood that the more casually Lewis spoke, the more difficult the situation must have been. Jimmy never spared anyone’s dignity when trying to get his way.
Guilt welled up in her heart. “If you had known from the start that my parents and brother were like this, that my family was like this, would you still have agreed to marry me?”
Lewis reaffirmed. “I don’t answer hypothetical questions. But since we’re already married, we’ll face what comes together. Doris, don’t be afraid. You still have me, don’t you?
“Besides, is there any family without some petty drama? This is normal. I think you’re a decent person, different from them. I can put up with it.”
Doris didn’t know how to respond. She thought, ‘Is this his way of comforting me? If he didn’t know what to say, couldn’t he just say less?‘
“Go home already,” Doris said, knowing that Lewis had been running around all day.
“I’ll come to the hospital after work tomorrow,” Lewis said.
*****
After getting home, Lewis slept for another four hours before heading to work.
At the Hartman Group, he entered his office and asked his secretary to bring him a cup of coffee to cheer him up.
“Daniel asked me to bring you breakfast.” Ivan placed a bag on Lewis’s desk, and then sat in the swivel chair across from him. “Lewis, you look terrible.”
“I was up till midnight–didn’t sleep well.” Lewis took a big sip of his black coffee.
Ivan’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he smirked, “Up till midnight? You mean what I think you mean? Lewis, have you finally come around? Having a wife really is different, huh? Must’ve been intense in bed.”
“You are overthinking it.” Lewis shot him a glare. “What do you want?”
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Chapter 74
Ivan picked up a small desk ornament and toyed with it. “Can’t I just come to see you?”
“Spare me the nonsense.” Lewis looked disgusted.
“You and Ms. Reed have been married for a month now, right? She’s not just decent–looking–she’s actually pretty. You really don’t feel anything for her?” Ivan doubted if there was something wrong with Lewis.
Lewis reminded him again. “We’re only married in name. You drafted the contract yourself. Did you forget?”
“A contract is just words. You two are real people. Even if something happens, it’s legal.” Ivan waggled his eyebrows, trying to egg him on.
“Ivan, are you that idle?” Lewis raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning cold. “Put that back where it was.”
Ivan returned the ornament to its place, but he wasn’t done stirring the pot. “Lewis, are you really going to ignore your wife like this?”
“Get lost.” Lewis’s face darkened instantly. He really wanted to throw his coffee at Ivan’s face just to shut him up.
But Ivan remained unfazed, still grinning, “It’s too improper for you to be this grumpy.”
Lewis shot him a sharp glare.
Ivan finally got up to leave. “Chris is back. Let’s have dinner together tonight.”
Ivan made an “OK” gesture before heading out the door.
Lewis picked up his phone and called his brother, Danis Hartman, who worked at His Grace Hospital under the Hartman Group.
Although the hospital operated independently, its director was Lewis’s second uncle, Armstrong Hartman, the father of Danis.
Since it was too late last night, he didn’t disturb Danis’s rest.
Today, he thought he must get this matter settled; otherwise, Peyton would continue to suffer in the hallway, and Doris would feel bad.
“Lewis, what made you think of calling me?” Danis was surprised.
“Are there any private hospital rooms available? Get me one,” Lewis said.
“Lewis, the standard private rooms are all taken; only VIP rooms are left.” Danis was curious about who could make his usually indifferent brother take the initiative. “Who are you doing this favor for?”
“Just open one if it’s available. I’ll cover the cost.” Lewis knew that a VIP room was quite expensive per day.
“You have to at least tell me which patient it’s for, so I can process the paperwork.” Danis pressed for details.
“A patient named Peyton on the 5th floor,” Lewis reminded him. “And don’t reveal my real identity to the patient or their family. In their eyes, I’m just an ordinary person.”
A spark of understanding flashed in Danis’s eyes as if he had figured something out.
“Get this done now, and quickly,” Lewis urged.
“Alright. Since you’ve asked, I’ll make sure it’s taken care of. Lewis, don’t worry.” Danis assured him.
After settling this, Lewis opened his emails and selected a few to handle.
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Then he connected the intercom. “Daniel, come in.”
Daniel arrived quickly. “Mr. Hartman, what can I do for you?”
“Book a table for three at Hampstone Hotel.”
“Mr. Hartman, Hampstone Hotel fired your wife, yet you still want to dine there?” Daniel was puzzled.
“I have my reasons.” Lewis had already made up his mind. “For the Martin family and Watson Group’s projects, take everything we can. No need to show them any courtesy”
Lewis thought, ‘Ryan and Leia have really gone too far. Did they think my wife was so easy to bully? They should be taught a
lesson.‘
“Understood,” Daniel smirked, thinking this was going to be interesting,
Lewis continued working until half an hour later when Doris called,
“Mr. Hartman, my mom has been transferred to a VIP room. A doctor named Danis Hartman arranged it–he said he’s your second younger brother.” Doris quickly added, “I didn’t tell him about our relationship”
Lewis said, “He’s my second brother. The family knows I’m married. He’s no exception.
Although not everyone in the Hartman family had met Doris, Lewis’s grandparents and parents had. Afterward, they shared the news with the rest of the family.
His family didn’t look down on Doris for her humble background; on the contrary, they were quite curious about her. They all wanted to meet the woman who had managed to get Lewis into marriage,
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