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Novel Catalog
Chapter_248
Whitney couldn’t help but suppress a bitter sneer, her mind brimming with contempt. He remembered, after all. Three years ago, they hadn’t finalized their divorce, and now here he was, shamelessly eager to marry his mistress. The thought of how he had contributed to her confinement in a sanatorium, pushing both her and their child to the brink of despair, gnawed at her.
Suppressing the rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, she shrugged with casual indifference. “Well, that’s going to be a problem. After all, I’ve treated countless men just as inept as you.” Her tone was light, almost mocking, as she added, “You either cooperate with me and drop your pants, or we can keep this up. The longer this takes, the more you’ll have to pay for the consultation.”
Ludwik’s silence hung thick in the room, his lips pressed together in frustration. Whitney smirked, her pen moving quickly as she scribbled on the medical records, though her mind was far from the task at hand. To her surprise, Ludwik leaned forward suddenly, his breathing deep and steady as he unbuckled his belt. His fingers were elegant and deliberate as he slid his shirt off, his gaze never leaving hers, his movements slow, almost hypnotic. As he pulled down his trousers, revealing his sculpted abs, Whitney’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected this.
She had been trying to provoke him into leaving, but now she found herself questioning his intentions. His expression remained unreadable, though his movements had an undeniable, seductive edge. For the first time, Whitney felt a flicker of uncertainty.
His belt hit the floor with a soft thud, and her gaze involuntarily dropped to the ground. She fought to maintain her composure, but when he spoke, his voice low and somber, it broke through the tension. “Aren’t you supposed to treat me? What are you hiding from? Come here.”
Whitney froze, her pulse quickening. Her eyes flicked to the desk, as though she could distance herself from the situation. With a swift motion, she gestured toward the nearby chair, trying to regain control. “Sir, please, don’t get too excited. Sit over there.”
“I’m not excited,” Ludwik replied, his smile carrying an edge of mystery.
Whitney winced internally. She cursed herself for having said something so foolish. A deep breath helped steady her, and she gathered the electrode pads with practiced hands, determined to regain control of the situation. She faced him head-on, moving efficiently as she attached the pads to his forehead, chest, and abdomen. Her breath grazed his skin as her hair brushed his chest several times. She could feel the subtle rise and fall of his chest with each breath, despite his stoic demeanor.
A brief glance at his face revealed a deep, steady gaze locked on hers. For a moment, his expression faltered when he caught sight of her flushed cheeks. She couldn’t tell if it was from the air conditioning or her own discomfort, but the intensity of his gaze left her feeling self-conscious.
His eyes, those familiar eyes, haunted him. Just hours earlier, he had seen a pair of similar eyes—his son’s. His son was a perfect reflection of him, except for those eyes. Whitney’s eyes. Innocent yet heavy with unspoken pain. He often saw those eyes in his dreams, a reminder of everything he had lost.
As the anger surged within him, he couldn’t shake the bitter reminder of what he had left behind. His eyes narrowed, his frustration deepening as he watched her.
Whitney was turning to adjust the diagnostic equipment when a sudden thought struck her. Erectile dysfunction? She hadn’t even begun the examination yet. Her lips curled into a knowing, but cool, expression. “Are you sure you’re sick?”
“Aren’t you the doctor? Can’t you diagnose?” Ludwik shot back, a tinge of surprise and awkwardness in his voice. He hadn’t been intimate with Elaine for three years. The idea of being with her was repulsive, almost nauseating. He had convinced himself that he just wasn’t attracted to women anymore. But Whitney’s proximity, her touch, stirred something inside him—something he couldn’t ignore.
His voice turned bitter, resentful. “Quack. What kind of trickery is this?”
“Don’t panic,” Whitney replied with a nonchalant air, tapping on the screen of the diagnostic machine. “It’s just a diagnostic device. How was I supposed to know there’s nothing wrong with you?”
Her eyes narrowed as she opened his medical record. “Yet, Elaine’s record claims you haven’t been able to consummate your marriage for three years. Seems like having too big an appetite isn’t always a good thing. Tell her to take it easy, will you?”
Ludwik’s jaw tightened, his temper flaring. “Foul-mouthed woman, you’re asking for trouble.”
Without a word, Whitney grabbed his shirt and trousers, tossing them back at him with a deadpan expression. “This is medical advice. Have you been prescribed any medication, Mr. Lippert? Because my words are your medicine. Understand?”
Ludwik hastily began to dress, struggling with his belt. Whitney, finishing up the medical record, turned to him with an impatient frown. “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“Can’t you see for yourself? Your handiwork!” Ludwik retorted, his tone dark. “How am I supposed to leave like this?”
Suppressing a smirk, Whitney feigned surprise. “Why blame me? Could it be you have a thing for your doctor?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m perfectly healthy; I have no illness,” he snapped.
“No illness?” Whitney raised an eyebrow, her sarcastic smile curling. “Yet here you are, seeking treatment?” She glanced back at the data, narrowing her eyes. “You’re excessively healthy. Or maybe… you’re just disinterested in your fiancée. Now that’s interesting.”
Ludwik’s face darkened, his patience wearing thin. He stepped closer, cornering her against the wall. “Who gave you the right to gossip about a patient and his family? Elaine and I are fine. I love her.”
At the words “I love her,” Whitney’s gaze flickered. She didn’t let it show, but the irony was not lost on her. She remained cool, her expression unwavering as she stepped back, a cold smile on her lips. “I’m not your beloved. The restroom is to your left, Mr. Lippert. Better hurry. And with that, I’ll see you at the next consultation.”
Ludwik stormed out, his anger palpable, his voice calling back, “Another consultation? In your dreams!”
As he entered the restroom, his frustration slowly simmered. He took a deep breath, letting out a cloud of smoke, and frowned. It was then that he realized just how deeply his thoughts had lingered on Whitney. Was it because she was the only one who had ever made such an impact on him?
Felix followed quietly behind him, unsure whether to ask. Finally, Ludwik spoke, his voice cold. “Find out where she’s been hiding for the past three years. I want to know how she got a job at Orion’s Hospital and why she’s come back to Banyan City.”
Felix nodded silently, but his relief at Ms. Valentine’s return was quickly overshadowed by Ludwik’s next words.
“She’s no doctor,” Ludwik spat. “Find a way to revoke her license.”
Felix felt a cold sweat break out as Ludwik’s words hung in the air. There was no mistaking the tension, the weight of Ludwik’s order.
Back in her office, Whitney stood still, watching him leave with a face of unreadable calm. The assistant hesitated before speaking up, sensing the quiet unease in the air.
“Dr. Valentine?” the assistant asked, concerned.
Whitney snapped back to reality, her grip tightening on the pen in her hand. “No more patients left. You can go take a break.”
As the door closed behind the assistant, Whitney remained in place, her face pale and composed, though her mind raced. This encounter with Ludwik had been unlike anything she’d anticipated. She had spent years preparing for this moment, but never like this.
Her phone buzzed, and she typed out a message to Orion, her irritation evident in her words.
[Orion, what the hell are you playing at?]
