A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Joseph reviewed every detail of the treatment records. Naturally, he concluded that he could have kept the patient alive if he had been there. But he couldn’t blame his colleagues, because they had done everything they could.

Medicine was like that. Differences in talent, understanding, and skill often led to different outcomes.

That evening, he met the patient’s granddaughter. She was a beautiful young woman and had the unmistakable air of a university student.

“Dr. Hart, you told me I would get to see my grandmother one last time. You promised me.” Her eyes reddened, and tears began flowing again.

Joseph didn’t immediately step forward to comfort her. Instead, he asked Paige to come in and help calm the young woman down. All he could say was that the hospital had done everything possible.

Then unexpectedly, the young woman slapped herself across the face. “I shouldn’t have gone out. I shouldn’t have stayed for that reunion. I should have come straight back. If I had, I would have been able to see her. It’s my fault. I failed her.”

Joseph hadn’t expected that sudden turn of events, but it did only a little to ease his guilt.

Time passed quickly. Before he left work, Joseph made some arrangements with Dave. He told Dave that if he didn’t get to the hospital on time, then Dave should go pick him up.

When he got home, he held his hands up to Ella and asked, “Need to tie me up again?”

Ella immediately went to ask Cora for instructions. The answer was that she didn’t need to tie Joseph up. In fact, Cora asked Ella to leave the house.

Not long after that, Cora returned to Kimberly.

“Dad!” Kimberly ran up to Joseph. When Joseph crouched down and opened his arms, her eyes lit up. All traces of her earlier sadness were erased.

Joseph spent some time playing with her. Then, they had dinner together.

After leaving Kimberly with Ella for a bath, Joseph walked toward Cora. As she approached, he noticed how nervous she was. Her fingers were scrolling through her phone, but her gaze was watchfully fixed on him.

Joseph stopped in front of her. “What’s wrong, Cora? Are you worried I’ll hurt you? You’re such a capable and powerful woman, but you’re actually using a child as a shield. I think a little less of you now.”

Cora’s eyes widened. “How can you say something like that? They’re my parents, and they’re yours as well. When did you become someone who speaks so rudely? What’s wrong with you lately?”

Joseph shrugged. “Do you think I’m sick? Do you want to tie me up?”

Joseph took out a zip tie and held his hands up toward her.

Cora said, “Kimberly is here. Can you not do this?”

Joseph replied, “That’s exactly why you shouldn’t have brought her here. Now you’re too afraid to do anything.”

Then, he had Cora leave before he tried calling Bernard again. When Bernard didn’t answer, he sent a message, attaching the image of Cora standing closely to the mysterious man.

“Mr. Lowell, do you still insist that you don’t know who Natalie’s biological father is? You’re quite the liar. I’ve finally seen through you and your daughter. You use business trips as an excuse to engage in this sort of shameless behavior.”