A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 327

Chapter 327

Marla tried to talk him into accepting a different kind of compensation.

“If you can’t return the favor, then forget it! And don’t come to me for anything ever again!”

Joseph gave her a day to think it over before hanging up.

Not long after, Mason came to Joseph again, asking him to perform a minimally invasive procedure for breast hyperplasia. 1

Since the procedure wasn’t particularly challenging, Joseph completed it in no time. The patient’s family was overjoyed and rewarded him generously.

Once they were away from the family, Joseph asked Mason, “They gave me such a huge reward even though it was just a minor procedure. What’s the catch? I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being set up.”

Mason replied, “It may be a minor procedure to you, but it might be a different story to everyone else. I do think they were a little over-the-top, though. They probably want to ask you for another favor down the line.

“Then again, maybe they won’t. Either way, they are more than happy to know a doctor as skilled as you.”

“I’m happy to help as long as it doesn’t cross the ethical boundaries of my profession.”

Joseph chatted idly for a bit longer before heading back to his department.

Unexpectedly, Paige handed him a note with an unfamiliar phone number, asking him to call it. Someone posing as a patient’s family member had left it. The person was of average build and wore a mask and glasses.

Joseph knew there was little chance of tracking the person down, but when he returned to his office, he dialed the number anyway.

It was a woman who answered, but the voice sounded off. Joseph could tell she was using a voice changer.

The woman told him to come to a specific location alone. He played along, told her he’d be right there, and hung up. But he had zero intention of actually going.

“How ridiculous. Being all secretive like some kind of rat…”

Joseph brushed it off, not giving it a second thought.

A bit later, Wendy called. “Joseph, I’m literally starving to death. Can you spot me some cash?”

“Didn’t Cora give you a job? If you need money, ask her,” Joseph replied.

It was actually the first time anyone had asked him for a loan. And of all people, it was Wendy.

“Cora is nothing but a backstabbing ingrate. She and my brother used to be thick as thieves, but now she’s pretending we don’t even know each other. Not only won’t she give me work, but she curses me out and mocks me, too.”

When Joseph heard that, it dawned on him that Wendy was the one who had spilled the beans about Cora and Warren going to the hot springs together, so it was only natural that Cora hated her.

“I don’t have any money to lend you. But if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, I can set you up with a job in our department.”

“I think I’ll pass on working at your hospital,” Wendy said before hanging up.

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Joseph immediately called Cora. He told her Wendy had just hit him up for cash, then added, “I’m actually surprised you didn’t give her a job. I thought you were still on good terms with the Ashmore family.”

“Don’t lend her money. And don’t let a few sob stories fool you into thinking she’s actually helpless! The Ashmores have plenty of money,” Cora said defensively.

“So you’re trying to back Wendy into a corner until she has no choice but to dip into the Ashmore family’s hidden- cash. All of you are absolutely ruthless.”

“Honey, forget all this nonsense. Just come home so we can talk it out.”

“Divorce is just a matter of signing the papers. What’s there to talk about? Stop dragging this out, Cora!”

Joseph hung up. Going back to Cora’s place meant facing the agonizing emotional tug-of-war with the children again. He would only be the one to suffer.

The second he walked back through that door, he would just be showing weakness to Cora. He’d be proving to Cora that he wasn’t serious about the divorce, and Cora would look down on him even more.

She would only think, “See? The moment I tell him to come back, he comes running. He can’t live without the kids or me. He can’t let go of this mansion or the status of being my husband!

“All that talk about divorce is just for show. Deep down, he’s perfectly happy playing the clueless cuck. Joseph is nothing more than a pathetic, lowly man. That’s all he’ll ever be!”

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