The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 505

Julian was at a networking dinner when his phone rang. Commissioner Quentin Davis had arranged an exclusive gathering at Aurelia to help Julian build local political connections. They were dining in The Dynasty Suite—the exact VIP room Diana Evans had desperately tried and failed to book. In fact, Diana had been permanently placed on Aurelia's Blacklist.

Seeing Maria's name flash on his screen, Julian excused himself and stepped into the hallway. "Maria."

Maria's frantic voice spilled out. "Mr. Vance, I don't know what to do!"

"What happened?" Julian's tone sharpened instantly.

"It's Jocelyn! She's too stubborn. I can't talk any sense into her. Could you please try?"

"Is she alright?"

"Did she tell you she's paying for the medical treatment of a girl named Nina?"

"Yes."

That was a lie. Jocelyn hadn't told him a thing. But Julian already knew everything. He had dug into the kidnapper's background and discovered he had a daughter with a terminal heart defect. Driven to desperation by the medical bills, the man had resorted to kidnapping. Julian had planned to offer the kidnapper a deal—spare Jocelyn, and he would guarantee the girl's medical care and future. But he had been too late. When Jocelyn rushed the girl to the hospital, Julian pieced it together: the kidnapper's final words before he fell had been directed at Jocelyn. And Jocelyn was the type of person who would honor a dying man's wish to the very end.

"She insists on staying at the hospital for the next two days to take care of the kid," Maria babbled on. "How can she do that? She won't eat right, she won't sleep right, and she's pregnant! I'm terrified something is going to happen to her."

"I offered to swap places with her, but she flat-out refused. I'm worried sick. Please, Mr. Vance, talk to her. She'll listen to you."

Would she listen to him? Julian seriously doubted it. Especially not now. She probably didn't want anything to do with him after their recent fallout.

Julian kept his voice perfectly level. "Maria, there's no need to panic. You know how she is. Once she makes a decision, she follows through. Just let her handle it."

Maria was stunned. "You aren't worried about her?"

"The housekeeper taking care of Jocelyn?"

"Yes."

"Why is she calling you? Is Jocelyn in trouble?"

Julian briefly explained the situation with Nina.

Quentin sighed in admiration. "Jocelyn is doing the right thing. If she made a promise, she should see it through. That poor kid deserves a chance, and with Jocelyn in her corner, she might actually survive this. I'll have my staff prepare some nutritious meals and send them over to the hospital tomorrow."

He paused. "But Maria is right about one thing. Jocelyn is pregnant. She can't be pulling all-nighters. She needs her rest."