Chapter 623 Unappreciated Affection
After Dominic fell fast asleep, Amelia and Oscar purposely went to the hospital, wanting to ask James about Spencer’s condition. Who knew that they would stumble upon him being forcefully kissed by a woman, none other than Eva, in his own office.
Amelia was shocked to the core by the unexpected sighting, popping her eyes wide open.
It was beyond what she could’ve ever imagined!
Oscar let out a cough that jolted James out of the moment, and the latter quickly pushed Eva away. He immediately tried to explain the situation. “Oscar, it’s not what you think it is. She and I are not in a relationship whatsoever. This woman had gone mad and literally threw herself on me.”
Eva, on the other hand, appeared unruffled. “Hey, Amelia. When did you and Oscar get here?” she asked with a smug smile.
“We just got here, actually. I wasn’t expecting to see such a fiery scene, though,” Amelia teased.
Eva shrugged and there was a rare tinge of meekness in the way she looked at the man she had just kissed.
“James, since both Amelia and Oscar saw us kiss, be a responsible man and marry me, will you? I don’t know what else you could do other than that.” Eva’s assertiveness clouded the meekness she had.
However, James repelled himself away from her as if she was some sort of contagious disease and diverted the topic she was on. “Oscar, Amelia, I believe you are here to have more understanding about Spencer’s current condition, right?”
Eva wanted to sit next to James, but the latter was eager in keeping her at a distance. “Stay right where you are!” He almost screamed.
Seeing that James resisted her, a trace of sadness clouded her eyes. Despite that, she shrugged her shoulders and acted as if she wasn’t at all affected.
“James, aren’t you too shy for a guy?” She tried to dissipate the awkwardness.
James was absolutely speechless. He genuinely didn’t like a woman too brazen and not ladylike. Although he was a foreigner, when it came to his partner of choice, he preferred a lady who was gentle and temperate in mannerisms. Eva’s androgyny and tomboy behavior, not forgetting how she forced herself onto him, wasn’t something he was comfortable with.
“Amelia, Spencer is in a stable condition. He shall undergo the operation when my mentor gets in next week. Bear in mind that a certain level of risk is to be expected from cirrhosis operations. The success rate is going to be at seventy percent tops even if my mentor and I worked together as Spencer was being injected with some sort of medicine that worsened his cirrhosis. If that didn’t happen, I could be almost certain that the operation was going to be successful.” James put on a grim look and gave his thought on the matter.
“I believe you,” Amelia responded. “Also, I was wondering if Spencer’s ailment would change his temperament drastically?”
“Yes. Not only will he lose weight day by day, but the excruciating pain he has to go through will also be so bad that even painkillers won’t help. Anyone’s temperament would be affected if they were going through what Spencer was in. By the way, I heard that Mr. Winters was beaten up. I’ll talk to Spencer regarding that as I believe he would somehow listen to a doctor.”
“Thank you, James.” Amelia expressed her gratitude.
“You’re most welcome.”
Eva was lost in their conversation. “What do you mean by being beaten up? Spencer hit Uncle Dominic? When was this? How come I knew nothing about it?”
Amelia then gave Eva a rough picture of the incident.
Slam! Eva smashed her hand onto the table and stood up in fury. “How dare Spencer do such a thing! Uncle Dominic emptied his every asset to pay for Spencer’s medical fees, and Spencer repaid him by hitting him? This is unacceptable! I have to teach him a lesson or he would assume that he can get away with such atrocity.”
Eva was someone who was extremely fast in realizing her actions, and by the time she finished her sentence, she was already at the door.
“Stop, Eva!” Amelia called out to her, and Eva did come to a halt.
“Yes, Amelia?” She was confused, though.
“Look. You’re going to give him a beating, and my Mom is going to stop you. Are you planning to beat her up too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Do I look like that kind of person?” Eva frowned.
“Since you’re not going to get her out of your way, how are you going to beat Spencer?”
A moment of silence ensued before Eva came up with another plan. “How about I sneak into his ward in the middle of the night and do what needs to be done?”
“And how are you going to explain the situation if complications arose in the process?” Amelia threw her another question.
“Em…” Eva didn’t have a solution for that and sat herself back down on the chair.
Amelia turned toward James, and again, thanked him for all he had done for Spencer thus far.
James nodded.
Eva then skipped her way and plunk herself in front of the doctor. “James, I’m counting on you for my happiness in the future too.” She gave a cheeky grin.
“Eva, please, stay away from me.” James bounced backward as he muttered those words.
“Come on, James. What’s there to be shy about? I know you like me,” Eva laughed, and that vexed James.
There was no way he could fall in love with someone as bold as brass. In his opinion, a girl like that was too immodest for his liking.
Amelia noticed James’ scrunched-up face and tried to prevent things from getting worse. “Eva, stop making fun of James. Oscar and I are going home now, so come with us. Tony is missing you already.”
“Indeed. Eva, go home with Amelia. I still have one more operation to go, and you’ll be bored by yourself here alone.” James went with the flow and asked Eva to leave although the latter didn’t really want to.
Eva looked at him with the saddest puppy eyes, which sent chills down his spine.
“Okay. I’ll go back with Amelia. Remember to eat the food I made for you. I went to the farmer’s market early in the morning to get all the ingredients and all your favorite dishes.” Eva reminded him about the food she had packed for him.
“Sure. I will.”
Eva’s pulled-down lip corners went back up, and she left with Amelia. “Oh, I left my phone at James’ office. You and Oscar can wait for me downstairs. I’ll be down in a jiffy.” While waiting for the elevator, Eva made an excuse to go back to James’ office and dashed before Amelia could respond.
Carefully, she opened the door and popped her head into the room silently as she wanted to give James a surprise. What knocked her out of her whimsical mood was the content of the trash can—the food she made for James. That man had heartlessly thrown the food, which was made with so much love, away.
Glumness took over her, and she couldn’t help but wallow in sadness as she stared at the wretched scene. She would’ve landed blows on any man who dared treat her effort like trash and made sure they’d be more respectful in the future, but she couldn’t do it to James.
She exited the office and closed the door behind her.
Thoroughly disheartened, she took the elevator down and got into the car.
“Hey, Eva, are you alright?” Amelia checked on the dispirited Eva.
“I’m okay.” It was rare to see Eva losing her vigor, and that was a bad sign.
“Did James bully you?”
“Him? Bullying me? He should be thankful that I didn’t bully him as he’s no match for me,” Eva huffed.
“Good to hear that everything’s in order.” Amelia didn’t prod further as she thought it’d be a better idea to get home, sit Eva down, and talk about how the latter should go about wooing men. The way she was doing would only chase men away.
When they got home, Tony, who was playing with Molly, chucked his favorite toy aside and ran to Amelia. He hugged her calf tight and let out a sweet whine. “Mommy, I miss you.”
Different from her usual reaction, Eva didn’t go up to hug Tony when she saw the interaction between the mother and the son. Instead, she started imagining a similar scene for herself in the future.
“Aunt Eva, are you okay?” Tony looked up at Eva with his clear round eyes in the most adorable way.
Eva responded by stroking Tony’s peachy cheeks. “I’m just wondering when I’ll have a cute son like you.”
Amelia glanced at her, slightly surprised.
“You’re going to have a very cute baby after you get married, Aunt Eva.” Tony words were so innocent.
“I do want to get married.” Eva sighed and blurted. Provided that he’s willing to.
“Aunt Eva, you look weird, but I believe that someday, a very brave hero riding a broomstick will marry you.”
Tony’s sincere hopes tickled Eva pink and drove all her sadness away.
She lifted the young boy and galloped her fingers under his armpits, sending him into a frenzy of giggles. “H-H-Haha! Stop, Aunt Eva! Stop! Forgive me. I’ll never say that you look weird ever again!”
“Say that Aunt Eva is the prettiest woman on earth,” Eva commanded.
“But I think Mommy’s the prettiest.”
Eva went on tickling Tony and his laughter got louder and louder.
Tony was a smart boy, but he was just a child. It was only natural for him to like anyone who was playing with him.
After the tickles and the giggles, Eva asked Tony to get her a glass of juice.
Smack! Without notice, Amelia slapped her on the back of her head. “Go get it yourself.”
“Hmph. You’re such a bully, Amelia.” Eva sulked and pursed her lips.
Amelia didn’t know how to respond.
