When Ethan brought Grandpa Miller to the hospital entrance, Samantha was already waiting there.
The gentle breeze lifted her flowing hair, creating a picturesque scene.
Her beauty captivated the onlookers.
Ethan couldn't help but be mesmerized.
Recalling her words from last night, ‘I missed you,’ his breath involuntarily quickened, and his heart pounded in his chest. A hint of blush adorned his handsome face.
Grandpa Miller teasingly remarked, "Do you think my granddaughter is beautiful?"
In his eyes, his granddaughter had always been the most beautiful in the world.
Ethan abruptly snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Grandpa Miller in astonishment.
Grandpa Miller wore a knowing smile and said, "My granddaughter has been cherished by me since childhood. She's not only beautiful but also an excellent student."
He once believed that his granddaughter would achieve great things.
Little did he know, everything was ruined by that night five years ago.
An unplanned pregnancy led to Samantha's reputation being tarnished, and she had to drop out of school for childbirth.
All her dreams and aspirations came to an end in that moment.
Ethan pursed his lips, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Beautiful?
He didn't think so.
As for being an excellent student?
Could she still be a top student?
Definitely not. Perhaps her classmates were just exceptionally poor in comparison.
Grandpa Miller, oblivious to his thoughts, hobbled over with a cane and said to Samantha, "Sammie..."
Samantha immediately supported his arm. "Grandpa, be careful!"
Seeing Samantha made Grandpa Miller overjoyed, and his smiling expression didn't fade.
Ethan walked over, hands in his pockets, giving her a cold glance. Expressionless, he said, "Follow me."
Samantha obediently nodded and followed him into the hospital, taking the elevator straight to the top floor, where the dean's office was located.
Nick had been waiting for quite some time.
Upon seeing Samantha, he raised his eyebrows with a meaningful smile and said, "Is this the reason you asked me to cancel all my work?"
So, it was all for a woman.
Apart from Jessica Turner, he hadn't seen him so concerned about any other woman.
Unfortunately, Jessica...
Thinking of this, his eyes darkened, and his heart clenched with pain.
If Jessica hadn't died, she should be Mrs. Steele by now!
Ethan's eyes flashed with cold light, "Shut up."
Nick rubbed his nose in frustration.
Samantha looked at them strangely, not understanding what kind of puzzle they were playing.
Ethan said, "Check Mr. Miller’s physical condition; he's willing to undergo treatment now."
Nick rolled his eyes at him, gave a meaningful look to Samantha, smiled, stood up, and personally led Grandpa Miller through a series of examinations.
Samantha and Ethan followed throughout.
Seeing Ethan always by her side, Samantha felt embarrassed, "You don't have to accompany me. I've troubled you for so long; I really feel sorry."
Ethan turned awkwardly, saying with mixed feelings, "Presumptuous, do you think I'm here for you? I'm here for Noah."
Samantha paused and thought about it. Grandpa was Noah's great-grandfather. If anything happened to Grandpa, Noah would lose another family member.
Ethan's actions for his son were understandable.
Seeing her silent, Ethan habitually pursed his thin lips. "I ask you, is that how you are with everyone... uh... men?"
Samantha was puzzled, looking at him inexplicably, "How am I?"
"Like last night."
Samantha instinctively thought he was referring to her apologizing over the phone last night and nodded, "Of course!"
When you make a mistake, you should apologize.
Besides, she also needed Ethan's help, so she should be more polite.
Upon hearing her answer, Ethan's icy eyes instantly spewed anger.
Samantha shivered suddenly.
Although she didn't know him well, she could clearly feel that he was angry.
"You... Are you angry?"
"No!" Ethan coldly left a sentence and walked away without looking back. His back was stiff and indifferent, as if covered in a layer of ice.
Samantha was puzzled, not knowing the source of his anger.
When Nick came out of the examination room and didn't see Ethan, he couldn't help but ask, "Where's Ethan?"
Samantha shrugged, "I accidentally made him angry just now. He probably left."
"Angry?" Nick raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
Ethan, who usually dismissed women, was unexpectedly angry with Samantha.
Initially, when the Steele family's elders secretly engaged him to Suzy, he just ignored it.
What happened today?
It was unexpected for Ethan to get angry.
Samantha pouted, "I don't know, it's inexplicable!"
Nick stared at Samantha with an examining gaze, as if trying to see through her, "What is your relationship with Ethan?"
Samantha replied, "I am his chef and also invited to design wedding jewelry for Miss Ellena Steele."
"A chef?" Nick raised his lips meaningfully.
Just a simple chef?
He didn't believe it.
Samantha didn't want to continue discussing her private matters with him. Changing the topic, she asked, "How is my grandfather's condition? Can it be cured?"
Nick sensed her thoughts and didn't continue this topic.
"Although not all the results are out, from what we've seen so far, fortunately, it was discovered early. Grandpa is old, and the cancer cells have spread extensively. However, rectal cancer has the lowest mortality rate among cancers! I have a seventy percent chance of curing Grandpa. As for the remaining thirty percent, it depends on his fate."
For Samantha, seventy percent was already good news.
She happily teared up, tightly holding Nick's hand, "Dr. Huston, thank you so much. I..."
Before she could finish her words, a cold voice interrupted.
"What are you doing?"
Samantha and Nick both paused, looking towards the source of the voice.
They saw Ethan walking towards them angrily, rudely separating their hands. Frost covered his entire face, resembling an angry beast.
Nick, who hadn't seen Ethan like this for a long time, couldn't help but be stunned.
Ethan's bone-chilling eyes stared at Samantha, his handsome face dark and gloomy, like a ghost from the underworld.
Startled, Samantha hid behind Nick.
Ethan's handsome face became even more unsightly.
His thin lips pressed tightly, he gritted his teeth, "You really surprise me. I leave for a moment, and you've hooked up with Nick."
With such a big accusation, Samantha was completely dumbfounded. "Ethan Steele, don't talk nonsense."
Ethan sneered, "My eyes aren't blind; I saw it very clearly."
Samantha chuckled.
"I was thanking Dr. Huston. Is shaking hands considered seduction? Then I've seduced at least a thousand people, or ten thousand, in my work and daily life."
Whether in work or daily social interactions, shaking hands is basic courtesy.
Yet, Ethan considered it seduction.
This was the biggest insult to her.
"SAMANTHA MILLER!"
Ethan had an inexplicable urge to flip the table, his fists tightly clenched.
Startled, Samantha shrunk her neck and hid behind Nick.
Nick's thin lips tightened slightly, his gaze complex as he looked at Ethan.
After a moment, he asked in a soft voice, "Ethan, have you forgotten Jessica?"
This name was their taboo.
He didn't want to bring it up initially.
However, seeing Ethan care so much about Samantha, he felt sorry for Jessica.
Jessica had only been dead for five years. Ethan not only had a son but also seemed to have fallen for another woman.
How could he treat Jessica like this?
Not asking him to stay faithful to Jessica forever, but at least, don't forget so quickly.
Suddenly hearing this name, the anger on Ethan dissipated visibly, replaced by a touch of pain in his eyes.
Samantha widened her eyes in astonishment, hardly believing what she saw.
Nick continued, "You have the right to pursue happiness, but don't forget, Jessica died for you. You owe her, and you won't be able to repay that debt in this lifetime."
Having said that, he entered the examination room.
Alone and desolate, like a wandering ghost in the mortal realm.
After a moment, Ethan left without a word.
As if the previous anger were just an illusion.
Samantha searched her mind but found no information about Jessica.
Who was Jessica?
Seemingly an old lover of Ethan?
And she died for him?
Though she didn't know who Jessica was, she guessed that it was a name not to be mentioned.
In the following examinations, she tactfully acted as if nothing had happened.
Nick remained in a gloomy mood, his face dark.
The atmosphere became inexplicably heavy.
***