“I’m busy,” Chloe snapped coldly. “If your mother needs to go see the doctor, you or Curtis can take her.” Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call and blocked Joanne’s number.
During the past three years, every time Helen needed to see the doctor, Chloe had always been the one who handled everything, from making appointments at the hospital to getting in line, making payments, getting prescriptions, and going for follow–ups. Yet the Greens took her efforts for granted and never showed any gratitude.
Today was supposed to be a follow–up appointment for Helen’s eye surgery.
“Who was that?” Lena asked.
“Curtis‘ sister. Don’t worry about it,” Chloe replied.
Half an hour later, Curtis called her. “You’d better get to the hospital now, Chloe. I’ll never forgive you if anything happens to my mom.”
Chloe frowned. She didn’t want to go, but the divorce hadn’t been finalized yet. She didn’t want any unnecessary trouble, so she eventually gave in.
The moment she stepped into the hospital, Joanne stormed up to her. “You blocked me, didn’t you? I couldn’t get through to you, no matter how many times I called!”
“I did,” Chloe admitted without hesitation.
“How dare you!” Joanne fumed.
Earlier, she’d taken Helen into the doctor’s office, only to be turned away because they hadn’t made an appointment.
As everyone around them stared, she’d called Chloe over a dozen times with no response. It had been utterly humiliating.
“Why wouldn’t I dare? It’s not like you’re the president or anything, so why must I always take your calls?” Chloe countered.
While Joanne was rendered speechless, Curtis stepped in. “Whatever issues we have are between us. You shouldn’t have taken it out on my mom’s health.”
“And how exactly did I take it out on her?” Chloe asked, amused.
“You’ve always been the one to take her to appointments. Now that you’ve suddenly refused to take her to the hospital, you’re obviously taking it out on her.”
“So you’re aware that I was always the one who brought her here, huh? She raised you and Joanne, not me, so it’s your duty to keep her company. I did it out of kindness, not obligation.”
212
“Fine. Even if you won’t come now, why can’t we get an appointment? Isn’t that your doing?” Curtis snapped.
“Dr. Davidson is a retired military doctor. He’s elderly and only sees a very limited number of patients each week, so appointments need to be booked weeks or even months in advance. You can’t just get an appointment with him just because you want it.”
“How did you manage to get them then?” Curtis demanded.
“What do you think?” Chloe shot back.
When Curtis fell silent, she knew he’d misunderstood. He’d always assumed that she snatched
appointment slots from others when the truth was the doctor, Richard Davidson, had reserved a slot for her each time.
She’d always arranged it in advance with Richard, but now, that wasn’t something she cared to explain.
“Since Helen has already had her cataract surgery, another doctor in the department can handle the follow -up if she can’t see Dr. Davidson.”
When Helen overheard that, she rushed over and jabbed a finger at Chloe. “You’re just trying to make me go blind by sending me off to a random doctor! You want me dead!”
Her hand flew up toward Chloe’s cheek. When the latter dodged and frowned, Helen kept swinging her arms around, fueled by anger.
The commotion outside the doctor’s office drew people’s attention, and moments later, Richard appeared.
“What’s going on here? Oh? Chloe?” Richard stepped forward.
“Dr. Davids-”
Before Chloe could call out to him, Helen loudly cut in. “Chloe’s vicious, Dr. Davidson! She told me to settle for a common doctor when I’ve only ever trusted you! Thank goodness my son will divorce her soon, so he can marry someone who actually deserves him.”
“Mom, I told you Sonya and I are just friends,” Curtis muttered awkwardly, tugging at her sleeve.
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