Chapter 56
“It’s none of your business,” Andrew said before hanging up the phone.
Toby was speechless.
When Toby was treating Andrew’s insomnia, he didn’t say anything about minding his own business!
Feeling the need to explain, Toby called Melina.
“Mrs. Wentworth, I’m sorry. I had an emergency surgery today, and Andrew was really busy as well, so he couldn’t come down to get the dinner you prepared. It’s not that he didn’t appreciate it.”
“I know. I saw it,” she said flatly.
“Saw what?” he asked.
“I saw Linda bringing dinner to Andrew.”
Toby froze for a second. Linda brought him dinner too?
Could Andrew have thought that when Toby mentioned the delivery, he was talking about Linda?
Now, Toby felt genuinely guilty. All Melina asked was for a little favor, and he hadn’t even passed the message clearly. For once, he felt uneasy.
With hesitation, he asked, “Mrs. Wentworth… You’re not still at the entrance of Wentworth Corporation are you?”
Melina glanced around at the dark surroundings. Her voice was soft and a bit hoarse as she said, “Yeah, there’s no bus. I’ll wait a bit longer before leaving.”
Holy crap, she was still there!
Toby considered calling Andrew again, but the thought that Andrew might be with Linda stopped him. A call now might stir up unnecessary drama.
Without a second thought, Toby swapped out his white coat, got into his car, and headed out quickly.
When Toby arrived at Wentworth Corporation, he immediately spotted Melina sitting on the steps in the corner, still clutching the lunchbox.
By now, it was so late that some of the streetlights had already been turned off.
In the shadow, Melina stood out like a star whose light had been dimmed by the night.
Melina was naturally bright and carefree, with a purity about her that radiated.
But Andrew, with his calculated façade, had trapped her in a whirlpool of confusion. She tried so hard to reach him, to light up his life, but no matter how hard she tried, Andrew always seemed too far away.
At that moment, Toby wanted to curse Andrew for being so heartless. But then he remembered -it was his idea for Andrew to fake love and keep her close. He was the accomplice in all this.
Sighing inwardly, Toby decided not to curse him after all.
Toby walked over to Melina. He was almost right in front of her before she noticed someone was there.
She looked up, her voice a little lifeless, “Dr. Ludwig, what are you doing here?”
“I just happened to pass by and saw you. It’s getting late. Let me give you a ride home.”
“There’s really no need, Dr. Ludwig. I don’t want to trouble you
Chapter 56
The buses had stopped, running, but she could always walk home. She hadn’t moved because she just wanted some time to herself.
Toby, Instead of insisting, sat down beside her on the steps. He sensed that she was lost in thought, weighed down by the untouched lunchbox in her lap.
Suddenly, Toby spoke up. “Melina, I’ve been in back–to–back surgeries today and haven’t had a chance to eat. Do you think I could have your dinner?”
This dinner was a gesture of Melina’s care–an act of kindness that had been overlooked.
Without hesitation, Melina handed him the box. “If you don’t mind, Dr. Ludwig, of course. I’m just not sure if it’s still warm.”
“That’s alright.”
Toby opened the box, and there was still a faint bit of warmth. He took a sip of the chicken soup first.
It was clear that it had been simmered for a long time, with no unnecessary spices–just pure, rich flavor. Then he tried a piece of fish and paused. It was an ordinary squawfish, a fish known for having a lot of bones. How could it possibly be boneless?
He took another bite. Sure enough, no bones.
The only explanation was that someone had painstakingly removed every single bone, one by one, before cooking it.
The care and patience it took to do this left Toby feeling deeply moved.
Toby thought to himself, “Andrew, how could you think she’s manipulative? What kind of schemer would do something like this?
“Have you truly understood her at all?
“We’re the ones being cruel here!”
