Chapter 38
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“Dr. Lester,” Calista said.
With an embarrassed look on her face, she rose to her feet and hid the hospital bill behind her back. Alexander stood on the stairs and didn’t advance further. It almost seemed like he was keeping a distance from her.
It didn’t occur to her that she hadn’t responded to him until she met his intense gaze.
“It’s nothing. Thank you for your help earlier, Dr. Lester.”
Alexander gave a slight nod, looking as warm and pleasant as ever. “Are you sure you don’t need my help with anything?”
“Yeah. Oh, this actually reminds me of the bill you helped me pay.” Calista gripped the bill in her hand, a hint of awkwardness flashing across her face.
“Don’t worry about it. As it happens, I have a surgery to perform later. We can talk about this once it’s over.” Alexander flashed her a courteous grin before turning around to leave.
Calista watched his retreating figure, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude washed over her. However, there was still a staggering debt waiting for her. The medical bill was one thing, but Clarice was a bigger problem at that moment.
Justin was just three years old. If they let him go with her, there was no telling what kind of fate awaited him. After all, Calista didn’t have anyone to rely on growing up, and that was the last thing she wanted him to experience.
After much thought, she mustered her courage and returned home to retrieve the supplementary credit card. As her slender finger brushed the embossed numbers, the uneven ridges felt almost sharp to the touch, throwing her back to the day she got it.
That morning, Calista had noticed an invitation on the coffee table, thinking that it was a surprise from Lucien. So, she applied some makeup, changed into a delicate dress, and waited for his call.
On the way to the venue, she considered all sorts of possible reasons for his silence. Maybe he was simply swamped with work and forgot to call. Or perhaps he was already on his way home to pick her up.
Only when Calista stepped into the venue, dazzling under the onslaught of flashing lights, did she realize how out of place and small
she felt.
Lucien stood at the heart of the crowd with Ophelia next to him. She was also wearing a glamorous dress. Their arms were looped as they walked side–by–side. Even their grins curled up in perfect unison.
Back then, Calista thought that she was the only woman who could stand next to Lucien. After all, she was his wife. So, she threw caution to the wind and stepped forward to defend her status,
However, what awaited her was his scornful expression, along with the other party guests‘ cruel, jeering laughter. On the same night, he threw the supplementary bank card in her face.
Calista vaguely remembered the condescending indifference Lucien showed her. There was an innate gap between those in power and those in a lower tier of the societal hierarchy, as if there was an invisible line drawn between them, dividing them into different worlds.
Holding the supplementary card once more filled her heart with the same conflicted feelings she felt that night. That said, she had an urgent bill to settle at that moment. Time simply didn’t allow her the luxury to care about anything else. Flat out of options, she hurried straight to the bank with it.
“Miss, are you sure you have the right passcode?”
When the receptionist saw Calista and the bank card in her hand, she assumed she was dealing with someone important. She bowed and scraped, offering various beverages before taking Calista to the VIP room.
When she swiped the bank card, however, her attitude toward Calista completely changed. Her expression immediately shifted, and her gaze turned cold and sharp.
T–That’s the passcode. I’m sure of it.” Calista’s palm was covered in sweat. She searched her memory and tried keying in the same passcode once more. Two beeps followed, and the terminal indicated that it was wrong.
The receptionist’s expression changed again. A hint of doubt now mingled with the mockery in her gaze. “Miss, are you certain that this is your card?”
Calista frowned, utterly oblivious to the subtext in the receptionist’s question. She hurriedly nodded and entered Lucien’s date of birth, only to be met with the all–too–familiar beep again.
The receptionist chuckled awkwardly. She made up an excuse and hurriedly left the room.
Chapter 38
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Calista felt utterly helpless. She made several attempts, but none of them were successful. Eventually, she walked out of the VIP room with the card in her pocket.
She had just made it to the door when a group of people rushed over and stood in her way.
“Mr. McGregor, this is the lady I was talking about. I don’t know where she stole the high–limit bank card from. She didn’t even know the passcode, yet she walked in here and pretended as though she were some rich lady.”
This time, the receptionist showed her true colors. After she insulted Calista, she immediately framed her for a crime she never committed.
Brian McGregor, the manager of the bank, also wore a grim expression. He shot a look at the men standing on either side of him. Before Calista knew it, they had already blocked her path.
