A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Seeing Cora come back so calm felt surreal to Joseph. He had just provoked Bernard and Helen, so surely she already knew about it. He had expected her to argue with him and demand an explanation.

Cora got straight to the point. “Joe, I need to discuss something with you. My parents want to go on a trip, and there’ll be no one to watch the kids. You need to take some time off from the hospital.”

“I can’t just take time off. If I leave, no one will be in charge of the ICU. Your parents want to travel? What are they thinking? I’ll call them and tell them to cancel it for now.”

Joseph pulled out his phone, preparing to call Helen.

“It’s late. Don’t disturb them.”

Cora took the phone from him, adding, “Joe, I’ve already told you. We don’t lack money. There’s no need for you to work-”

“Cora, hearing you say that makes me want to slap you. If I don’t work, then what do you expect me to do? Stay home and live off your money? Do I look like the kind of man who lives off a woman?”

“That’s not what I meant. You’re being too sensitive. Staying home would mean you wouldn’t be so exhausted, plus you could take care of the kids.

“My parents spoil them rotten over there, and I can’t discipline them at all. Selena spends her evenings playing video games.

“As for Kimberly, she starts complaining about a headache or some other ache only after a few minutes of writing, so Mom and Dad always let her off the hook. I’ve checked their recent grades, and they’re definitely slipping.”

“The kids… If the way Natalie turned out is any indication, then my approach to parenting has clearly failed. The three of them are supposed to inherit your legacy anyway, so raise them according to your own standards. I’m done getting involved.”

Every time Joseph thought about the possibility that none of the three children was his, it felt like knives stabbing into his heart. The pain was unbearable.

Cora had not expected Joseph to say something so irresponsible. “You’re done?”

“That’s right. I’m done. And I don’t have the right to care anymore. That’s enough, Cora. Let me call your parents. I’ll persuade them to postpone their travel plans.”

“Joseph, when did you become so cold?”

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