A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Bernard and Joseph parted on a bad note.

After Joseph walked out, Walt came out of another office. Seeing the awful look on Bernard’s face told him that the talk with Joseph had obviously blown up. A bad feeling washed over him.

He was right.

Bernard turned to Walt and snapped, “That ingrate has grown a pair now. He actually dared to go against me! I’ll make sure he gets it into his head that in Jenton, nobody crosses me and walks away! Fire him. Make sure he can’t practice as a doctor anymore.

“I’ll call in a few favors. We’ll see which hospital out there dares to hire him after he’s kicked out from here. I can’t wait to see how he plans to survive in Jenton!”

“Come on, Bernard. I think that’s taking things too far. Joseph only brought up divorce because he wants to give Cora and Natalie’s biological father a chance to be together. He wasn’t targeting you. Someone at your level doesn’t need to come down this hard on him,” Walt hurriedly said.

“He wants Cora to pay him several billion in compensation. How is that not extortion? Anyone who thinks they can squeeze the Lowell family is not getting off easy. Walt, just do what I said.” Bernard wouldn’t be talked down. He stormed off.

Walt realized things were getting out of hand. He called Cora and told her not to file a lawsuit against Joseph, or it would only make everything more complicated. Then, he also called Joseph in to talk things through with him.

“You really set Bernard off this time,” Walt said. “He’s ready to sue you for extortion. I’ve never seen him this furious. My advice is that you talk to him again. Try to calm him down before this escalates any further.”

Joseph gave a vague hum in response, then asked thoughtfully, “Besides saying that he would sue me, what else did he say?”

“He wants me to fire you. He says he wants to make sure you can’t practice as a doctor and can’t find a job anywhere in Jenton,” Walt admitted.

“Then I’ll leave the hospital and Jenton. That was always the worst-case scenario in my mind, Dr. Loughlin. If it really comes to that, I’m prepared.”

Joseph smiled bitterly, but his determination to divorce Cora and cut ties with the Lowell family only grew stronger. At the same time, he wanted to see what Walk would do. If Walt chose to bow to Bernard’s pressure, then there was no reason for him to stay at this hospital any longer.

That night, when Joseph returned to his dorm, he found Cora waiting inside. His expression darkened, and he said coldly, “You’re not allowed in my private space without my permission, Cora.”

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