The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 140

Jocelyn's heart sank, and just as she opened her mouth, he continued.

"But Dr. Weldon happens to be good friends with Quentin. I'll call him right now and ask him to pull some strings."

Jocelyn was so overwhelmed with gratitude she almost threw her arms around him.

Julian pulled out his phone and made the call right in front of her.

It lasted less than a minute.

"What did he say?" Jocelyn asked frantically.

"Quentin is reaching out to him as we speak. We just have to wait for the answer."

Jocelyn looked at him, utterly mortified. "It is so late... I feel terrible bothering the Commissioner at this hour."

"Don't worry about it. He already yelled at me, so we're even."

Jocelyn felt even more indebted to him.

"I seriously don't know how to thank you for all of this."

"Just consider it an early investment in my new partner."

Jocelyn finally managed a faint, fragile smile.

"I just worry your investment won't yield the return you're hoping for."

"I've already gotten my return," Julian replied smoothly.

Jocelyn didn't quite understand what he meant, but she didn't press it.

Her mind quickly drifted back to the agonizing secret of her baby's biological father.

Julian was treating her with complete, unreserved sincerity.

Yet she was lying to his face about the child she was carrying.

Was she doing the right thing? Or the wrong thing?

Seeing Jocelyn rubbing her stomach with a distant look in her eyes, Julian assumed she was still terrified of losing the baby.

"Is your stomach still hurting?"

Jocelyn didn't respond, completely lost in her own thoughts.

Julian tried again. "The doctor said the baby is fine, which means everything is fine. Try not to stress yourself out so much."

"Julian."

Jocelyn suddenly looked up, locking eyes with him.

Julian met her gaze with a soft, steady hum. "Mm?"

Jocelyn pressed her lips together nervously.

One piece of good news, and one piece of difficult news.

The good news: Dr. Weldon had agreed to take the case.

The difficult news: Because of the doctor's advanced age, he could no longer travel long distances. The patient would have to be transferred to his rural clinic.

Jocelyn immediately called Diana to tell her the plan.

When Diana heard they were transferring Marcus to a rural clinic, she exploded.

"Jocelyn! Are you hoping your father drops dead?! You want to pull him out of the best hospital in Northwood City and dump him in some rundown, backwater clinic?!"

"Those places can barely treat a cold, let alone a massive heart attack! Are you completely out of your mind?!"

Jocelyn tried desperately to reason with her.

"Dr. Weldon is an absolute authority in cardiovascular medicine. He used to be a top surgeon at a major hospital in D.C. He only moved to the rural clinic after he retired because he wanted to help people who couldn't afford world-class care! Mom, we have to..."

"Shut up!" Diana shrieked, instantly cutting her off. "Authority? Top surgeon? If he was actually any good, he wouldn't be rotting in a small-town clinic!"

"He probably botched a surgery and ran off to hide from the malpractice suits!"

Jocelyn was so flabbergasted by Diana's sheer ignorance she couldn't even form words.

It was like talking to a brick wall.