While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Forty Years of Reputation

The table was quiet now.

The plates had been cleared. Only the water glasses remained, catching the afternoon light from the tall windows. The pianist in the corner played something good to the ears and unfamiliar. The other diners murmured among themselves, unaware of the conversation unfolding at table seven.

Veyra set down her water glass. She had asked about Xie Heng. Dr. Harrison’s face had darkened at the mention of his name.

"He is a local tyrant in Yongning District," Dr. Harrison said. His voice was low, meant only for her. "Loan sharking. Extortion. Intimidation. He has injured dozens of people. Ruined countless lives."

Veyra nodded. She had seen the fear in Aunt Chen’s eyes. The way the thugs had moved. The way Xie Heng had slapped an old woman.

"But," Dr. Harrison continued, "he is a filial son."

Veyra blinked. "A filial son?"

"His mother raised him alone after his father abandoned them. She worked three jobs to put food on the table. She sacrificed everything for him." He paused. "And now she is dying."

Veyra’s chest tightened. She thought about her own mother. The phone call from the hospital. The money that had been there and then was not.

"His mother has heart disease," Dr. Harrison said. "Advanced. She needs surgery and long-term medication. Without treatment, she has maybe a year. Maybe less."

"So he wants you to treat her," Veyra said.

"Yes. He has been harassing me for weeks. Showing up at my clinic. Calling my office. Sending his men to follow me." Dr. Harrison’s voice was tired. "He thinks I am the only one who can save her."

"Can you?"

Dr. Harrison was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "I am a good doctor. But I am not a miracle worker. Her condition is severe. Even with the best care, her chances are fifty percent. Maybe less."

"But you could try."

"I could. But not under these circumstances."

Dr. Harrison picked up his water glass. He took a slow sip. Then he set it down.

"I hold regular clinic hours every Monday," he said. "I see patients on a first-come, first-served basis. I don’t care who they are. Rich or poor. Important or insignificant. Everyone waits their turn."

Veyra nodded.

"Xie Heng did not wait. He did not make an appointment. He barged into my clinic with his mother and three bodyguards. He shoved aside other patients. He demanded that I see her immediately."

Veyra’s jaw tightened. She could picture it. The chaos. The fear. The entitlement.

"I told him to leave. He refused. I called security. They removed him from the clinic." Dr. Harrison’s voice was cold. "He screamed in the hallway. Threatened me. Threatened my staff. Threatened my family."

"So you refused to treat his mother."

"I refused to be bullied."

Dr. Harrison leaned back in his chair. His eyes were distant.

"That was not the end of it," he said. "A few days later, Xie Heng kidnapped me."

Veyra’s blood went cold. "Kidnapped you?"

"He sent four men. They grabbed me outside my apartment. Put a hood over my head. Threw me in a van." His voice was matter-of-fact. Like he was describing a routine procedure. "They took me to the Xie residence. His mother was there. Lying in bed. Surrounded by machines."

Veyra could not speak.

"Xie Heng forced me to examine her. He said he would not let me leave until I agreed to treat her." Dr. Harrison looked at Veyra. "He also said that if I refused, he would kill me. And then he would kill my daughter. And then he would kill my granddaughter."

Veyra’s hands curled into fists under the table.

"What did you do?"

"I told him that if he laid a single finger on me or my family, he would spend the rest of his life in prison. I told him that I had already documented everything. The kidnapping. The threats. The names of his men." Dr. Harrison smiled. It was a thin, cold smile. "I told him that I had friends in high places. Friends who would make sure he never saw daylight again."

Veyra stared at him. This was not the kindly old doctor who had examined Lily’s neck. This was someone else. Someone with steel in his spine.

"Xie Heng realized he had made a mistake," Dr. Harrison continued. "He let me go. Personally escorted me home. Apologized the entire way."

"Apologized?"

"He knew he had crossed a line. He knew that I could destroy him. So he switched tactics." Dr. Harrison sighed. "Now he harasses me instead of threatening me. He calls. He sends gifts. He waits outside my clinic. He kneels in public. He thinks that if he is persistent enough, I will eventually give in."

"Will you?"

"No."

A waiter passed by. He refilled their water glasses. He left.

Veyra leaned forward. "After he calmed down, he realized he was wrong. He had no choice but to release you."

Dr. Harrison nodded. "He knew that if he held me any longer, the consequences would be severe. My disappearance would have been noticed. The police would have been called. His name would have surfaced."

"So he let you go. And personally escorted you home."

"Opening doors. Apologizing. Begging me not to press charges." Dr. Harrison shook his head. "A week later, he was back to his old tricks. Calling. Showing up. Kneeling in public. He thinks that if he is annoying enough, I will eventually cave."

"But you haven’t."

"I haven’t." Dr. Harrison picked up his water glass again. "And I won’t."

Veyra smiled slightly. It was a nervous smile.

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