Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 160

Stella didn’t step off the operating table until after five in the afternoon. The surgery had been particularly complex, and Dr. Grant had told her it was a rare case—one she should observe from start to finish.

Fortunately, both the mother and her baby came through safe and sound.

Stella had barely settled into her office chair when someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” she called.

The door swung open, and Quentin walked in.

Catching sight of him, Stella froze for a moment before quickly standing up. “Director Lockwood, what brings you here?”

Quentin closed the door behind him. Stella straightened, a little on edge. “Please, have a seat, Director Lockwood.”

He smiled, warm brown eyes crinkling. “No need to be so formal. I just wanted to let you know—the hospital is organizing an outreach clinic in the countryside at the start of next month. Would you be interested in joining?”

“A rural clinic?” Stella asked. “Where? And for how long?”

“Frostvale, up in Riverstead County. The conditions there are tough, and not many doctors or nurses are eager to volunteer.”

Quentin adjusted his glasses, his tone gentle and genuine. “I’ll be leading the team myself this time. Since it’s such a challenging environment, I’m hoping our younger staff will really step up.”

With things put that way, Stella couldn’t exactly refuse.

“All right, count me in.”

Hearing this, Quentin’s lips curved in a satisfied smile. “Dr. Joyner, you’re a real asset to our hospital.”

Stella forced a laugh. “Director Lockwood, you’re the one who’s truly impressive.”

As both hospital director and the current head of the Lockwood family, Quentin personally leading a rural medical team was an impressive display of leadership—at least on the surface.

Stella, just an average employee, could only privately sum up Quentin’s gesture with a silent, honest appraisal: what a calculated performance.

After Quentin left, Stella’s phone rang. It was Briony.

“Are you on duty tonight?” Briony asked.

“No, I was supposed to have today off!” Stella groaned. “Unpaid overtime! And I just got assigned another task—lucky me!”

“What task?” Briony wanted to know.

“Next month, I have to join some outreach clinic. Out in the middle of nowhere, too!” Stella massaged her sore neck. “Speaking of which, are you off tonight? Want to grab dinner?”