LOSER HUSBAND TO THE OCTOMILLIONAIRE HEIR

CHAPTER 8 APOLOGY

Ch-8

After Scarlet demands her husband to apologize, Dr. Max wears a smirk on his smug face, awaiting the apology he believed would absolve him of his actions.

After all, who could blame him when the man himself was willing to accept his fault for provoking him? Even if the Director was notified by someone, he had so many witnesses to testify Atris Hardy had indeed apologized to him in the end, proving that he was right all along. 

However, Artis hesitated even after clearly hearing the words out of Scarlet's mouth. He couldn't bring himself to apologize to this disgusting man and let him escape without being punished.

On the other hand, Scarlet had turned around to face him, and as she saw the expressions on his face, her eyes widened with shock.

After all, she had been married to him for so long, and was aware of the meaning behind his gestures. And if he was hesitating and lost in thought even after she had explicitly asked him to do something, then he must have a reason behind it.

But of course, the fact that he was thinking about withholding his apology, implied that he was planning something else, probably related to his previous statement about summoning the Hospital Director. 

She just couldn't believe what she was witnessing… did her husband's claim about the hospital director's support hold any truth?

"What are you waiting for? Apologize!" She still urged Artis, her patience running thin as she was concerned that Dr. Max might change his mind anytime soon and they might be thrown out of the hospital by the security staff!

Where would they go after that? Where would they take Eva in her critical condition? 

Seeing that Artis was still standing there silently, Dr. Max found the opportunity to speak;

"Oh, Mrs. Hardy, I don't think a man like him knows how to apologize, as his ego is bigger than the life of his own daughter."

He didn't want to show it outright, but in his heart, he was also eager for the apology- after all, this was the only way to save his career once the Director decided to involve the Hospital board members. 

But the voice that broke the tense silence didn't belong to Artis Hardy. Rather, the newcomer was none other than Dr. Riccardo Philips, the hospital director.

He had arrived there without any warning, and his authoritative voice echoed through the corridor. 

"The patient is in ward number five, am I correct?" 

A few murmurs followed, probably spoken by his attendants. 

This was the last twist that anyone had expected to happen that day - despite the tense situation, their curiosity was at an all-time high. 

Dr. Max was stunned by Dr. Philips' unexpected appearance, and he really felt like it wasn't the senior authority at the hospital, but Grim Reaper himself who had come to claim his soul. 

Scarlet's eyes also widened to the size of golf balls, as she questioned whether her husband's words had indeed been valid! 

Or maybe, this was just a coincidence that the Director had shown up on that floor at a similar time? She couldn't be sure of anything now.

Meanwhile, the tall and thin figure of Dr. Philips appeared in the doorway, and he inquired without wasting a single moment;

"What is the reason behind the commotion here? I hope you all still remember that this is a hospital, where patients need silence to rest and recover." 

Dr. Max desperately attempted to explain his perspective, as he stammered;

"Good Afternoon, director! It's nothing, actually. The situation just got a little out of hand after the father of this patient began to misbehave with me and some of my staff as well."

He was sweating buckets, but he managed to continue even though his heart was hammering in his chest. 

"We- we had just come here for a routine check- up of the little girl, but somehow Mr. Hardy concluded that we were behaving inappropriately with his family, and began to threaten us."

Dr. Max had an innocent look on his face, "It's really fortunate that you just arrived here on time, Dr. Philips, because Mrs. Hardy was just asking her husband to apologize, but he was so adamant and was even ready to escalate the situation to violence."

However, Dr. Philips was not swayed by his pathetic attempts at spinning the truth, but he still listened quietly. 

Instead, he cast a critical gaze at Artis, who had transformed from an ordinary man into Mr. Hardy.

The Hospital Director was a smart man, and he hadn't reached his position by offending people in positions of power.

By analyzing the situation so far, he had deduced that Artis was no ordinary individual, even though he didn't have any concrete proof of his identity. 

He had obviously noticed the respect with which the two bodyguards had been speaking to and about this man. Moreover, he had also received a call from Samuel Holt himself, a few minutes ago.

The difference in Mr. Holt's voice, while referring to this man dressed in an oversized suit and scuffed shoes, was enough to indicate that he was someone of high standing. 

But little did Dr. Philips know, that the disheveled Artis Hardy he was seeing in front of his eyes right now, was someone who had grown up in ultimately luxury and sophistication.

He had decided to conceal his true identity from the entire world, and had even left his wealthy family to protect his wife, Scarlet, and their daughter from potential harm caused by his previous fiancée, Emily Peterson.

But even with the little knowledge he did have, Dr. Philips understood that it was better to put himself on the right side of justice. And if, in the process, he happened to curry favor from someone influential, then it wouldn't hurt his chances of remaining at the top of the Hospital board, either. 

And so, he opened his mouth;

"Dr. Max Halpert! You should be ashamed of yourself, for making a mockery of your medical training!"

The guilty look on Dr. Max's face encouraged him to keep going.

"I was told that you had called security, do you mean to tell me that you were originally planning to kick out this little girl along with her family when she needs 24/7 supervision and intensive medical attention?!"

"And for what, just because your fragile ego was at stake! Really, I am so humiliated because of your actions today."

Dr. Max's face had gone pale as if someone had slapped him without warning. He stared at the Director in disbelief, before hanging his head.

At the very least, he could pretend to show remorse so that his punishment could be lessened a bit. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Philips continued, satisfied by his show of guilt.

"As a doctor, I expect you to be aware that the hospital's priority is to have a good doctor-patient relationship, so that the patients and their families feel safe under our care. Is that clear? To everyone!"

The bystanders broke out an echoing murmur of, "Yes sir!" as he nodded and spoke ahead. 

"Keeping that in mind, your actions are even more condemnable Dr. Halpert! You really engaged in a fight with a family member, while knowing fully well the kind of pressure they must be facing? And that too in front of interns? Are these the ethics you're teaching them?"

"Apologize to Mr. Hardy, right now!"