LOSER HUSBAND TO THE OCTOMILLIONAIRE HEIR

chapter 6 SHAMELESS FATHER

As he had expected, Scarlet's reaction to his news came in the form of hundreds of questions.

But her questions were influenced by her anger and frustration, instead of being driven by her curiosity. 

She turned to face Artis with her brows sinking into a deep frown, and all of a sudden, the fine lines of worry on her forehead seemed to deepen as she opened her mouth to spit fire. 

"What the hell, Artis! Just when I managed to get some help for ourselves, you have brought your ego in the middle again!"

She ranted with frustration, "Why can't you just admit that our financial conditions have changed? How can I ever make you understand that Eva needs to be our priority right now, I'm just so done with you!"

She had misunderstood his words in the worst way, and she vented her anger without allowing Artis to interject.

"If your business hadn't been shut down or if we had any more savings or even a proper income, maybe your pride would have made some fucking sense! But we have nothing now, nothing!"

Scarlet had tears in her eyes now, "And still, you are reluctant to borrow money from someone who is ready to lend it to us? Jack Montgomery is a really good person, and on hearing about our daughter's condition, he quickly became ready to transfer the money." 

Artis, who knew that the only reason Jack had initially agreed to lend them money was to make a move on his wife, felt a wave of disgust on hearing this. 

But Scarlet didn't pay him any attention, 

"Even when he doesn't have any relationship with her. And then there's you, who is such a selfish jerk even after being her biological father!"

"Are you really telling me that you can't even talk to him, to save your daughter? Are you really such a shameless father!"

In her heart, Scarlet suspected that Artis might be lying about not needing to borrow money and having escaped poverty, just because he was jealous and reluctant to ask Jack for help. 

After all, it was no secret that Jack still had feelings for her, and Artis obviously had a problem with him. 

But Artis insisted, 

"No! I'm telling the truth, believe me, Scarlet!

I know we have seen really tough times lately, but I promise, I will provide for both you and our child. We will give our Eva a good future-"

However, Scarlet interrupted him, still treating his words like a joke;

"Why do I find that hard to believe? Probably because of the disappointments I have suffered, your actions have made me doubt your ability to keep such a grand promise."

The tension between them hadn't even died down, when Dr. Max, their daughter's attending physician, arrived.

Although Scarlet was angry at Artis, she still stepped to the side, trying to avoid Dr. Max's lecherous gaze towards her. 

In fact, not only she but every nurse and intern was aware of his sleazy actions, along with how incompetent he really was, at providing medical care. 

Artis felt a wave of disgust as soon as he saw the doctor and noticed how his lusty gaze was inching down along the neckline of Scarlet's top. 

The doctor noticed that Artis was sending a warning glare in his direction, and this irritated him to no extent.

If this man was really as powerful as he was pretending to be, why would his wife be so dissatisfied with him?

And thinking this, a sneer appeared on Dr. Max's face as he began to check Eva's vitals.

"Eva Hardy… oh, how unlucky that she was destined to have such a useless father. I have seen quite a few cases with her condition during my career, but none with such a horrible head of the family who can't even provide for the basic needs of the patient…"

He continued to speak as his gaze wandered off towards Scarlet again, "...or the rest of his family, for that matter."

Hearing the doctor's provocative remarks, the nurses and interns gathered there also began to talk amongst themselves.

"Is it true that this little girl's dad is really useless, or is Dr Max just trying to provoke him?"

"No no, I heard that his wife also slapped him yesterday in front of the whole lobby, and called him a beggar!"

"Oh, I feel bad for her. What else would she say after getting such a trashy husband as a partner?"

On the other hand, Artis was quite used to ignoring the comments of strangers by now; and besides, it didn't sting as much anymore, because he knew that he wasn't his old, incapable self anymore.

Still, to ease the tension in the room, he said,

"That's quite a good one, Dr. Max! But keeping jokes aside, may I ask when the treatment is going to begin?"

However, Dr. Max continued to ogle at Scarlet shamelessly without even paying attention to his words, further irritating Artis.

"Doctor! I think you should be examining my daughter, and she is not where your eyes are."

"Artis, just let it go… why are you being so adamant? He didn't say anything too far beyond the truth, either!" 

However, Dr. Max remained as bold and shameless as ever and taunted Artis in return.

"What do you mean! That I, a qualified doctor, should take directions from you, a random beggar from the street who knows nothing about my profession?"

He sneered, "I think you should be worried about how you're going to afford your household bills and groceries, instead of telling me how to do my job!"

Finally, Artis reached the end of his patience.

"I am sure that you must be quite worried about my family and our financial state, but actually, I am very capable of providing for my family, despite your concerns!"

He could see that his confident tone had caused shock to appear on everyone's faces written there, along with curiosity and skepticism in the eyes of many.

But still, he continued, "Yes, what you heard is right! I had been struggling to pay my daughter's hospital bills in the past, but I don't need anyone's pity or charity anymore… Because I have got enough money of my own to hire ten doctors who are better and more capable than you, Dr. Max!"

This revelation shocked both Scarlet and Dr. Max, who had assumed that Artis was financially struggling.

There was complete silence in the room, apart from the rhythmic beeping of the medical equipment that was monitoring Eva's vitals.

And before anyone had the time to react, two young men walked into the room, dressed in identical black suits. The men were covered in formal black clothes and accessories from head to toe, including a black wireless headset, and even a holster attached to their belt.

One of them entered first, while the second one seemed to confirm the ward number against his digital watch, and stepped inside.

The two men seemed to scan the small ward room that was overcrowded with medical personnel, before they spotted Artis standing near the bed. Meanwhile, the eyes of the people inside the room were also regarding the newcomers with an equal amount of curiosity, if not more.

After all, it was not every day that two specimens of such fine and dashing young men showed up at the hospital unannounced! 

But without paying attention to anyone else, the men stepped forward in sync, with their focus solely on Artis Hardy.

"Mr. Hardy! Mr. Holt sent us here to make sure that everything was going on smoothly, and that you were not facing any kind of difficulties."