Chapter 6

The banquet hall fell into chaos.

Everyone set their wine glasses down to gather and see what was happening.

"Has anyone called the ambulance?"

"When is the ambulance coming? The Harrison family won't spare us if anything happens to Mr. Harrison!"

Millie looked ahead and saw the roughly 50-something-year-old Patrick on the ground with a ghastly pale face. She glanced at the time, realizing it was a 15-minute journey to the hospital from here. After all, it was rush hour then.

It would be too late if they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Plus, no one in the hotel stepped up to resolve the issue.

Millie noticed Patrick's condition was worsening with time. Given that she had studied medicine since she was young, she couldn't help worrying about him. With a frown, she stepped forward. "Let me take a look."

Everyone's attention settled on Millie before they scoffed.

"Can you even do it? Everyone knows your family, the Caldwells, have a background in medicine. BUt you're just a pretty face with no talent compared to your family members! You never picked up their skills!" someone bellowed.

Then, everyone around voiced their opinions loudly.

"Yeah! That's a life we're talking about! If we let her treat Mr. Harrison, wouldn't it mean pushing him into the fire?"

"Can you bear the responsibility if anything happens to Mr. Harrison? This isn't playing pretend!"

"We can't let her treat Mr. Harrison. Get her out of here!"

The crowd was in an uproar, attacking Millie like a planned protest. Their doubtful insults filled Millie's ears. She got pushed away before she could even touch Patrick.

"But we can't wait any longer!" Millie's brows furrowed.

"Even if he's close to death, we don't want a worthless pretty face with no talent to save him!" a woman shrieked before shoving Millie's shoulder.

Her words stabbed Millie in the chest and made Millie calm down at once.

Millie staggered backward as the crowd blocked her off. Her heart sank as she took in their hostile expressions.

How could they call her a worthless pretty face with no talent? Nobody had ever questioned her medical skills when she was growing up. So, why had her reputation soured after she only avoided the public eye for three years?

"I'll check on him! I'm a doctor!" This firm voice instantly caught everyone's attention. They widened their eyes in shock as it was none other than Joanna.

The bystanders cheered at once. "It's Ms. Lowell, a cardiac surgeon! Mr. Harrison is saved!"

"Ms. Lowell's a valiant hero for stepping up at such a crucial moment! She's as kind as the news claims she is!"

Everyone saw Joanna as a doctor sent from the heavens. She had a glowing halo like an angel's in their eyes, so they immediately praised her.

Compared to Joanna, the people couldn't care less about Millie rushing to help Patrick. They instead treated her like vermin and showered her with insults.

Joanna knelt beside Patrick and found a fast-acting heart attack medication in his pocket. She ordered, "Please make some room. Don't stand too close."

"Is the patient's family around? Does he have any other medical conditions?" she asked, but nobody answered.

"Mr. Harrison's assistant had to leave earlier because something came up. I can't get through to his phone!" said someone else's assistant.

Joanna couldn't waste any more time. She fed Patrick the heart attack medication and performed cardiac resuscitation on him.

Many famous people attended tonight's banquet. Such an event was perfect for her to show off her abilities.

She needed to prove she was better than Millie to the Greer family. Joanna was determined to marry Winston and join the Greers.

Everyone grew anxious as seconds and minutes passed.

Winston had a deep frown on his face. It was unclear whether he worried about Patrick or Joanna.

Just as everyone held their breath, someone suddenly cried out, "H-He moved!"

Patrick's fingers twitched as he gradually opened his eyes. Yet, his face was still pale.

Joanna asked softly, "How are you doing, Mr. Harrison? Are you feeling better?"

A frown marred Patrick's face as he placed a hand on his chest.

"The ambulance should be here soon. You're safe now!" Joanna exclaimed at once.

Applause filled the hall once she said so. Another round of praise befell her.

"Gosh, the ambulance still hasn't arrived. I daren't imagine what would happen if we didn't have Ms. Lowell here!"

"She's as incredible as expected! Unlike some people…"

"Yeah, Millie has a family background in medicine but enrolled in school through dishonorable means! How dare she even try to examine Mr. Harrison? She should reflect and realize how poor her medical skills are first!"

Patrick weakly shut his eyes. His lips twitched, and he couldn't say a word.

Joanna assumed he was still trying to calm down, so she thought nothing of it. She stood, saw everyone's admiring gazes, and looked toward Winston.

Winston had a warm, gentle look. It was the best acknowledgment she could receive from him.

Millie remained silent as always and couldn't care less about everyone's biased reactions. She knew there would always be critics anywhere anyone went. One couldn't prevent haters from voicing their opinions.

"These people are correct about someone using dishonorable means to enroll in school. But—" Millie turned to look at Joanna. "Am I really the one who did that?"

Joanna's gaze flickered past Millie as she guiltily spoke. "Thank you, everyone, for believing in my skills. That said, Millie's actually a pretty good doctor."

"Her? I wouldn't feel comfortable trusting her with my life if I were a patient!"

"Look how kind Ms. Lowell's being. I prefer her much more!"

"Ms. Lowell, could you give me your contact details?"

Winston, who had been silent all this while, spoke up frostily. "Quit trying to flirt with my woman."

Everyone looked at each other before laughing. "Look at that. Mr. Greer's being possessive."

Joanna flushed as she shyly murmured, "Win…"

Winston petted her head, his eyes casting a gentle look upon her.

Millie's gaze dimmed as she lowered her head. Bitterness filled her chest.

She wasn't upset that everyone doubted and attacked her. However, to see Winston admit to the public that Joanna was his woman felt worse than if he had killed her. She dared not imagine how lovey-dovey the two behaved when he was away from home.

Joanna smiled slightly. Her status as the Lowell family's heiress often attracted attention. However, it was different now that all the limelight was on her.

When she was friends with Millie, the latter would always steal the show. She'd always end up as a supporting character in Millie's story.

Now, things were different. It was time to welcome Joanna's moment of stardom.

Joanna glanced at Millie with the slightest, barely undetectable hatred in her eyes. She was determined to take everything from Millie.

Amidst the loud cheers, the recovering Patrick suddenly experienced a seizure.

"Hey, something's wrong with Mr. Harrison! Ms. Lowell, please check on him!" someone cried.

All eyes were on Patrick again. Not only was he behaving oddly, but his countenance seemed paler than when he had fainted earlier.

Joanna rushed ahead and saw Patrick breathing hard. That left her at a loss. She didn't know whether Patrick's heart attack was causing other complications. Or was something wrong with his ability to breathe?

"Did you eat anything?" she asked Patrick.

Patrick held his neck with one hand, his face scrunching with the utmost misery.

Joanna didn't understand what that meant, so she kept examining him. Her movements became sloppy and chaotic.

The hotel manager yelled from outside the hall. "There was a car accident on the highway, so the ambulance is stuck in a jam! Let's drive Mr. Harrison to the hospital ourselves!"

Millie looked up at Patrick's condition, then back at the clock. She realized there wouldn't be enough time.

She stopped a waitress who passed by. Then, she borrowed the fountain pen from the latter's pocket square.

"Can you handle it, Ms. Lowell?" someone asked.

Joanna noticed the crowd was still gazing at her in admiration. At that moment, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and make things work, even if she didn't know how.

"I'll need to take another look." Her voice trembled, making it clear that she was nervous. She was a cardiac surgeon, but the undeniable fact was she had spent all her focus on Winston these past few years. She hadn't paid any thought to studying.

Joanna's guess was Patrick had probably eaten something and choked on it. Still, she dared not make a move, fearing she'd be in trouble if anything happened to him under her treatment. She dared not risk her reputation.

As the atmosphere grew tense, someone pushed Joanna aside and spoke with a biting snarl. "Move!"