Chapter 287 The Same Orthopedic Doctor
"Damian's divorced and flying solo. Checked on Ashley, too, and guess what? She hasn't tied the knot again, either. Crazy, right? Who would've thought Damian was hitched for three years and kept it on the down-low, even the split was hush-hush. You big shots live in a whole different world," Daxton said.
Hendrix zoned out of the convo, dropped his phone, and wheeled himself like a madman to Ashley's hospital room.
Since Hendrix bailed, Ashley's been stuck on one thought.
How the heck could she shake off Damian?
Damian practically ran Rochester City. Could she dodge his shadow completely?
And what if her heart still betrayed her? She'd chop off her hand if she had to!
A sudden knock yanked her out of her grim thoughts, making her jump.
Hendrix burst in, wheeling straight to her bed.
He looked at her like she was some rare gem, wanting to scoop her up but scared to break her, staring but never satisfied.
Ashley smirked, "What's with the face? Your legs really toast?"
Hendrix just laughed, a goofy, loud laugh, "Ashley, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Ashley shot back, "You nuts? Did you come back just to show off your crazy?"
Hendrix put his hand on the bed's armrest, feeling so light he could float.
She and Damian were done, and had been for three years!
For a couple to hit splitsville, the beef must've been real, and the odds of a redo were slim. So, Ashley and Damian were never getting back together.
He still had a shot, as long as he played it cool and didn't bail at the first bump like last time.
Hendrix fussed with her blanket like a kid on Christmas, "Got an announcement."
Ashley couldn't care less, "Oh."
Hendrix kept grinning, "I don't care who you're with now. Date whoever. When you're done playing, come back to me."
"What are you talking about?" Ashley said. What had he been smoking? Why was he acting so nuts?
Hendrix grinned like a fool, "I mean it. I like you, you know that. But you won't let me chase you, so I won't. I'll just be good to you and wait."
Ashley stayed quiet.
It wasn't that she didn't want to talk; she just had no clue what to say.
Seeing her all confused and cute, Hendrix was over the moon, "I gotta go. You're too cute; I might kiss you."
Ashley stayed silent.
Hendrix wheeled himself out.
The whole thing took just a few minutes, but Ashley felt like she'd been on a roller coaster.
Was Hendrix's brain really okay?
A week later, Ashley was ready to get out of the hospital.
During that time, she hadn't seen Damian once.
On her discharge day, Amelia was out of town filming, so she couldn't come. Harold showed up with a big bouquet and gave her a warm hug, "Congrats on surviving another round."
Ashley patted his broad shoulder, "Guess I'm on the rise now."
Harold growled, "Take it easy. Even though you're out, don't overdo it. Chill on the work for now."
Ashley buried her face in the flowers. "Harold, why you looking so skinny? Missing me?"
Harold wanted to knock her on the head but settled for a shoulder pat. "Don't flatter yourself. I've been swamped with blind dates; no time to miss you."
Harold wanted to say his recent life was "too complicated to explain."
His folks were all about him chasing after Ashley, but they were more like siblings and didn't want to mess things up. So, he caved to his parents' wishes and went on these blind dates.
Now, it was a total circus. He had no clue where his mom found all these girls, but he was juggling multiple dates a day.
He was starting to think there was some family quota for grandkids, and if he didn't deliver, he'd bring shame to the family name.
Harold groaned, "Don't ask dumb questions; it's a headache."
Hendrix's face darkened, "Harold, get your paws off her! How long you gonna hug her?"
Harold shot back, "Want me to hug you? Keep dreaming."
Hendrix wheeled over, shoved Harold aside, and sneered, "Move it, you're blocking the view."
Harold smirked, "Still not giving up? You should quit while you're ahead."
Hendrix grinned, "We'll be family sooner or later; I can deal with you."
Ashley facepalmed, here we go again!
Hendrix's second surgery dragged out his recovery, and he was back in Rochester City for more treatment.
After a long flight, Ashley's doc suggested a check-up just to be safe.
The Long family's car came to get Hendrix, and he warmly invited Ashley, "Wanna tag along?"
Ashley shook her head, "Nah, I got my own hospital."
Hendrix shrugged, "I'll go to your hospital， too."
Harold looked annoyed. "Let's move! Think the airport's your living room? Want me to set up a tea party?"
Hayden checked out Damian's X-rays, half pleased, half worried, "Healing's going well, but after that bone shatter, no high-intensity stuff for at least three years."
Damian shrugged, "Don't need to."
Seeing Damian still looking rough, Hayden turned off the light and got serious, "You sure you don't wanna reach out to her? Ashley's back today and coming here for a check-up. She should be here soon. I can stall her in the CT room."
Damian said, "No need."
He knew Ashley was back in town today, so he picked today for his X-rays.
Hayden sighed, "That car accident was a freak thing. You didn't mean to hurt her brother. Explain it to her. Ashley's not unreasonable."
Damian wanted a smoke; only nicotine could dull the pain, "Those were my guys. How do I explain? Tell her I just wanted to nab her brother alive? What's the difference?"
Hayden opened his mouth, then shut it.
There really wasn't a difference.
"It's been a week. Don't you wanna see her? I heard she's lost a lot of weight. It's sad." Hayden said.
Damian pulled out a pack of smokes and held one, "Take good care of her for me. Get her the best docs. Give her whatever she needs. No need to update me."
"I've already set it up! But I think what she needs isn't..." Hayden started.
Someone knocked on the office door twice. Hayden checked today's patient list. No one was scheduled to see Damian.
"Who is it?" Hayden called out.
"Hayden, there's a patient from the director's office who needs a check-up. Transferred from another hospital," the nurse said.
Hayden glanced at Damian, who looked indifferent. "It's an assignment from the higher-ups. If you mind, you can wait in the suite."
Damian said, "We don't know each other. No need to hide."
"Good point. Alright, let's get this over with," Hayden said.
The nurse opened the door and wheeled Hendrix in, "Hayden, this is the patient the director specifically mentioned..."
Before the nurse could finish, Hayden glared at the half-disabled patient, "Hendrix?"
