Startled, the two turned around to look and saw Hank standing outside with a stern expression.
He raised his hand, pointing at Kayden, and said, “Keep in mind the three rules I just told you!”
“Alright, Dad! Let’s go already!” Nadia urged impatiently.
Before long, they arrived at the conference room for the seminar, which was already filled with many esteemed individuals. They were chatting in small groups. It seemed that Professor Flores hadn’t arrived yet.
As soon as Hank entered, a few well-dressed, slightly older men called out warmly, “Dr. Garcia, finally, you’re here.”
They were all doctors from various hospitals in Inassea. They had competed with Hank in last year’s selection of Inassea’s top ten outstanding doctors, but despite their seniority, they still lost to him. Thus, they were rather envious of Hank and had been secretly speaking ill of him.
Hank greeted them politely out of respect for his seniors.
“By the way, Dr. Garcia, this is your first time attending Professor Flores’s seminar, isn’t it?” a balding man asked with a hint of sarcasm.
This was Dr. Sam Hall, the deputy director of Inassea Second Hospital, who had been the frontrunner for last year’s Top Ten Doctors award. When Hank won, Sam was the most upset. Although he was smiling, what he wanted was to punch Hank hard in the face.
Hank nodded and said, “Yes, I’m finally qualified enough to be here now.”
“Hahaha! That’s true. Young people often find it hard to understand Professor Flores’s lectures. I didn’t understand too much the first time I attended his lecture either. It took me several years to finally grasp it. Even though you won the Top Ten Doctors award last year, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll understand everything Professor Flores says today. Make sure you take notes and remain humble.”
“Indeed, Garcia. Professor Flores is a renowned medical researcher in Seclela. His academic contributions are highly influential and you could always learn something from him.”
In no time, the group had painted Hank as a rookie, offering him all kinds of unsolicited advice. Their intent was obvious-they wanted to assert their seniority and remind him not to be disrespectful.
“Oh, and who might this be?” Dr. Hall suddenly looked over to Kayden.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Hank quickly replied, “He’s my distant relative. I brought him along to take a look because he had nothing better to do.”
“To take a look?” Dr. Hall raised his eyebrows, genuinely amused. Then, with a sneer, he said to Hank, “Don’t you know that you can’t just bring anyone to Professor Flores’s lecture? Dr. Garcia, this isn’t a market or your own home!”
Hank was caught off guard. That remark sounded a bit too aggressive.
Before he could respond, another doctor chimed in, “Dr. Hall, that’s a bit harsh. Can’t you see that there is something special between Miss Garcia and this young man? Dr. Garcia is trying to be discreet, but I could tell right away that this young man is Dr. Garcia’s future son-in-law! Otherwise, do you really think Dr. Garcia would bring some random guy in here this recklessly?”
Everyone looked over, and sure enough, they saw Nadia holding onto Kayden’s arm.
“Oh, I see.” Dr. Hall said with a smirk.
“Ha!” One of the other doctors couldn’t hold back a laugh and then said, “I’m sorry, Dr. Garcia, I lost control for a moment. I must say, your daughter has excellent taste, choosing a partner like this. He looks like a man of modest means, without a penny to his name. But I suppose that fits your requirements just perfectly.”
The group burst into laughter.
Mockery was written all over their faces as they ridiculed Hank.
Nadia, of course, wouldn’t take such insulting remarks silently and immediately snapped back, “Do you really think you’re any better? Sure, you might look respectable on the outside, but inside, you’re just petty and narrow-minded. You’re only attacking my dad because you’re jealous he won the award last year. Instead of going after him, why don’t you reflect on yourselves? What does any of this have to do with him?”
Dr. Hall burst into laughter at her words, drawing even more attention.
He turned to Hank and said, “First, Dr. Garcia, let me congratulate you! Please be sure to tell me when your daughter and this young man tie the knot. I’ll make sure to come to the wedding.”
Many around them heard these words and exclaimed in surprise.
“What? That guy is Miss Garcia’s fiance? This can’t be right!”
“Damn, Dr. Garcia must have lost it! Why would he let his daughter marry someone like that? My son would’ve been a much better choice. That guy looks like a mechanic or maybe just a delivery guy.”
“I don’t think he’s really her fiance!”
“Look at them, isn’t it obvious?”
“What is this, beauty and the beast? How can Dr. Garcia’s future son-in-law be someone like this?”
Nadia was about to explode with anger. She wanted to provoke Dr. Hall, but he ended up getting the better of her.
Hearing all this mockery, Hank felt utterly humiliated. His daughter was an incredibly beautiful young lady, and didn’t deserve to be discussed like this. He knew this guy would bring him shame, and it happened just as he feared.
With this thought, he shot a furious glare at Kayden, huffed, and then grabbed his daughter and left.
However, Nadia wouldn’t let go of Kayden, as if afraid he might run away.
As they walked, Hank said to Nadia angrily, “Look at the trouble you’ve caused me! This is so embarrassing! I told you not to bring him, but you insisted on doing so. And now look-everyone is laughing at me. Don’t you dare say you know him? Just knowing someone like him is a complete disgrace.”
Kayden, walking behind them, naturally heard their conversation, so he said, “Oh? Is that really how you feel?”
Hank, enraged, shot back, “Do you think I’m joking? Stop following me! You’re forbidden from ever seeing my daughter again! This is just beyond embarrassing!”
“Dad!” Nadia shook her head, holding onto Kayden tightly. “No! You promised me!”
“What do you know?” Hank shouted in frustration. “If you want to be with him, then you are not my daughter anymore!”
For someone like Hank, who has such status, reputation is everything.
The crowd burst into loud laughter at this spectacle, making no effort to conceal their mockery.
Fortunately, some people started shouting in the distance, disrupting their conversation.
“Professor Flores is here! Professor Flores is here!”