Memphis hurriedly waved his hands, shaking his head as he stammered, “No, no, no! You’ve got me wrong!”
“Have I?” Kayden let out a cold chuckle and continued his aggressive questioning, “Then what are you saying? Are you here to beg for him?”
The question caught Memphis off guard yet again. Kayden’s two questions were blunt to the extreme, completely offering him no courtesy whatsoever. But then again, he had no right to ask Kayden to offer him any courtesy. After all, he was the one asking for help now.
Last night, Memphis had wrestled with his thoughts. There was no way he could let go of this chance to save his son. This was his only shot to make amends for the guilt eating away at his soul. If he failed, it would trouble his conscience so much that he wouldn’t even be able to face his elder brother in the afterlife!
No matter the cost, he had to bring Kayden home to treat his son. All of his effort today was to show his sincerity. But Kayden? He was utterly unmoved, and every word he spoke hit right at the mark, leaving Memphis speechless. His mouth parted and closed as he struggled to find the right words, yet nothing came.
Admittedly, his behavior might easily be mistaken as siding with George. Think about it-would Kayden, a man who could effortlessly snap a tree clean in half, fear someone like George? If anyone should be terrified, it was George.
Kayden had no patience for pleasantries, no interest in flattering. Not Memphis, and not anyone. Yesterday, even Jason Scott himself had knelt before him. And Memphis? In Kayden’s eyes, he wasn’t even worth mentioning in comparison.
Memphis stood frozen, his mouth hanging open as he mulled over his words. After a few seconds, he stammered, “That’s not what I meant… If you want him dead, I can take care of it for you right now.”
“Why would I need you to do it for me? Do I look like someone who can’t handle things on their own?” Kayden’s voice was as sharp as a blade, his words cutting straight to the bone.
His piercing gaze bore into Memphis, leaving him dumbfounded. Word by word, Kayden said, “I know you want me to save your son. But yesterday, I gave you two chances. You wasted them both and even had the audacity to pick a fight with me. Your actions disgusted me, and that’s why things have escalated to this. You brought this upon yourself. Don’t put the blame on me!”
Memphis nodded frantically, “I know! I have realized it. It’s all my fault. But please, Dr. Scott, take pity on my child and save him! I beg you!”
As he pleaded, tears brimmed in his eyes, threatening to spill.
Nearby, Daphne swallowed hard. As if she had made up her mind, she said, “Dr. Scott, we were wrong, terribly wrong. But please believe that our actions are not directed at you, but are out of desperation. So many people want to treat my father, and if we didn’t carefully screen them, we feared those with ulterior motives might use this chance to worsen his condition. That’s why we resorted to such measures. Please forgive us!”
Her tone grew more impassioned as she continued, “Someone as noble as you wouldn’t hold onto a petty grudge. Saving a life is a virtue of the highest order! Please, save my father! If you do, I’ll do anything you ask-no matter what it is!”
As soon as she finished speaking, her face turned crimson. The blush spread like wildfire down to her neck.
The one who fell sick was Daphne’s father. She hadn’t slept a wink the night before, haunted by regret. Her father had been so close to being cured, but they wasted this precious chance due to their own foolishness.
This time, she wouldn’t let the chance slip away. She swore to find that man, plead with him, and make him save her father-no matter the cost. She was ready to do whatever it took, to agree to anything he asked, without a moment’s hesitation. Even if it meant letting him take her virginity!
Kayden’s gaze flicked to Daphne’s face. She was undeniably beautiful, her features delicate, her presence fresh and vibrant. But to him, women all looked the same. Except for Georgia. She was different, distinct. She was the only one who mattered.
Kayden let out a low, mocking laugh and turned his head, his eyes lifting skyward at a cool forty-five-degree angle.
His cold, detached expression struck a nerve in Daphne. Clenching her teeth, she steeled herself and strode forward with purpose. She stopped in front of him, and without a moment’s hesitation, reached up and cradled his face with both hands. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his. Her entire movement was fluid as though she had rehearsed it countless times.
As if that wasn’t enough, she parted her lips and slipped her tongue forward in a daring move. There, in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of a stunned crowd, she kissed this raggedly dressed man she had only met for the second time.
This scene left Memphis and his entourage utterly dumbfounded. With his brows furrowed deeply, Memphis slammed his cane against the ground and bellowed, “W-what is this? What on earth are you doing? Daphne, how could you… how could you do something so shameless?!”
Lucy instinctively stepped forward. Her eyes were wide with shock and completely glued to them.
It wasn’t just Memphis’s group that was left in a daze-even George looked like he’d been struck by lightning. He had always known Daphne was stunning. She’s the kind of woman whose elegance and dignity made her untouchable, and who could only be admired from a distance. George had dated plenty of women before, but someone like Daphne was the type he couldn’t even dream of approaching.
And yet, Daphne had just leaned in and kissed that bumpkin! George felt his worldview had been completely shattered in an instant.
But Daphne no longer cared about the eyes boring into her from all directions. Her only concern was saving her father. Yesterday, this man had casually joked that if she kissed him, he might help them. Though maybe it was a mere joke, she could tell from his tone that he had harbored such thoughts about her. She had decided to give it a try, and she had even spent last night learning how to kiss properly.
The kiss lingered for about ten seconds before Kayden raised his hand and firmly pushed Daphne away.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he snapped in a commanding tone.
Daphne swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes as she gazed at Kayden with a mixture of desperation and grievance. “That… that was my first kiss! I’ve already given it to you. Please, I’m begging you-save my father!”
She had gifted her precious first kiss, all to save her father!
Seeing that Kayden remained silent, Daphne bit her lip, her eyes glinting with determination as she pressed on, “If that’s still not enough, then I…”
Before she could finish, Memphis quickly cut her off, “Dr. Scott, please, we beg you, help us! Whatever you need, just say it, and we will fulfill your request!”
“Please, Dr. Scott, we are begging you!” Lucy also staggered forward a couple of steps.
Kayden swept his gaze across them, his eyes cold and piercing. He then threw out a question, “Answer me, is Liam your family member?”
The name seemed to hit Memphis like a thunderclap. He froze for a moment. Even Lucy’s pupils widened in surprise-clearly, they both recognized the name and probably had seen Liam not long ago.
Thus, without waiting for Memphis’s response, Kayden said, “Let’s go. After I treat the patient, I expect to know everything about Liam. I hope you will speak honestly.” He still wore that expressionless look.
With that, he turned sharply and walked toward the waiting Lincoln car.
Memphis’s face lit up with relief as he hurriedly said, “Let’s go, quickly, let’s get back home.”
Daphne’s face was now flushed crimson. She wiped her lips, a satisfied smile tugging at her mouth.
It seemed her little trick had worked after all. If only she’d known this would be the outcome, she would’ve kissed him yesterday!
But of course, beyond just kissing him, she knew Kayden would make other demands. As she watched his retreating figure, her heart fluttered uncontrollably.