The Billionaire's Regret: His Secret Wife Turned Medical Genius novel Chapter 26

"With the Holton family's vast fortune, it'd be a huge joke if there was no heir," Mallory mockingly added.

Amelia instantly straightened up. Not a trace of sickness remained on her face as she urgently defended herself. "I'm fine, Gabe. It's just… the altitude sickness got to me a little. I'll be okay after a rest."

Mallory laughed. "Oh? The moment we mention having babies, your breathing stabilizes, and the dizziness vanishes. Just how desperate you are to become Mrs. Holton, Ms. Waverly?"

Amelia's face paled before flushing with embarrassment, but Mallory had no interest in wasting another glance on her.

She took Emily's hand and said, "Let's go, Mills. Let's not let trash dirty our eyes."

…

By evening, the weather had turned bitterly cold. Emily, wearing only a thin white coat, shivered uncontrollably in the wind.

Just then, a stir arose from the back of the crowd. Amelia appeared, draped in a black trench coat clearly belonging to a man. Two assistants followed behind, lugging boxes of hand warmers.

"Everyone, get in line. It's freezing out, so Mr. Holton had these hand warmers sent over for you. Everyone will get one each."

The villagers gratefully thanked her as the boxes were opened and hand warmers were handed out. Warmth quickly spread through the line.

When it was Emily's turn, the assistant stopped short. Amelia stepped forward with an innocent, apologetic smile. "My apologies, but it looks like we've run out of hand warmers, Dr. Sterling."

She leaned just close enough for the oud fragrance of Gabriel's trench coat to drift toward Emily. She was clearly trying to flaunt it to Emily..

Emily didn't bother to even look up. She simply sorted the medical supplies on her table and thoroughly ignored Amelia, whose smile cracked.

Her carefully staged scene hadn't earned so much as a glance. Rage burned inside her, and she refused to believe Emily didn't truly care.

"That's just how softhearted Gabe has always been. He noticed I was cold and gave me his coat, but why has he never thought of you?" Amelia said, loud enough for others to hear. "Doesn't he feel sorry for you now that you're wearing just a thin coat on such a freezing day?

"Or perhaps… you don't matter to him at all."

Emily finally stopped what she was doing. She looked up at a nearby volunteer who was maintaining order. "Hello, could you please escort irrelevant personnel back outside the line? They're interfering with the medical missions."

Moments later, she stepped out of the steamy bathroom wrapped in a towel. Water droplets trailed down her neck and disappeared beneath the towel's edge.

The moment she entered the living room, she froze.

Gabriel had arrived. He stood in the center of the room with his gaze locked on her. His eyes burned with an intensity that pinned her in place, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Amelia immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere. She sprang from the couch and hurried to his side. "Did you find a place, Gabe? Can we leave now?"

He replied with a soft hum, though his gaze remained heavy as it finally shifted away from Emily.

Amelia urged him to leave, and as they reached the door, her eyes flicked toward the white medical kit in the corner of the living room.

She'd noticed earlier that Emily seemed unwell. If she took that medical kit with her, Emily would have to suffer through the night.

As that thought crossed her mind, she clutched her chest. "I've been feeling so weak lately, constantly dizzy and panicky. Dr. Sterling's medical kit must be well-stocked. Can I take it with me, just in case?"