She Made a Comeback as a Renowned Doctor

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: The Birthday Star

“Perfunctory.” Although that’s what he said, the chill in Waylon Lewis’s demeanor did recede a bit, his lips curling into a slight, indulgent smile.

Hope Williams silently pursed her lips, not taking up his words.

As Hope watched her interaction with Waylon Lewis, her response was perfunctory, yet she accommodated his requests with a concession that even she hadn’t noticed.

Waylon Lewis, on the other hand, recognized Hope’s perfunctoriness, but such an exceedingly perfunctory smile still managed to bring him pleasure.

Benjamin Myers’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. Waylon had always been an important presence to Hope; it was just that, as an outside observer, he saw it clearly, while she, the involved party, didn’t realize it.

Benjamin’s hands, hanging at his sides, tightened.

He liked Hope, liked her a lot, and he had never liked a girl this much before. He knew this clearly. He wanted to be with Hope, not just as friends.

In that moment, he realized that if he didn’t take the initiative now, the girl who shone so brightly might be taken back by this man.

Benjamin looked at Hope and slightly lifted his lips, “Little Hope, I have something to say to you.”

Hope’s eyes, which had been on Waylon Lewis, shifted back to Benjamin. Though confused, she still nodded, “Alright,” and took a step forward.

But… the hand wrapped around her waist did not loosen. Instead, it tightened, pulling her back to his side.

Hope furrowed her brows.

Seeing this, the light in Benjamin’s dark eyes deepened, and Waylon Lewis’s brow grew even more severe. A hint of gunpowder smoke seemed to spread instantly between the two men.

“Let her go,” Benjamin said in a deep voice.

“Mine.”

“You’re divorced.”

Waylon’s face was expressionless, “We can remarry.”

Benjamin frowned, “That depends on whether she wants to or not.”

“None of your business.”

Benjamin, “I like her.”

Waylon stated firmly, “She doesn’t like you.”

Benjamin, “None of your business.”

Waylon’s coldness intensified, “She’s mine.”

“Cough…” Aria Richardson, who was drinking water on the side, couldn’t help but choke.

Her gaze went to Hope: Take control, they’re about to fight.

Hope blinked, her lips twitching slightly, her eyes moving back and forth between the two men.

“What the hell are you guys doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m pursuing you, he likes you, and he wants to steal you from me,” Waylon Lewis glanced coldly at Benjamin, “Utterly delusional.”

“Waylon Lewis, I’ve told you, I won’t remarry you, and Benjamin, stop joking,” Hope said.

“I’m not joking,” Benjamin said with utmost seriousness.

Waylon’s brow twitched slightly, “I’ve said that you can stick to your principles, and you, I won’t give up either. Go ahead and refuse, but in the end, you’re destined to be mine, there’s no escape.”

Hope’s delicate brows furrowed. His words struck a chord deep in her heart, stirring a wave of complex emotions that she found difficult to articulate.

By then, Joy Ward had dealt with Valentina River’s situation, and the two approached as if nothing had happened.

“Waylon.” Joy Ward called out timidly to Waylon Lewis; the warning she had received last time was obviously still making her incredibly fearful of the man, but even so, it wasn’t enough to deter her from the man she was determined to have a chance with, popping up at every opportunity.

Waylon Lewis was in a foul mood and gave Joy only a cold glance without any intention of acknowledging her.

Joy’s expression stiffened awkwardly, trying to find words to ease the embarrassment, “Miss Williams, I apologize for before. What Valentina said wasn’t intentional.”

Hope pursed her lips, “Oh, Miss Ward is quite generous. Just now she called me a slut, and now here you are speaking on her behalf. Miss Ward, you really are noble and benevolent to your friends.”

Hope turned her gaze to Valentina River, who now stood behind Joy, too afraid to speak, her tone scornful, “Isn’t that right, Miss River? You should really learn from Miss Ward’s tact, lest next time when you’re running errands for others, you’re the one who suffers again. It’s so not worth it.”

Hope Williams’ mockery was something Joy Ward couldn’t fail to detect.

Yet she still managed to keep her expression under control, inwardly seething with such fury that she felt her teeth might shatter.

Thomas Hughes saw that it was time for the cake and approached Waylon Lewis.

Waylon Lewis nodded.

The cake, escorted by several pastry chefs and four bodyguards at the side, was wheeled in.

Everyone couldn’t help but take out their phones at the sight of the exquisite and lifelike cake tower.

The cake, consisting of twelve layers and standing three meters tall, had every tiny decorative piece immaculately crafted, seeming to come to life in its beauty, almost like a delicate piece of art.

All the guests gathered around.

Their eyes fixated on the valuable cake tower, everyone was filled with envy.

“Wow… it’s simply too beautiful, this completely redefines my understanding of cakes.”

“Miss Ward, you’re truly fortunate, this cake is a veritable work of art, I bet it costs well into the eight figures.”

“Yeah, Miss Ward, don’t stand there any longer, go stand next to President Lewis, you’re the birthday girl today, you should be standing with him.”

On hearing this, Joy Ward’s face instantly turned deathly pale, and she frantically waved her hands to signal them to stop talking.

“Oh, Miss Ward, don’t be shy, you’re the birthday girl today; how could you let another woman stand next to President Lewis? If you ask me, you’re just too nice, Miss Ward.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

These voices weren’t low, and Waylon Lewis and Hope Williams at the front heard them loud and clear.

Joy Ward now felt an overwhelming urge to die.

Hope Williams raised her eyebrows, her gaze shifting toward Joy Ward.

She’s the birthday girl?

Her birthday?

Waylon Lewis turned his head to look at the person who had spoken, his gaze cold and detached.

“What did you say?”

The person stiffened, intimidated by his icy and oppressive stare and couldn’t help but take a step back.

After a half-second pause, she realized she hadn’t actually said anything wrong and continued stammering, “Isn’t it Miss Ward’s birthday today? I think as the birthday girl, she shouldn’t be standing in the corner; she should move forward a bit and stand together with you.”

The person, feeling she hadn’t done anything wrong, met an even colder glare from the man, a gaze that seemed capable of freezing someone to death.

Fortunately, he swiftly looked away.

At this moment, Joy Ward wished more than anything to flee the scene, but she was surrounded by people and had nowhere to run. With her head hung low, she could still feel the man’s eyes on her.

She dared not lift her head yet couldn’t keep from doing so, her eyes frantically trembled in their sockets.

“Is today your birthday?” Waylon Lewis looked at her with a detached expression that was sinking heavier and heavier.

“I…”

His piercing and profound eyes carried an intimidating presence.

Joy Ward’s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched tightly, her heart for a moment almost scared into suffocation.

“I… I never said that,” Joy Ward could only outright deny it now, mustering all her strength to force a smile, “Today is Miss Williams’ birthday, how could it be my birthday? Everyone must be mistaken.”

No sooner had Joy Ward finished speaking than the people around started whispering among themselves.

Someone immediately said, “Miss Ward, you’re joking with us, right? Just now you clearly…”

“I clearly what? I’ve never once said that today was my birthday…”

The woman speaking couldn’t help but raise her voice in exasperation, “But Miss Ward, when so many of us wished you a happy birthday a moment ago, you openly accepted it.”

Joy Ward felt a chill in her body and her fingers trembled, forcing herself to continue, “You all misunderstood, I… I don’t know…”