Chapter 2

2、

I thought the matter was over. But the next day, Dean Nat Lawrence walked into my office with John Lambert.

John didn't even knock. He strode straight up to me, his face cold and hard. "Professor Lambert, I'd like to take you to dinner. Will you do me the honor?"

These days John had nothing to do with medicine anymore. He owned a private hospital, and he was a wealthy man.

In his younger years there had still been a trace of the scholar about him. Now he was heavy around the middle, reeking of money.

I shook my head and said only that it wasn't necessary.

John's brow creased, and he slapped a hand down on the desk, his expression darkening. "Hubert, there's no need to take this to such an extreme."

Nat chimed in from beside him. "You're family. Whatever it is, sit down over a meal and talk it out. Isn't that better?"

I gave a cold laugh. "I don't want to eat."

John's face flushed at once. "She's your sister, one way or another. The same blood runs in your veins. There's no reason to block her future."

"If you hold a grudge against me, take it out on me. Don't use your position to settle a private score."

Nat froze on the spot. He'd had no idea John was my father, and his mouth hung open, unable to close for a long moment.

I shook my head again and refused to give an inch.

John pulled a checkbook from his pocket, signed one for ten million, and held it out. His tone was flat. "Consider this compensation for all these years. If you think it's too little, we can talk further."

I took the check and tore it to pieces right there.

I pointed a finger at John's face. "Take your dirty money and go. You know exactly what your daughter is worth. She doesn't deserve a doctorate."

Before I could finish, a girl with her hair in a ponytail burst into the office, grabbed John's arm, and glared, her whole face twisted with anger. "Dad, you don't have to beg him."

"He's just jealous of me. Jealous that the student has surpassed the teacher!"

"He should think about it. We both come from a family of doctors. He's just afraid I'll outshine him someday, so he's deliberately holding me down, keeping me from getting my doctorate."