Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 174: Josh and Ben

It was easier to get into the car the second time. Tight muscles were loosening up. The coffee and the pastries helped, too.

Wyla drove me to the hospital.

"Teela, about earlier. I don’t think I can date your friend."

"That’s fine. I didn’t mean to pressure you. Stiff asked me to ask you. He finds you attractive. He wants to get to know you, but Wyla, he’s a good guy. If you say no, he’ll back off."

"I want you to understand it’s not personal. I’m scared. It’s probably my greatest fear. If I love anyone, it will end badly."

"I think many people have that fear to one degree or another, Wyla. I know I felt that way after my divorce, and I still flash back on those doubts sometimes."

"How do you work around it?"

"I keep reminding myself that Alec isn’t King. Alec is a good person, and we are good together. We fit. King and I never fit. It is only logical that the outcome will be different this time. I am different this time. Stronger and more mature."

"That’s a lot. But your first marriage didn’t cost anyone their lives. If I’m wrong, people die," Wyla said.

"You’re wrong there, Wyla. I lost my best friend. Jake’s boys were injured in an intentional car accident. King tried to do something desperate. For all I know, what King is going through now is somehow related.

"Wyla, everything we do creates a chain reaction, including not acting. You don’t know that not dating isn’t leading you to a lifetime of pain. It most certainly can lead to unnecessary loneliness."

"It’s something to think about, but that doesn’t mean I want to date Stiff. He’s way out of my league."

I chuckled. "I sincerely don’t think social status means anything to Stiff. I get the impression he could have any woman he set his sight on, except you and me. But if he did care about status, you have no concept of the clout you’d gain by taking Eugine’s offer."

"I won’t take dirty money just to win a man."

"Agreed. That alone is not a good reason. And again, I don’t think you need it with Stiff. His dad can’t buy him off. I doubt you could either." I shrugged. "Besides, money is easy for people like Stiff and I. We are rare talents. The wealthy enter into bidding wars for our services. They throw money at us just to consider their projects.

"It’s harder to find good friends that we trust. If you can be that for us, you are invaluable."

The car pulled up in front of the hospital and stopped.

"And on that happy note, I’m off. Stay nearby. I don’t expect to be long."

When I said that, I thought I was telling the truth. I learned better as soon as the elevator opened on King’s floor. All of the nurses were huddled at the nurses’ station as the sounds of shouting filtered down from the wing where King was a patient.

I rushed down the corridor to see the team Alec had sent for King held at bay by a pair of security guards while Josh and Ben argued at King’s door.

"He’s not going anywhere," Josh yelled.

"You can’t stop me. I’m taking King out of here. I have the legal authority. You don’t." Ben said.

Josh was taller than Ben, but that didn’t stop him from getting into Ben’s face as he poked a finger at his chest. "You have no right. You left us. You disowned the entire family, including King. Including me. You left me there in that empty tomb of a house with that cold-blooded asshole in there, and you didn’t even say goodbye. You were just gone!"

"Is that what this is all about? You’re mad at me, so you’re taking King away from me like some child’s toy? Since when have you cared about any of us? All you do is play doctor and hide in the shadows with one if your many mistresses," Ben shot back.

Josh recoiled. "You can’t prove I’ve ever had a mistress. Don’t make empty accusations."

Ben snorted. "Come off it, Joshua. Everyone knows you keep a woman on the side. We’ve always known."

"Mind your own business, Ben. Just go back to your bar and leave King to me. I’ll take care of him."

"Yeah, well, that is what I’m concerned with." Ben made air quotes. "You might take care of King to death."

"Why, you little asshole." Josh pulled back to punch Ben, but Min caught his arm and forced it to the man’s side.

"No hitting," Min said.

What was it with these Heavenly men and making scenes at a hospital? The Heavenlys were usually careful about avoiding negative publicity, but in my experience, they forgot all about that in hospitals. It must have been the antiseptic fumes that clouded their good sense.

I shook my head as I stepped forward. "Alright. If your name has ever been Heavenly, step back into the room. Everyone else, wait here."

I pulled Min along with me. As far as I was concerned, he was as much Heavenly as Ben.

"What’s going on here?" I asked, looking between Ben and Josh.

Ben said, "Josh won’t let us transfer King to Alec’s facility. He’s going to treat him instead."

"Not going to happen," I said. "King is going with us today. You’ve signed all the paperwork, Ben?"

"I did."

"King isn’t going anywhere," Josh said. "I’m his only legal relative since Ben left the family. I’ll take responsibility for King. It is only right. I’ve called our attorneys for an injunction."

I pulled out my phone and called Stiff. "Josh is trying to block King’s transfer from this hospital and his care. Block it. Lose it. I don’t care how you handle it, but make sure Ben remains King’s guardian."

"Aye, aye, Captain. I’m already on it. Want me to lose Josh’s medical credentials while I’m at it?"

"Hold that thought for Plan B."

I hung up.

"You can’t do that," Josh protested.

"Can’t I? And Josh, don’t forget your whole relationship with the Heavenly name is less than legal. Always has been. You have no blood relationship to King any more than I do. No one in this room does so get off your high horse. We are taking King out of here today, or I’ll bring your entire career to a halt.

"How will Dot feel about dating an unemployed has-been?"

Josh’s eyes widened. "You know about Dot?"

"Yeah, Josh, I do. And after this little stunt, I have to wonder just how involved you are in King’s addiction."

"I’m a doctor. I don’t make people sick."

"And yet you let Dot impersonate her sister and treat the precious brother you are determined to keep under your thumb. I have to wonder why, Josh."

"Dot’s a good person. She’s kind, smart, and a credit to her profession."

"Only it isn’t her profession. It is her sister’s, and you’re helping her commit a crime. But, Josh, why? What did King ever do to you, or Dot for that matter?"

The muscles in Josh’s jaw tightened. "I’m not telling you anything."

"Like the fact that Lettie likely had your first love killed? Oh, I already know about that, and I’ll find out what doping King is all about."

Josh crossed his hands over his chest. "Fine. You might win, for now. I’ve got rounds to make."

"Just that easy? You’re walking out? Giving up?" Ben asked.

Josh grunted. "Sometimes you have to retreat to advance."

When Josh stormed off, we all took a second to let the adrenaline subside, and then Min showed the EMTs who came to transport King into the room. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Thanks for waiting, guys." I said.

"No problem. Mr. Crest said this might happen."

He did, did he? I’d have to ask him about that tonight.

Ben said, "Thanks, Teela, for stepping in before things got physical. It’s strange, isn’t it, Lettie had not problem with psychological warfare and yet preached no physical violence, but when it comes down to it, instinctually we always, always, are ready to thrown down. Only King isn’t here to talk us down."

Ben glanced at King’s prone body on the bed. "Well, he is here, but you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know. Let’s get your brother out of here before Josh thinks of another way to stop us."

"Can Stiff really stop a lawsuit?"

"Didn’t you know? Stiff is magic. He can do anything."

"Can he give Josh a personality? Oh, and I want a pony. I’ve always wanted a pony. Lettie wouldn’t let me have one."

Min sighed. "You took riding lessons for six years."

"That was different. None of those horses were mine. I want one of my own," Ben said.

Min said, "I’ll buy you a horse as a wedding gift."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Ben said. "Now what about Josh’s personality?"

I said, "Stiff can do magic, but I don’t think anyone is powerful enough to fix what is broken with Josh."