‘He doesn’t have a license?’
Eleanor’s face fell. “And you’re the representative of the South? Boy, they have no better doctors, huh? I can’t believe they sent a guy without a license to this competition. Wait, you can’t be a quack, can you?”
Roxanne quickly tugged on her sister’s shirt. “He’s just trying to help. Stop it.”
Eleanor bent down and smiled gently. “Roxanne, some people need to be taught a lesson. You’re already weak enough as it is, and we can do without a conman’s diagnosis.”
Before Roxanne could say anything, Eleanor turned to Colin. “Dr. Roberts, you might want to tighten your vetting system. Don’t let any random con man in next time. You don’t want everyone to call Bainbridge a lazy city.”
Colin loved that the conversation was swiveling to him. Beset by his jealousy and Rose’s ruthless critique, he took this chance to get back at Edgar.
Sarcastically, Colin said, “Miss Eleanor, that’s a bit much. He does have the King of the South’s recommendation letter. I can say for sure he’s not a quack.”
By saying this, in other words, Colin was saying that the South had no better doctors.
Lola’s face was as black as thunder. Unbeknownst to Colin and Eleanor, they mocked her and Paintaker as well.
Colin had fallen in love with Lola the moment he saw her. He fell for her looks, of course, yet he did not have the courage to hit on her because she was the infamous Goddess of Meteora after all. Now, he had the chance. Thinking that she was upset because Rose duped her, Colin started talking to her.
“Conmen are everywhere, Miss Lola. Some people might look like they know what they’re doing, but they don’t. They think that just because they have a powerful family, they can be a wannabe doctor.”
Colin shot Rose a smug look.
What he didn’t know was that he had mocked Lola at the same time he was mocking Edgar.
She had no license, her family was the one who sent in the recommendation letter, and she came from a powerful family.
‘He’s mocking me?’
Despite her kindness, Lola sneered. “Dr. Roberts, you do know that everything you just said matches my profile, don’t you?”
Colin looked horrified. It was then he realized that, in his attempt to mock Richard, he had forgotten that Lola was in the same situation as Edgar.
“Miss Lola, I didn’t mean that. l was talking about…”
“Shut it… Not only are you a mediocre doctor, but you’re also an arrogant git. Your diagnosis and prescription are all wrong, and yet you refuse to take advice when given to you.”
Colin said nothing. Lola was powerful, and he did offend her first, so he apologized.
Yet Eleanor, in all her ignorance, took offense at Lola’s attitude. “Who the heck are you? This is none of your business.”
Lola turned around and shot Eleanor an icy look, then she scoffed. “Lola Crichton. And what business do you have with me?”
‘Lola Crichton?’ Eleanor paled.
That’s the most famous contestant this time around and she’s famous for two reasons. One, her outstanding talent, and two, her family, the Crichtons. Not even the Nolans would antagonize the Crichtons if they could help it.
Eleanor wanted to explain herself and apologize, but it was too late.
Lola ignored the two of them and nodded at Edgar. “Carry on, Mr. Larson. Don’t get distracted by… Inconsequential individuals.”
