Chapter 1169: Chapter 1169: Jeffrey Foster’s Clarification
Fiona suddenly couldn’t hear Isabelle’s voice anymore, guessing the other person was distracted again. She couldn’t help but mutter a few curses about Jeffrey Foster on the phone, from being ungrateful to having eyes that fail to appreciate beauty.
Isabelle snapped back to reality and couldn’t help but laugh. Her low mood lifted a bit, and on the other side, Fiona felt secret relief. But thinking about those messy messages in the group, she quietly asked Isabelle, "Isabelle, since you have no relation with Professor Foster, do you want to clarify things to avoid Jasmine Gladstone ruining your reputation?"
Her words made Isabelle pause, recalling the joyful mood while eating hot pot with Jeffrey Foster today, along with Jasmine Gladstone and Simon Miller’s reaction upon seeing her with Jeffrey Foster. Clear up their unrelated status? Wouldn’t that be self-defeating? But not clearing things up...
Isabelle sighed gently; this was probably self-inflicted pain.
"No need, let her talk; gossip is usually insignificant." Isabelle took a deep breath and replied. Fiona still wanted to say something, but Isabelle quickly interjected, "Just focus on your job. I’ve liked him for so many years; it’s not the first heartbreak. At least this time, I was rejected, unlike before when there were no opportunities, don’t you think?"
"If you put it that way... you’re right," Fiona was swayed by Isabelle’s logic and reluctantly agreed.
Isabelle smiled and ended the call, but after hanging up, she couldn’t resist opening the alumni group chat. As expected, Jasmine Gladstone had said a bunch of sarcastic things about her, with Fiona and a few who were close to her calling out Jasmine Gladstone’s remarks. However, Jasmine Gladstone didn’t back down and directly posted a photo of Isabelle and Jeffrey Foster walking arm in arm.
The photo was shot cleverly, not fully revealing Isabelle and Jeffrey Foster’s faces, but it was enough for those familiar with them to recognize.
No one expected Jasmine Gladstone to be so bold, but someone from Fiona’s side quickly asked, "Putting aside whether Isabelle is dating Professor Foster or not, what makes you say Isabelle is a home-wrecker? Isn’t it known that Professor Foster has been single for years? Even if he and Isabelle were dating, it’s a matched pair, why should a monster like you oppose and spread rumors?"
"Single? You guys probably don’t know about Professor Foster already being married abroad, do you?" Jasmine Gladstone was waiting for this moment in the group. Initially, she was shocked, then filled with jealousy and unwillingness upon seeing Isabelle and Jeffrey Foster together today. If it were ordinary times, she wouldn’t have said anything about Isabelle and Jeffrey Foster being together, but what a coincidence that her father’s friend mentioned Jeffrey Foster’s marriage, including photos from his wedding.
Jasmine Gladstone thought of ways to get that photo in the evening, and finally exposed it in the group.
Even other classmates were shocked by Jasmine Gladstone’s revelation. Seeing her words, Isabelle was stunned, her hands slightly shaking as she opened the photo sent by Jasmine Gladstone.
It was a wedding photo on grass, and as Jasmine Gladstone described, the man was indeed Jeffrey Foster, but the bride turned slightly, avoiding the camera. Yet, even so, Isabelle could guess the woman was beautiful from the less than one-third visible side of her face.
But this wasn’t the aspect that concerned Isabelle the most; her focus was Jeffrey Foster’s gaze in the photo.
At that time, his vision was still normal, and he was looking at the woman with deep concentration and affection. Even through the screen, Isabelle could feel his love.
Was this the woman Jeffrey Foster deeply loved?
Staring at the photo, Isabelle felt unprecedented despair. She couldn’t control her mind from wondering how much he loved her. If he encountered the same situation today, would Jeffrey Foster also let go of that woman as decisively as he did with her...
People suffer not from lack but from inequality; having comparisons creates disparity. Looking at that photo, Isabelle felt bitter and uncomfortable, losing the courage to call Jeffrey Foster.
Just as her mother said, to continue insisting is self-humiliation.
As for Jasmine Gladstone, jumping around in the group, Isabelle originally wanted to say a few words, but after seeing Jeffrey Foster’s wedding photo, she lost the mood to speak. Silencing her phone and putting it aside, she then closed her eyes heavily.
That night was hard for Isabelle, but what she didn’t expect was Jasmine Gladstone’s stunt not only triggered discussions in the group but also caught the attention of the leaders at Med University.
Jeffrey Foster was very discreet upon returning to the country. Few knew about his return, with Med University and those in the medical field who followed him maintaining confidentiality.
So when Jasmine Gladstone’s revelation was passed around in a few groups, it eventually reached the school leadership, and the college intervened promptly.
Though Jeffrey Foster was a special appointment at Med University, many things happened between him and Abigail, but Brandon Piers handled them decisively, and the school didn’t know why he suddenly went abroad, only assuming it was for advanced studies. Later, despite the Foster family’s downfall, his personal capability ensured he was always respected wherever he went, with Med University considering him an invaluable asset.
Upon learning about his secret return to the country, the school immediately sought connections to contact Jeffrey Foster.
Jeffrey Foster received a phone call from the school leaders at Med University the next morning, and amidst their enthusiasm, he quickly grasped some useful information. When he was invited again with enthusiasm, he interrupted, "Did you say there are rumors about me at your school?"
"Well... there are some. I was driven to call because I learned of your return from these rumors. But rest assured, I’ve ordered them not to spread such gossip." The headmaster’s face flashed with embarrassment mentioning the rumors.
Headmaster Theodore, having been in charge for so many years, was surprised that rumors travel faster among students. After some thought, he asked, "Has young Foster gotten married?"
The headmaster’s words made Jeffrey Foster’s expression darken slightly, "No, could you kindly tell me what the rumor is?"
"This... of course that’s not a problem, but regarding your return to Med University..."
"Let’s talk about that later," Jeffrey Foster was quite blunt.
Headmaster Theodore nearly choked on air, muttering a low curse about the ungrateful young man, but he patiently explained the situation to Jeffrey Foster. Finally, the slightly mischievous headmaster couldn’t resist asking, "Are you seriously interested in a young girl?"
"That’s my private matter." Jeffrey Foster remained unreserved in front of Headmaster Theodore, but upon finishing, his voice softened, "Could you please clarify the matter in your administration department?"
"Clarify what?" The headmaster teased.
"Jeffrey Foster is unmarried," Jeffrey Foster’s tone remained neutral, yet only he knew the urgency hidden within his words.
He wasn’t concerned about what was said about him, but he couldn’t accept Isabelle being harmed by gossip at such a young age.
Headmaster Theodore paused, then playfully scoffed, "I never imagined you’d actually go for the young ones, you know. I can draft the clarification for you, but you should seriously consider coming back to teach."
"No," Jeffrey Foster seemingly ignored the headmaster’s attempt at leveraging the situation.
"Oh, is that the attitude of someone asking for a favor?" The headmaster was annoyed by Jeffrey Foster’s determined stance.
Jeffrey Foster remained silent for a while, "I ran into some trouble recently, and... I can’t see."
"Trouble... what?" The headmaster was about to ask what trouble Jeffrey Foster faced before hearing those three words that shocked him so much he almost dropped the phone.
Jeffrey Foster calmly replied, "It’s true; the cause is still being investigated, and the cure rate is low."
"You..." The headmaster tried to say something but was at a loss, "Alright, I’ll draft the clarification, but you have to let me meet with you."
This time, Jeffrey Foster didn’t refuse. Since Med University knew about his return, it was only a matter of time before his vision impairment was exposed. The headmaster would eventually approach him, sooner or later.
But while he could wait, Isabelle couldn’t afford to.
Being labeled a "home-wrecker" can severely damage a girl’s reputation; he cannot tolerate it.
Just wondering how that girl is doing now?
......
Refreshes a bit later.
The photo was taken skillfully; it didn’t completely reveal Isabelle Martin and Jeffrey Foster’s faces, yet it was enough for people familiar with them to recognize them.
No one expected Jasmine Gladstone to be so bold, but someone from Fiona Raphael’s camp quickly asked, "Setting aside whether Isabelle is dating Professor Foster, what makes you call Isabelle a ’home-wrecker’? Everyone knows Professor Foster has been single for years; even if he is dating Isabelle, they make a handsome couple. Why do you, this troublemaker, have to oppose and spread rumors?"
"Single? Perhaps you all are unaware that Professor Foster is already married abroad?" Jasmine was waiting for this question. She was initially shocked and then filled with jealousy and unwillingness when she saw Isabelle and Jeffrey together today. If she had found out about them any other time, she would definitely have kept quiet. But coincidentally, a friend of her father’s mentioned Jeffrey Foster’s marriage, and even had a photo from the wedding.
Jasmine went to great lengths to obtain that photo at night, only to come to the chat group and reveal the information.
Not to mention other classmates, even Isabelle was utterly stunned when she saw Jasmine’s words. She shakily opened the photo Jasmine sent next.
It was a wedding photo on a lawn; as Jasmine had said, the man in the picture was indeed Jeffrey Foster. The bride had her face turned slightly away, avoiding the camera, yet even with just less than a third of the profile visible, Isabelle inferred the woman was beautiful.
But that wasn’t where Isabelle’s attention focused the most; she was most concerned about Jeffrey Foster’s expression in the photo.
At that time, his vision was still normal, and he was gazing at the woman with such focus and affection that even through the screen, Isabelle could feel his love.
Is this the woman Jeffrey Foster deeply loves?
As Isabelle stared at the photo, she felt an unprecedented sense of despair. She couldn’t stop her mind from thinking about how much he loves her; if faced with the same situation today, would Jeffrey Foster so easily and decisively let her go just like that woman?
It’s not the lack but the inequality that people worry about; with comparison comes disparity. Looking at the photo, Isabelle felt both bitter and hurt, losing even the courage to call Jeffrey Foster.
As her mother said, any further entanglement would only bring humiliation.
As for Jasmine, who was still jumping around in the chat group, Isabelle initially wanted to say something, but seeing the wedding photo of Jeffrey Foster left her with no desire to speak at all. She silenced her phone and set it aside, then closed her eyes heavily.
This night was hard for Isabelle to endure, and she hadn’t anticipated that Jasmine’s revelation stirred not only the chat group but also caught the attention of the medical school leaders.
Jeffrey Foster had been low-key since returning to the country; very few knew he was back. The medical school and the attentive medical community had kept his return confidential.
Therefore, when Jasmine’s exposé was circulated through several chat groups, eventually reaching the school leaders, the faculty immediately intervened.
Although Jeffrey Foster is a distinguished professor at the medical school, and much has happened between him and Abigail, Brandon Piers had suppressed it with decisive means. The school didn’t know the true reason for his sudden departure overseas, assuming he went for further studies. Although the Foster family had collapsed later, his personal abilities meant that he would be revered wherever he was. The medical school considered him an invaluable talent.
Upon learning of his secret return, the school immediately reached out to contact Jeffrey Foster.
Jeffrey Foster received a phone call from the medical school leadership the next morning. Amidst their enthusiasm, he quickly picked up on some useful information, and when the school leader warmly invited him again, he interrupted, "You mentioned there are rumors about me at your school?"
"Well... there are some. It was through these rumors that I learned of your return, so I made this call. But don’t worry, I’ve instructed them not to spread those rumors around." The headmaster mentioned these rumors with a hint of embarrassment across his face.
As Headmaster Theodore, having been in the position for many years, he couldn’t believe the students were faster with the news than he was. Weighing his words, he still asked, "Did you get married, Jeffrey?"
As soon as the old headmaster said this, Jeffrey Foster’s face darkened slightly. "No, could you kindly tell me what the rumors are about?"
"Well... of course, I can. But about your returning to the medical school..."
"We’ll talk about that later." Jeffrey Foster wasn’t polite at all.
Headmaster Theodore nearly choked on his breath and cursed a bit at the heartless young fellow. Yet, with patience, he explained the situation to Jeffrey Foster. Finally, the headmaster, a bit mischievously, couldn’t help but ask, "So, are you truly interested in some young girl?"
"That’s my personal affair." Jeffrey Foster still showed no politeness in front of Headmaster Theodore, but after saying this, his voice softened. "Could I trouble Headmaster Theodore to clarify with the administration that I’m unmarried?"
"Clarify what?" Headmaster Theodore teased.
"That Jeffrey Foster is unmarried." Although Jeffrey Foster’s tone remained calm, only he knew the urgency suppressed in his words.
He didn’t care what people said about him, but he couldn’t stand Isabelle being hurt by such gossip at such a young age.
Headmaster Theodore was stunned for a moment, then laughed and scolded, "I didn’t expect you, this lad, to indeed have a fondness for younger individuals. I’ll draft the clarification letter for you, but you should seriously consider returning to teach here."
"No way." Jeffrey Foster seemed oblivious to Headmaster Theodore’s leverage.
"Is that the attitude of someone asking for a favor?" Headmaster Theodore was somewhat irked by Jeffrey Foster’s firm stance.
Jeffrey Foster was silent for a long while. "I’m experiencing some issues now... I can’t see."
"Having issues... what?" Headmaster Theodore was about to ask what issues Jeffrey Foster faced when he heard the last three words, and was so shocked he nearly dropped the phone.
Jeffrey Foster calmly responded, "It’s true. The cause is still under investigation, and the chances of recovery are low."
"You..." Headmaster Theodore struggled for words momentarily. "Alright, I’ll sort out the clarification for you, but you have to let me see you."
This time, Jeffrey Foster didn’t refuse. Since the medical school knew about his return, the issue with his eyesight would eventually be exposed. It was just a matter of time before Headmaster Theodore came to see him.
And while he could wait, Isabelle couldn’t afford to.
Being labeled a "home-wrecker" can severely damage a girl’s reputation; he cannot tolerate it.
Just wondering how that girl is doing now?