Chapter 345

Evelyn's gaze burned with fury as she locked eyes with Beatrice.

"Admit it! Your precious granddaughter is using her husband Nathaniel's influence to control the hospital. Without your interference, my mother would've had her surgery by now. You're a disgrace who'll pay for this!"

"Isabella Thompson! That's enough!" Nathaniel's voice cut through the air as he entered the ward.

His expression was unreadable as he pointed to the door. "Get out before I have security remove you."

"Afraid the truth will come out?" Isabella scoffed. "If Evelyn's so innocent, why can't she face the accusations?"

She wasn't leaving. Not until she'd made her point. This was all Evelyn's fault, and she'd make sure everyone knew it.

Nathaniel's voice turned glacial. "Show proof or leave. I won't warn you again."

Isabella smirked and jabbed a finger at Beatrice. "Using a sick old woman as leverage? How low will you stoop for-"

The sharp crack of Nathaniel's palm meeting her cheek silenced her.

Isabella staggered back, shock flashing across her face. This marked the third time he'd struck her.

The fire in his eyes made her blood run cold.

"Next time I won't be so gentle," Nathaniel warned. "One word to the press about you harassing patients, and your precious career is finished. Test me."

Her cheek throbbed as she clenched her jaw. After a tense moment, she stormed out without another word.

But this wasn't over. She'd make Evelyn regret everything.

Once Isabella left, the room fell silent. Nathaniel took a steadying breath before turning back to Beatrice.

Rosalind discreetly exited.

Nathaniel forced a smile as he approached the bed. "Don't listen to her nonsense. The donor came through my connections, not hers."

Beatrice nodded weakly.

Still uneasy, Nathaniel instructed Rosalind to bar Isabella from entering. He couldn't risk her upsetting Beatrice again.

But vigilance had its limits.

That evening, while Rosalind escorted Beatrice through the gardens, Isabella reappeared.

"You should be ashamed!" she hissed. "Stealing what belongs to my family. How can you live with yourself?"

Rosalind tried to intervene, but the public humiliation cut deep. Beatrice had never been called such things in her long life.

The gathering crowd's whispers burned worse than any insult.

Isabella, disguised behind sunglasses, continued her tirade. Though unrecognizable, her words left Beatrice trembling with shame.

The scandalous rumors began spreading before they'd even left the courtyard.