Chapter 3

Finally regaining my senses, I demanded angrily.

"Mia Chen, I've never wronged you, why are you slandering me?"

But she looked innocent, quickly apologizing to me.

"I'm so sorry, Ava, I didn't know the man you liked was already married."

"If I had known, I would have absolutely kept your secret!"

Her words hit me hard, and I almost collapsed.

Chloe, meanwhile, was tugging at my hair, demanding angrily.

"Ava, what else do you have to say for yourself?!"

"This is your friend; would she lie to frame you?"

Yes, Mia Chen was definitely framing me.

I forced myself to stay calm, my gaze falling on Dr. Sterling in the corner.

"I need to see Dr. Peterson. Otherwise, I won't perform tomorrow's surgery."

Dr. Sterling scoffed, sizing me up with a contemptuous look.

"Surgery? What surgery? I think you're just trying to stall for time."

"You know, people shouldn't do bad things, or karma will catch up to them eventually!"

He rolled his eyes and addressed the crowd.

"Everyone, Ava has been fired. Her actions have nothing to do with this hospital."

As soon as he finished speaking, the enraged crowd turned their fury on me.

Ignoring my explanations, they continued their personal attacks.

Just as I was about to give up, I heard a steady male voice.

"Chloe, why are you still here? I've been waiting for you in the parking lot."

It was Chloe's husband, Daniel Hughes.

Three years ago, when they got married, my mom even sent me their wedding photos, hinting that I should contribute to their wedding gift.

I only clicked to view the wedding photo once before I unceremoniously retorted.

"You already gave your uncle's daughter a huge sum for her wedding, wasn't that enough? Now you want another chunk from me? You might be obsessed with spoiling our relatives, but I'm not!"

Soon, I received a dozen 60-second voice messages.

Although I didn't give a gift, Mom still threatened me into attending their wedding.

Daniel was from a prestigious university; he surely wouldn't be as unreasonable as Chloe.

I spoke impatiently. "Daniel, someone's spreading vicious rumors about us. You need to clear this up!"

Daniel turned to look, and when he saw me, his expression froze.

I looked at him expectantly, hoping he would clarify for us.

But he actually knelt directly in front of me, his voice humble and pleading.

"Ava, please, can you just stop hounding me?

"I'm already married to your cousin; there's no way I can be with you."

"If you just leave me alone, I'll get on my knees and thank you."

With that, he actually performed three full bows towards me.

Seeing Daniel's actions, the whispers and condemnations from the crowd drowned me out.

"Oh my god, how shameless! She's really desperate to be a mistress!"

"And he's her cousin's husband! How desperate can she be?"

I quickly shook my head, looking at Chloe and Daniel in front of me with fear and confusion.

Chloe was staring at me furiously, but her eyes were filled with triumph.

I instantly realized what was happening; they had all conspired to set me up!

Finally finding my voice, I quickly denied it.

"No, this isn't right. I just got back from overseas not long ago; I've never even met this man!"

"The three of them are working together to frame me, deliberately ruining my reputation!"

The bystanders, however, didn't believe what I said.

"Still making excuses? The man himself admitted it!"

"So shameless, does she even have a family to be ashamed for her?"

Before I could move, Chloe's palm shot out toward my face.

I tried to sidestep, but Mia locked my arms in a vise grip.

The slap connected, hard. I tasted blood, my lip already swelling.

Damn it. Tomorrow's surgery...

I took a deep breath. My eyes locked on Chloe's. No fury, just a terrifying calm.

"It will cost you more than you can imagine, Chloe Davies!"