Chapter 316 Reputation Matters
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Thea shot rissa a scornful look, "Hah! You failed to be the Lockharts'' hostess and turned into aughingstock. And yet, you still dare to mock me? Did youe here just to watch me embarrass myself?"
rissa took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she swallowed her frustration. "Thea, why would I do that? We''re both in difficult positions right now. I may be struggling, but you''re not any better off"
Thea cut her off. "Don''t lump me in with you. I''d never sink so low as to steal someone''s sperm just to have a child-only to get rejected anyway."
She rolled her eyes, ncing at her freshly painted nails. "How humiliating. Everyone in our circle isughing at you. Your family is truly something-one sister a mistress with no status, and the other trying to trap a man with a baby. A perfect match."
Thea had never been one to hold back.
rissa and Regina both turned pale with anger.
Regina stepped forward, her fists clenched. "Watch your mouth, Thea. Who do you think you are? Just because you''re a celebrity, you think you''re better than everyone else?"
rissa quickly grabbed Regina''s arm, shooting her a warning look. Picking a fight here wouldn''t help them.
Regina huffed in frustration but backed off, moving to the side.
rissa sat down with a forced smile. "Thea, let''s put past grudges aside. The real issue right now is Kelly. She''s the reason you''re in the hospital, and now she''s provoking you on Twitter. Are you going to let this go? Besides, she''s not even good enough for Zion."
Thea smirked. "She''s still a better match than you. At least she''s a doctor with a real job and a clean reputation. Unlike you, who will do anything to climb the socialdder. Honestly, you should get tested regrly for STDs. I don''t want to catch anything just from being near you." She made a show of covering her mouth in disgust.
The words themselves weren''t lethal, but the insult was cutting.
rissa''s patience snapped. She shot to her feet, fists clenched. "Thea, if Zion doesn''t divorce Kelly, you''ll never have him! I wanted to help you, but you''re too blind to see it!"
With that, she stormed out.
Rolling her eyes, Thea scoffed. "I don''t need your help. The moment I cried and threw a fit, Zion rushed over to see me. Even if you jumped off a building, he wouldn''t bat an eye. You think you canpare yourself to me? Can you rece the bond we''ve had since childhood? Even if he leaves Kelly, you''ll never be his choice. Trying to use me against her? Dream on!"
Thea wasn''t the sharpest, but years in the entertainment industry had taught her to read people.
Someone who had always been against her suddenly acting friendly-it didn''t take a genius to see through
that.
Fuming, rissa clenched her jaw and stormed off.
Thea was nothing more than a spoiled brat.
16:38 THU, 15 MAY
* Pearls
Carless, dir''splerte mene! Regins ensp***
Cartes chun tina nce. If you to gotten on wy on d earlier, we wouldn''t be in such a weak position now
Regina bailed. Are you ming me for tile
rices anortedt Sinne due nuere to work with we, wat jou make things worse Between her and Kelly. Let them rear each niher apart while we di buck and burned
With that, she turned and left
Regis angrily balled her hands into fiets and went to find Eric
She and Eric had already set a wedding date, yet he kept postponing it with one excuse after another. She was already frustrated, and Thes''k animde only added to her fury.
Kelly had been busy with her studies and exams, so she wasn''t seeing patients. That was why it surprised her when a nurse knocked on the door, saying someone wanted to book an appointment.
I''m not taking patients," Kelly said, puzzled. Normally, if no slots were avable in the system, the nurse wouldn''t even ask.
"It''s a big shot, the nurse said, pointing at Vincent, who was already approaching.
Vincent had been a frequent name in financial news in recent years, making him obsessed with maintaining his image. He would never let anyone have leverage over him.
"It''s me," he said coldly.
Kelly nced at Vincent. Before she could refuse him, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. Her expression hardened as she eyed him warily.
"Just say it. What do you want to keep quiet about this?" Vincent''s voice was icy. "I know women like you- always chasing wealth and status. How much do you want to stay silent?"
Kelly narrowed her eyes, studying him like he was an idiot.
Vincent clenched his jaw. "Five million."
She leaned back in her chair, watching him without a word.
His face darkened. “Don''t push your luck. You''re a doctor-if you dare to expose
my condition, I''ll sue you for viting my privacy, even if it means cutting all ties."
That was when Kelly understood-Vincent was scared.
"Are the test results out?" she asked, her tone turning professional.
Her authoritative demeanor made him nod.
"Let me see," she said, holding out her hand.
15:38 Thu, to May
Chapter 316 Reputation Matters
Vincent hesitated but eventually passed her his phone, disying the results.
Without hesitation, she snapped a photo with her phone.
"You-"Vincent yanked his phone back, his voiceced with fury.
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"All''s fair in war." Kelly said with a smirk. "I know how much your reputation means
to you. The financial news loves you, and you''ve got a massive following."
She held up her phone. "HPV isn''t a big deal, but if you go to another doctor, there''s always a risk of a leak. Here''s my offer-I''ll treat you and guaranteeplete confidentiality. But Zion just took over Lockhart Group, and not everyone in thepany is on his side. If you back him...
Vincent''s eyes zed with anger. "You''re threatening me."
She smiled. "Of course. Or did you forget why you came to me in the first ce?"
Vincent stared at her, momentarily caught off guard. She wasn''t just bold-she was fearless.
Strangely, he didn''t hate it, nor was he furious.
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