Chapter 128

The surveillance footage froze on the exact moment Ethan Roscente pushed open the door.

Vivian Laurent pocketed her phone, her gaze sweeping over the two women before her.

"I never touched you, yet you claim I pushed you down. I didn't lay a finger on anyone, yet you accuse me of assault." Her voice remained calm. "We're complete strangers. Why frame me like this?"

Patients gathered outside the examination room began murmuring.

"Dr. Laurent is an excellent physician. What's your problem?"

"I was just inside getting treated. These two barged in without appointments and started yelling."

"Is this how celebrities behave? Let's film this and let the internet decide!"

Victoria Roscente flushed with anger. "Stop recording! All of you, stop right now!"

She turned to Ethan with pleading eyes. "Brother, look at them—"

"Enough!" Ethan's voice cut through the air like ice.

Victoria immediately fell silent.

Their plan had spiraled out of control.

They'd intended to provoke Vivian into violence, or at least fabricate evidence of her attacking them. Daniel Ashcroft had promised to have Vivian fired once the news spread.

But Vivian remained composed throughout, turning the tables on them instead.

"This is Vivian's setup! She's violating our privacy rights by recording us!" Victoria protested weakly.

Vivian held up her phone. "Self-defense. If you've done nothing wrong, this footage can be deleted anytime."

She met Ethan's gaze. "Mr. Roscente, how should we handle this?"

"Victoria, apologize." Ethan's tone brooked no argument.

Victoria gaped. "Brother! Sophia got hurt! Aren't you even concerned about her?"

Ethan fixed Sophia Evans with a piercing stare. "Who put you up to this?"

Sophia's eyes welled with tears. "Ethan, I wasn't faking... Maybe I just got startled and fell..."

"Apologize." Ethan repeated.

Biting her lip, Sophia turned to Vivian. "Dr. Laurent, this was all my fault. Victoria's still young and impulsive. Please be merciful..."

Before she could finish, the examination room door burst open.

Daniel Ashcroft stormed in with security guards. "Vivian Laurent! You're suspended effective immediately pending investigation for assaulting patients!"