Chapter 592

Vivian Laurent finished paying and returned to her seat.

She had only wanted the unfamiliar girl to try a new flavor—nothing more.

Annika Heilbronn stared at Vivian, a flicker of disgust in her eyes.

"Dr. Laurent, I heard doctors have a lot of free time?" Annika picked up a piece of meat. "And that surgeries come with generous tips. Is that true?"

She lowered her voice deliberately. "They say your skills are so exceptional that patients are booked until next year. Does that mean you earn even more?"

Vivian's fingers tightened abruptly.

"That's a misunderstanding," she said coldly. "Doctors don't accept gifts. Surgery schedules are based on medical urgency, not money. No matter how many patients there are, priority isn't for sale."

Vivian hadn’t expected such outdated assumptions to still exist.

And she certainly hadn’t anticipated hearing them from Annika.

Annika smirked, plastering on a fake smile.

"Don’t take it the wrong way, Dr. Laurent. I was just curious." She feigned innocence. "You must be an excellent doctor."

Vivian set down her napkin.

"I need to return to the hospital." She stood. "These dishes haven’t been touched—you can take them to-go. The bill is settled. If your leg hurts, take a cab back."

She placed a few bills on the table.

Vivian genuinely wanted to help the girl.

Hearing about her tragic background had stirred Vivian’s compassion.

At eighteen, she should have been carefree, like Emily Garnache and her friends.

A meal and cab fare were small gestures.

But she didn’t realize these acts only deepened Annika’s resentment.

"Fake kindness," Annika muttered the moment Vivian left, slamming her chopsticks down.

She glared at the money, her expression dark.

"Who needs your pathetic charity?"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew.

Vivian must have been flaunting her superiority—using petty favors to manipulate people.

Master Zero favored her only because she’d fooled him with her saintly act.

"I can do better than her," Annika clenched her fists.

She resembled Vivian but was younger.

If she mastered Vivian’s tricks, Master Zero would finally notice her.

Annika decided to get closer to Vivian.

She would expose the hypocrite’s true nature.