Chapter 3
Dad’s trembling hand never came down for that second slap.
“You ungrateful brat! Using your
sister’s life to extort money-are you even human? That house was meant to be Sarah’s dowry!”
I didn’t say a word, just tapped my watch a few times, reminding them we were running out of time.
A few seconds later, Dad finally nodded.
I pulled out a pen and paper, making my parents write up a property transfer agreement right there. It needed to be notarized immediately, or I wouldn’t budge.
Only after I saw the official stamped document did I nod with satisfaction.
“Fine, you can use it. Hope you can actually figure out how to work the robotic arm.”
The thing was still basically a prototype. At the end of the day, it all came down to the lead surgeon.
Jake frowned at me with pure disgust. My parents just kept shaking their heads, their eyes full of contempt.
The other doctors were whispering and pointing.
I clutched that document, held my head high, and walked out of the shooting range.
I went home and packed everything-every trace of myself in that house-and moved to the villa.
Grandma’s favorite tulips by the front door had died.
But that was okay. I’d fix that later.
The surgery took almost four hours. Everyone at the field hospital was on edge.
H
Outside, the media had the place surrounded, and my phone wouldn’t stop ringing.
#
Now everyone was calling me a cold-blooded monster who’d trade her sister’s life for money.
But I tuned it all out, just arranging carnations in my hands.
Finally, six hours later, the OR doors opened and Jake announced the surgery was successful.
The whole field hospital erupted in celebration. The media swarmed Jake for interviews.
Everyone was saying it was time for a new head surgeon at the field hospital.
Jake was being hailed as the new “miracle hand.”
He gave passionate interviews about the surgical procedure, promising to distribute the robotic arm technology to hospitals
everywhere.
“A doctor’s job is to save lives. What Betty won’t do, I’ll do for her!”
Soon, every major medical device company was knocking down his door, wanting exclusive rights.
Jake ultimately went with Crossfield Corporation.
Overnight, Jake became a household name, while I got dragged through the mud like a rat.
Looking at the message from the Colonel on my phone, I knew my time was up.
A few days later, a military vehicle pulled up to the villa.
I grabbed everything I’d prepared and said goodbye to Grandma’s portrait by the door.
“Wait for me, Grandma. I’ll be back soon.”
I calmly got in the car with them.
At the military tribunal, everyone glared at me with pure hatred.
My parents looked like they wanted to tear me apart.
The judge banged his gavel and began.
“Betty Hayes, the prosecution alleges you violated medical ethics by refusing to provide emergency care. How do you plead?”
I slowly lifted my head and said each word clearly: “Not guilty.”
The entire courtroom erupted. People jumped to their feet, shouting accusations.
If the bailiffs hadn’t held them back, my parents would’ve lunged at me.
“Betty, you refused to save Sarah’s life and held her hostage for money! We all saw it! How dare you plead not guilty!”
Jake looked at me with disgust.
“Betty, if you had any conscience at all, you’d admit your guilt. If I hadn’t stepped in to do that surgery, your sister would be dead right now!”
I stared back at them with dead eyes.
“But she’s not dead, is she?”
The courtroom gasped again.
Camera flashes went off all around me. The media practically shoved their lenses in my face.
They were determined to capture every angle of this monster.
No matter what the judge asked, I kept repeating the same two words: “Not guilty.”
Just when everyone seemed at a loss, the doors burst open.
Sarah was wheeled in, looking incredibly frail.
Even with a successful surgery, she’d never recover her full strength.
In other words, her military career was over. Her dream of becoming a general was shattered.
“Your Honor, Mom, Dad-if my sister won’t admit to medical negligence, maybe she’ll confess to treason!”
All eyes turned to me again.
Sarah spoke with passionate fury: “My convoy was ambushed because someone leaked our mission plans. And that someone was Betty!”
“She couldn’t stand that I wasn’t Mom and Dad’s biological daughter but still got all their love, so she wanted to destroy me!”
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“But guess what, Betty? I survived, and now I’m going to expose your evil face!”
Sarah presented evidence-security footage of me in her office the night before her supply run.
I’d stood at her desk for a full five minutes.
“My operational plans were right there on the desk. If Betty hadn’t sold me out, how could we have been ambushed?”
The crowd’s anger reached a fever pitch.
If looks could kill, I’d have been dead ten times over.
But I sat there expressionless, listening to Sarah’s accusations.
“Betty, I’ve always treated you like my real sister. Why would you do this to me?”
“It’s one thing to bully me at home, but how could you do something like this?”
My parents immediately rushed to comfort Sarah, treating her like a precious treasure.
“What? Betty’s been bullying you?”
Sarah nodded painfully.
“She thought I didn’t belong in the family. She kept putting drugs in my food, making me dizzy and confused. I collapsed on the battlefield several times.”
“Betty, you’re a monster!”
Dad’s roar nearly burst my eardrums.
Forgetting where he was, Dad actually pulled out his sidearm and aimed it at me.
Just at that critical moment, several more people pushed through the doors.
“Excuse me, we’re from Military Command. We’ve received a report that Sarah Hayes violated deployment protocols, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers. We’re here to investigate. Who filed the complaint?”
I smiled and raised my hand.
“Me. I filed the report.”
