Chapter 53 Who Gave You the Right?
Lucky Draw
Ginny knew Chandler well enough to understand–he wasn’t the kind of man to speak recklessly. If he’d said something as heavy as bankrupting Ryan’s company, chances were, he meant it. And if he meant it, trouble was coming.
Ryan was her best friend. He’d only gotten dragged into this mess because of her, and if she could help it, she didn’t want him taking the fall with her.
But Ryan insisted on driving her to the hospital.
“It’s not far from here, and it’s on my way to the office anyway. No need for a cab,” he said simply, already pulling into the turn before she could answer.
Neither of them spoke the rest of the ride. Ginny stared out the window as the city passed by, but inside, her mind wouldn’t settle. It was storming in her chest.
She’d wanted the divorce. That had never changed. But after today, whether it would still happen wasn’t up to her anymore.
It wasn’t that she was clinging to the marriage–but the way it was ending, under this cloud, with so much left unsaid—it didn’t sit right. It made her feel cornered and small. Powerless.
Her phone buzzed.
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Chapter 53 Who Gave You the Right?
“Ginny, you have to come to the hospital. Now.”
It was Kelly. Her voice was low and urgent.
Lucky Draw
“There’s a bunch of reporters and people waiting out front. They’re demanding you come out and say something.”
She hesitated, then dropped her voice even more. “If it were up to me, I’d say don’t come. But the director gave the order himself. Said since you caused the trouble, you’re the one who has to face it. Still… I really think you should reconsider. It’s a bad idea to show up here.”
And then the line cut off.
Just as Ginny looked up, they pulled up to the hospital entrance.
Ryan saw the crowd outside and let out a dry, bitter laugh. “This again. She’s really got no imagination, does she?”
He turned to her. “You sure you wanna
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She opened the door and stepped out before he could finish.
Almost immediately, the mob surged toward her–reporters, influencers, angry strangers. Ryan scrambled out of the car, stepping in front of her just in time.
“Dr. Jenkins, is it true you stole Melody Wheeler’s fiancé?”
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Chapter 53 Who Gave You the Right?
Lucky Draw
“As a doctor, how could you do something so disgraceful? You’ve shamed the title of ‘doctor.“”
“Yeah, people like you don’t deserve respect–or a medical license!”
The crowd’s voices layered over each other, one sharper than the next. Then someone threw something.
Ryan blocked it with his body, turning to bark at them.
“This is a public space. Throwing things is a criminal offense. I’ll call the police if it happens again.”
Leaves and garbage clung to his expensive suit. A man who usually looked razor–sharp now looked slightly disheveled, like he’d been tossed into a storm.
Something about that image triggered a memory for Ginny- an orphanage, years ago. She’d been a scrawny, withdrawn little girl, always bullied. And every time, without fail, Ryan would stand in front of her like this, taking the hits.
She had thought, as they grew older, that maybe she wouldn’t need anyone to protect her anymore. That maybe one day, she’d be strong enough to shield him.
But clearly… not yet.
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Chapter 53 Who Gave You the Right?
(*) Lucky Draw
Rage burned quietly in her chest. She didn’t lose her temper often, but when she did, it scorched everything in its path.
She stepped forward and pulled Ryan aside. Her expression hardened as she faced the crowd.
The noise faltered.
The same people who had been shouting moments ago suddenly looked unsure, shrinking back as she stepped forward.
“You read one baseless article, and suddenly you think you have the right to judge me?” she said, her voice cold and even. “Who gave you that right? Who told you that article told the truth?”
Her words cut through the crowd like wind slicing through dry leaves. Some still tried to argue, but their voices weren’t nearly
as confident now.
“Still, just because you say it’s not true doesn’t mean we have to believe you,” someone muttered.
“Yeah, the facts are pretty obvious. You married into the Pierce family. Melody left the country. Years later, she returns–only to find you already took her place. If you didn’t do anything shady, why are you so afraid of the past coming out?”
Ginny turned to the voice in the crowd,
“Do you know why Melody left? Did she ever tell you herself that
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Chapter 53 Who Gave You the Right?
Lucky Draw
she left because she couldn’t marry into the Pierce family? Because the story I heard was very different from yours.
“And as for my marriage–it was approved by the Pierce family’s elders. If you have doubts, go ask Chandler. If he denies what I’ve said, I won’t argue.”
She turned to Ryan. “Let’s go.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, to tell her not to stay alone in this mess, but she insisted. He gave in with visible reluctance, leaving with one last warning for her to be careful.
Ginny watched his car pull away, then turned back to the hospital.
She didn’t flinch as she pushed her way through the crowd, past their whispers and judgment, and disappeared into the hospital lobby.
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