From Ashes of Scandals to His Embrace novel Chapter 95

When Laura first saw how serious Adah’s condition was, she forced herself to pay the two hundred thousand dollar hospital deposit. She just wanted Adah to think well of her. There was no way she’d ever try to hurt Adah. So when Adah accused her, she felt completely blindsided.

“You really want to stand there and act innocent? If you hadn’t taken my bag and my phone, how could I have ended up here? Do I look like someone who can’t afford my own hospital bills? I have money, you know!”

All the stress from the past few days finally crashed down on Adah. Being treated like she’d lost her mind had been unbearable. No phone, no way to reach her family, no one to ask for help. She blamed Laura for everything.

Laura never imagined Adah would think she’d done any of this on purpose. She pressed her hands to her face and shook her head, cheeks burning as she tried to explain.

“I really didn’t take your bag, I swear. You were holding it yourself when they wheeled you into the ER. I wanted to go in with you, but the nurse told me to pay the fees. Then I got a call, something happened at home, and I had to leave. That’s all.”

Adah stared at her, and for a second, Laura’s honest face made her doubt herself. Maybe she had been holding her own bag. But if Laura didn’t take it, how did it just vanish?

“If it wasn’t you, then why couldn’t the nurses find it? Laura, don’t lie to me. If I find out you took my bag on purpose, I won't let you off easy. You better not be messing with me.”

Laura’s cheek still stung from where Adah had slapped her. In her mind, she cursed Adah out, but on the outside, all she showed was hurt and confusion.

“I didn’t take your bag, I promise. You can check the hospital security cameras if you want. I was running around trying to help you. Why would I hurt you? Remember, I even offered to call your family, but you wouldn’t give me their number…”

Her voice trailed off as she started to quietly sob.

It reminded her of that conversation in the car between Baily and Laura. She hadn’t realized Laurinda could be so awful. Then she thought of how gentle Adolphus was with Laurinda, and it made her clench her fists.

“It’s Laurinda again, isn’t it? Don’t worry. Once I’m better, I’ll make sure she regrets it. With the Charles family behind me, dealing with someone like her is nothing.”

An assistant standing nearby heard her and almost rolled his eyes. Adah really had no clue. The Charles family was practically on the edge of collapse because of her, and she was still bragging.

He couldn’t listen anymore. He left the room and went to find Adah’s doctor, only to discover that her psychiatric records couldn’t be changed. He knew he couldn’t drag his feet, so he rushed straight to Bagot.

Bagot sat in the hospital director’s office, his gaze sharp as he studied the medical records in his hands.