From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 336

**TITLE: Her Rise 336**
**CONTENT: From Betrayal to Brilliance, nei kise to a NEW LITE**

**Chapter 336 What a Small World**

After Jaylee finished speaking, a palpable hesitation hung in the air, as if she was grappling with unspoken words that danced on the tip of her tongue but refused to be voiced.

Athena, sensing the shift in Jaylee’s demeanor, leaned in closer and asked with genuine concern, “What’s troubling you?”

“Um…” Jaylee began, her voice faltering as uncertainty clouded her expression.

“What is it? Is there a problem?” Athena pressed, her worry escalating. A knot formed in her stomach—was there something wrong with the patient?

The thought of encountering another difficult case made her head throb. She had just managed to see off one patient, and the prospect of another challenge loomed over her like a dark cloud.

As a newcomer in the bustling environment of Storm Hospital, a private institution, Athena rarely had patients who sought her out specifically. This unexpected case had caught her completely off guard.

Jaylee, however, was not one to conceal truths. With a resigned tone, she revealed, “This patient appears to be from the Rices family. She might even have a connection to Maya. Dr. Hall, please be cautious.”

Athena felt her heart sink.

What a small world—of all the people, why did it have to be them?

The ties she had with the Rices family were like a tangled web, and she knew they would never fully unravel. Their blood coursed through her veins, a constant reminder of her complicated past.

Pushing aside the unease that threatened to consume her, Athena forced a faint smile onto her face. “It’s alright. I’ll have to confront this sooner or later. A patient is a patient, and I’ll treat everyone with the same level of care.”

She wasn’t one to be easily intimidated or to let herself be pushed around. Within the boundaries of her professional responsibilities, she would fulfill her role as a doctor. Anything beyond that was beyond her control.

Glancing at the patient’s file, she noted the name: Ariana Rice, female…

The name struck a chord deep within her. This had to be Maya’s grandmother. The realization that this woman was now her patient was an unexpected twist she hadn’t anticipated.

As she read further, Athena discovered that Ariana had sustained multiple injuries from a fall. Her condition was precarious, and she was unable to stand.

Given her age, the delicate nature of her recovery would require meticulous attention and care.

Athena took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts, and prepared herself to enter the ward. She needed to assess the patient personally.

She had always been fiercely protective of her family, and the whispers of Maya’s downfall, fueled by Athena and the media, had reached her ears.

After her fall, she had initially intended to seek treatment at the Rices’ own hospital. However, the thought of avenging her granddaughter’s humiliation had ignited a fire within her. She wanted to teach this insolent girl a lesson, to show her that the Rices were not to be trifled with.

So, she had orchestrated for her family to bring her to this very hospital, insisting that Athena be the one to treat her. The audacity of someone raising such a brazen child infuriated her.

Ariana scrutinized Athena, who stood there in her pristine white coat.

The mask obscured much of her face, but her eyes—those delicate, expressive eyes—betrayed a beauty that was hard to ignore. There was something hauntingly familiar about those eyes, a sense of recognition that tugged at the corners of Ariana’s mind.

She scoffed inwardly at her own thoughts.

Athena might appear gentle, but she was no pushover. Just the sight of her was enough to provoke irritation in Ariana.

With a dismissive snort, she declared, “Don’t think you can outsmart me. If anything goes awry with my treatment, I won’t hesitate to hold you accountable!”

Athena stood there, calm and collected, her hands folded neatly. Her composure rendered Ariana’s anger almost childish in comparison, a mere reflection of the deeper turmoil swirling within her.