The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 129

I should have guessed. This was Ferris's first disciplinary mark; something this massive would never escape Vivian's extensive network of informants.

I just hadn't expected her to show up at Eden Gardens unannounced and pin the blame for his ruined record entirely on me.

This wasn't the first time I was taking the fall for Ferris.

Back in Skye City, because of a single photo of the river view, I had been berated over the phone by Vivian, and when I returned to the estate, she publicly humiliated me. Back then, I had argued back out of anger, but now, I didn't even have the energy to fight.

Thinking back to the scene in the elevator moments ago, I felt nothing but a hollow sense of absurdity.

The person truly responsible for Ferris's punishment was probably gazing lovingly into his eyes at some high-end restaurant right now. Meanwhile, I, the innocent victim swept up in the chaos, was being forced to endure his family's wrath.

Why did it have to be this way?

I looked at Vivian, who was sitting aggressively by the coffee table. I leaned over, quietly poured her a cup of tea, and said calmly, "Since you're asking me that, you must already have a solution in mind."

Vivian shot a disdainful glance at the tea I offered and snapped, "You can no longer stay at Capital General. Hand in your resignation before tomorrow morning."

Her tone brooked no argument.

It was exactly as I had expected.

After all, she had warned me early on. The moment I became a liability to Ferris's career, I would inevitably be served up as a sacrifice.

But this time, I refused to be their scapegoat.

"If that's what you want, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you," I said directly, skipping the pleasantries. "Because the 'stain' you're talking about wasn't caused by me."

A mother's bond was unbreakable. Vivian was dead set on using this incident to condemn me, even though she knew full well that Ferris and Zoey were the actual culprits.

And I had naively believed that if I just explained everything clearly, I would somehow receive a modicum of understanding and support.

I was such a fool.

"So? Are you going to hand in that resignation letter tonight?"

Hearing her deeply entitled tone, I dug my nails into my palms and countered, "And if I refuse?"

"Hah, refuse?" Vivian looked at me in disbelief before letting out a cold scoff. "You've been married to Ferris for three years and haven't produced an heir for the Sterling family. Now you've brought a stain onto his career. Do you really think our family will tolerate a daughter-in-law like you?"