Everyone turned their heads toward the source of the voice.
Dr. Barnaby Jenson, wearing his white coat with the director's badge pinned to his chest, strode over with purposeful steps.
Surprise flickered in Riley's eyes. “Dr. Jenson.”
Dr. Jenson gave Riley a nod before addressing the crowd. “I am the director of First Medical Center. I transferred here from Riverport not too long ago. Riley did indeed buy an orphanage in Riverport, and I can personally testify to that. The property was originally a nursing home owned by a friend of mine, and I was the one who facilitated the sale for Riley.”
The whispers started up again:
“So Dr. Vance really spent her money to buy an orphanage. Such selfless devotion—that's true compassion.”
“You actually humiliated your own daughter in public. All you care about is money. You don't even deserve to be called a mother.”
“To think I actually felt sorry for you earlier. I must've been blind. How could you bear to slander such a good daughter?”
Elaine's face shifted from green to white. Stiffening her neck, she retorted, “They work at the same hospital; of course they're covering for each other! Don't fall for their tricks. Don't I know my own daughter? She just got divorced and is raising a kid on her own. There's no way she'd dump all her money into an orphanage. I don't buy it for a second.”
At that moment, a commotion broke out near the entrance, and several uniformed police officers walked in. The lead officer asked, “Who called the police?”
Riley spoke up. “I did.”
Panic flashed in Elaine's eyes as she saw the cops. She whipped her head around, staring at Riley in sheer disbelief. “Are you insane? You actually called the cops?”
“I tried to talk to you reasonably, but you refused. Your little scene is ruining my reputation, but more importantly, it's destroying the hospital's image. Since you stubbornly insist I have money I'm hoarding, let's take a trip to the police station. The cops can do a thorough investigation and see if I'm really hiding cash from you.”
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