Chapter 6

Cara's face turned pale as she quickly clutched her chest. She glanced up at Selina, who feigned innocence nearby, only to see her swiftly hide a blade between her fingers. Before Cara could expose her, Selina opened her mouth first, flinging blame: "Cara, I know you want Dr. Walford’s attention, but you must choose the right occasion." "Making such a spectacle of yourself in public—are you trying to humiliate Dr. Walford?" Cara immediately retorted, "Selina, it was you who cut—" "Enough, Cara!" Lincoln’s brow furrowed with the disdain of a doctor dealing with an unreasonable patient’s family. "I should’ve realized earlier that there’s something wrong with your mental state! Using such childish tactics to seek attention!" Cara’s eyes filled with threads of disappointment. "Selina cut my strap. If you don’t believe me, check her fingers for the blade!" Lincoln’s gaze flickered with doubt as he questioned, "Selina, did you do this?" Selina shook her head and replied with wide, tearful eyes, "I didn’t do it, Lincoln . Don’t you believe me?" Her tears rolled down her cheeks like crystal beads. "It’s my fault for being here—I’m just a burden. I’ll leave now and never come back!" Lincoln quickly steadied her, his voice softening. "I believe you. I was only trying to evaluate all possibilities, as a doctor should." Over Lincoln’s shoulder, Selina’s gaze met Cara’s. Her eyes glinted with smug triumph. "Cara loves you so much. Don’t hold it against her. I’ll take her to change her clothes." Lincoln looked down at the helpless Cara crouched on the ground. His voice was calm, like delivering a diagnosis: "You accused Selina, and yet she still pleaded for you. Cara, learn to handle things rationally." After changing her clothes, Cara tried to leave the conference hall, avoiding Selina. But Selina blocked her path. "What do you have to compete with me, Cara?" In a secluded corner, Selina dropped her mask of innocence, revealing her true colors. Cara smiled faintly. "I won’t compete with you anymore. Lincoln? If you want him, take him." Selina froze, surprised by Cara’s easy surrender. "Hmph, at least you know your place. But—" She stepped in front of Cara, turning her back to the staircase, arms crossed. "I’ll make Lincoln utterly despise you before I replace you." Cara didn’t want to continue the argument. "He already does. We’re just one divorce paper away." Selina’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. "Cara, how’s your half-dead father? Still hanging on?" Cara’s mind filled with the image of her father’s pale, gaunt face. He had fought for five years, nearly... She glared at Selina, her voice rising instinctively. "Selina! You’re not worthy to mention him!" The next second, Selina screamed "Help!" and tumbled down the stairs. Cara instinctively reached out to grab her but only managed to touch the hem of her dress. Hearing the commotion, guests rushed over and saw Cara standing on the stairs with her arm outstretched, while Selina lay unconscious at the bottom. "Selina!" Lincoln’s face turned ashen. He pushed past the crowd and rushed to Selina, cradling her as if saving a critical patient. "Selina, don’t scare me!" Cara could never have imagined Selina would go to such dangerous lengths just to frame her. "Lincoln, I didn’t—" Lincoln’s imposing presence was overwhelming, his gaze as sharp as if addressing a medical malpractice perpetrator. "You didn’t do it? Cara, do you even believe yourself?" "I have eyes. I saw everything clearly. You can’t stand Selina, constantly targeting her, and now you’ve gone as far as trying to kill her!" All eyes were on her, judgmental and cold. "Who knew such a pretty face could hide such ugliness?" "What’s the use of beauty? The most venomous heart is what she might have!" "Selina’s been so forgiving, yet she keeps harming the innocent girl." ... "I say call the police! Have her arrested!" Panic surged through Cara. Her father could face danger at any moment; she couldn’t afford to be taken away. "Lincoln, it wasn’t me! She did this to herself—" Lincoln stepped closer, gripping her chin, his gaze as piercing as a surgeon addressing a fatal mistake. "Cara, you’ve let me down too much. Without the law’s punishment, you’ll never learn to be reasonable!" He pulled out his phone and called the police himself. Cara trembled as she looked up. "Lincoln, you can’t do this to me! My father—" Without hesitation, Lincoln raised his hand and slapped her, his voice cold as a verdict: "His life or death has nothing to do with me."