20:37 Wed, 20 Aug
The Heiress’s Second Chance at Vengeance:
Chapter 510 A Price for Silence
“I don’t have that kind of money right now,” Naomi said coolly. “Figure it out yourself.
“Naomi, I know that baby you’re carrying is mine,” Christian said, his voice tightening. “If Nathaniel finds out, you’re screwed. All I’m asking is four hundred grand to keep this between us. After that, I’m gone. I swear I’ll keep your secret.”
“You’re threatening me?” Her tone sharpened.
Christian had always seemed like the quiet, easygoing type–but when he decided to strike, he didn’t hold back.
Christian pressed on, “There’s no way I’m getting back into the hospital. I need to build a future for myself. Yeah, what you gave me already set me up pretty well. I could probably live comfortably for years. But it’s not enough to start fresh overseas. That money won’t last long–not with the way things are. You’ve got to understand, Naomi. After everything, doesn’t that count for something?”
“Cut the crap,” Naomi snapped. “You want money? Fine. I’ll give it to you.”
She hated being blackmailed. But deep down, she had already decided to pay
him.
It wasn’t just because he had leverage on her–it was an investment.
Naomi knew Christian’s skill as a doctor. He was one of the most promising surgeons in Westbrook. If he actually made something of himself overseas, she’d have a powerful ally down the line. One worth far more than the 400,000 dollars.
After she hung up, Evelyn looked alarmed.
“You’re not seriously thinking of giving that guy four hundred thousand, are you? What if he just disappears the second he gets it?”
“That’s exactly what he’s doing,” Naomi said flatly. “He’s not getting back into the hospital here, so he’s packing up and leaving the country.”
Still, something about the whole situation didn’t sit right with her.
Why would someone like Christian–smart, respected, stable–suddenly get fired? If he’d quit on his own terms, with her money as a cushion, she wouldn’t have questioned it. But that panicked tone on the phone… it didn’t sit right.
Something was off.
Could it be that something happened at the hospital? Maybe Christian crossed a line–something unethical, something that broke hospital policy?
The more Naomi thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.
Especially now, with the Foster family drowning in online scandals. The hospital was one of their key assets. And if Christian had been caught up in something shady, it could explain everything.
Naomi paused the transfer and/picked up her phone again–this time to arrange a face–to–face meg.
Christian didn’t hesitate. Desperate to secure the money, he agreed to meet that night at a restaurant.
Chapter 510 A Price for Silence
Christian had money now, but he showed up in plain clothes–no designer watch, no flash just simple’s and a sweatshirt. He was trying not to attract attention.
Inside the restaurant, Naomi gave him a once–over.
“I gave you all that money, and this is how your show up? You couldn’t even bother to dress decently
Christian didn’t argue. He couldn’t even meet her eyes.
“I really need this money, Ms. Rivers,” he said quietly. “Please. Help me.
“I never said I wouldn’t,” Naomi replied coolly. “But I have questions–and I want real answers. Why were you fired? Be honest. Did you break hospital rules? Was it something unethical?”
Christian looked up fast, eyes wide. He shook his head hard. “No! At least… I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think so?” Naomi’s voice sharpened. “Then why are you so nervous? And why are you so desperate to get out of Westbrook? You were one of the top specialists at that hospital. Even if they let you go, any other hospital would’ve jumped at the chance to make you a department head.”
She was right.
Christian had built a reputation. He was respected in his field and had reached a level most doctors only dreamed of. Talent like that doesn’t get discarded without reason.
Naomi didn’t buy it–not for a second. A hospital like the one downtown wouldn’t just cut loose someone like Christian without a serious reason. In today’s world, skilled doctors were hard to come by. Training someone to his level took years, sometimes decades, and medical talent was in short supply everywhere.
There was no way the hospital would’ve cut him loose without a reason. No way he’d run off if there wasn’t something to run from.
It was obvious–Christian wasn’t doing this for the money.
She’d already given him enough to live comfortably in Westbrook for the rest of his life. He didn’t need to run off to another country and start over from scratch, unless he’d done something serious–something that made staying impossible. Maybe he had no choice. Maybe whatever happened at the hospital forced him out, and leaving the country was his only option.
And considering how expensive it was to live overseas, the money she’d already given him wouldn’t last long.
That’s when Christian made his move–demanding four hundred grand from Naomi to cover his way out. Chances were, he planned to settle abroad for good and never look back.
And if he was lucky, he’d land a respectable job, rebuild his reputation, and spend the rest of his life living comfortably–far from Westbrook and far from everything he left behind.
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20:37 Wed, 20 Auc
The Heiress’s Second Chance at Vengeance
