20:37 bWed, /bb20 /bbAug /b

    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 bfinds /bout, you’re screwed. All I’m asking is four hundred grand to keep this between us. After that, I’m bgone/bb. /bbI /bswear 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 myselfb. /bYeah, what you gave me already set me up pretty well. I could probably livefortably for years. But it’s not enough to start fresh overseas. That money won’tst 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 ckmailed. 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 dors.

    After she hung up, Evelyn looked rmed.

    “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 tly. “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 hical, 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 bassets/b. And if Christian had been caught up in something shady, it could exin 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 bin /bbin /bbclothes/b–bno /bdesigner watch, no bsh /bjust simple’s and a sweatshirt. He was trying not to attract attention.

    Inside the restaurant, Naomi gave him a once–bover/b.

    “I gave you all that money, and this is how your show up? You couldn’t even bother to dress bdecently /b

    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 answersb. /bbWhy /bwere you fired? Be honest. Did you break hospital rules? Was it something hical?”

    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 iso /inervous? And why are you bso /bdesperate to get out of Westbrook? You were one of the top specialists at that hospital. Even if they blet /bbyou /bgo, 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 toe 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 bthere /bwasn’t something to run from.

    It was obvious–Christian wasn’t doing this for the money.

    She’d already given him enough to livefortably in Westbrook for the rest of his life. He didn’t need to run off ito /ianother country and start over from scratch, unless he’d done something serious–something ithat /imade 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’tst long.

    That’s when Christian made his move–demanding four hundred grand from Naomi to cover his way out. Chances were, he nned to settle abroad for good and never look back.

    And if he was lucky, he’dnd a respectable job, rebuild his reputation, and spend the rest of his life livingfortably–far from Westbrook and far from everything he left behind.

    726

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    b20:37 /bWedb, /bb20 /bbAuc /b

    The Heiress’s Second Chance at Vengeance