Chapter 274 A Costly Apology
+10 Free Coins
“Mr. Stewart, I was convinced Arabella wasn’t truly Aletta’s apprentice, so I devised this plan to invite Aletta here and expose her. The entire scheme was my idea, and I acted alone. Naomi had nothing to do with it.”
Since the situation had escalated this far, she had to protect Naomi at all costs.
“Dr. Hamilton saved my life and restored my health. How could you ever doubt her credentials?” Robert’s expression turned stern. So they had tried to use him as a tool against Arabella.
“I simply couldn’t stand her. If she were truly Aletta’s apprentice, why keep it such a secret? That’s why I was sure she was a fraud,” Ruby said, mixing a sliver of truth with her lies.
She couldn’t admit it was pure jealousy, a refusal to accept Arabella’s superiority, and a simple desire to humiliate her.
“Ah,” Robert sighed and shook his head in disappointment. “Naomi, how could you be so misguided as well?”
“Mr. Stewart, this is my fault. I should never have doubted Arabella,” Naomi said, allowing tears to well in her eyes.
“Mr. Stewart, blame only me. Naomi was just pulled into this by me. Without her, I never could have gained access to your home, let alone attempted to expose Arabella myself,” Ruby insisted through gritted teeth, shouldering all the blame.
“Naomi, is that the truth?” Robert asked, his gaze fixed on her.
Naomi took a steadying breath. “Yes, what Ruby says is true. But given how things have turned out, I am also at fault. I shouldn’t
have enabled her.
“I just thought… we’ve been like sisters since childhood. I found it hard to say no to her.
“Mr. Stewart, I’m sorry to have disappointed you.”
Seeing Naomi’s convincingly guilty and remorseful expression, Robert sighed again. “Well, it’s not entirely your fault either. You’ve always had a gentle heart. But you must learn to better judge character in the future, understand?”
“I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Stewart,” Naomi said, adopting a posture of humble acceptance.
“I know you’ve been tender–hearted since you were a girl. It’s good that you can recognize a mistake and learn from it,” Robert said, somewhat mollified.
The corner of Arabella’s mouth curved into a faint, mocking smile. Acting skills like that were wasted outside of Hollywood.
“So, is this matter concluded?” Arabella interjected.
“Arabella, we were wrong. I apologize to you,” Naomi said softly, layering on a tone of meek submission.
“It’s fine.” Arabella waved a hand dismissively. “Just settle the consultation fee.”
“What did you say?” Naomi was stunned, her carefully crafted pitiful expression almost slipping.
Arabella stated matter–of–factly, “The consultation fee. You don’t expect a medical professional’s time to be free, do you?”
“You’re demanding money from us? Have you lost your mind?” Ruby finally exploded, unable to contain herself.
1/2
12:19 pm
Chapter 274 A Costly Apology
Being outmaneuvered by Arabella was infuriating enough, but now she was being billed for it!
+10 Free Coins
“You issued the invitation for a consultation. Payment is the standard procedure. What’s the issue?” Arabella countered.
“But you didn’t actually treat anyone!” Ruby fumed, wishing she could lunge at Arabella.
Arabella shrugged. “That’s because there was no valid patient. I fulfilled my obligation by arriving. The fee stands. Unless you’d like to develop a sudden condition?”
Something like a severe case of poor judgment, perhaps.
“Don’t you dare curse me!” Ruby snapped angrily.
Naomi quickly pulled her back, signaling her to stop. Wouldn’t that just validate Matthew’s earlier accusation? She couldn’t afford to bear that label.
“Arabella, this was all a big misunderstanding. Can’t we just let it go?” Naomi pleaded, playing the peacemaker.
“Whether it was a misunderstanding isn’t for you to decide. You extended the invitation, so you incur the charge. You should be grateful it was me and not my mentor who came; her fee would be substantially higher,” Arabella stated, not yielding an inch.
If they dared to scheme against her, they would pay the literal price.
“Arabella, we’re practically family. Must we make this so transactional?” Naomi tried a different tack, appealing to sentiment.
Arabella raised an eyebrow. “Naomi, your last name is Hamilton. Hers is Peterson. When she was plotting to undermine me, ‘family‘ didn’t seem to apply. But now that a professional fee is due, suddenly we’re ‘family‘?”
She wasn’t buying the act of wounded innocence.
“Arabella, I…” Naomi was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Hmph, don’t bully Naomi. How much is it? I’ll pay,” Ruby declared with false bravado. A consultation fee was nothing she couldn’t handle.
“Two hundred thousand dollars,” Arabella stated coolly.
“What?!” Ruby yelped as if stepped on, her voice jumping an octave. “Are you insane? Two hundred thousand for a consultation?!”
“That’s the family discount, precisely because you’re my cousin,” Arabella emphasized the word deliberately. If they wanted to play the family card, she could play it too.
“This sounds like extortion,” Ruby grumbled, unwilling to concede.
“You’re welcome to ask Robert or Mr. Stewart what my standard consultation fee is,” Arabella replied with a sardonic lift of her brow. “Of course, if it’s beyond your means, just say so. But defaming my professional reputation isn’t acceptable.”
“That is indeed the going rate,” Robert affirmed after a pause. “Moreover, the core issue isn’t merely financial. Dr. Aletta’s time isn’t for sale to just anyone with money, and the same holds for his protégé.”
“Mr. Stewart, Ruby spoke out of turn. I’ll cover the fee,” Naomi interjected quickly, then turned to Arabella. “Arabella, I’ll transfer the amount to you as soon as we return home.”
2/2
12:19 pm