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Chapter 152

Chapter 152:
“Belinda, you’re here!” Holley greeted her with a bright smile, reaching out to take her hand warmly. “I’ve already ordered. Come, sit down.”
Holley guided Belinda to the table, her eyes narrowing playfully as she said, “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Why haven’t you come by to visit me recently?”
“I’ve been swamped with work lately,” Belinda explained, settling into the chair.
Holley gave a slight nod and said, “Yes, I’ve heard the rumors floating around the hospital.” Belinda didn’t respond, her gaze steady.
After a brief pause, Holley hesitated and then asked softly, “Belinda, I have to know—did you really get into the Grand Plains General Hospital because of your connection to the deputy director there?”
A faint, knowing smile touched Belinda’s lips as she met Holley’s eyes. “What do you think?” she asked.
Holley shook her head, uncertainty in her gaze. “I honestly don’t know.”
The smile on Belinda’s face slowly faded. She knew exactly what Holley implied. Even though Holley said she didn’t know, Belinda knew Holley believed she had only gotten her job through connections.
Holley sighed, her tone gentler now. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Belinda. It’s just… The Grand Plains General Hospital is one of the most prestigious hospitals. Getting in there isn’t easy. Everyone says the doctors there are the best. After graduation, you were a stay-at-home wife at the Clark family estate, not interning at major hospitals. Then, after returning from Chixdon, you directly got a job at the Grand Plains General Hospital. The situation is just hard for me to understand.”
Belinda’s gaze remained calm, unfazed. “There’s no need to explain further. I just want to know, did you invite me to lunch today just to ask about this?”
“Of course not, sweetheart, I just care about you very much,” Holley responded quickly, her voice filled with concern.
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Belinda let out a cold chuckle, her tone sarcastic. “Oh? Is that so? For a moment, I thought you called me here because you heard about my upcoming competition with Kylee. I thought maybe you wanted to make sure I let her win.”
She turned to Holley, her smile deepening with a hint of irony. “But now, I see… I must have misunderstood you, Mom.”
Holley’s face froze at Belinda’s words, her lips pressed together in an uncertain line. Belinda’s smile faltered as she observed the hesitation in Holley’s eyes.
After a brief silence, Belinda scoffed lightly, her voice thick with sarcasm. “So… You really came here to tell me to let Kylee win the competition, didn’t you?”
Holley’s lips moved soundlessly for a moment before she finally spoke, her voice wavering. “Belinda, I know this is hard to hear, and I know it will make you feel disappointed in me. But… I’m doing this for both of us. I heard from your father that if Kylee loses, she’ll be dismissed from the Grand Plains General Hospital and never be rehired. The consequences are just too severe.” She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice trembling. “If Kylee were dismissed for any other reason, we could handle it. But if it’s because she lost to you, it would be a whole different situation. Do you understand this, Belinda?”
“No, I don’t!” Belinda’s face darkened, and her voice rose, sharp with frustration.
Holley’s eyes were filled with tears as she met Belinda’s gaze. “Belinda… I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“I’m just not strong enough. You and I have already struggled so much in the Wright family, and if Belinda cut her off,” her tone firm. “Mom, I’ll ask you only one thing. You only considered that Kylee shouldn’t be dismissed because of me. Did you ever think about what happens if I lose? If I lose, I’ll also be dismissed. I will never be rehired, too. And once I am dismissed from the Grand Plains General Hospital, finding work at another hospital will be nearly impossible for me.”
As Belinda spoke, her eyes locked onto Holley’s, her voice heavy with an emotion Holley wasn’t prepared for.
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