Chapter 381
[ 478 words ]
Chapter 381:
“You can’t prove anything!” she stammered, her bravado gone.
A cold, mirthless smile touched Caroline’s lips. “Can’t I? There are security cameras in the hallways. Timestamps of you entering and leaving my father’s room. And, of course, there’s my father’s testimony.” She paused. “Do you think that will be enough?”
She released Melanie’s wrist, shoving her back a step. She gave her one last look of utter contempt, as if she were something she’d scraped off the bottom of her shoe.
Then she turned and walked out of the lounge, leaving a room of stunned, silent nurses and the wreckage of Melanie Thorne’s career behind her.
Caroline walked out of the staff lounge, the cold satisfaction of her victory a thin sheet of ice over a raging sea of grief. She saw him immediately. Jarrod was leaning against the opposite wall of the corridor, his arms crossed over his chest. The harsh fluorescent lights carved sharp lines on his face, and his eyes were dark, unreadable pools of concern.
He pushed himself off the wall as she approached, his mouth opening to speak, but the words were swallowed by a sudden, violent noise.
The door to the lounge flew open, slamming against the wall. Melanie Corbett stood in the doorway, her hair dripping with coffee, her face a grotesque mask of fury and humiliation.
“You think you’ve won?” she shrieked, her voice echoing in the unnervingly quiet hallway. She pointed a trembling finger at Caroline. “You won’t get away with this! I’m going to the board with what I have on you! I’ll destroy everything you’ve worked for, and I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re a lying, manipulative bitch!”
The threat, direct and immediate, landed in Caroline’s gut like a punch. Melanie was a cornered animal, ready to bite the most vulnerable target she could find, and she would do it now.
T𝘩𝘦 𝗺o𝗌𝘵 р𝗼𝗉𝗎𝗅𝗮𝗿 no𝘃el𝘴 𝗈𝗻 𝗴𝖺𝗅𝘯о𝗏𝘦𝗹𝘀.𝘤o𝗺
A terrifying clarity settled over Caroline. The ice in her veins solidified. She knew that if Melanie went to the medical board with fabricated evidence or targeted harassment, her career—and her ability to protect her father—would be gutted.
She looked at Jarrod, her expression unreadable. “Wait for me,” she said, her voice devoid of any emotion.
Before he could respond, she turned and walked away from him, heading down a side corridor toward the on-call locker rooms.
“Running away?” Melanie screamed, her voice cracking with hysteria. She immediately gave chase, stumbling after Caroline, a stream of vitriolic curses pouring from her lips. “You’re a coward, Thompson! Just like your pathetic, dying father!”
Caroline ignored her. She reached the door to an empty changing room, pushed it open, and stepped inside. Melanie followed her in, still ranting, her eyes wild.
Caroline let the door swing shut, and with a decisive click, she turned the lock. They were sealed inside together. The small, windowless room smelled of stale antiseptic and sweat. Metal lockers lined the walls.
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