NovelEnglishChapter 289 Claire had long since learned just how foolish Brian could be.
In fact, foolish people were often more infuriating than cruel ones.
She'd tried to explain things to him before, but Brian never listened. Even when Irene stepped in to testify, his suspicion never wavered.
His self-righteous attitude-convinced that everyone else was blind to the truth but him-struck Claire as utterly ridiculous. She couldn't help but let out a laugh, sharp with mockery.
"Well, since you're so sure the hospital would never help Vanessa and Nathan do something so awful, letshow you sproof. You'll see exactly why the hospital would go along with them." As she spoke, Claire pulled open the coffee table drawer and took out a folder.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe rose slowly to her feet, dragging her injured leg as she made her way toward Brian.
The closer Claire got, the harder Brian's heart pounded in his chest.
There was a certainty in her gaze, a calmness in her manner that sent a chill creeping up his spine. Even as he kept blustering that he didn't believe her, deep down, Brian already knew the truth.
Claire stopped right in front of him, meeting his eyes without a hint of fear. She held the folder out to him and said in an even voice, "Take a look. Once you've read it, you'll understand exactly why the hospital played along." Brian instinctively looked away, trying to mask his anxiety with a scoff. "Fine. Let's see what gyou're playing now," he said, snatching the documents from Claire's hand and rifling through the pages.
But as he read, his hands began to tremble, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gulps.
It turned out the director of Cresthaven General Hospital was Nathan's lover-and Vanessa's biological mother.
No wonder Vanessa and Nathan had been so confident the hospital would cooperate.
Vanessa was standing right next to Brian, and as he read, she saw every word for herself.
All at once, her eyes widened in terror. She had never imagined that someone could dig up the secrets of her parentage-buried for more than twenty years.
For the first time, Vanessa was truly afraid. She finally realized just how dangerous Sean could be, if even something buried that deep could be unearthed.
Only one thought filled her mind: She couldn't stay here another second. She had to get out. Now. Vanessa spun around, desperate to run.
But before she could take a step, a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder. The grip was so tight, it felt like her bones would shatter.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBrian's voice was low and furious, every word forced out between clenched teeth. "Vanessa, you're not going anywhere until you explain this. Where do you think you're going?" The pain shot through Vanessa's shoulder and tears sprang to her eyes. "Brian, you're hurting me!" she cried. It would have been better if she'd said nothing. The moment the words left her mouth, all the anger Brian had been holding back finally burst free, like a dam giving way.
"Oh, now you know what pain feels like?" "Did you think about Irene's pain when you pushed her down the stairs?" "Did you care how Claire felt when you framed her when you paid inmates to torment her in prison?" "And you, with Nathan—and her!" He jabbed a finger at Sophia, who stood off to the side. "When the three of you plotted to carve out Claire's organs, did any of you stop to think for a second how much she would suffer?"
Enraged, Brian hurled the folder at Vanessa's face. "Liar! You've been e deceivingfrom the start!"
He couldn't hold back his tears anymore. They streamed down his face, and he didn't even know if he ΝΟ was crying for his own stupidity, or for all the pain he'd caused Claire under Vanessa's spell. He raised his hand and slapped Vanessa, hard. The blow sent her sprawling to the floor.
"Vanessa-!" Sophia, Garnett Brown, and Nathan all cried out at once and rushed to Vanessa's side.
Brian ignored them completely. He turned, fixing Claire with a look of overwhelming regret.
There were a thousand things he wanted to say to hex but he knew the hurt he'd done was far too deep. Just moments ago, he'd been defending Vanessa with all the certainty in the world.
He hadn't meant for any of this to happen.
It was all Vanessa's manipulation—he was just another of her victims.
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