Chapter 4 He Framed Me for Murder
813 Words
Because Vincent had arranged for a private physician to help Lydia recover, she completed her discharge and left the hospital.
She did not expect that after two days at home, while packing her belongings for the flight the next morning, a group of people suddenly stormed her house. The front door was hacked open with an axe, and a middle-aged couple charged in, followed closely by a crowd of reporters.
"It was her! She's the one who killed my daughter during surgery!" the woman screamed, pointing at Lydia with a twisted expression.
Lydia froze, bewildered, before she could even ask what was happening. The man roared in anger and charged, throwing a punch straight at her face. Instinctively, Lydia stepped back while her father's bodyguards moved forward to intercept him.
These guards were no ordinary men. Within seconds, the middle-aged man was pinned to the floor, arms twisted behind his back, crying out in pain.
"Let me go! You murderers! None of you will die peacefully!" he yelled.
Lydia frowned, her voice cold. "What are you talking about? What do you mean I killed your daughter during surgery?"
The woman sobbed. "Yesterday, my daughter was brought to the hospital after a car accident. You were her lead surgeon! She only had a cut on her abdomen from broken glass. All she needed was wound cleaning, but you insisted on operating. She died during surgery!"
Lydia was stunned. She had been at home the entire day yesterday. How could she have performed surgery?
"I didn't..."
"Stop lying! Aren't you Lydia? The doctor who operated on my daughter was named Lydia! Even your department director confirmed it was you!"
Department director?
A horrifying thought flashed through Lydia's mind. She lifted her head and realized where the woman was pointing; Ethan and Vivian were standing not far from the doorway. Vivian leaned weakly against Ethan, while he pressed his lips together, eyes lowered in guilt, avoiding Lydia's gaze.
"Tell us! Was she the one who performed the surgery or not?!" the woman demanded sharply.
Ethan finally raised his eyes. Under Lydia's reddened gaze, he nodded once. "Yes."
That single word nailed Lydia to the cross completely. Her face drained of color, lips pale, eyes wide with pain and despair.
'Why? Why would he do this to me? Is he leaving me with no way out at all?'
Her lips trembled, but before she could speak, the woman let out a hysterical scream and lunged at Lydia. The crowd and reporters surged forward, too many for the guards to hold back. Lydia was violently shoved to the floor as fists and cameras smashed toward her from every direction, leaving her dizzy and covered in blood.
Meanwhile, afraid Vivian might be harmed in the chaos, Ethan shielded her behind him. Through the crowd, Lydia's eyes met his. He frowned, hesitated, yet still did not move to help her.
Finally, the woman grabbed a vase nearby and smashed it against Lydia's head. Blinding pain exploded through her skull, and she blacked out immediately.
She suffered multiple bruises and soft tissue injuries from being trampled. More than a dozen stitches were required to close the wound on her head. She spent the entire night in the ICU.
Late that night, after the painkillers wore off, Lydia awoke to excruciating pain. She turned her head and saw Ethan sitting beside her bed. Relief softened his features immediately.
"You're awake," he said. He instinctively reached out to touch her face, but grasped only empty air.
Lydia turned away and said hoarsely, "I don't want to see you. Get out."
Ethan's hand froze midair, then slowly curled into a tight fist.
"At the time, Vivian was resting in my office. She saw your medical license and white coat," Ethan explained slowly. "She had always dreamed of becoming a doctor, but because of certain circumstances, she never graduated. She put on your coat, and the car accident victim happened to arrive. She was pushed into the operating room."
He paused and added quietly, "She's a patient with very little time left. Try to understand. Besides, I've already reached a private settlement with the family; they won't sue you."
Lydia found the entire story utterly absurd. She looked at Ethan, disappointment and disbelief clear in her eyes.
"How did you become like this?" she asked. "You ignored human life and caused the death of an innocent person. Is Vivian really that important to you? Important enough that you'd sacrifice everything for her?"
"Yes," Ethan admitted without hesitation. "She's the most important person in my life."
The moment the words left his mouth, Lydia's heart shattered completely. Pain surged through every inch of her body, as if she had been dragged into the ocean and was slowly drowning.
"I will never let this go," she said hoarsely. "Go back and tell Vivian to prepare her lawyers."
- Writer
