It started with the headlines.
**“Disgraced Ex-Con Doctor Endangers Patients"**
**“Felix Hale's Former Wife Running Clinic Without License"**
**“Sources Say Prison Hardened Her—In All the Wrong Ways"**
Charlotte scrolled through the feed, jaw set.
From the doorway, Mrs. Nguyen shook her head. “Who's 'source'? Your ex's ex?"
“Lisa," Charlotte said.
Mrs. Nguyen snorted. “She's bad at picking enemies."
---
Her phone buzzed. Unknown number. She answered.
“Enjoying your press?" Lisa's voice was honeyed acid. “I thought we could skip the lawyers this time. You close your clinic quietly, I stop talking."
“No," Charlotte said.
Lisa laughed. “Then I'll keep going. You think people care about your sob story? They believe what they're told first. And I'm first."
“Proof outruns rumor," Ch
