Chapter 3 Mrs. Windsor

Daisy nervously looked around, curiosity evident in her voice. "Jason, are you sure this is the bad man's lounge? What if we got the wrong room?"

Jason replied with complete confidence, "Absolutely not. I already investigated—this lounge is reserved exclusively for that bad man."

As he spoke, he pointed to the nameplate, which sat prominently on the table.

VIP Guest—Charles.

Jason pulled out a marker he'd prepared in advance and began scribbling all over it.

"Big meanie! Anyone who hurts my mommy has to pay the price!"

After writing "Big Meanie" on the nameplate, Jason wasn't satisfied and drew a large dog on the back.

Daisy asked with genuine curiosity, "Jason, but we're that big meanie's children. If he's a dog, doesn't that make us puppies?"

Jason nearly choked on his own words, coughing twice.

"We're also Mommy's children, and we're good people. Let that bad man be the dog all by himself."

Daisy nodded seriously. "That actually makes sense."

She took the marker from Jason and added her own dog drawing to the back of the nameplate.

The two children looked at each other and burst into giggles.

Meanwhile, in another lounge.

Diana knocked and entered, seeing hospital director, Joseph Jones, seated on the sofa. "Mr. Jones, you wanted to see me."

Joseph's face immediately lit up with a smile. "Zoey, there you are. Mrs. Young has been battling a serious illness, and Mrs. Windsor hopes you'll personally perform her surgery. Name your price."

Only after Joseph finished speaking did Diana notice Laura sitting nearby.

Laura was dressed to the nines in designer jewelry, her eyes scanning Diana up and down with barely concealed mockery and disdain.

So this was the so-called top doctor Zoey. All those impressive credentials had shocked Laura before, but now it seemed like Zoey was a young woman who had become famous through hype.

What kind of medical skills could someone this young possibly have?

And she was even wearing a mask, not daring to show her face.

Diana instinctively tightened her grip in her sleeve as memories flooded back to five years ago, when Charles had abandoned her to save Laura without hesitation, even knowing that she was carrying their children. Three lives combined weren't worth as much as Laura alone.

After she'd faked her death, Charles had wasted no time marrying Laura.

The title "Mrs. Windsor" was absolutely laughable.

Time wasn't a cure-all, and not every wound could be healed by its passage.

Even healed wounds left scars, and the slightest touch could bring excruciating pain.

Laura took the medical file with an air of superiority and held it out to Diana. "So you're Zoey. Much younger than I expected. Here's Mrs. Young's case file. If you can perform this surgery successfully, I'll give you a generous tip on top of the surgical fee."

Diana looked at her with calm eyes, making no move to take the file.

"I don't recall agreeing to take this case."

Laura's commanding, condescending manner was exactly like someone scolding a servant.

Diana had spent years living under an assumed identity, never showing her true face, precisely to avoid any connection with the Windsor family. How could she possibly accept this surgery?

Even if they offered the surgical fee plus a tip, or an astronomical sum, Diana wouldn't take it.

Laura stared in disbelief and slammed the medical file onto the table.

"It's already a privilege for you that I've chosen you for this surgery. Do you know who Mrs. Young is? Who am I?"

"You're nothing but a small-time doctor! We're high society elite!"

Diana glanced at her increasingly agitated state and turned to Joseph.

"Mr. Jones, I have other matters to attend to. I'll be leaving now."

Joseph looked torn, glancing between Diana and Laura.

He'd recruited Diana at great expense from abroad; she was essentially a living advertisement for the hospital. Moreover, Diana'd been winning several major awards lately. But Laura was Charles's wife, and he couldn't afford to offend her either.

Diana turned to leave after speaking, but Laura quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"Don't put on this holier-than-thou act with me. All this talk just means the price isn't right, doesn't it? Name any figure you want."

"There are plenty of famous doctors both domestically and internationally. If Mrs. Young hadn't specifically requested you, do you think I'd waste another word on someone like you?"

"Believe it or not, one word from me could completely blacklist you."

Diana laughed, her eyes filled with sarcasm, "I don't think the medical field is under Windsor family management, is it? Threats only work if you can follow through. If you can't, they're just jokes."

If she were in business, Charles could indeed achieve such an effect with a single word.

But after years of practicing medicine and saving lives, she'd built her own network of elite connections.

Laura's threats were complete bluster.

"You!"

Laura sputtered with rage, her eyes fixed on Diana's mask, growing more irritated by the second.

"You spent quite a bit of money having the media build up your reputation to get where you are now, didn't you? Yet you don't even dare show your real face. Are you feeling guilty about something?"

The moment she finished speaking, she suddenly reached out to pull off Diana's mask.

Diana grabbed Laura's wrist, her voice cold. "What do you think you're doing?"

She increased the pressure, making Laura cry out in pain.

Laura shrieked in humiliated fury, "How dare you lay hands on me! Let go right now, or I'll make you disappear from this world!"

"Go ahead. I'd love to see if you actually have that kind of power."

Diana released Laura's wrist with disgust, staring at the woman's twisted expression with amusement.

She'd seen through Laura's two-faced nature long ago—playing innocent in public while being a vicious attack dog behind the scenes.

After all these years, only Charles still believed Laura was pure as snow.

Diana turned to leave, but Laura lunged at her again in desperation. Diana dodged quickly, but Laura still managed to grab her bracelet.

The delicate black cord snapped instantly, sending coral beads scattering across the floor.

Anger flashed in Diana's eyes—this was the last thing her mother had left her.

She was about to speak when a cold voice cut through the air from the doorway.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Diana instinctively looked up, her gaze colliding with Charles's indifferent eyes.