Chapter 16: Signing Out

Charlotte's expression twisted unpleasantly at Elena's question.

"Probably just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse," she muttered under her breath.

Elena fell silent at this response.

After a long pause, she spoke again, her voice pensive:

"Xiao Xiao... don't you think he seems different lately?"

Ever since that night two days ago, she'd sensed a change in Daniel—though she couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly had altered.

Charlotte stiffened in shock.

Her wide eyes turned to study Elena's face.

Had Madam Vanderbilt finally moved on from Daniel, only to have old feelings rekindled now?

No!

Absolutely not!

Even if Daniel appeared somewhat changed now, hadn't he been caught cozying up with another woman while Elena lay unconscious?

She couldn't let Elena be fooled by him again!

With a cold laugh, Charlotte retorted: "Hmph! How could he change? He must have some ulterior motive! Madam, that so-called 'miracle doctor' was pure luck—luck has nothing to do with real capability!"

Elena's elegant willow-leaf brows drew together slightly. "Xiao Xiao, I know you're prejudiced against him, but people can change."

"Madam, I—" Charlotte began, then stopped abruptly.

Charlotte's heart ached with frustration.

Everything she did was for Elena's sake!

But Elena gave her no chance to explain, cutting her off with a tired wave. "Enough. I'm exhausted. Don't bring this up again—leave me."

Charlotte opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out.

With Elena still recovering, she couldn't bear to argue further.

With a quiet sigh, Charlotte turned and stepped out of the ward.

Just as the door clicked shut behind her, a familiar figure caught her eye—a woman hurrying into the restroom down the hall.

That silhouette...

"It's her!"

"What is she doing here?!"

Charlotte's face darkened with rage.

The woman was none other than Lynn Miao—the same woman caught in bed with Daniel just yesterday!

"Did she come to meet Daniel?"

A cold, vicious fury settled over Charlotte's features.

"You vile snake," she seethed under her breath. "Playing the devoted husband while parading your mistress right under Elena's nose?"

"Today, I'll make sure Elena sees you for the trash you are."

Without hesitation, Charlotte stalked toward the restroom.

A hushed conversation leaked from the closed stall—Lynn was clearly on a call with someone.

Charlotte crept closer, catching fragments: "Daniel"... "Elena"... "Vanderbilt Industries"...

"She's definitely here for Madam!"

Rage simmered in Charlotte's chest, but she forced herself to stay silent, inching toward the stall door.

With steady hands, she activated her phone's recording app.

Then Lynn's voice came through clearly, trembling with faux distress:

"Brother Xu... I don't know what to do anymore."

"Daniel is planning to kill Elena for her fortune—I'm terrified!"

What?!

Charlotte's entire body locked in shock, her face draining of color.

She'd always known Daniel was scum—but murder?

Why?

Elena had given him everything—the Lockwood family's Jiangcheng assets, her shares, her heart—what more could he want?

The answer struck her like a knife: Everything. The entire Vanderbilt empire.

Now it made sense why Daniel refused to divorce:

With Elena dead, the law would hand him every last penny.

Meanwhile, inside the restroom stall, Lynn Miao continued detailing Daniel Lockwood's alleged conspiracy to the person on the phone—explaining how he planned to harm Elena Vanderbilt and ultimately take control of the Vanderbilt fortune.

Charlotte Xiao listened, her rage boiling to the point of murderous intent.

Daniel was nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing—a beast wearing a human face!

After about ten minutes, Lynn finally ended the call.

Hearing movement, Charlotte quickly turned to leave—but the sharp clicks of her high heels betrayed her escape.

"Who's there?!"

Lynn immediately pushed the stall door open, catching only a glimpse of a retreating figure.

She didn't pursue. Instead, she glanced down at her phone—still connected to the call.

The screen displayed the caller's name in bold: [Sebastian Lockwood].

"Brother Sebastian," Lynn murmured, a sly smile curling her lips, "Elena's assistant was eavesdropping just now. She's probably rushing to report everything to Elena."

"Excellent work, Lynn," Sebastian's voice oozed satisfaction. "Once Daniel and Elena are divorced, I'll personally arrange for him to marry you. You have my word."

Lynn chuckled lightly. "We'll discuss that after the divorce is finalized."

Without further ado, she hung up, then slowly raised her gaze to the mirror. Her eyes clouded with unreadable emotions.

"Daniel… don't blame me," she whispered to her reflection. "I never wanted to scheme against you. I just… love you too much."

"One day, you'll realize—no one in this world loves you more than I do!"

With these words, Lynn Miao's gaze hardened with resolve.

Once Elena hears this recording, their divorce should proceed quickly now...

Soon.

Meanwhile, in the VIP Ward

Elena Vanderbilt sat propped up in bed, her face pale as the recording played from her phone:

"Daniel wants to kill Elena and steal her fortune—I'm so terrified!"

"Brother Sebastian, you have to stop him!"

That voice—she would recognize it anywhere.

Lynn Miao.

And on the screen before her: photos of Lynn and Daniel locked in an intimate embrace.

Even through the static images, the unmistakable intimacy between them burned Elena's eyes.

A frost settled over Elena's beautiful features, her eyes hollow with quiet despair, lips curling in bitter self-mockery.

These past two days...

Daniel had done everything she'd only ever dreamed of.

Had it not been for this damning evidence, she might have actually believed he'd changed.

But no—

He was still the same man.

Every gesture, every word... all calculated.

"Everything I have is already yours..." Elena whispered to the empty room, her voice breaking. "Had you but asked, would I have refused?"

The weight of a thousand betrayals laced those words.

"Madam Vanderbilt, he isn't worth your heartache."

Charlotte's voice softened as she watched Elena's fragile state, her own chest tightening in sympathy.

Elena let out a hollow chuckle, the sound laced with decades of unspoken sorrow.

"Xiao Xiao... please arrange my discharge."