Mrs. Lynch was just as intimidated by Zoey's prowess.
Lowering her eyes, she contemplated for a moment, then snapped, "Zoey Fuller, do you think I can't do anything to you just because you know how to throw a few punches?"
With that, she stormed out of the ward—and suddenly bellowed at the top of her lungs, "Come and see for yourself! The doctor at this Community Health Hospital has no medical ethics at all! She slapped a woman who just gave birth and shamelessly seduced her husband!"
She did everything in her power to smear Zoey's name, spinning a scandalous story of how Zoey had seduced another woman's husband and assaulted his wife.
The public, always hungry for gossip—especially mistress-versus-wife dramas—quickly gathered in droves.
"Mrs. Lynch," Zoey said, stepping out of the ward. Her cold gaze swept over the older woman who was still ranting. "Slander is a crime punishable by law. Are you sure you want to argue with me about whether I seduced your son-in-law?"
Her voice was calm, but laced with warning.
"No matter what, you are the head lady of the Lynch Group. Do you really want to keep shrieking like a shrew and humiliate your entire family? If a reporter happens to be hiding in the shadows and captures all this, do you think Mr. Lynch will—?"
Mrs. Lynch flinched, as if invisible hands were choking her. The words got stuck in her throat. Face flushed with rage, she glared daggers at Zoey.
A woman with narrow, triangular eyes—probably her confidante—stepped forward with a sneer and snapped, "Dr. Fuller, our kind and gentle madam is no match for your sharp tongue. She was furious to find out you slapped her daughter and seduced her son-in-law, so she had no choice but to expose your wickedness to the world. And what do you do? Threaten her!"
Her voice rose theatrically, inciting the crowd.
"She seduced Mr. Lewis, and we caught them in the act. We even have photos! Mr. Lewis already admitted that she made the first move—he just couldn't resist temptation! But he's repented. It's people like her who give doctors a bad name. A doctor should heal, not steal someone's husband! Who knows whose son or husband she'll target next?"
She raised her voice again.
"In ancient times, a homewrecker like her would've been drowned in a pig's cage!"
The crowd erupted in chatter.
"She's so pretty—but looks really are deceiving."
"Young women like her think they can get anything they want with a pretty face."
"Women who mess with married men are the lowest. There should be a law jailing homewreckers for ten years!"
"Good-looking girls like her are ruining families. Someone like her shouldn't be working in a hospital at all!"
More people joined the crowd. The entire corridor outside the ward was now congested.
Seeing things spiraling out of control, Dr. Ziegler—who had been staying out of sight—finally stepped forward.
"Everyone, please calm down!"
He raised both hands. His tone was calm but firm.
"I'm the director of this hospital. If Dr. Fuller is truly guilty of what she's accused of, I won't tolerate it. But like any legal investigation, we need evidence. One side of the story isn't enough. We mustn't wrongfully accuse a good person. Words can destroy lives—and if someone takes their own life because of slander, can any of you live with that guilt?"
The crowd instantly quieted down.
They loved gossip, yes—but they weren't heartless.
Mrs. Lynch, however, looked as though she might explode. Her face twisted with rage. Dr. Ziegler's defense of Zoey pushed her past the brink.
What was wrong with this man? Was he also under Zoey's spell?
Jealousy flared in her eyes as she took in Zoey's refined beauty—her skin even more luminous than it had been six or seven years ago.
"Dr. Ziegler," she snapped, "what do you mean? Are you just going to ignore the evidence I've given you? Or have you already gotten involved with this vixen too?"
He was just the director of a community hospital—what did it matter if she offended him?
Ziegler's blood boiled. Behind his back, his fists clenched.
He had planned to handle this discreetly, to protect Zoey's dignity and avoid offending the person who had recommended her. But this woman was really pushing it.
No more niceties.
"Mrs. Lynch, be very careful with your words," he warned sternly. "Baseless accusations can land you in court—for slander."
The moment he uttered "sued for slander," Mrs. Lynch faltered slightly. But she quickly steeled herself. She would drive Zoey out of this hospital—no matter what.
"If you're not bewitched by her," she challenged, "then why are you protecting her?"
Ziegler nearly choked on his anger.
"Which eye of yours saw me protecting her?" he snapped. "You barged in screaming that she slapped your daughter and seduced your son-in-law. But unless I'm mistaken, your son-in-law was her fiancé first. Your daughter was the one sneaking around with him behind Zoey's back before their engagement even ended!"
An uproar erupted from the crowd.
Mrs. Lynch's face went from green to red to ashen in seconds.
Ziegler's words had exposed the ugliest truth of Stella Lynch's past—and her mother's furious, aged face was burning.
"Zohar Ziegler, you—!"
"God sees everything," he cut in. "That shameful thing your daughter did back then? It's no secret. If you want to make a scene, then I don't mind dragging it all out in front of everyone here."
Enough was enough. A woman like Mrs. Lynch didn't deserve grace—she'd only get bolder if she sensed weakness.
Zoey's voice rang out coolly, "Mrs. Lynch, I've already called Mr. Lewis. We'll see what the truth is when he gets here."
She waved her phone casually.
Zoey had no interest in dragging Xavier Lewis into this mess, but if he didn't clear the air, these women would never let up. And she knew him—he would never allow such scandalous gossip to tarnish his public image. He would definitely come.
He might even teach his mother-in-law a lesson.
The higher his social status, the less tolerant he was of those around him misbehaving and disgracing his name.