Chapter 12 Who Do You Choose?

Regina stood frozen, clutching her face in shock as she stared at Kelly. Kelly's breathing was ragged. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and slapped Regina again. Hospital staff rushed over, trying to intervene. Melody pushed forward too—but instead of stopping Kelly, she grabbed Regina and pinned her down. "Kelly! Keep going!" Kelly trembled as she glared at Regina, then raised her hand and gestured, "You have no right to talk about Michael." Regina's face darkened with fury. "And what right do you have to hit me? Who do you think you are, Kelly? Your parents are dead! You're nothing but a mute now. God knows how many times you got bullied in Solmaris. What are you acting all high and mighty for?" Kelly clenched her teeth, her eyes burning with unshed tears. Her parents were gone. She had sacrificed five years of her life for the hospital, for peace, only to be trapped in Solmaris. And now Regina was twisting the knife, stabbing her where it hurt the most. "What did you just say?" Melody snapped. "Say it again! Regina, you've crossed the line. You stole Eric while Kelly was gone, you home-wrecking b*tch! And now you're acting all smug?" She couldn't hold back any longer. Shoving aside the people around her, she grabbed Regina by the hair and started swinging. After five years in Solmaris, Melody was no pushover. Regina was no match for her. "Help! Somebody stop them!" Regina screamed, but no one stepped in. Even security guards were blocked by Michael's grieving parents. Regina had brought this upon herself. Just then, the elevator doors slid open. Beau and Eric stepped out. Seeing the chaos unfold, Eric rushed forward in a panic to shield Regina. "Melody! Let go! If you keep this up, I'm calling the cops!" Melody lost her balance when Eric shoved her, falling hard onto the floor. Right in front of Eric, Kelly stepped forward and slapped Regina across the face again. Then she grabbed a pen and paper, scrawling furiously, "Go ahead. Call the cops on me." Eric frowned, stunned. He couldn't believe Kelly had hit someone. "Kelly, are you getting involved in this mess too?" Kelly's hands shook, and her vision blurred with unshed tears. She scribbled quickly, "All they want is an explanation!" "The higher-ups will handle this, not you throwing a tantrum in public!" Eric grabbed her wrist. "Come with me. Now." Regina, looking utterly disheveled, clutched her stinging cheek and spat venomously, "Kelly, what are you so guilty about? What, don't want to admit it? Everyone knows you were stuck in Solmaris for five years—God knows how many men had their way with you. Is that why you're lashing out?" "Regina!" Eric's furious roar cut through the air. His chest heaved with anger as he glared at her. Regina looked at Eric, her expression full of grievance. "Eric! You have to choose today—she or me! I'm telling you, if she stays, I'm gone. If I'm here, then she has to go!" "Eric, you're worse than an animal!" Melody pointed a furious finger at him. "Kelly went missing for a few years, and you married this woman?" Tyson's disappointment was evident. "I never thought you'd do something like this. Do you even know what Kelly went through these past five years? She always believed you'd wait for her." Eric lowered his head, guilt flashing across his face. "Stop trying to guilt-trip him!" Regina snapped, her voice bordering on hysteria. "Everyone thought they were dead! What, was Eric supposed to spend his whole life waiting for her? Is that realistic?" She turned to Eric, desperate. "Eric! I was the one by your side for the past five years. You have to make a choice!" "Enough!" a deep, authoritative voice rang out from behind them. It was Beau, his tone sharp with reprimand, "This is a hospital! A place to save lives, not a place for your drama!" The room fell into silence. Beau continued, his voice steady, "I know all of you have been through a lot, and it's a miracle that you made it back alive. As for Michael ... " He turned to Michael's grieving parents, his expression solemn. "As the hospital director, I offer my deepest condolences." Looking at everyone, he spoke firmly, "I'll do everything in my power to fight for what you deserve. But you're doctors—educated professionals. I won't tolerate any more chaos in the hospital." Kelly clutched the pen in her hand, fighting the urge to write down the question burning in her mind, Who betrayed us? But Zev had warned her—trust no one. Which meant the traitor could be anyone in this hospital. "Everyone, calm down," Beau said in a softer voice. "If you have work to do, get back to it. If you need rest, take it. If you have grievances, bring them to me, and we'll settle them in private." The tension in the air gradually eased. Only Michael's parents remained inconsolable, sobbing uncontrollably. Kelly tightened her grip on her pen, her nails digging into her palm. The tip of the pen pressed so hard that it broke the skin, but she didn't loosen her grip. She couldn't let Michael die in vain. She would uncover the truth. She would make sure Michael's parents got the answers they deserved. And she would see to it that the traitor paid the price. "Tch," Regina scoffed, muttering under her breath, "As long as they get enough money and benefits, they'll stop causing trouble. If they keep making a fuss, it just means the offer wasn't good enough. Greedy, every last one of them." Eric shot her a glare. "That's enough!" Regina met his gaze, her eyes blazing with defiance. "No, it's not enough! Say it clearly, Eric. Right here, in front of my father and everyone else—who do you choose? She or me?" her voice wavered with emotion. "Now that she's back, does that make me the other woman? I refuse to live with that shame! Either you cut ties with her, or I walk away with our child!" All eyes turned to Eric.