Chapter 195: Elena Ward Froze the Moment She Stepped into the Outpatient Building

Elena Ward froze the moment she stepped into the outpatient building.

The first-floor lobby was packed with a noisy crowd, the clamor hitting her like a wall. Director Carter hadn’t exaggerated—this was louder than a marketplace.

"That heartless Dr. Alice Monroe—!"

A shrill, theatrical wail cut through the din. The voice had that unmistakable rhythm of a professional complainer, rising and falling like a bad opera performance.

Elena’s eyebrow twitched. Why did that sound so familiar?

It was a carbon copy of her grandmother, Agnes Ward.

"Director, you must stand up for us!" The old woman sobbed dramatically, wiping snot on her sleeve. "Alice abandoned her own daughter! My granddaughter is only twelve—she needs food, she needs school! And that wretched mother of hers won’t give her a single penny!"

Pushing through the crowd, Elena saw Director Carter desperately trying to coax the woman to stand.

Alice stood nearby, her white coat half-torn, red marks streaking her face. She kept her head bowed like a scolded child.

"Let’s discuss this in my office," Director Carter muttered under his breath.

The old woman planted herself more firmly on the floor. "No! We’ll settle this right here! Let everyone see the truth!"

Then a ponytailed girl burst forward and shoved Alice hard.

"Stop pretending to be innocent!" the girl shrieked. "Dad asked you for child support three times, and you ignored him every time!"

The crowd erupted.

"She won’t support her own child?"

"How can someone like this be a doctor?"

"The hospital needs to answer for this!"

Alice opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Elena watched the spectacle with cold detachment. Pitiful? More like despicable.

She turned to leave—only to feel a tug on her coat.

Glancing back, she saw the old woman using her white coat as a handkerchief.

"Let go." Elena’s voice was ice.

The woman finally realized she’d grabbed the wrong person and awkwardly released her grip.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Expressionless, Elena brushed off her coat and walked away without a backward glance.

Family drama like this? Whoever got involved would only regret it.