Chapter 17 Do You Have to Be Hostile?

"Enough!" Gordon rebuked loudly.

Sally, having finally caught Amelia's weakness, was relentless. "Uncle Gordon, you can't be so blatantly biased! Amelia has always been negligent in her studies, only knowing how to fight and skip classes! And now she's even crossed a moral line, and you actually turn a blind eye to it?"

Gordon, livid, found himself unable to retort.

He was also baffled by Amelia's actions.

"Amelia, tell me honestly, what kind of deal you made with him?" he demanded, his voice graver than ever.

"Who would have thought my dear cousin would stoop so low to get what she wants? The reputation of the Underwood family is utterly ruined!" Sally sneered coldly, describing Amelia as a disgrace.

Amelia, face flushed with frustration, glared at Edward.

The man's eyes were cold, intently fixed on her, probing and sharply perceptive.

All he wanted to confirm was Nanci knew Brian.

Gritting her teeth, Amelia burst out, "Yes, Brian took a fancy to me! He coveted my beauty, and I told him I'd date him if he helped cure my grandfather! Are you satisfied with that answer?”

The trio was dumbfounded.

Sally was about to speak again when the door opened.

Everyone momentarily forgot the matter at hand and quickly went to meet the people coming out, inquiring about the situation.

Edward, his intense gaze still fixed on Amelia's face, seemed to understand something.

After her outburst, Amelia finally snapped out of it and quickly followed Gordon. “How is my grandfather?”

Simon's expression was calm, his voice deep as he stated, "The procedure went smoothly, and Mr. Underwood's condition has stabilized."

The Underwood family was filled with joy and gratitude.

All eyes were on Simon, except for Edward.

He was now certain the one acquainted with Brian was not Amelia, but his quiet, gentle wife.

Nanci had always known of Edward's decisive and domineering nature, but she hadn't expected him to be this overbearing.

As she stepped out of the Underwood family's residence, she was blocked by a group of black-clad bodyguards.

"Nanci, Miss Underwood has told me everything. How long do you plan to keep it from me?”

Nanci was confused.

The man's tall and imposing figure exerted an intangible pressure.

His ambiguous words and stern expression almost overwhelmed Nanci.

"What have I hidden from you?" she suddenly laughed.

Edward's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued, "It's you who is acquainted with Brian, and you who sought the formula from Ross Clinic."

"So what? What does it matter to you? Do I need to remind you that we are already divorced?” Nanci remained as calm as ever, her tone lazy and slow, a stark contrast to her usually understanding demeanor, as if the man before her was truly a stranger.

A sense of estrangement emanated from her entire being.

"Do you really have to be hostile towards me?”

Nanci found his question amusing before she replied, "You're one to talk. We've been married for three years, and you just let it go casually.”

Three years ago, he married a woman whom he barely knew just to claim the Clarkson family inheritance.

Even the Clarkson family was helpless against him.

And he had long wanted to rid himself of her, a burden.

“Three years ago, we agreed on a consensual deal that was supposed to be mutually beneficial, but what did I get in return? What do you take me for? What does the Clarkson family take me for? Why do you think I should help you now?" she said, her voice dripping with disdain as she lazily glanced at the group of bodyguards surrounding them. "Or do you intend to keep me here against my will, Mr. Clarkson?"

Edward was visibly stunned, not expecting her to admit it so bluntly.

To them, their absurd marriage was nothing more than a transaction as previously agreed. But Edward always carried himself like a savior, believing that Nanci couldn't live without him. He saw her as worthless and never bothered spending time on her.

Knowing Elizabeth and Sophie's personality, he could imagine how much Nanci had suffered in these three years.

"So, what exactly do you want? Do you want me to compensate you?" he finally asked.

Nanci felt a headache coming on, finding it impossible to communicate with him.

An awkward silence filled the air, eventually broken by the Underwood family's quick intervention.

Amelia and Gordon spoke briefly, after which he came out to thank Nanci and warmly offered to send her home.

Nanci's questioning look towards Amelia was met with an evasive gaze. Clearly, she knew Edward had been prying information from Amelia. Without refusing, Nanci got into the car arranged by the Underwoods.

Edward watched the car drive away, his blue eyes dark with brooding thoughts. A calm voice beside him broke the silence.

"Edward, I don't care what entanglements you have with Miss Ross, but she has helped my family greatly, and I can't let her come to harm on my watch."

Edward remained silent for a moment before slowly responding, "She is now the only one who knows Brian's whereabouts."

Gordon, glancing at his unreliable daughter, felt a headache coming on as he remembered her recent confession. "Ross Clinic is part of the Ross family's holdings. You could try asking them."

With Gordon mediating, Edward had no choice but to leave.

After everyone else had gone, Gordon turned to Amelia with a scowl, "You always manage to cause trouble!"

Amelia pouted, "What trouble? Brian is a big cheese! Lots of people in this city are trying to contact him."

"And how did you get in touch with him?" he challenged

Amelia blinked innocently when she said, "How would I know?"

Back at the hotel, Nanci sharply noticed that someone had entered her room. Pushing open Brian's bedroom door, she found it empty.

She pulled out her phone and called him. The moment the call connected, he began to rant, "Nanci, your ex is insane! I was just playing games in my room when a bunch of people burst in! If I'd left a minute later..."

Nanci's lips tightened in frustration as she cursed Edward's audacity in her mind.

"Once things are settled here, we'll head back. Don't come over for now," she instructed, then suddenly remembered Simon's words. "By the way, didn't the Medical Association invite us? We haven't responded yet, have we?"

"The Medical Association? I don't know. I haven't paid much attention to that," Brian replied nonchalantly.

"Get the necessary documents ready. We're joining the association."

"But I thought we agreed not to get involved in these feuds and not to join any organizations?"