Chapter 7 Pressured by Public Opinion

Edward had spent the night in the hospital. It wasn't until the following afternoon that the doors of the operating room finally opened. Many members of the Clarkson family had gathered outside, swarming the doctor as he emerged, their faces etched with anxiety, questioning the situation as though they were genuinely concerned. Edward hung back a few steps, watching the doctor intently.

The doctor, hesitating as he removed his mask, asked, "Has the patient been taking herbal remedies for a while?" Olivia's youngest son, Andrew Clarkson, quickly responded, "No! We know Mom's condition is serious. Why would we mess around with her medication? But she has been staying with Edward. Edward, did you give your grandma any medicine she shouldn't have had?"

Sophie exploded, "Uncle Andrew, what are you implying?" Andrew sneered, "You know what I mean, don’t you? What have you done to her?" Sophie, her face turning red in agitation, retorted, "You!"

"Shut up!" Edward, with a throbbing headache, sharply silenced their argument. Andrew, startled, took a few steps back, while the rest of Andrew's family watched nervously.

Andrew was about to say more when the doctor interjected, "Please hear me out. What I meant was that her condition was already critical, but the herbal medicine she has been taking seems to have been helpful. It's what has kept her going this long. The emotional stress was too much this time, causing cardiac arrest. We have done our best, but we can only stabilize her condition for three days at most, unless we find a suitable heart donor soon..." He trailed off, but his implication was clear.

Then, a chaotic wailing broke out at the scene.

"Mom!"

"Grandma!"

"What are we going to do now?"

Edward closed his eyes, any thoughts he had scattered by the wailing. Observing these people who appeared sorrowful but were actually harboring ulterior motives, he clenched his teeth and reminded them, "Grandma isn't dead yet!"

"Edward, how can you be so cold-hearted? Olivia has been so good to you, and you can't even cry for her! Plus, with her bedridden, your scandals are all over the place..." The harsh voices gradually quieted under Edward's stern gaze.

Edward bit his lip tightly, his eyes fixed on the hospital room. Olivia's situation was unique, and they hadn't found a suitable heart donor, leaving the powerful Clarkson family feeling helpless against her illness. They had thought Olivia’s situation would stabilize before they found Dr. Lancy.

But for some reason, the news of the divorce had reached Olivia, causing her mood swings. As he thought this, his icy gaze turned to Sophie. "Come with me, Sophie!" Sophie shrank back, looking pleadingly at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth quickly pulled Sophie behind her. "Edward, don't take it out on your sister! She knew Olivia and Nanci were close. She wouldn't have provoked anything! If someone snitched, it must have been Nanci!" Edward froze. His intention wasn't to blame but to inquire about his grandmother's recent condition. He remembered what the doctor had said about the herbal remedies, yet he had been completely unaware of it.

Elizabeth’s words also reminded him. Olivia was close to Nanci... He gave the mother and daughter a deep look and quickly left. Seeing Edward leave, the others couldn’t be bothered to continue their act and quietly dispersed.

Sophie patted her chest, relieved, then turned anxiously to Elizabeth, asking, "Mom, what do we do now? Grandma must have heard our conversation that day, and that's what triggered her condition!"

"Shut up! As long as we insist it was Nanci, nothing happens to us!"

"But Grandma definitely knows the truth."

"So what?"

Elizabeth scoffed, "Who knows whether she’ll make it this time?"

Sophie, hearing this, brightened momentarily, her face gradually losing its panic.

Edward had just left the hospital when he received a call from Isaac.

"Boss, there's trouble."

...

Earlier in the morning, the news about Edward’s being married had trended, and soon after, several more glaring topics emerged.

#EdwardClarksonCheating

#LisaHomeWrecker

#MrsClarksonsRevenge

People initially thought it was Mrs. Clarkson's doing.

But Isaac, having worked for Edward for so long, knew Nanci's character well and didn't believe she was capable of such actions.

That was until someone posted a pixelated marriage certificate.

The PR team urgently called Isaac, who then called Edward.

"Is the PR team dead, only finding out now?"

Edward got into his car, slamming the door with a loud bang, his voice icy cold.

Isaac's heart skipped a beat as he hastily explained, "No, they're just out of options. Regarding your news, neither money nor technology can pull it down!"

Edward hesitated as he started the car, then sharply changed the topic. "What about Nanci?"

"Yesterday, Miss Ross didn't go straight back to the hotel but visited a cafe she used to frequent." Isaac hesitated for a few seconds before adding, "And coincidentally, there's something else..."

"Go on."

"Miss McGrath also visited that cafe, and they met each other."

His implication was clear. It was somehow related to Nanci.

"Miss McGrath, who is she?" Edward, furrowing his brow, sounded puzzled.

Isaac was speechless.

He knew well, those women who desperately threw themselves at Edward were delusional.

But Edward actually didn’t remember this starlet, who caused their divorce and got him trending?

Isaac briefly explained Lisa's significance again, adding, "Miss McGrath is the leading lady at Zenith Star Entertainment, and she was your companion during both your visits there."

That was why Edward gave her the wrong impression, letting her “publicize” the affair.

"I don't remember her."

Issac showed no surprise.

It was an expected response, but Isaac still silently mourned for the young actress, cautiously asking, "So, what should we do now?"

Edward didn't reply, a flicker of coldness crossing his eyes.

For a moment, he thought it was Nanci helping his grandmother recuperate.

But the cold, hard truth lay before him.

She was a greedy, scheming woman.

Just yesterday, he wondered why she hadn't set him up, letting the hotel photos leak and then revealing her real identity.

It turned out she had been confident, believing his grandmother would be on her side.

No wonder she had smiled so smugly in the car.

Now, with his grandmother seriously ill and hospitalized, she seized the moment to reveal Mrs. Clarkson's identity.

Did she think she could use public opinion to pressure him?

She even had their PR team scrambling.

He had underestimated her.

"Just tell the truth, and as for Miss McGrath, you know how to handle her." The man's voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

Isaac incredulously asked, "Tell the truth?"

Edward hummed in affirmation, adding, "Including the divorce."

Isaac thought, “This time, Miss Ross really blows it.”

She had just revealed their marriage, and now they were about to announce a divorce. How embarrassing.