Chapter 65 The Surrounding Gazes

"Didn't Barry tell you? We met the day he took your grandfather to the hospital for a checkup and almost got swindled. I noticed something was off, called out the fake doctor's lies, and helped your brother get his money back," Ada said. Although her words made sense, Sabrina could not shake off the unease that Ada's role in it all was out of place. Sabrina's mind raced with questions. 'How did Ada, of all people, uncover a deceit that had slipped by so many? And why did this revelation only surface during an incident involving our family?' Sabrina’s confusion deepened. "He said it was a private clinic, but Grandpa Parker’s always favored the public hospitals, hasn't he?" Her expression clouded over, hinting at a discrepancy she had not expected. Their grandfather had long avoided private hospitals, finding them costly and impersonal. "I can't speak to that. I just happened to be there. But I have to say, your brother's a good man. We hit it off instantly, like we'd known each other for years," said Ada. "If you think of him as a friend, then why did you two get together? You've been less than honest with him about a lot of things. Namely your ex, your job, even your family," Sabrina pressed, cornering Ada. Ada was stunned by Sabrina's aggressiveness. "Why are you saying this? Have I done something to upset you? I get that you haven't met my parents, and you have doubts, but why do you…" Sabrina's gaze turned icy. "What's your real motive for getting close to my brother?" Ada seemed to be the most likely suspect behind all these issues. It was difficult to believe that Grandpa played a role, as he usually mediated disputes between Sabrina and her brother. What could be Ada's motive for orchestrating all of this? Ada shot up, her eyes aflame with pure rage. "Sabrina, you're crossing a line. What motive could I possibly have for being near your brother? I simply like him. Is that wrong? I'll leave now if you seriously think I'm at fault, and I'll try to fix this mess!" Sabrina's heat dissipated in the face of Ada’s outburst. "I was just speaking out of concern. Given our family's situation, and your involvement, including my brother's hospital stay, I just want to get to the bottom of things. But seeing your genuine anger and remorse, I may have overreacted." Sabrina spoke with a calm that left Ada conflicted between rage and relief. "You should rest here. But consider this, if your ex starts causing trouble, you might want to lay low somewhere else," Sabrina advised. Ada acknowledged the advice with a reluctant nod, seeing Sabrina's protective instincts for her brother. "I'm sorry for losing my temper. Is he doing alright?" "He's fine. But seeing you like this could worsen his condition," Sabrina replied. Ada gave a bitter smile. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. If I hadn't come along, none of this would've happened." Sabrina yearned to agree that Ada's absence would have meant peace, but such thoughts remained unspoken. After muttering a few words of consolation to Ada, she and Curtis departed. As the couple left, Ada stood at the doorway, watching them descend the stairs. She closed the door only after they had vanished from sight. In the car, Sabrina wrestled with unease. "What do you think Ada was hinting at?" she pondered aloud, her mind grappling with Ada's elusive behavior. Curtis broke his silence with a thought-provoking question, "Do you think that guy could really be her ex-boyfriend?" "What do you mean?" Sabrina was taken aback. Was there more to this? "I can't say for sure. Something feels off. But let’s leave it to the police for now. Let's head to work, and I'll fill you in on any developments," Curtis advised. Sabrina simply nodded and said nothing. She got out of the car when Curtis stopped two blocks away from the company. As she entered the office, Sabrina could feel the odd stares directed at her. The awkward attention was likely due to her association with Victor. The normally bustling workspace hushed the moment she walked in. Everyone returned to their desks, sneaking glances at her from time to time. It was an uncomfortable spotlight. She noticed Felicia’s absence and wondered about her whereabouts. Nina, sitting nearby, seemed eager to exploit any misfortune. But Sabrina brushed it all off, focusing solely on her work for the day. Nonetheless, trouble seemed intent on pursuing her. "Someone from the PR Department was here yesterday. They're asking when you'll give them an answer. Don’t assume your relationship with the boss will shield you from this," a colleague challenged her, his tone unexpectedly sharp. Sabrina was stunned. She recognized the coworker but only vaguely. Usually a quiet individual, she had no idea why he was suddenly in her face. "Why are you asking me? Like you said, I have a solid rapport with the boss. He’s committed to sorting things out. Why are you not concerned that hassling me could jeopardize your own job?" Sabrina was not keen on discussing matters concerning Victor, but this encounter was clearly just the beginning of a series of provocations. She reckoned that many more would likely come to stir up trouble. So she decided to nip it in the bud. Despite everyone questioning her relationship with Victor, leveraging his influence did effortlessly dissolve the tension. The surrounding gazes bore into Sabrina with an unusual blend of scorn, jealousy, and various emotions. As for the confrontational coworker? He was left speechless, intimidated by the unspoken power of her words.