Chapter 127: Tessa was punished.
"Stop. Stop," Tessa screamed, trembling with fear and rage. "Stop lying. What do you gain by destroying me?"
She turned desperately to Noah. "You saw how badly I was injured. I almost died. How could the doctor have lied?"
She pressed a hand against her chest, pretending to struggle for breath. "My heart is failing... And you are doubting me?"
Noah ran a hand through his hair in frustration. The more he thought, the more confused he became.
"If your heart is truly failing," Elias said calmly, "I’ll personally help you find a suitable donor."
He paused before adding, "I’ll even apologize to you. But first, you’ll have to undergo another examination."
Tessa’s body stiffened.
A faint smile played on Elias’s lips as he watched panic spread across her face. He showed no trace of mercy.
"I happen to know the country’s best cardiologist," he continued. "He has been treating my grandfather for years. If anyone can diagnose your condition accurately, it’s him."
Tessa flinched. If another doctor examined her, every lie she had carefully built over the years would collapse.
"N-No..." she stammered. "There is no need. Noah has already been searching for a donor. I don’t need your help."
"Dr. Grant is already here." Elias gestured toward a middle-aged man standing quietly among the guests.
The distinguished doctor stepped forward with a composed expression.
The moment Tessa saw him approaching, she instinctively retreated. She wanted to run. But Noah grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"Dr. Grant is the country’s leading cardiologist," Noah said coldly. "People wait months just to see him. I’ve tried countless times to get an appointment with him. But I never got one. Now that he is here, why wouldn’t you let him examine you? You should consider yourself fortunate."
A chill ran down Tessa’s spine.
"I... I already have my own doctor," she replied weakly. "There is no need for another examination."
Noah narrowed his eyes. The fear written across her face only deepened his suspicion.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked, searching her eyes. "If you’ve been telling the truth all along, you have nothing to worry about."
Tessa struggled to pull free.
"Let go of me," she pleaded. "I’m not feeling well. I want to go home."
"What are you in such a hurry for?" Noah sneered. "Let Dr. Grant examine you first."
Without giving her another chance to refuse, he dragged her toward the doctor.
"Dr. Grant," Noah said respectfully, "please examine her. She has a serious heart condition, and she is pregnant. I’m worried the pregnancy will worsen her health."
Tessa’s breathing became ragged. She desperately tried to wrench herself free, but Noah’s grip was ironclad.
Dr. Grant stepped forward and studied her carefully.
"She appears perfectly healthy," he said in his deep, composed voice. "I’ve been observing her all the time. She argued, shouted, and created a disturbance for quite some time. Someone with severe heart failure wouldn’t have this kind of stamina."
Those words alone made Noah’s expression darken. His grip tightened around Tessa’s wrist.
Fear flooded Tessa’s eyes. For the first time, she truly felt Noah might destroy her.
Dr. Grant reached out and took her pulse.
Tessa instinctively tried to pull away, but Noah refused to release her.
After several moments, the doctor withdrew his hand.
"Her pulse is elevated," he said calmly. "She is obviously anxious." He looked up. "But it’s strong and perfectly regular. There is no sign of arrhythmia or cardiac distress."
His voice turned firm. "Her heart is completely healthy."
The hall exploded into an uproar.
"So she lied about having a heart disease? How disgusting!"
"She deceived everyone for years."
"She used a fake illness to gain sympathy."
"What a vicious woman."
"She faked a life-threatening condition, lied about her pregnancy, and manipulated Mr. Sinclair. She belongs in prison."
"Someone should call the police. She deserves to answer for every lie she told."
The accusations echoed throughout the banquet hall.
Disgust filled every face as the guests looked at Tessa. Everyone looked at her as though she were filth.
Tessa screamed hysterically, "You are all lying. All of you want to destroy me."
She shoved Noah away before glaring at Dr. Grant with bloodshot eyes.
"You are all working together. You know nothing about my condition. How can you decide my heart is healthy just by checking my pulse?"
Dr. Grant remained completely unfazed. "If you still refuse to accept my diagnosis," he replied evenly, "I can have my medical team bring the necessary equipment here immediately. A complete examination will settle the matter once and for all."
Tessa’s face turned deathly pale. She knew there was no escape anymore. Every lie would be exposed.
"All of you..." she cried. "You all teamed up against me, just to ruin me."
She turned toward Noah, tears streaming down her face. "And my own husband? Instead of believing me, you doubted me."
Hatred twisted her expression. "I’ll never forgive any of you."
"Even now," Elena said after a long silence, "you still refuse to admit your mistakes."
She looked at Tessa with disappointment rather than anger. "Your lies are exposed. Yet you’ve shown no remorse. No guilt. No shame. No matter how loud you scream, you can’t hide your lies any longer."
Those words pierced deeper than any slap. Tessa’s hatred surged. She glared at Elena with bloodshot eyes.
’Why? Why is Elena always the fortunate one? First Noah loved her. Now even Elias adores her. Why did every powerful man choose Elena instead of me?’
The more she thought about it, the more resentment consumed her.
"Take her away," Elena said coldly. "I don’t want to see her anymore."
Elias raised a hand. With a slight gesture, he signaled the men in black suits.
Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, seized Tessa by both arms, and dragged her toward the exit.
"Let me go," Tessa shrieked, struggling violently. "You’ll all regret this. I won’t let any of you live in peace."
Her screams echoed through the banquet hall until they gradually faded into the distance.
Even after she was gone, the hatred burning in her heart remained.
’This isn’t over,’ she swore silently. ’Elena... Elias... One day, I’ll return. I’ll make both of you pay.’
In the corner of the hall, Cedric watched everything silently, sipping his champagne with ease. When he had arrived at the hotel earlier, he had not expected to see such drama.
Initially, he had been shocked. But then he realized something.
The corner of his lips quirked. He took another sip of the champagne as he lazily took his phone and dialed a number. He stepped to the balcony, where no one was there.
"I found out his new weakness," he said in a low voice. "His wife."