Chapter 214

"It's okay, sweetheart. One setback doesn't define you," Diana murmured, rubbing soothing circles on Lila's back. "Come, let's go downstairs and discuss this properly."

The three of them descended to the living room, the air thick with tension.

Sniffling, Lila recounted the morning's events, her voice shaky with emotion.

Diana listened carefully, her expression composed, while Victor's face twisted in disbelief.

"Evelyn actually won?" Victor blurted out. "How? Did she—did she play dirty?"

Diana shot him a sharp glare. "How could you even suggest that? Evelyn is your daughter too."

Victor shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze. He simply couldn't wrap his head around it.

Turning back to Lila, Diana asked, "So, have you been dismissed from Grandview General?"

Lila dabbed at her damp lashes with a tissue. "Not yet. Evelyn gave me two choices. If I want to stay, I can only remain as an intern—no more exams, no chance of promotion. The other option is to leave."

A heavy silence settled over the room before Victor exploded, "What kind of ultimatum is that? That's outrageous! Don't worry, Lila, I'll call Evelyn right now and—"

"Stop!" Diana's firm voice cut through his anger.

Victor turned to her, bewildered.

"Think before you act," Diana said with a sigh.

Reluctantly, Victor lowered his phone, though his expression remained stormy.

Diana's gaze softened as she studied Lila. "Tell me, darling, what do you think about this?"

Lila hesitated, her fingers twisting the tissue. "I don’t want to leave Grandview. I fought so hard to get there! But… I can’t stay as an intern forever. Evelyn’s offer is just a way to humiliate me. She’s gone too far!"

"Then leave Grandview and find another hospital," Diana said calmly, her tone pragmatic. "Owathe has plenty of reputable institutions."

Lila bit her lip. "But… but I—"

"But you don’t want to leave Grandview, yet you refuse to accept the terms," Diana finished for her, her gaze unwavering. "Do you honestly think you can have both?"

Lila faltered, her lips parting, but no words came out. She looked away, defeated.

After a long pause, she whispered, "It wasn’t even my idea. My mentor—I just—"

Diana’s voice turned icy. "If you didn’t agree with the bet, you should have refused from the start. By going along with it, you accepted the consequences. Now that you’ve lost, you want to blame others? Lila, is this the kind of integrity I raised you with? Someone who runs from accountability?"

Lila’s lips trembled, fresh tears spilling over, but she said nothing.