Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Hallie stepped directly into the spotlight, one hand in her doctor's overall pocket.
She seemed entirely at ease, undeterred by the flurry of camera flashes. Her expression remained calm and composed, as if unaware of the chaos around her.
"You heartless witch! How dare you show your face here?"
Insults rained down as the crowd closed in.
Dozens of reporters surged forward, microphones and cameras thrust toward her.
"Ms. Levine, is it true you misdiagnosed a patient on purpose?"
"You became the hospital's youngest doctor. Did nepotism help you climb the ranks?"
The questions came faster than she could process.
Carla, lurking in the background, wore a triumphant smile. With public opinion so firmly against Hallie, she was certain Hallie would be too ashamed to stay on the job.
Amid the din of a dozen questions, Hallie found herself unable to get a word in edgewise.
The middle-aged man surnamed Patel continued to point at Hallie and rant, while curious onlookers blocked the hospital entrance, hindering patients trying to register.
The scene had descended into pure chaos.
This was worse than Hallie had anticipated. Her fingers clenched into a fist.
"I thought you could manage, huh? Looks like you're out of moves." Nelson sauntered to her side, his tone dripping with cold sarcasm.
Hallie shot Nelson a sidelong glance. Why did he always choose her most vulnerable moments to upset her?
Then Nelson's sharp gaze fixed on the middle-aged man.
"Don't you want to know who really did this?" His deep, magnetic, and pleasant voice carried across the room, while his tall frame naturally commanded attention.
Even in the chaos, his domineering presence silenced the crowd instantly.
Thankfully, Nelson preferred staying out of the limelight. Shortly after registering their marriage, he had his team delete all online mentions and photos of the event.
Otherwise, if reporters realized this was the sole heir to the Blair Group, a top-tier conglomerate, pandemonium would erupt.
Sensing Nelson wasn't ordinary, the man eyed him warily. "What are you getting at?"
"Exactly what I said." Nelson's tone was flat.
"What would she gain by harming your mother? To make herself public enemy number one, like what you're doing now?"
The man hesitated, then glared back, red-rimmed eyes demanding as he asked, "Who are you to her? Why do you think she's innocent?"
Nelson frowned, impatience flickering. He glanced at Hallie, then forced out, "A friend."
"Well, 'friend'?" The man scoffed, his contempt obvious. "No wonder you're sticking up for her. You're cut from the same cloth."
Nelson regarded the man as though he were facing a fool. "Forget it. Believe what you want." Without another word, he turned and walked away, done with the charade.
Strangely, the man panicked, thinking, 'If this woman is innocent, am I letting the real culprit off the hook?'
"Wait, what evidence do you have?" he called out abruptly.
Carla, lurking in the shadows to enjoy the show, watched in frustration as the middle-aged man who had railed against Hallie was leaving with her.
'How does Hallie find such an ally?' She stamped her foot, seething.
Glaring at Hallie's retreating figure, Carla realized with a jolt where they were headed: the security office.
"Think again, after getting the prescription, did you interact with anyone?" Hallie pressed as they hurried to the security office.
The man frowned, racking his memory.
"I took my mother downstairs for meds after leaving your office. I didn't interact with anyone. I gave the script to the nurse... Wait."
His voice trailed off as a memory surfaced. "Someone approached the nurse right after, said something, but I didn't catch it."
"Surveillance will show us later."
Hallie picked up speed.
"No, why? Didn't you say I could watch just now? Why can't I now?"
At the security office door, they found Clarissa being shoved out by guards.
"What's going on?" Hallie demanded.
Clarissa looked frantic, lowering her voice. "I was about to pull up the footage, but they got a phone call and kicked me out."
Hearing her words, Hallie was discouraged. She'd suspected the culprit had connections, and now it was confirmed.
"Why can't we enter?" Hallie fixed a security guard with a domineering stare.
"Dr. Levine, we're under orders. Higher-ups said no one can check the surveillance. It's about protecting privacy." The guard spread his hands helplessly.
The middle-aged man had no patience for this. Blocked outside, his anger flared. "You're in cahoots! Stalling for time to avoid responsibility, aren't you?"
Hallie had no idea what to say. She could only turn back to the guard.
"Please let us in. Just a quick look. You see how this is affecting me and the hospital's reputation."
"Not our problem. We just monitor the cameras." The guard shrugged indifferently.
"It's a direct order. No matter how bad this gets, we're not the ones in trouble."
Hallie opened her mouth, but no words came.
Then Nelson stepped forward. Hallie glanced at him instinctively.
Between his slender fingers, Nelson held a bank card. "There's 150 thousand dollars in this account. Is that enough to unlock the surveillance room?"
The two security guards' eyes lit up. "More than enough."
Nelson flicked the bank card casually, and they lunged to catch it. Their demeanor shifted instantly as they opened the door respectfully and stepped aside. Nelson walked in.
"Damn, is that your husband? He's so rich, just dropping 150 thousand dollars like it's nothing?" Clarissa hissed in Hallie's ear, eyes wide.
Hallie forced an awkward smile.
"What are you waiting for? Want me to watch the footage alone?" Nelson paused in the doorway, glancing back.
Hallie bit her lip and followed Clarissa.
"Thanks."
She'd hoped a civil tone might thaw him, but his eyes stayed frosty. "I'm just done with this bullshit," he snapped. "Don't think it's a gift. The interest is 3,000 dollars a day."