Chapter 166: Old Madam is at Stake

Old Madam sternly reprimanded Pamela. Each word carried immense weight; the shock reverberated through the room. Silence fell; a pin could have been heard dropping. The media reporters stared, dumbfounded.

Divine inhaled deeply. She’d previously considered her grandfather strict, but compared to Mrs. Robert, he seemed kind. Witnessing Pamela's scolding, Divine admired Mrs. Robert profoundly.

The crucial fact was this: Pamela hadn't saved the old woman! Divine's thoughts raced. She remembered Olive sharing the same assessment, arguing that Pamela wasn't the savior. Divine also recalled Olive's assurance that she had saved the old lady.

Could it be true? Divine felt faint. The real savior was Olive!

Though fond of Olive, Divine initially struggled to believe her.

Pamela's face flushed with embarrassment. She'd anticipated a different outcome, only to be humiliated. What should she do? Director Hudson was present, the media were there, and, worst of all, the live broadcast continued. The entire internet watched her, the so-called "talented girl." Her rise had been steep, her fall equally swift. She'd leveraged public opinion, but now faced inevitable backlash.

Pamela's eyes lit up; she adopted a pitiful expression.

"Ma'am, there's a misunderstanding. You simply dislike me, but many witnessed me sealing your acupuncture point. They can testify!"

Pamela refused to surrender without a fight.

Hudson, after a moment's hesitation, quickly interjected, "Ma'am, Pamela used a golden needle to save you. It stabilized your heartbeat and aided your quick recovery. I witnessed everything." His words carried weight; he was known for his ruthlessness and integrity. The media's presence further bolstered his claim.

"Ma'am Robert, we all testify it was Pamela," the reporters confirmed. "The first time, there were conflicting accounts, but this time, we were all witnesses."

Everyone supported Pamela. She prayed for the old lady's acceptance.

The old lady fixed her gaze on Pamela. "Did you give me acupuncture?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I saved you. You don't have to like me, but please accept the truth. I'm a doctor; I did my best." Pity filled Pamela's eyes.

Everyone admired her medical skill and composure.

The old lady seemed to feel a sharp pain in her chest and clutched at it.

"Ma'am?" Director Hudson rushed forward. "What's wrong?"

Sweat beaded on her forehead; she couldn't speak.

Pamela saw an opportunity. If the old lady fell ill again, she could showcase her skills and force acceptance.

"Director Hudson, let me seal her acupuncture point."

Hudson stepped aside, but Divine intervened.

"Pamela, you can't touch her! It was you who harmed the old lady!"

Divine turned to Hudson. "Do you remember what Olive said before she left? She said Pamela's technique was wrong, that she held the needle incorrectly, and the old lady's life was at stake!"

Hudson stiffened. Olive's words echoed in his ears.

"Pamela, the old lady isn't sick; you harmed her with incorrect needling!"

Pamela froze. How was that possible?

(The following section is a separate scene and should be separated from the previous one.)

North's assistant asked anxiously, "Beautiful North, what's going on? Who's behind this?"

North put her phone away. "We can't afford to offend this person. Don't worry; I'll handle it." She left the studio and arrived at Raven's villa.

Raven, in a navy sweater and black trousers, opened the door. "I'm preparing dinner. Come in."

North followed him into the kitchen, but she wasn't hungry.

"Raven, I'm here. Want to sleep with me? Congratulations, you won. Let's go upstairs. Half an hour should suffice," North said calmly.

Raven's expression was devoid of emotion. "I don't want it now. Let's eat first."

North turned off the stove. "I don't want to eat." She touched his belt buckle, starting to unbuckle it.

Raven leaned forward. North tiptoed, kissing him. "Now?"

Raven embraced her, placing her on the countertop. North didn't pull away, kissing him deeply. She wore a simple black dress with a bow.

Raven kissed her eyes. "You can go to other men for money, right?"

North's eyes were cold. "Every part of my body is insured and expensive. If I sleep with you, you should be grateful. Keep threatening me, or you'll never see my face again. And don't go broke, or I'll leave you."

Raven's eyes were dangerous. "I have you now, and that's all that matters."

He moved to kiss her, but North resisted. He pinched her face, forcing her mouth open. Knowing her pain tolerance, he deepened the kiss.

He carried her upstairs and placed her on the bed. She turned her back to him. He tried to hug her, but she stiffened.

He kissed her hair, noticing her rigidity. He sneered.

"What are you doing? You're so cold. You weren't like this the first time."

North buried her face in the pillow. "You remember the first time? Your skills were poor; it was uncomfortable, leaving me with a deep wound. I detested your presence."

Raven's face darkened. She used to crave him, but now she hated him. He felt like she was a kite, ready to fly away.

"North, this doesn't affect me. You're the one who got hurt," Raven said, unbuckling his belt.

North froze. Raven didn't know she'd once been pregnant with his child. On her eighteenth birthday, she'd left Los Angeles and discovered her pregnancy. Her drunken landlord had attacked her, causing her to bleed heavily. He fled in panic.

The text has been significantly cleaned up for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Note that there are still some stylistic choices (e.g., the repeated use of "Ma'am") that might be refined further depending on the desired tone and style of the narrative. The two separate scenes were also separated for clarity.