Chapter 60: Confrontation Before the Cameras

"Hey Anna, with your crazy hours at the hospital, you still got time to hit up the auction?" Thalia asked, all fake concern, right in front of the cameras at the venue's entrance.

Anna smirked, her clear eyes locking onto Thalia. "No matter how nuts things get at the hospital, there's always time for a breather."

She flicked a stray hair from her forehead, a flash of something in her eyes, and went on, "Honestly, I can't even compare to you. We both come from medical families, but I'm always stuck at the hospital. You, on the other hand, just get to chill at Aurora Mansion, no need to mess with meds."

Thalia, still trying to play the delicate flower for the media, had no clue Anna was done with her nonsense. Anna wasn't about to play along with Thalia's act. Just looking at her was annoying enough.

The biggest sore spot for Thalia was being from a medical dynasty but having zero talent for it. The Howards were legends in the medical world, with top-notch academicians and experts. This glory lasted until Wesley and Samuel's generation, when things started to shift.

Anna's dad, Wesley, was even more talented than his ancestors. But his brother Samuel? Not so much. So, eight years ago, after Wesley passed away, Samuel couldn't hack it at the hospital and bailed early to start a company.

In Anna and Thalia's generation, the gap was even wider. Anna's parents were both big shots in medicine. Growing up around it, Anna had a natural knack for it and kept pushing the boundaries.

Thalia, though? She hated the cold, sterile vibe of hospitals and always said they were places for the dead, bad luck. She'd whine that the disinfectant smell messed with her nose.

Samuel wanted Thalia to uphold the family's honor, but she was having none of it. So, Samuel and Sierra just accepted that Thalia wasn't cut out for the medical field.

Even though Samuel made it big in business after leaving the hospital, Thalia had zero talent for running a company. So, Thalia, spoiled her whole life, had been lounging around for over twenty years, doing zilch.

As Sierra put it, Thalia didn't need to be out there hustling or being a boss lady. She just needed to look pretty and marry some powerful dude.

Even though Thalia's life was a breeze, she still had that medical family blood in her veins. Watching Anna kill it in the medical field and get all the praise and respect just made Thalia's jealousy and hatred for Anna grow even deeper. It got so bad she wished Anna would just drop dead, like, she wanted to snatch everything Anna had for herself!

Now, with her darkest secret out in the open, the burning hate in Thalia's heart almost made her lose it. For a second, she forgot she was outside, with a million cameras on her. She almost lunged forward to rip off her mask and show her true, jealous, and nasty self.

But right then, Michael, green with envy, glared at Charles and Anna's linked hands and snapped, "Thalia's the one I love. She doesn't need to be out there hustling. She just needs to live easy and happy under my wing."

Michael's words popped Thalia's jealousy like a balloon. Her mood flipped, and she shot Anna a smug, challenging look.

Charles noticed Anna's grip tightening when Michael spoke. He gave her a quick glance, then turned to Michael and Thalia. "Mr. Tudor, that's rich. Your fiancée gets to chill while my wife has to work her butt off?"

Charles squeezed Anna's hand and, in front of everyone, wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. His eyes were full of soft affection.

"Being a doctor is Anya's thing. She loves it. As her husband, I back her all the way. If one day Anya decides she's done with the hospital or medical research, I'll spoil her, let her blow all my money, just to see her smile," Charles said.

His words were so heartfelt, even Anna almost bought into the idea that she was his one true love. But, gotta admit, Charles's words totally shut down Michael's jab.

Anna's eyes showed a hint of sarcasm.

Michael still had some effect on her, but it was tiny now. Like a pebble tossed into a calm lake, it made a few ripples before vanishing. Anna could feel her feelings for Michael fading fast. Every time he showed up, every time he tried to humiliate her, it sped up the process.

Thalia couldn't stand seeing Charles pamper Anna, the orphan. She couldn't help but chirp, "Anna and Mr. Percy don't seem as distant as the online rumors say."

"Yeah." Anna smirked coldly at Thalia. "I married a good man. Hope you can do the same."

She turned her gaze to Michael, who was staring at her hard, her eyes narrowing. "And stick with Mr. Tudor."

The crowd watched the showdown with keen interest, but no one was dumb enough to chime in. Only the reporters' cameras caught the whole drama.

On the side, Austin quietly watched Charles and Michael, his feelings a mystery.

As Anna walked past him to enter the venue, Austin's eyes showed a flicker of pain for the stubborn Anna, who refused to show any weakness.