Chapter 203 Guadalupe Panicked
James frowned, taken aback by Guadalupe's cunning. He wanted to snap back, but the words just wouldn't come.
Seeing James hesitate, Guadalupe seized the moment, his voice dripping with fake concern. "Looks like the Hall of Benevolent Medicine isn't what it pretends to be—hiding behind a spokesperson, too scared to face the music. Is this how you treat the public? Send out a scapegoat when things go south. Shame on you!"
He turned to the crowd, his voice booming with righteous anger. "This is how they operate! No accountability and no responsibility! They'll say anything to dodge the blame. Do you really want to trust your health to a clinic that treats its patients like this?"
His words, sharp and venomous, hit home. Already on edge, the crowd erupted in fresh outrage.
"He's right! They're trying to pull a fast one!"
"Unbelievable! I thought they were supposed to be healers, not con artists!"
"Boycott the Hall of Benevolent Medicine!"
"Shut them down!"
As the crowd's anger threatened to boil over, Jennifer stepped forward, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hand as she clasped James's.
"That's not true! His name is James, and he's the founder of this clinic. More importantly, he's no layman. He's the one who taught me everything I know about traditional medicine. Even Dr. Wheeler from HC Medical Center holds his skills in high regard. His knowledge surpasses yours, Guadalupe, by leaps and bounds!"
The crowd, most of whom hadn't been present for the clinic's opening ceremony, stared at James with newfound curiosity. A few who vaguely remembered him were stunned.
'This ordinary-looking man was Dr. Johnson's husband?' they thought.
Envy flickered in the eyes of some men. In their eyes, Dr. Johnson was a beauty, as radiant as any celebrity, yet that she'd chosen this unassuming man was unacceptable to them.
Guadalupe, too, was taken aback. His bluster faltered for a moment as he scrutinized James with a newfound seriousness. "What's your relationship with Dr. Wheeler?" he asked, his tone wary.
"We're good friends," James replied, his voice steady and sure.
The effect was instantaneous. Moments ago, the crowd was ready to storm the clinic, but they fell silent.
"Liar!"
Dr. Ingram, emboldened by Guadalupe's momentary hesitation, stepped forward. "Words are cheap. Anyone can claim to be friends with Dr. Wheeler."
Dr. Jones chimed in, his voice shrill with desperation. "Don't believe a word they say! They're just trying to save their skin. If we let them get away with this, who knows what harm they'll inflict next? Let's teach them a lesson they won't forget!"
His words, fueled by fear and opportunism, found fertile ground among the more volatile members of the crowd. The mob mentality quelled for a moment, threatened to resurface.
Seeing this, Jennifer's grip on James's hand tightened. This was escalating beyond anything she'd ever experienced.
James's face hardened. He'd underestimated the depths of their depravity. These men were willing to risk anything to protect their interests, even if it meant endangering others. He would show them no more mercy.
Stepping forward, he stood protectively in front of the clinic, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. "Take one more step towards this clinic," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "And you'll answer to me."
The air crackled with tension. The aura of authority he'd displayed earlier intensified, radiating outwards like a physical force. The crowd, who had been feeling bold just moments before, now stood frozen in place, their confidence fading away under his steady and unwavering gaze.
Even Guadalupe felt a shiver of fear for a fleeting moment.
'Who is this man?' he thought.
The intensity of James's presence was unnerving, almost familiar, like a dim memory of a stern professor he'd once feared.
"Don't think for a second that you're above the law," James continued, his voice cold and sharp. "Vandalism and inciting a riot—these are serious offenses. There are cameras everywhere. Every single one of you will be held accountable for your actions."
His words, delivered with absolute conviction, struck fear into the hearts of the mob. The cameras, previously forgotten in their anger, now loomed large in their minds. The thought of facing legal repercussions for their actions quelled their fury.
Some even began to discreetly edge away, eager to melt back into the anonymity of the crowd.
Guadalupe, his face flushed with anger and humiliation, blustered, "Don't try to scare us! We know our rights! This clinic is at fault! They injured a patient, and now they're trying to weasel out of their responsibility! We're simply demanding justice!"
He was twisting the narrative, attempting to paint himself as the victim, but his words rang hollow even to his own ears.
James, however, wasn't buying it. He'd dealt with enough bullies in his life to recognize the tactic. "Justice?" he scoffed. "You call this justice? Dragging a group of people into your vendetta without a shred of evidence? You're a disgrace to the medical profession."
Dr. Ingram opened his mouth to retort, but James silenced him with a look. "I suggest you keep quiet," he said, his voice dangerously soft.
Dr. Ingram, his face draining of color, stumbled back as if struck. He'd never encountered such raw, controlled anger before, and it terrified him.
James had always been a man of peace, slow to anger and quick to forgive. But these men, driven by greed and a complete lack of ethics, had pushed him too far. He would not stand by and let them hurt innocent people.
The crowd, sensing the shift in power, watched in stunned silence as James, alone and unarmed, held them at bay with nothing but his presence. It was as if he'd become a different person, his easygoing demeanor replaced by an aura of unshakeable authority.
Standing beside him, Jennifer felt a surge of pride and something more. The strength he displayed and his unwavering sense of justice were captivating. She'd never admired him more than she did at that moment.
James, oblivious to her internal turmoil, continued, his voice firm and resolute, "The Hall of Benevolent Medicine has never shirked its responsibilities. If we are at fault, we will accept the consequences, no matter how severe. But," he added, his gaze piercing Guadalupe, "we will not be bullied into taking the blame for your mistakes."
"So, you admit you're responsible?" Guadalupe pounced, sensing an opportunity. "The patient is paralyzed! You'll pay for his treatment, for his pain and suffering!"
James looked at him as if he were a particularly dimwitted child. "Did I stutter? I said we would take responsibility if, and only if, it is proven that we are at fault."
Guadalupe bristled, his face turning red with fury. He thought, 'He is just a nobody. How dare he mock me and question my intelligence?’
Before he could unleash his rage, James continued, his voice calm and measured, "The patient received treatment at both our clinic and yours. The only way to determine whose medication caused his paralysis is through a blood test at a reputable hospital. The truth will speak for itself."
He turned to the family members, his gaze softening. "Digital Health Hospital is just a short drive from here. Are you willing to let the truth be known?"
The family members murmured amongst themselves, their anger tempered by James's unwavering confidence and a healthy dose of fear. They weren't fools. They could tell Guadalupe's increasingly erratic behavior and desperate attempts to avoid a hospital visit spoke volumes.
"We agree," the first man finally said, his voice firm. A chorus of agreement arose from the others.
"No! We're not going to any hospital!" Guadalupe shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
All eyes turned to him, their expressions a mixture of suspicion and disgust.
"And why not?" James asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
Guadalupe stammered, unable to meet his gaze. He'd been so focused on shifting the blame that he hadn't considered the possibility of being exposed. Now, trapped by his lies, he had no way out.
The crowd, sensing his fear, watched with a mixture of curiosity and contempt. The tide had turned, and Guadalupe, once the confident accuser, was now the one on trial.
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