Chapter 7
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Yet strangely, when questioned by police, Iris Sullivan refused to implicate anyone. No matter what they asked, she insisted everything was consensual.
In the end, Iris Sullivan shouldered all the blame alone.
Though Julian escaped unscathed, he feared she might eventually talk. He demanded her immediate dismissal for "ethical misconduct."
He also pushed for severe disciplinary action against Lucas Reed for "assaulting a potential investor."
Throughout the hospital, not a single soul dared defend them.
Yet Lucas Reed acted as if nothing had happened. He brazenly transferred Iris to his team and took her under his wing.
Amid the swirling rumors, Iris's mental state deteriorated rapidly.
One afternoon, Lucas found Iris on the hospital roof, sitting alone, staring into nothing.
Lucas later shared a recording of their conversation with me.
"Dr. Reed, why... why is Julian like this?" Iris sobbed, her voice cracking. "I thought he was different."
"We all make mistakes," Lucas replied calmly. "You were deceived because his mask is particularly convincing."
Something in his words triggered Iris.
She shook her head violently. "No, it's not like that at all!"
"I had an older sister. My brother-in-law killed her!"
"He abandoned her during pregnancy. She fell into depression and eventually bled out on an operating table! That's why I hate men like that!"
"So when I saw that Dr. Winters was married but still hitting on me, I deliberately got close to him. I wanted Dr. Shaw to see what a scumbag he was and leave him."
"I never wanted him for myself. I was just trying to expose a cheater."
"But... but..." Her face crumpled. "Somehow, at some point, I started falling for him."
She buried her face in her hands. "He told me he never loved Dr. Shaw, that she trapped him into marriage. He said he fell for me at first sight and wanted to spend his life with me. God, I was such a fool."
"I even..." she choked, "I even let him take compromising photos. He said it was exciting..."
Lucas sighed heavily. "So when you finally saw his true colors, he blackmailed you with those photos?"
Iris nodded frantically, sobbing harder.
I set down the recorder, finally understanding everything.
So that was the truth.
This was the secret Iris had been hiding all along.
But she was still so naive. Julian was a master manipulator—he'd even fooled my brilliant father. How could this young girl ever stand a chance?
The recording ended with Lucas offering advice.
"Iris, only you can save yourself. The more afraid you are, the more power he has. Sometimes standing your ground makes bullies back down. Think about what I've said..."
