Free Web NovelChapter 185: Replace her with Clara.
The doctor looked at the woman and slowly pursed his lips.
"Madam Scott, please calm down," he said, his voice polite and composed. "Ms. Scott is fine. She fainted most likely due to sudden weakness."
"Weakness?" Charlotte repeated, her voice tight with disbelief.
The doctor nodded and explained patiently, "Yes. However ... we’ve already put her on IV fluids. Once the course is complete, she should start feeling better."
Liam stepped forward at that moment, his tone controlled but edged with doubt.
"She does diet often, but her meals are all planned under a nutritionist’s supervision. She couldn’t have fainted just from mere weakness. Could there be something you might be missing?"
His words clearly carried skepticism toward the doctor’s assessment.
However—
The doctor didn’t look offended.
He had known the Scotts for years. Naturally, he also knew how deeply the Scott brothers cared for their younger sister.
And right now, it was obvious Liam was speaking out of concern, not arrogance.
Offering him a reassuring smile, the doctor gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You’re worrying too much. She is fine."
He paused briefly before adding, thoughtfully —
"Having nutritionally balanced meals isn’t always enough, CEO Scott. She also needs to have them on time without skipping."
Liam held his gaze for a second before giving a slow nod —silently acknowledging his words.
The doctor offered him one last reassuring smile before taking his leave.
The moment he was gone, Charlotte and Liam hurried inside.
Matilda and Maria followed closely behind.
Inside the ward—
Clara lay on the bed, her frail frame barely moving as she rested.
"Mom ..." she said weakly, trying to push herself up.
Charlotte immediately rushed to her side, her brows knitted tight.
"Who said you can sit up like that?"
She gently pressed Clara back against the pillows, her movements careful but firm.
"You’re already in this condition, and you still want to give me more worries?"
"Mom, I didn’t know I would—"
"That you would end up in the hospital?" Charlotte cut in, her frown deepening. "How could you not know?"
Her voice trembled between anger and fear.
"Given how you eat like a bird, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I knew this —that’s why I kept urging you to eat properly. But you never listened."
Clara fell silent.
She lowered her gaze, quietly accepting the blame without any protest.
Seeing her like that —frail, pale, and so uncharacteristically meek —Charlotte’s heart broke.
Tears welled up again as she reached out and cupped Clara’s face.
"You don’t know how scared I was when I heard you were in the hospital ..." she said, her voice shaking. "How could you scare your mother like that, Clara? How could you—?"
She broke into sobs, the tears rolling freely down her cheeks.
Clara immediately reached up and wiped them away.
"Mom, I’m sorry. I really didn’t—"
"Clara," Liam interjected, his voice tight, cutting through the moment. "What went wrong? Weren’t you fine yesterday?"
Clara looked at him, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
"Liam, I—"
But he didn’t wait. freēwebnovel.com
Instead, he turned sharply to Maria, his gaze turning cold and demanding.
Maria immediately understood that look. Yet instead of answering, she instinctively glanced toward Clara.
"Maria," Liam called out sharply, making her flinch, "tell me honestly —what happened yesterday?"
Clara didn’t move, but her gaze shifted subtly toward Maria —silent, controlled ... a warning, or perhaps a cue.
"Maria—"
"CEO Scott, yesterday ..." Maria blurted out, clearly frightened. "Ms. Scott was very upset. Except for breakfast in the morning, she didn’t eat anything for the rest of the day."
Liam’s expression darkened instantly.
"She didn’t eat, and you’re telling me this now?"
"I—I—"
"Liam, don’t scare her," Clara interrupted, her voice soft but deliberate. "She was only following my instructions. I didn’t want to worry any of you."
Liam turned back to her, anger flashing in his eyes. fгeewebnovёl.com
But beneath it, there was unmistakable concern.
Clenching his fingers, he forced himself to calm down.
"Don’t do this again," he said finally, reaching out to gently caress her hair.
Clara managed a weak smile and nodded to him.
Charlotte, too, seemed to relax slightly, relieved to see her daughter somewhat better.
But then, recalling something, she asked,
"Maria said you were upset yesterday. What happened?"
Clara hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the bedsheet as she avoided her mother’s gaze.
Of course, Charlotte noticed. Her brows furrowed as she waited.
But Clara remained silent.
Instead, she glanced at Liam.
Before Liam could react—
Charlotte turned to him.
"Liam, what is it? You tell me. Did something happen yesterday?"
Liam’s expression grew complicated ...
He hesitated, but after a brief pause, he said seriously, "She didn’t get the role she was looking forward to."
Charlotte frowned.
"She didn’t get it?"
She turned to Clara with disbelief evident in her eyes.
"You were upset over something like a role??"
"Mom ... I really wanted that role," Clara said, her voice was trembling. "I couldn’t just let it go ... not after putting in so much effort to prepare for it. I— "
Her voice broke as tears spilled over, her body trembling softly.
Seeing her like that, Charlotte immediately leaned forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Oh ... sweetheart, you don’t have to cry over something like this," she murmured, stroking her hair gently. "If you want that role, Liam will help you get it ..."
She then turned toward her son, her expression shifting into displeasure.
"Your sister is already crying like this. Why won’t you help her?"
"Mom, I—"
Before he could respond, Clara spoke again, gently pulling away from Charlotte’s arms.
"Mom, don’t blame Liam," she said, sniffling softly. "Even if he wants to help me, he can’t."
She glanced at Liam, her tone understanding —almost too understanding.
"Director Rhodes has already finalized the casting. There’s nothing that can be changed now."
Charlotte didn’t know much about the industry.
All she knew was that things had never been this difficult for Clara before.
Her daughter had always proven her talent and capability ...
Why would anyone reject her?
"So what if he chose someone else?" Charlotte said, turning back to Liam. "Can’t you ask him to replace her with Clara? With her reputation, they wouldn’t suffer any loss."
Liam’s brows furrowed deeply. His fingers tightened into fists, but he held his calm.
"Mom, it doesn’t work like that," he said, his tone came firm. "Even if Clara is now a well-established actress in the industry, if the Director and his team didn’t choose her, there’s nothing we can do."
"How can that be?" Charlotte’s expression darkened further. "Isn’t it just one role?"
"Mom, it might just be a role to us ..." Liam said slowly, "but to that film, it’s its soul."
"Liam, Clara is your sister. She’s crying. How can you bear to see her like this?"
"Mom, I—"
While Liam and Charlotte continued speaking, neither of them noticed—
A faint, satisfied glint flashed in Clara’s eyes.
As if ...
This was exactly what she had been waiting for all along.
