Victoria hesitated as she stared at the small pill in Amy's palm. Taking medication when she wasn't ill—was that really a good idea? What if it backfired and made her condition worse?

Noticing Victoria's reluctance, Nathan—whose mind wasn't usually the quickest—suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"Amy," he said, crossing his arms, "you say this is some miracle cure. But how do we know it's not dangerous? What if it makes Victoria sicker instead?"

He leveled a challenging look at Amy. "Why don't you take one first? If nothing happens to you, then Victoria can have it."

Amy scoffed and pulled the pill back. "Are we living in medieval times now? This is a civilized society—poisoning someone in broad daylight is a crime. Do you honestly think I'd be that stupid?"

"If anything happened to her, a simple hospital test would expose everything. Do you think I could just vanish into thin air?"

"If you don't trust me, take it to a lab yourself."

"Am I Victoria's personal guinea pig now? Who do you think you're talking to? Take it or don't—your choice."

"But if Ms. Langley's condition deteriorates because of your paranoia, don't come crying to us later!"

Nathan had only meant it as an offhand comment, but Amy's sharp retort caught him off guard. The thought that his words might actually put Victoria at risk made his stomach twist. He definitely didn't want that on his conscience.

His gaze flicked to Alexander Blackwood. "Alex, say something, will you?"

Alexander suppressed a sigh. Nathan was a walking disaster—always stirring trouble and never thinking before he spoke. How many times had Alexander had to smooth things over for him? Normally, he'd let Nathan face the consequences, but this involved Victoria, so he couldn't stay silent.

"Nathan was just joking," Alexander said, his tone measured.

Amy arched a brow. "Is this really the time for jokes? This is serious medication—not candy. Surely, Mr. Blackwood, you understand that all drugs carry risks."

"If you don't trust us, feel free to find another specialist. Nathan's discharge papers are signed, and you haven't paid a cent yet, so you're free to walk away."

She paused, realization dawning. "Oh, I see. This was your plan all along, wasn't it? Pretending to care about Ms. Langley's health just to trick me into signing?"

Amy turned to Victoria with a mix of pity and scorn. "I thought Ms. Langley meant more to Mr. Blackwood and Mr. Prescott. But it seems their loyalty to each other outweighs any concern for her."

Even though Victoria knew Amy was trying to provoke her, the words still stung. She was aware that Alexander tolerated Nathan because of some past debt—Nathan had once saved his life. But lately, Alexander had been distant, and doubts had begun creeping in.

Was Alexander always this lenient because he genuinely cared? Or was it simply because Nathan was the one asking—making it impossible for him to refuse?

Alexander caught the subtle jab in Amy's words and frowned. "Amy, enough."

Amy shrugged, letting the matter drop. It was just idle talk, but judging by Victoria's expression, it had struck a nerve.