Chapter 205 Do You Dare Say That Again?
"I just never imagined that the Titan family could be so shameless. They've been scheming all along, trying to get Holden to go to Virlet Manor and sell his body to win Anne back."
Selyma's eyes widened. "What!?"
She couldn't believe it. Wasn't it said that Anne had shamelessly begged her ex-husband to take her back? How come in Dr. Pascal's version, it was Anne being pursued? If this was true, then her divorce wasn't about being kicked out at all—she left because she looked down on the Titan family.
Moreover, Dr. Pascal just said that Anne and her ex-husband never even slept together. Had she really kept herself pure all this time?
Selyma frowned. In that case, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Friedel married Anne...
No, that wouldn't do.
Selyma still couldn't accept this marriage. In her view, Friedel could marry anyone—why did it have to be a divorcee? Even if she never slept with anyone and was completely pure, just being divorced was already degrading enough.
She couldn't help asking, "Dr. Pascal, is what you're saying true? You're not making up lies to protect her, are you?"
Dr. Pascal stared coldly at Selyma. "You can judge for yourself whether I'm telling the truth. I can't be bothered to explain to you people, but if you're going to question my character like this, you don't need to come to me for treatment anymore."
Selyma quickly waved her hands in alarm. She didn't dare offend a skilled doctor—who knows when she might need his help in the future.
"No, no, I'm not doubting you. I was just curious. Of course I believe what you say."
"Hmph, I never wanted to stay with the Titan family in the first place. The people in this family act like they have no basic sense—they can't even manage to pay me for my services. During the three years Anne was there, she was the one paying my fees. Later, when I followed Trion to the Titan family, these people wanted to treat this old man like free labor."
"Then news came back from the eastern battlefield, and the Titan family mistook the decorated female knight commander for Candy. That's when I overheard a conversation in the corridor while I was in the courtyard. I heard that voice clear as day—it was this very Old Lady Titan playing the victim."
Dr. Pascal looked directly at Old Lady Titan, his voice stern. "Do you dare repeat in front of everyone here all the schemes and plots you were discussing back then?"
Old Lady Titan instinctively stepped back twice, but her legs went weak and wouldn't obey her. She fell straight backward, and only Mephist's quick reaction saved her as he stepped forward to catch her. "Mother, are you alright!"
Trion and Dr. Pascal exchanged glances. Remembering how Dr. Pascal had urged her to leave the Titan family back then, Trion suddenly felt uneasy. She wanted to grab Mephist's attention, but he was completely focused on Old Lady Titan and didn't notice her at all. Trion bit her lip and could only step back further.
Nina also came to her senses at this moment. She stepped forward to help Mephist support Old Lady Titan and couldn't help shouting at Dr. Pascal, "You old coot, stop threatening my mother!"
Only after saying this did she realize how rude that was, especially since some of these nobles might be her future husband's parents or brothers. If they saw her being disrespectful now, they might make things difficult for her again.
But Nina was overthinking it. What she didn't know was that no one present thought much of the Titan family. If they hadn't happened to get involved with the Virlet family, they would never have had the chance to appear at such a gathering, and the Titan name would never have reached these people's ears.
Not to mention that a daughter raised by such a minor family could never be chosen as their daughter-in-law.
Dr. Pascal didn't like Nina—he actually disliked her—so he didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he continued staring at Old Lady Titan, pressing her. "Since you want a reason, why don't you tell everyone what you said back then? Let everyone judge together whether I have good reason for refusing to treat the Titan family."
Princess Kirenya looked at the pale-faced Old Lady Titan with interest. She lifted her chin slightly. "Madam, please tell us what happened. If it's not something serious, maybe Dr. Pascal will agree to treat your husband, won't he?"
A drop of sweat slid down Old Lady Titan's cheek. How could she possibly say it?
How could she tell everyone about her schemes? That would destroy her reputation and the Titan family's name completely!
At this point, Old Lady Titan could only insist she never did it, that she didn't remember.
"I don't remember any such thing." She forced herself to stand straight, but anyone could see she was barely holding on. The noble ladies around them started speaking up.
"Well, if you want Dr. Pascal to treat your husband, you should clear up this conflict."
"You're so resistant—did you say something terrible?"
"If you're asking someone for help, you need to have the right attitude."
Old Lady Titan gritted her teeth. "I never said anything like that. If Dr. Pascal is going to target me because Anne asked him to, then I have nothing to say."
Dr. Pascal nodded coolly. "Since your memory is so poor, let me tell it then."
"When news came back from the eastern battlefield, Old Lady Titan mistakenly thought the person who distinguished herself was Candy. She figured that with Holden and Candy's combined military achievements, the Titan family would be rewarded, maybe even elevated to earl or marquis. So she wanted to find her son a new wife."
"As for the current daughter-in-law, since her family wasn't powerful and wouldn't take their daughter back, she decided that after her son divorced her, this daughter-in-law would stay on. The reason for staying would be to serve as a bridge for the Titan family to connect with gentlemen from other families."
Trion's eyes widened. At that time, Old Lady Titan couldn't possibly have wanted to replace Candy—after all, she believed Candy's military achievements would bring glory to the Titan family and wouldn't be cast aside so easily.
That meant the only person on that list could have been her.
Trion remembered how Old Lady Titan had kept threatening to make Mephist divorce her. The more she thought about it, the more likely Dr. Pascal's words seemed, especially since he had specifically urged her to leave the Titan family before he left.
She murmured, "Mother, was I the person Dr. Pascal is talking about?"