Chapter 151 Written All Over

*Amanda's POV*

Sunday noon arrived and I forced myself out of bed, still tired from the night before. Food smells came from downstairs where Martha had made lunch.

My pregnancy nausea started immediately when I saw my plate. I managed a few bites before giving up.

Martha noticed I wasn't eating and offered to make ginger tea for my morning sickness.

I accepted, grateful for her understanding. Pregnancy was making everyday tasks difficult, and my appetite was constantly changing.

Martha busied herself at the kitchen counter before dropping a bombshell.

"How's your project at Weill Cornell Medicine going? Dr. Wright mentioned it the other day."

My head snapped up. Why would Diana be talking about my work with the housekeeper? And why bring it up now?

"Nothing special, just routine research," I said, keeping my voice even. "Don't worry about it, Martha. Everything's fine."

She nodded and returned to her tasks. Something felt off. Martha had practically raised Diana - her loyalty shouldn't be in question. But after the hotel incident... No. This was probably just pregnancy hormones making me paranoid. Or was it?

---

Monday morning came too quickly. I'd barely stepped into Blackwood Tower when Ethan intercepted me.

"Change of plans. We're heading to Sterling Group."

"Now? What for?"

"Medical equipment partnership. I'll explain on the way."

The ride was short but tense. Ethan's jaw was set in that way that meant trouble was brewing.

At Sterling headquarters, I finally met Gregory Freeman in person - Diana Wright's younger brother. Despite being her sibling, his hair was already silver-gray. Dressed in a neat suit, he greeted us with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Robert Sterling was already there, deep in conversation with Gregory when we entered. After introductions, Gregory commented on how capable young people were these days.

Then Ethan, being Ethan, went straight for the jugular.

"You're too kind, Dr. Freeman. I imagine at my age, you were already planning your takeover of Cornell Medical Research Center."

Was he trying to start a war? Gregory Freeman controlled half the medical research grants in the country!

"Ethan's joking," I jumped in. "His humor can be a bit direct sometimes."

Gregory's smile remained fixed. "I appreciate young people's frankness, Dr. Davis."

The air in the room felt charged enough to power a defibrillator.

Once the meeting officially started, I knew I needed to steer things back to professional ground.

"As a physician," I said, "I recommend we form a specialized team to evaluate these medical devices thoroughly before making manufacturing decisions. Each piece of equipment needs to meet clinical standards while remaining cost-effective."

Robert nodded. "A professional suggestion. Gregory, where would you suggest setting up this team?"

"Cornell Medical Research Center welcomes such collaboration," Gregory replied. "We have the space and resources. I'm curious though - who will represent your companies?"

Ethan didn't hesitate. "Amanda will handle everything for Blackwood Group. Her medical background and business acumen make her perfect for this."

"Sophia will represent Sterling," Robert said. "She recently returned from Europe with unique insights into international medical equipment markets."

Sterling's daughter? With zero medical background? This wasn't a fashion show - people's lives would depend on these machines. But I kept my face neutral. The last thing we needed was another confrontation.

---

Midway through discussing technical details, the door swung open. A young woman in business attire strode in, radiating confidence and entitlement.

Sophia Davis.

She greeted her father warmly before taking a seat. Robert affectionately explained her role in the Cornell project, his voice dripping with paternal pride.

When Sophia's gaze landed on Ethan, her cheeks flushed pink. Her eyes filled with something between adoration and familiarity.

Everyone noticed. Gregory, ever the opportunist, pounced.

"Is there something special between you two young people?" he asked, smiling widely. "Are Blackwood and Sterling families preparing to announce happy news? A merger of two great dynasties would be quite exciting."

Ethan's response was ice cold. "Nothing of the sort. We're business partners only. Please don't misunderstand, Dr. Freeman."

Sophia's eyes welled with tears. She looked away quickly, but not before I caught it.

A strange twinge shot through my chest. Ethan and Sophia? When? How? It shouldn't matter - our marriage was just a business arrangement, a contract between families. So why did seeing her tears make my throat tighten?

What history were they hiding? And why did Gregory bring it up so pointedly?

After the meeting concluded, Gregory left first. As Ethan and I prepared to exit, Robert called out.

"Ethan, a moment. Sophia is my daughter. I don't want her hurt in any way. I trust you understand me."

Ethan's face remained impassive. "The situation is still being investigated. When the truth comes to light, I'll address things properly with the Sterling family. It's too early for conclusions, Robert."

In the elevator, curiosity got the better of me.

"What was that about? What happened between you and Sophia?"

Instead of answering, Ethan changed the subject entirely.

"About the Plaza Hotel incident - I've discovered something."

"The security footage at the hotel has been tampered with," Ethan continued. "Your image doesn't appear anywhere during that timeframe."

"Someone altered the recordings?" My brain raced to connect the dots.

"Yes. I hired the best tech specialists, but they couldn't recover the original footage. Whoever did this was thorough and professional."

Ethan studied my face carefully. Looking for guilt? For fear? All he'd find was genuine shock.

"Maybe this wasn't aimed at me," I suggested. "What if you were the target? Someone wanting to damage your reputation or influence your decisions?"

Something flickered across his expression. "Perhaps. Be careful, Amanda."

With that cryptic warning, he walked away, leaving me with more questions than answers.

After the medical task force formed, I started working at Weill Cornell Medicine. The facility was enormous, with modern equipment everywhere. Walker met me at the entrance to show me around.

Walking through clean hallways, he asked, "Dr. Davis, why join this commercial project with your talents?"

I looked at him directly. "For the money."

He looked surprised.

"Some people kill for money," I added. "I'm just working legally for mine. Is that wrong?"

Eric Perez quickly changed the subject, but I made my point. I wasn't naive. I understood what was happening here.

The project team was already in the conference room when I arrived. Medical specialists were reviewing documents, everyone looking professional.

Then Sophia Davis arrived twenty minutes late without apologizing. She wore expensive clothes and accessories, acting like everyone should have waited for her.

Ken, Robert's assistant, greeted her politely despite being annoyed.

"We've started discussing vendor proposals, Ms. Davis. Would you like to review the materials?"

"Oh, sorry. Carry on, I'm listening." She pulled out her phone and started scrolling. "These technical details are so boring though. You professionals should just decide."

While she tapped away on social media, I meticulously reviewed each equipment specification, asking targeted questions.

"This MRI system claims 30% stronger magnetic field than competitors at nearly the same price point. We need data on its stability and maintenance costs."

The Cornell representative nodded. "Excellent question, Dr. Davis. That's precisely what we need to evaluate."

Sophia barely looked up from her screen.

After thorough discussion, I proposed a timeline.

"From a professional perspective, we need to examine each piece of equipment carefully. A comprehensive comparison will take about a month. These machines will be used on actual patients - we must verify their safety and effectiveness."

Sophia snorted loudly, interrupting everyone.

"Dr. Davis, you're so small-minded! Blackwood and Sterling are top-tier financial powers. Business should be done right. Your penny-pinching makes it sound like we can't afford the best!"

The room fell silent. Every eye darted between us.