Chapter 286 Don't Force Her

Chapter 286 Don't Force Her

Ethan's voice wasn't loud, but every word was laced with anger.

He was really pissed off. He felt like he should've been the one handling this—why did she go to Ruben?

He'd seen how gentle Ruben was with Hannah earlier, and jealousy suddenly welled up inside him.

Hannah looked up and saw his bloodshot eyes, the dark stubble on his chin—he looked completely exhausted.

She was quiet for a moment.

"You still haven't finished dealing with your family stuff. I didn't want to add to your problems."

"Your problems are never a burden to me." Ethan's gaze was full of dissatisfaction.

Hannah picked up her coffee, took a sip, then set the cup back down.

"After you went back, did you run into any trouble?"

"Who could possibly give me trouble?"

He knew she was changing the subject, but he didn't call her out on it, and his tone softened a bit.

"You found the evidence for me, the police gave a reasonable explanation—no one from the Lawson family dares to come after me."

Hannah nodded. "That's good then."

He looked at her, at the dark circles under her eyes, at her thin face.

She'd lost weight over the past few days in the hospital; her chin looked even more pointed now.

He reached out and took her hand. "The news online—I'll take care of it."

Hannah looked down at the hand holding hers. It was slender, with defined knuckles, and very warm.

She only paused for a few seconds before slowly pulling her hand back.

"This has nothing to do with you. You don't need to take care of it."

His hand froze in mid-air, his chest tightening.

He wanted to say "how could it have nothing to do with me?" He wanted to say, "you got hurt because you were saving me." He wanted to say "your business is my business."

But Hannah had already lowered her head and picked up her coffee again, avoiding his gaze entirely.

Her phone rang.

Hannah glanced at the caller ID—it was Shirley.

She answered, said a few words, then stood up.

"Shirley needs me, it's urgent. I have to go."

She didn't look at Ethan, just grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

Ethan sat there, watching her figure disappear through the restaurant entrance.

Cordelia and Sophia came over from another table.

Cordelia looked at his expression and asked carefully, "Did you two fight?"

Ethan didn't answer.

Sophia sighed. "That's just how Hannah is—she handles everything herself. Don't take it too personally. She doesn't like being a burden to others."

"I'm not 'others.'"

Ethan stood up. "I'm going after her."

"She doesn't want to see you right now. Going after her won't help." Cordelia stopped him. "Just give her some time. What she's been through—anyone else would've broken down already. Don't push her."

Ethan stood at the restaurant entrance, feeling even worse.

His relationship with Hannah—it was like every time they tried to move forward one step, they ended up taking two steps back.

He sighed.

"Fine. I won't push her. I'm willing to give her time."

Watching him leave looking so dejected, Sophia and Cordelia exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting quiet helplessness.

As women, they understood Hannah's feelings.

Sometimes, even when people love each other, they still cannot be together.

Meanwhile, Ruben moved fast.

That same evening, a series of news stories broke online about Cedarvale Medical Center leaking patient privacy.

Some were about leaking patient personal information, others about leaking family member information, spanning three years.

Each incident alone wasn't that big of a deal and usually went unnoticed.

But because Hannah's medical records leak was currently trending, these old cases being dug up immediately triggered a strong public reaction.

The hashtag #CedarvaleMedicalCenterLeaksPatientPrivacy shot to number one on the trending list.

The comments section was full of angry posts.

[So this isn't the first time? What's wrong with this hospital?]

[Oh my god, I've been treated at Cedarvale Medical Center. Was my information sold too?]

[How is this hospital still operating? Isn't anyone doing anything about this?]

[Are they going to start selling our organs next? I'm never going there again.]

Ruben's team kept pushing forward, releasing information piece by piece, with perfectly timed rhythm.

Ethan made his move too.

He used the Lawson family's media connections to dig deeper into Cedarvale Medical Center's problems.

Not just privacy leaks, but also non-compliant medical equipment procurement, questionable doctor credentials, improper handling of medical accidents...

One negative story after another, like a row of dominoes - once they started falling, they couldn't be stopped.

A few hours later, "insiders" started leaking information.

Ember was one of Cedarvale Medical Center's shareholders. She was the one who had Hannah's medical records pulled—not to investigate anything, but to take down a competitor.

Once this news broke, Ember's name and photos quickly spread online.

The comments shifted from criticizing the hospital to condemning her, with some people even digging up evidence of her past behavior.

[Rich people's minds are really twisted.]

[She's a woman herself, yet she uses this kind of thing to attack another woman. Disgusting.]

[She's always been like this overseas. I was her classmate, I know.]

[To secure a marriage alliance, she's gone after every rich guy's girlfriend. Really disgusting.]

In the Stone family mansion, Ember's grandfather stared at the news on his phone screen, his face dark.

He slammed the phone on the table, his voice shaking.

"This idiot!"

Ember knelt before him, crying so hard she could barely breathe.

"Grandpa, it wasn't me, I didn't—"

Her grandfather cut her off. "You didn't? Then who pulled those medical records? You think I won't find out?"

Ember opened her mouth but couldn't speak.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger, and a flash of sympathy, but that bit of sympathy vanished instantly.

"You've completely disgraced the Stone family."

"Starting today, all your authority at Meridian Group is revoked."

"You stay home. You're not going anywhere."

Ember rushed forward and grabbed his legs. "Grandpa, no!"

She only had a little bit of power left—if it was taken away, what would she be as a Stone family heir?

Her grandfather kicked her hands away and didn't look at her again.

Ember collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down continuously.

This time she really seemed to be finished.

But thinking about how Hannah's situation was now public knowledge, she showed a cruel smile.

"Hannah, you bitch. If I'm not doing well, don't think you can marry Ethan either."

"I will never let you have it easy—I'll make sure you can never turn your life around!"