Severing All Ties

With Dr. Rowan Lin present, there was no way Dr. Oscar Young would let Lana Evans slander him. He immediately testified for himself, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket and shouting, "I have proof! This is the contract Lana Evans signed with me, agreeing to sell me the precious medicinal herbs she swindled from her father! Medical Sage, please take a look! Please judge fairly!"

Dr. Oscar Young hurriedly shoved the contract into Dr. Rowan Lin’s hands.

Lana Evans stared at the contract, her eyes almost bleeding with rage and regret.

She had only drafted that contract because she was worried Dr. Oscar Young would shortchange her when collecting the herbs. It was her clever way to protect herself.

But who could have guessed that the contract would end up as evidence against her!

Lana Evans wanted nothing more than to snatch the contract and tear it up, but now that it was in Dr. Rowan Lin’s hands, she didn’t dare—and wouldn’t succeed anyway.

Dr. Rowan Lin glanced at the contract and snorted coldly at Dr. Oscar Young, "Scoundrel!"

That look nearly scared Dr. Oscar Young out of his wits.

Dr. Rowan Lin casually handed the contract to Sam Evans.

"Dad, don't look! They're framing me—it's all a setup! They joined forces just to ruin me!" Lana Evans panicked, grabbing Sam Evans's sleeve and pleading. "Dad, that Dr. Oscar Young must have been brought here by Dr. Rowan Lin to slander me! They've been plotting this for ages, just to make me think I'm seriously ill and trick me—just to drive a wedge between us! Dad, you can't fall for it! In this world, it's just you, Mom, my brother, and me—we're the closest family you have!"

Susan Evans, desperate to defend her daughter, grabbed Sam Evans's arm. "Sam, how can you be so muddle-headed, so easily swayed? Lana and I are your real family! How could you trust outsiders over your own wife and daughter?"

Sam Evans was pulled back and forth by his wife and daughter, his eyes hollow and full of disappointment. He stared at Lana Evans and said, "Lana, then tell me—when I scraped together ten thousand taels that day, what did you do with the silver?"

"We paid off the debts, Dad! Didn't I tell you that already?" Lana Evans blurted anxiously.

"Paid off debts? Hah... You two really put on a good show!" Sam Evans glared at Lana Evans, his voice trembling with pain. "If I hadn't followed you to that teahouse that day, I never would've known what you were really scheming behind my back!"

"Dad, w-what are you talking about? I-I don't understand!" Lana Evans stammered, panic flooding her face as soon as she heard the word 'teahouse.'

"You don't understand? As long as I do!" Sam Evans suddenly wrenched free from Lana and Susan Evans's grasp with a fierce motion. "I've finally seen you for who you are. You never saw me as family—just a wallet to drain! First you tricked me into borrowing silver to pay your debts, then you lied about being gravely ill to get more money and rare medicine... Family? Is this what family does to each other? Susan Evans, Lana Evans, listen well: from now on, we're finished!"

Dr. Rowan Lin waved his hand dismissively, "If you want to thank someone, thank Lily Evans. She’s the one who found the evidence."

Sam Evans immediately turned to Lily Evans, his eyes brimming with gratitude.

Lily Evans smiled and said, "Uncle Sam, I just did what anyone would do. You don’t owe me anything."

Sam Evans wiped his eyes, voice trembling, "You’re a blessing to our Evans family."