The diners by the pool gave us judgy looks, whispering and pointing away.

I wiped the water off my face and snapped her a callous look. “Tammy, there are cameras by the pool.”

Tammy froze before wailing louder. “I bet you bought off the security footage. With money and power, you can forge anything. Oh, woe is me…”

John sighed. “Stop it. We’re going to the emergency room now. It’s freezing out here. The last thing we want is for you both to catch pneumonia.”

The four of us found ourselves back in the hospital.

John and Catherine ran around, getting us a hot drink and collecting prescriptions.

With John and Catherine away, footing the medical bill, Tammy and I were left in the ward.

Tammy whimpered weakly in bed a moment ago. Once John and Catherine were out of sight, she jolted up.

She ripped the IV needle out of her hand and approached my bed, barefoot.

Her discolored face carried a menacing grin unbefitting her age.

“How does it feel, Scarlett?”

Leaning against the headboard, I met her gaze indifferently. “Not too bad. I’m in a better place than when you were electrocuted by your own camera.”

“You!” Frustrated, Tammy snapped an angry look at me. “I’m not like other heiresses. I’ve read more books of this genre than you’ll ever know. I know how you operate.

“Do you think that by playing it cool, you can hide the fact that you stole my life?

“You can’t hide your true colors from Mom and Dad forever. Blood is thicker than water. They will choose me in the end!”

Worked up, Tammy had her finger up my face.

“I will get you kicked out of the family! You’ll be ruined and penniless!”

I found her snarling look rather amusing.

“Tammy,” I uttered with composure. “Do you think that everything of the Smyths will be yours once you get rid of me?”

“Duh! I’m the only bloodline of the Smyths. Everything is meant to be mine!

“Why is an adopted orphan sticking around?

“You’ve landed a cushy job thanks to my parents’ generosity. Do you actually think putting on a few designer pieces makes you a society elite?

“Scarlett, know your place. You’re just a parasite!”

Just then, the door handle turned. John and Catherine were back from getting the bill taken care of.

Tammy rolled her eyes with a scowl and returned to her bed.

Picking up the tension in the ward, John and Catherine gave me a puzzled look and asked me what had happened.

I sighed and glanced at Tammy in resignation. “Tammy called me a parasite. She wants me out of the family.”

Tammy’s eyes widened as she didn’t expect me to call her out so blatantly.

From what she’d read, she figured the fake heiress would play the victim in front of her parents.

“That’s ridiculous! You started it!” Tammy shrieked.

“Well, we can check the surveillance footage to know whether I’m lying.”

I pointed at the obscure camera tucked away in the corner of the room.

Tammy’s expression went stiff as panic washed over her.

Letting out a scoff, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Mr. Sierra? I am Scarlett Smyth. Send the recording from VIP Ward 302. Yes, the last ten minutes. Yes, right now.”

After hanging up, I turned my gaze to Tammy, who was dumbfounded.

I said indifferently, “Oh, I should let you know that the Smyth Group holds a 51% stake in this private hospital. I’m the majority shareholder.

“I have the authority to pull any footage or data from this facility.”