From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 317

**Her Rise 317**

Preston’s lips formed a subtle smile, a fleeting moment of contentment in the midst of chaos.

Suddenly, a cacophony of raised voices erupted from downstairs, pulling him sharply from his reverie. He placed his glass down on the polished table, the clink resonating in the otherwise tense atmosphere, and made his way toward the source of the commotion.

As he stepped into the living room, the scene before him was charged with palpable tension. Fabio and Patricia stood locked in a fierce confrontation, their faces flushed with indignation, the air thick with unspoken accusations.

“I’m telling you, divorce is out of the question! I am Mrs. Rice, and I always will be!” Patricia’s voice rang out, sharp as a blade, her eyes blazing with fury as she directed her ire at Fabio.

Tonight’s battle was ignited by none other than Athena, the woman who had become a bone of contention between them.

Fabio’s worry gnawed at him; he was deeply concerned that Athena might not be able to successfully complete the surgery scheduled for the following day. The stakes were high—if she faltered, the public outcry could force her to leave Storm Hospital, a fate he could not bear to see. His solution was to transfer her to the Rices’ private hospital, a facility that had been established specifically for Desmond’s treatment, with its entire focus dedicated to his condition.

However, Patricia had vehemently dismissed the notion.

Her anger erupted like a volcano, her voice rising as she threw a tantrum, desperate to dissuade Fabio from even considering it. He, in turn, felt a swell of frustration, believing that his choices were his alone to make. The fact that Patricia sought to control his decisions only served to fuel his ire.

In a moment of heated defiance, he snapped, “If you can’t support me, then maybe we should just get divorced.”

And thus, the argument escalated, spiraling into a whirlwind of emotions.

Preston stood by, observing the clash unfold. He sensed that the crux of the disagreement was Athena, but he struggled to understand why his father was so determined to aid someone who felt like an outsider. Did Fabio know that Athena was, in fact, Serena? Was he hoping she would take on the responsibility of operating on Desmond?

As soon as Patricia caught sight of Preston descending the stairs, she rushed toward him, her desperation palpable. “Preston, you arrived just in time! Look at your father! He’s completely lost his senses! He’s trying to help an outsider and even wants to bring her into our hospital! How could he even think of such a thing?”

Her voice trembled with emotion as she continued, “I said no, and he threatened me with divorce! Am I really less significant than that woman?”

Fabio’s expression shifted to one of discomfort. He had kept his connection to Athena a secret from the family, a delicate truth that had only come to light when Kit stumbled upon it accidentally. Since then, he had been forced to reveal the truth to Kit, but Patricia remained in the dark, and now, faced with her accusations, he found himself at a loss for words. “I just admire Athena’s skills,” he managed to say, his voice steady yet strained. “We’ve been searching for a doctor like her. I genuinely believe she deserves a chance.”

“Admire her? Have you seen the video of her failed surgery?” Patricia shot back, her tone laced with disbelief and scorn.

“You’ve completely lost touch with reality!”

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