Just as she stepped out of the ward door, she was intercepted by the workers waiting outside.
"David, come on, tell us how much money that female boss agreed to give you. You promised us before that once you got the money, you would share it with us."
"Yeah, David, you can’t keep all that money to yourself."
Joseph Wood, anxious to chase after Elly Campbell, found himself surrounded by these people. Overwhelmed by worry, he snapped angrily:
"What money? I don’t have any money—get out of my way!"
His outburst made the workers angry.
"David, that’s going too far. We had an agreement. We cause a scene here while you press that woman for more money to share with us."
"Exactly, if it wasn’t for you telling us to stay put, would we have abandoned our work to waste time here with you? You’re going to compensate us for our losses one way or another."
With Joseph Wood completely encircled by the workers, he had no way to squeeze through and chase after Elly Campbell. He was both scared and furious.
"I said there’s no money. That woman didn’t agree to give me anything!"
"Stop lying to us. If she didn’t give you money, would you have let her off so easily? I’m telling you, Joseph Wood, if you don’t share the money with us today, we’ll reveal how you stirred us up to make trouble. Then, nobody’s going to have it easy!"
Upon hearing this, Joseph Wood’s face grew even paler.
Although he wasn’t the one who posted that online thread, he had acquiesced to the statements made there. He had even consented to the photo of him being hit by someone with the surname Ainley.
He knew all too well the consequences of cyberbullying. If they took the story of him extorting money online, letting the public know he was exploiting their sympathy, how could he hold his head high at school thereafter?
With these thoughts in mind, Joseph Wood’s face, once filled with rage, now softened slightly.
"Everyone, please listen to me. That woman really didn’t agree to give any money. If you don’t believe me, follow me every day. Here, my bank cards, all of them—you can check however you want, okay?"
Hearing him say this, the workers’ aggressive stance eased somewhat.
Their attitude was still somewhat skeptical, "Are you really not lying to us?"
"Of course I’m not lying to you. I’ll leave my mobile phone and bank cards with you if that’s what it takes, alright?"
With Joseph Wood making such concessions, the workers realised that continuing to cause a fuss would ultimately leave them with nothing, and they decided to let it go for the moment.
Elly Campbell and Greenhill Ainley left the hospital building, and recalling what Elly Campbell had said to Joseph Wood just a while ago, Greenhill Ainley felt worried.
"CEO Campbell, the things you said earlier—if Joseph Wood goes online saying you threatened him, it will greatly impact your reputation."
Upon hearing this, Elly Campbell chuckled. Thinking about those unsightly comments online, she said:
"Would my reputation online be any better if I hadn’t spoken those words?"
Elly Campbell, unfazed, continued, "It’s nothing but a group of idle internet users seeking a sense of superiority online, who have nothing better to do than to spout nonsense. If it came down to actually doing something, they wouldn’t have the guts."
She glanced sideways at Greenhill Ainley, seeing that he was still visibly anxious, and reassured him with a gentle smile:
"Mr. Ainley, rest assured, they wouldn’t dare to stir things up online. Although my words were meant to scare him, they are also true. It’s enough for them to simply recognize that fact."