Hailey drew a steadying breath, forcing her voice to remain cảm. “I won’t adunk to vanething I didn’t do if Alice weste so come after me, let her try, though I doubt she will: Her lips curled in marthless side. “Attar all, for oxble Mice Giffe would never stoop to petty revenge against someone like me?
She turned and froze, Raphael stood a few paces behind her, his gaze fackering, blty to Owen before setting on her Without a word, Hailey brushed past him and urode down the contido
Raphael followed silently,
Back in her ward, Hailey collapsed onto the bed, her shoulders saying, as the adrenaline drited away, Raphael cloxed the door and pulled up a chair beside her, “I trust you, he said simply
Hailey let out a hollow laugh. “Trust what?”
He looked deep into her eyes. “That you wouldn’t hurt anyone like that?
“But you barely know me, she countered, swiping at her damp lashes. “How can you be so sure after just a few meetings?
“Anyway, you’re definitely not the type to scheme behind someone’s back His certainty was unshakable.
She was deeply touched by the kindness carried in his voice. A tear streamed down, then another. “You believe me, she whispered, “but after all that time together, he didn’t. How pathetic is that?”
Raphael said nothing, just handed her a tissue. When her tears only fell faster, he stopped trying to stem them and let her cry herself out.
Hailey hated the way her face burned with humiliation. She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes until the tears stopped flowing.
Raphael studied her tear–streaked face and grinned. “Hey, look at your face. It looks really bad”
Hailey glared at him angrily. “Shut up!”
“Alright, alright.” His tone softened. “Tired now? Want some water?
She shook her head, sniffling. “I want to sleep”
He stood. “Goodnight.”
She also replied softly with her eyes closed, “Goodnight.”
As the lights switched off, Hailey surrendered to exhaustion soon. Across the room, Raphael lay awake in the other bed, staring at the ceiling until dawn.
Morning brought no relief. Though her fever had broken, Hailey’s nose was now a faucet, her throat raw from coughing. She barely made it through breakfast before surrendering to a pile of soggy tissues.
“You have a bad cold.” Raphael diagnosed, handing her another tissue box.
“Probably from last night,” she rasped, wiping her streaming eyes. “I shouldn’t have gone out in just that thin coat.”
He sighed, doling out pills and water like a resigned nurse. Hailey swallowed them obediently before slumping against the pillow.
Her phone rang. It was a video call from her screenwriting team. Her assistant had delivered her laptop earlier, and soon Hailey was immersed in script revisions, her earlier distress forgotten in the creative whirlwind.
4 Apr
Chapter 109
This meeting lasted the entire morning. Hailey was especially engrossed in her creation and could not sense her surroundings at all.
Anna took meticulous notes while Raphael, seeing himself superfluous, dipped out to prepare a proper meal. He believed that his own cooking was much cleaner and more nutritious
The moment he stepped out of the ward, he nearly collided with Owen striding down the hallway. The air between the two men crackled with unspoken tension, one icy and unreadable, the other deceptively calm. Neither yielded an inch as their gazes locked.
After a weighted silence, Owen moved to bypass him. Raphael smoothly reached his arm and blocked his path. “Mr. Calhoun,” he said in a friendly tone, “Hailey’s occupied at the moment. I’m afraid you can’t go int
“Move Owen’s voice was Arctic.
“She is busy with work now,” Raphael countered, his smile never wavering, “And frankly? I don’t think she will want to see you.”
“Are you two together? Owen suddenly asked.
The question caught Raphael off guard. He chose his words carefully. “What do you think? Last night, when Halley was so down, who stayed with her? When she collapsed from fever, who brought her here? What exactly have you done to deserve an audience with her now?”
Owen’s jaw tightened. Through the door’s window, he glimpsed Hailey, who looked vigorous and engaged with her laptop, color back in her cheeks. The sight struck him like a blow. Perhaps some gaps could never be bridged.
“Take care of her, Owen muttered at last.
Raphael sneered. “No need for your reminders. I’ll do far better than you ever did.”
Taking one last look at the ward, Owen left without another word, his footsteps echoing hollowly down the corridor. From his back, Raphael felt an intuition that there must be something else behind it. But he didn’t bother to know more. After all, the less he knew about that man, the better.
Three days later, Hailey was finally discharged. However, Alice was being released on the same day.
Pale and delicate in her unadorned state, Alice sported a bandage on her forehead, her frame noticeably thinner. The Gibbs family had sent an entourage for their treasured daughter, led by none other than Ivan, the family’s sole heir.
Meanwhile, Casey had arrived for Hailey at her family’s behest. With the new semester approaching, the Medranos wanted Hailey to be settled in their home beforehand.
So, what a small world! The two of them collided in the hospital lobby. And that’s how Casey found herself cornered near the elevators by a smirking Ivan.
“Hey, Casey,” he purred, trapping her against the wall. “Remember that kiss you stole when you were drunk? You’ve been avoiding me for weeks. Now it’s time to settle this.”
The incident dated back to when Casey had discovered Arthur’s infidelity. Heartbroken, she grabbed Ivan to drink and, after a few cups of alcohol in the bar, declared her intention to lose her virginity to the hottest guy here.
At that time, there happened to be a handsome man by her side. But she failed to recognize the face and, by mistake, planted a sloppy kiss on an astonished Ivan. At last, fortunately, unconsciousness had prevented further scandal. Or, something improper might have really happened between the two of them that night.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Casey’s eyelashes fluttered like panicked butterflies, her cheeks flaming, which brought an urge in his heart to land endless kisses on her lips.
14:38 Fri, 4 Apr **
Chapter 109
“You don’t remember? Shall I jog your memory?” Ivan leaned in, his breath ghosting over her lips.
Casey blushed, thoroughly mortified, almost reduced to tears, just as Ivan’s mouth hovered inches from hers, two chees rang out at the same time.
“Casey”
“Ivan.*
