The Infirmary.“Keep the ice on a little longer.”Just as the ice packs were being removed, the door to the infirmary burst open.James walked in with his mother, followed by Charlotte and the Garnett family.“You wretched woman! Give me back my daughter!” Mrs. Chancer yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Sarah. “The police took my daughter away, and you’re going to march down to that station right now and have her released!”James, slightly more composed, glanced at Sarah’s burns with a flicker of surprise. But when he saw Zachary standing nearby, his expression immediately soured.“Sarah, I apologize on behalf of my sister,” James began, trying to sound reasonable. “But don’t you think you went too far? Calling the police was unnecessary. You were just acting on impulse, weren’t you? Let’s put this behind us. If you can have her released, I’ll make sure you’re compensated for everything.”“James,” Sarah’s voice was sharp, “you think I went too far? Have you looked at what
“You’re lying! How could the dean act without the board’s approval? Don’t forget, we’re members of the board!” Mrs. Chancer scolded, her tone sharp.Sarah didn’t even glance at her, replying flatly, “Have you forgotten? There’s another board member here.”The mention of Zachary immediately silenced Mrs. Chancer. She didn’t dare speak further.Charlotte stepped forward again, her tone soft and persuasive. “Ms. Sanders, this situation can be resolved easily. There’s no need to escalate it this far. The Chancer family won’t give up on Lucy. Why not take the high road and forgive them?”“Shut up!” Sarah snapped, her voice low but cutting. “What does this have to do with you? You’re not even part of the Chancer family, so stop telling me what to do. And by the way, you took my phone, didn’t you?”Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Stop playing dumb. I knew it was you the moment it went missing. I suggest you return my phone quickly—or throw it
Zachary gently placed Sarah into the car, settling her in the back seat before climbing into the driver’s seat himself.As the car started moving, Sarah took a closer look at her leg. After the ice pack treatment, the swelling had worsened, and her leg was now painfully puffy and red.Zachary gripped the steering wheel, his expression filled with guilt.The thermos had been his idea—he’d brought it to Sarah, filled with steaming hot water. If he hadn’t, perhaps none of this would have happened.The atmosphere inside the car was heavy, the air thick with tension. Sarah, sitting quietly in the back, could feel the weight of Zachary’s mood pressing down on her.“Zachary, what are you thinking about?” she asked, breaking the silence.Until now, he hadn’t shown this kind of expression, not even in the infirmary. Was it because of the Chancers?“I was thinking,” he said quietly, “if only I hadn’t brought that thermos today.”Sarah blinked, surprised. She hadn’t expected him to blame
Crash!The sound of a glass shattering on the floor broke the silence, startling both Sarah and Zachary.Sarah’s head snapped up, only to see Mia standing frozen, her eyes wide and mouth agape as she stared at Sarah’s swollen, injured leg.“Mia?” Sarah called softly.“Ah!” Mia let out a terrified scream, covering her ears as though shielding herself from something unbearable. She staggered backward in horror.“Help! Help!” she shrieked, her cries frantic and filled with pain. Then, in a bizarre twist, she began laughing hysterically. “Go away! Stay away! Leave me alone! Help! Sarah, don’t!”Her words were wild and scattered, as if she were seeing monsters no one else could see.Zachary’s brows furrowed deeply with worry. He quickly stepped forward to steady her. “Mia, it’s me.”But the sound of his voice seemed to trigger something far worse. Mia’s panic escalated into madness. Tears and snot ran freely down her face as she screamed.“Don’t come near me! Stay away! Help me!”
Lucy threw herself into James’s arms, sobbing hysterically. “James! Get me out of here! I can’t stand it! There’s no one to talk to in this awful place!”Mrs. Chancer’s heart ached as she looked at her daughter. “Lucy, your brother and I were so worried about you. The moment we heard you were in trouble, we went straight to that woman, but she refused to let you go no matter what! And that Zachary Reynolds, he’s clearly determined to protect Sarah. But what were you thinking, Lucy? How could you be so reckless? You dare provoke the Reynolds family!”“Mom! I know I was wrong, I really do! Please, get me out of here! If this news gets out tomorrow, everyone will know I was taken away by the police! How humiliating will that be? I can’t let that happen!” Lucy’s cries turned desperate. She clung to her mother’s clothes and James’s sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably.But no matter how much she pleaded, James’s face remained cold and unyielding as he looked at her.Panic flashed across Lucy’
Zachary thought for a moment. “No.”“Zachary, if Mia has another episode when she wakes up, I’ll call the hospital right away. I’ll also continue helping with her treatment,” Sarah said seriously.Zachary nodded. He trusted her completely.After everything that had happened, Sarah was utterly drained. She slumped back into the sofa, her breathing heavy.On top of the pain from her burns, a dull, twisting ache began forming in her lower stomach, like a sharp blade digging into her insides.She curled up slightly, clutching her abdomen tightly. Zachary noticed immediately.“Sarah, what’s wrong?”“My stomach…” she muttered weakly, sweat breaking out across her forehead. She didn’t have the energy to explain further.“Did you take your painkillers today?”“Not yet,” she managed.Zachary didn’t hesitate. He headed straight to the kitchen, pulling a bottle of prescribed pain medication from the cabinet. He poured a glass of warm water and set it on the counter before turning back t
Half an hour earlier, Sarah had tried to get up and make herself some noodles in the kitchen, but the pain in her leg was unbearable. That’s when she called Scarlett for help.Now, sitting comfortably on the couch, Sarah recounted everything to Scarlett—how Lucy had thrown the boiling water at her during the competition, and how James later barged into the infirmary to question her.Scarlett was fuming. “Those people are unbelievable! I’ve never liked that Lucy! Even when you were married to James, she treated you like her personal maid. Now that you’re divorced from that loser, she still won’t leave you alone. She’s rotten to the core!”“She probably wanted to use this competition to prove she’s better than me,” Sarah replied calmly. “But stealing the test papers? That’s crossing the line. It’s illegal.”Scarlett scoffed angrily. “Her brain must be missing a few screws! She spends all her time scheming instead of doing anything worthwhile. Honestly, her mother and that jerk James
“It’s not up to me,” Sarah said, her mouth still full of food. “Even if you came to me, it wouldn’t help. The dean already spoke to the Reynolds family, and they won’t let this go.”“I’m just worried…” Scarlett started to ramble, clearly lost in thought, when a knock at the door interrupted them. She looked at Sarah with confusion, only to see the same puzzled expression on her face.Scarlett opened the door cautiously. The moment she saw who it was, she slammed it shut again.“Who was it?” Sarah asked, still chewing.“That jerk!” Scarlett snapped irritably.“What does he want?” Sarah’s patience wore thin immediately.The knocking resumed, louder this time. Scarlett yanked the door open again, glaring at the man standing there. “What are you doing here? You’re not welcome! Leave!”“I need to talk to Sarah,” James said urgently, pushing the door open with force.“You’re out of your mind, James!” Scarlett shouted angrily, stumbling back from the shove.“James, this is my house!”
"Is that a threat?" Sarah scoffed. "I'm seeing Zachary because of Mia.""Whatever the reason, if Zachary and his grandfather don't want you treating Mia anymore, you should just disappear. Stay away from them." Vivian's voice dripped with venom.Sarah narrowed her eyes, suddenly leaning in so close their faces nearly touched. A chill ran down Vivian's spine."Aren't you overstepping? Not everything needs your control, Vivian. Mia's my friend. Of course I'll help when she's in trouble."Vivian sneered. "Don't be ridiculous. Their grandfather and Zachary have found dozens of renowned therapists. You really think you're more qualified? Are you really helping Mia, or using her condition to get close to Zachary?""Shut up. There may be many qualified people, but I've been treating Mia all along. No one knows her condition better than I do. As for Zachary - we're over. I won't go back. You don't need to be so threatened."Vivian burst into mocking laughter. "Me? Threatened? You don't k
Mia calmed slightly at the familiar voice. Her frantic movements slowed, the pillow she'd meant to throw falling to the floor. She stared at Zachary with wary confusion, her guard dropping only when she finally recognized him."Brother?" she tested uncertainly.The worry in Zachary's eyes softened. "Yes, Mia. It's me, your brother."He approached slowly, careful not to startle her, gently removing the cup from her left hand."Mia, look at my face. I'm your brother.""Brother?" she murmured, then her expression twisted. "Liar! You want to kill me, don't you? You want to eat me!" The word "eat" seemed to trigger her deepest terrors.Her face contorted as she crouched down, hugging herself. "Don't eat me, please don't!"Zachary looked at his sister with pain, cautiously placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be scared, Mia. I'm here to protect you.""You're lying! You said you'd protect us but never came! Sarah was eaten and you never came! You lied to us!" Mia sobbed hysterically
She left without waiting for Zachary's response, not looking back.At the restaurant, Vivian and Zachary sat at the best window table, their food already served."Zachary, try this!" Vivian said eagerly. "This steak's even better than that Kobe beef we had in Japan."Zachary mechanically cut a piece and took a bite. The meat was indeed good."So," Vivian asked, feigning casualness, "what did Miss Sanders want earlier?"Zachary frowned slightly. "That's private.""Why so hostile? I just care about you. If she needs help, maybe I could assist?" Vivian's voice turned hurt.Zachary put down his cutlery and looked at her coolly. "Actually, there is one thing you could help with.""What is it?"A cold smile played at his lips. "Stay in your lane."Vivian's smile froze, her body tensing. She forced a laugh. "What do you mean?""Nothing at all," Zachary said, taking another bite.After dinner, Vivian dabbed her lips. The meal had been tasteless.She hadn't mentioned the engagement
Sarah looked at Zachary gravely. "Mia's condition is deteriorating. I need to continue her treatment."Zachary's fingers drummed lightly on his desk, disapproval written across his face. "That's...""What? Don't you trust me?" Sarah raised an eyebrow."Of course I trust you. I've never doubted your professional ability. I just..." Just want to prevent what might happen - like you leaving me when you learn the truth.But he'd never tell her that.Sarah knew Zachary well. Something specific was making him hesitate. Those strange photographs? Or that drawing Mia had made?Though she suspected he wouldn't answer, she had to ask. "Tell me why."Zachary froze. "I'm sorry. I can't."He couldn't say anything until he'd figured out his explanation.Sarah gave a bitter laugh. "Is it because of Tina’s incident? Or what happened when Mia had her episode at the school gates? I know you don't believe those online rumors, but I can't think of any reason you'd willingly stop Mia's treatment,
The receptionist barely concealed her frown. Who could she be calling?"I'm at Reynolds Tower. Need to see you."The woman's tone was curt. The receptionist wondered who warranted such directness.Moments later, she watched in shock as the executive elevator whirred into action. The doors opened and Zachary Reynolds himself strode out, heading straight for the woman, his pace quickening. "Sasa, what brings you here?"Sarah didn't return his warmth. "Your office. We need to talk."In his office, Sarah fixed him with a disapproving look. "Mr. Reynolds, I don't know what you're thinking, but I do know you care about Mia. If you care so much, you must realize my therapy is what's best for her."She couldn't understand why he'd suddenly stopped her sessions with Mia, but it had to be connected to Mia's buried memories.Zachary looked at her helplessly. "Sasa, it's not just my decision. It's Grandfather's too. I'm sorry."Sarah stared at him in disbelief. "So because of your grandfat
Three days after leaving Sarah's... that was so long ago.She couldn't imagine how Mia had endured, but the raw marks on her arms told the story.Sarah frowned at Mia's scarred arms. "You silly girl. Doesn't it hurt?"Mia shook her head. "My mind's so chaotic then, I don't even remember doing it. It's like a nightmare - I just wake up and find the scratches.""What kind of nightmare?" Sarah asked worriedly."Someone trying to grab me, saying they'll drink my blood, eat my flesh. I'm so scared."Sarah knew these casual descriptions masked Mia's reality - waking up screaming, probably crying herself hoarse.Mia's shoulders trembled as she spoke."Mia, stop. That's enough," Sarah cut in quickly."Sarah, can you help me?" She buried herself in Sarah's embrace."Of course I will." Sarah patted her shoulder and stroked her forehead.Since she'd come under the pretense of therapy, Mia needed to get to her therapist's office.In the car, she looked back at Sarah longingly. "I'll co
After Shawn and Amanda left, Melvin warned, "Sasa, Sydney won't let this go. Be careful.""I will. Heading to the office?"“Yep. See you at home." Then he left too.Alone at last, Mia threw herself into Sarah's arms. "I've missed you so much! I've been trying to see you, but my grandfather wouldn't let me out. I finally found a way!""Did you sneak out?" Sarah asked, getting some coconut pudding from the fridge."Not this time!" Mia said proudly. "I made a deal with my new therapist.""A deal?"Mia nodded. “My grandfather and brother keep finding therapists, but I couldn't work with any of them. This one's different - I agreed to treatment if he'd bring me here."Sarah looked at her with concern. "Still having nightmares?""Yes. Without you, I'm always panicking. Even at home, my heart races. I just want to lock myself in my room, avoid everyone. But with you, I feel safe. I can talk again." Mia took a bite of pudding.Sarah had always known Mia depended on her - it seemed es
"Sydney," Mia said mockingly, "if you want Sarah to forgive you, it's simple - get on your knees and apologize. Right here, in front of everyone. And promise you'll never bother her again."On her knees?Sydney's eyes widened. Kneel before Sarah? Before that bitch?"Never! I won't kneel to her!"Sarah stepped closer, with a cool smile. "Fine. Then I'll personally see you to a cell. The last person like you is already in prison, and your cousin won't escape either.""You're threatening me!" Sydney's face flushed.Mrs. Blanco turned tearfully to Amanda. "Amanda, look at your niece! We're family - how can she demand Sydney kneel?"Before Amanda could speak, Shawn pulled her back. "Mrs. Blanco, where was this 'family' talk when your daughter was plotting? Since Sarah wants an apology on knees, that's what she'll get. Unless you want Benjamin back in detention? How would Lady White take that?""Uncle! I'm your niece too! Why protect only her?" Sydney's tears started falling."Sydne
"I see." Old Lady White fixed Sydney with an icy stare. "Benjamin, is this true?""No! Grandmother, please believe me! I'd never do something like this. Sarah's framing me - it's all her plot!" Sydney looked at her grandmother desperately.Benjamin pressed on, "She even warned me on the way to the hospital not to mention her involvement.""You're lying! Benji, look carefully at who's really trying to destroy you!" Sydney turned on Benjamin like a cornered animal."Look at yourself, Sydney," Mia said coldly. "You're acting unhinged. Your cousin's confessed - what's left to deny?""You Reynolds have no place here! This is Sanders family business. Anyone can see Sarah's manipulating everything behind the scenes!"Benjamin shook his head fiercely. "Grandmother, Sydney did this! Now that everything's blown up, she's trying to pin it all on me when she's the real mastermind."Old Lady White's expression grew colder. Finally dropping her facade, she said, "If this was Sydney's scheme