So Lila and Jasmine are going to have a meeting. What will she do? A) try to harm Jasmine B) pity her C) leave her alone Please do vote and follow me too if you like the story.
1Jasmine wiped the tear about to fall from the corner of her left eye as she looked forward. That's what she was going to do after the experience she had today— look ahead of her. She fisted her hands to her sides, watching as impatient vehicles zoomed past her on the busy road. The black and white strips of the zebra crossing made her temples ache. The same black and white dots started blinking and throbbing on the border of her vision. She felt the smooth texture of the parchment she was holding burn in her closed palm— it was the gift she had prepared for her husband. Pain tore through her as the smoothness of the paper turned into unbearable heat. Her hand shook, but she didn't let her grip loosen or more tears fall. 'It's useless to cry on a man who compared my womb to a barren land!' She reminded herself. However, his words triggered emotions she was battling to keep buried in. Tears blurred her vision as her emotions rose up through her like a tide. Jasmine couldn't help b
2When Jasmine stirred back to her senses, she found herself on a hospital bed. The back of her left hand was covered with an IV needle. She tried to move when a man's emotionless voice shook her to the core."Don't move! You just had a miscarriage."The words skipped her heartbeats. Her breathing came to a halt as her throat closed up. Jasmine wanted to cry but her tears had dried up.She sat rigidly like a model used in art studios for painting. Her mouth was sealed tight and her cheeks drained of color. Although the disclosure of the miscarriage weighed down on her, she didn't feel a single ounce of remorse. Miscarriage. For some women, 'miscarriage' was a word filled with trauma and pain. Women who couldn't get pregnant even after trying a hundred times, doing a hundred things, prayed for a miracle to happen to get pregnant. To such women, the mere mention of 'miscarriage' would bring overwhelming anxiety and trauma. But then there were some women who didn't want to do anything
3"You already wasted three hours of mine. Now be quick and tell me how much you want." Kyle's scrutiny seared into her flesh, hot and insulting and agonizing. He was barely keeping his unbridled anger in control because the woman looked pathetic with all the bandages around her right arm, head and that pitiful blue bruise on the corner of her mouth from falling on her face after getting hit by his car. Otherwise he had lost his sanity the minute he regarded the piece of paper in her grip that she had been holding when she was struck by his car. Kyle looked at the woman and felt disgust brimming within him. There was no doubt the woman jumped in front of his car to demand more money. Ultimately her plan was something else! She probably wanted to use the baby in her womb— which he suspected didn't belong to him; after all, a dozen women like her visited him at his mansion, office, and where not, just to claim that he impregnated them— too bad for her that her plan backfired becaus
4The check was lifted again as he calmly spoke, "If you can't think of a sum, I'll make it easy for you. How about 1,00,000 dollars? Is that enough?" "Get out before I stamp your face with my foot." Jasmine rasped. Her audacity amazed Kyle. He had never seen a woman persist so much. Although he encountered many gold-diggers, they happily lowered their masks of naivety once he presented a blank check to them. This woman seemed like a skillful player. Maybe she needed more money. Fine. He thought as he tore another check and filled 5,00,000 in it. "Now, is it enough? It should be. You better stop that act and take it, girl. I don't have much time to waste on you. I have a meeting." Jasmine never felt so humiliated in her life before. Although her husband's treason was a hard slap on her face, it wasn't as hurtful as this. She just lost her baby after losing the mirage of a happy married life she lived, and now this man was carving more painful slits on her heart. "Just who exac
5Kyle stayed in the ward while a team of doctor and two nurses took care of the woman. He watched as they cleaned the dry blood from the back of her hand that had bled from removing the IV pipe and secured it with a bandage. He felt a sting when the doctor pierced her other hand with a new cannula to continue providing her fluids- the hand with a temporary plaster. Now as he reflected back on his harsh conversation with the woman, contrition weighed down on him. Her words echoed in his mind, causing his temples to ache. The baby wasn't his and the woman hadn't really jumped in front of his car to get money from him. That reminded him of the letter he had retrieved from her closed fingers while bringing her to the hospital. Kyle dug into his pocket for the letter. The paper was warm pink, with lots of tiny dark pink hearts scattered all over it. His shoulders stiffened as he reread every word of the letter unhurriedly, like he had all the time in the world. Dear Daddy,Congratulat
6Lila stayed back in Kyle's bedroom after he left to take a shower. She was standing in his walk-in closet, removing clothes for him. Her hands lingered on the rack holding his shirts. She picked a shirt out and slid her hands into it, wearing it to her chest and inhaling his scent."Mmm!" Moaning, she pressed the sleeve to her cheek and smiled.She always imagined him unbuttoning his shirt in front of her, while she laid naked in his bed. Kyle made her feel things he was not even remotely aware of. He made her thighs shiver and heart caught speed."I wish you could feel my emotions, Kyle. I love you so much. Why don't you see me as other women in your life?" Lila pouted at her reflection as she checked herself in the mirror.She had an enticing figure. Heads turned to look at her whenever she went out in public. It was on a daily basis that men approached her to ask her out. But she had saved herself for Kyle Panther, her childhood love.She had a face only she intended to show him.
7 "So how is it?" Lila asked while holding a breath as she watched Kyle take the first bite. Kyle’s brows drew together, his expression one of critical appraisal, like a master chef carefully testing a dish."Mmm, not bad. But I think if you buttered the vegetables more, it would have been—" "Kyle, you're such a jerk. I'm not eating with you. I'm leaving!" Lila feigned to be hurt by his remark and started to get up. Kyle laughed at her antics and grasped her wrists. He pulled her back in her chair and playfully slapped her forehead. "I always ask you to bring me food because nothing compares to your cooking, Lila. Otherwise, I’d be stuck with takeout, and it’s just not the same.""I know," Lila stuck her tongue out. "But two can play this game."She giggled and pulled his cheek. Kyle smiled warmly in response, making her clench her thighs tightly. She froze in the moment as her eyes lingered on his lips, at the gorgeous smile he wore, and at how he glowed with an otherworldly aura
8Kyle was grateful for having a friend like her. He reached out for her hand and held it as his eyes shone in brotherly affection. "Thanks, Lila. What would I ever do without you? I don't think anyone would have understood my situation better than you."Lila's lips curled with a soft smile, "Kyle, I'm here for you. You are regretful and it's enough." Then they resumed eating their food. After a few bites, Kyle raised his head with a thoughtful look."I'm thinking to go to the hospital and investigate myself, Lila. What do you say?""Hmm, good idea. Would you mind if I join you?" She asked as this situation was a little more serious than it seemed.Kyle never took interest in any person or in their pain ever before. But if he was asking to go to investigate that woman, it was a bad sign. It also meant that the woman could be a problem for Lila. Hence, if she could go, she could thwart his efforts to find her. It was best for that woman to remain gone.Kyle agreed with a grateful smi
45This woman here, nevertheless, was a battered and diminished version of that woman. Kyle sighed as he ambled to the washroom to find something to fetch water. He was looking inside when Mari knocked on the door and came in. He peeked out of the door over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows at her in question as if asking what it is! "Doctor George said that it's common to develop fever after such wounds. This is the body's natural way to fight any virus, fungi or other infection causing germs to keep the wound safe, and it results in rising temperatures." Mari said, word-to-word as the doctor told her. Kyle was relieved, but another issue was at hand— what to do now? Mari had an answer to that as well. She smiled as she read through her boss' expression and informed, "Doctor George said that we should put a cold water cloth on her forehead and wipe her body to bring the temperature down." She averted her eyes to her pocket from which she presented a piece of paper, "... And h
44Jasmine felt an unbearable burning pain inside her. It felt like she was thrown into a brazen bull. She felt trapped, suffering, and burning with a heartbreak which couldn't be reversed. Her body was heating up, her back drenching in sweat, and her organs squeezing under the weight of the discovery she just made.Her heart pounded in rage and pain from Vince's deceit."It's not even worth ten dollars? And here I thought I was really lucky to have it! I flaunted this ring so many times and it's not even real." She laughed as anger at Vince's conspiracy burned with vengeance in her chest."How many more times am I going to find out you lied and trapped me in a fake marriage? What other lies are still hiding in the shadows?"She was talking to herself. Kyle felt his heart thud at the look of extreme hurt on her face. She looked like a woman who loved her husband deeply. A wife who worshipped her husband without wanting anything in return.Seeing her features grow pale and her eyes dr
43Jasmine's lungs ached as all the oxygen was punched out of them by the doctor's words.'Don't give a reaction. Don't give a reaction. He won't know.' She kept telling herself that but she forgot that she was alone in a room with a doctor.His fingers moved with ease and gently on her stomach. They were light weight as if the man had long years of knowledge with wounds. He applied some cool liquid and her pain lessened a little bit. The sting was there... But eventually with each wipe by his gentle fingers, it occurred to become even lesser."You know, I've encountered many girls like you before— anxious and scared. So it's not like I don't know when they're not pretending and when they are really unconscious. But if you want to make me believe that... I'll stay quiet." He spoke gently, his voice carrying the warmth of a knowing father who knew his daughter was hiding stuff from him to not anger him."Kyle is a nice boy. I have known him since he was teenager. He can get rough and i
43Jasmine's POV"What's wrong, sir?" The new man asked."She's trying to run away. Help me hold her down and ask someone to call George back." I felt two more arms on my shoulders and knees.They were holding me down on the bed."We must get her under control before she causes trouble." I screamed after hearing those words.It couldn't get any worse. I was being held down by two men! I wasn't even dressed appropriately and the fear of getting forced by them further assaulted me.I used all my strength to scream, causing my ribs to rattle. My abdomen burned from the impact of the scream, and the blur before my vision darkened until I could see nothing but blackness. I hadn't fainted though... Just momentarily blank.But I could hear their conversation."Di
42Jasmine's POVThis can't be true... This...My hands shook as I blinked my eyes frantically, hoping that whatever I was seeing was just a dream. I just woke up and found myself in a new room— a thousand times more lavish than Vince and my bedroom, more warm and splendid with decor that made my jaw drop.But that wasn't why I was shivering like a puppy. It was the man sleeping on the recliner in the corner of the room. It was him! That arrogant jerk who offered me money after causing my miscarriage. He was shirtless and judging by the looks of it, it seemed like I was in his bedroom. A fire to burn him in his sleep licked at my insides. I tried to sit up straight but the pain in my abdomen was so intense, I was forced to lay down and take deep breaths.Tears welled up in my eyes as I breathed heavily. What was happening with me? Why has my life turned into a haunted house where I was witnessing new shocking and horrifying events on every second step? My hands shook as the pain in
41I was forced to wonder about her condition and what probably transpired in her life after she escaped me. Did her husband catch her again? Was he imposingly oppressive? Did he starve her? A tornado of questions unfolded in my mind. I shook my head to shake it off and entered the room. My limbs ached and my body was surprisingly hot. It hadn't been a very good day. I hardly got to rest today and the need to take a super cold shower to ease my nerves throbbed within me. In an instant, I was standing naked under the shower. The water sliding down my body acted as a soothing balm. I raised my head, face up, to let the cool droplets fall on my face. I could feel heat leaving my body. Staying under the shower was enticing, but I needed more than that. Thus, I filled the bathtub with cold water and sat in it. As soon as I slumped against it and rested my head back, sleep overpowered my senses and I conked out. I woke up with a jolt as I felt like I was drowning. Looking around unsur
40Kyle's POVI was pacing outside my bedroom restlessly. The doctor was here and he was inside the room with the woman. My eyes stilled on the closed door as my movements came to a halt. It's hard to believe that I have finally found her. She's in my room. On my bed. Well, I don't mean it in that way when I talk about bed, but until a few days ago, I was almost convinced that it was a ghost.I was close to giving up on finding her but she's here in my life again, in my house. My mind drifted back to that day I insulted her. I was rude. I shouldn't have offered monetary compensation for the loss of her child.A loss of life can't be compensated with money. I knew that well but my arrogance has gotten the better of me. But life is giving me another chance to make my wrongs right by sending the very woman in my path again.I straightened my back as the door clicked open."Well..." I raised my brow at the doctor who just stepped out.I saw him rubbing some sanitizer on his hands. Closin
39"Am I dreaming? She can't be here. That's her, isn't that?" He was sitting in his black Bentley across from the hospital. Kyle had come here to discuss the possibility of adopting the hospital. It was in the heart of the city and vastly visited by the underprivileged community. However, its condition was dismal. The infrastructure was falling apart. It was staggering that the facility was still standing upright despite having weak and decaying walls. Kyle knew all that because he had taken a tour within. The dreadful condition of the wards and the fact that people still visited for treatment was why he decided to take this hospital under his wing. He was a mercenary at heart, but he still cared for the development of the society. After all, Kyle knew what it meant to have no money. He may be the heir to a billionaire father, he never really got to enjoy his wealth as a child. He had to work his way up to the top both as a child and an adult. He carved his own path, sweated blo
38Her chest rumbled when she felt something on her left leg. SHE FELT. Jasmine's heart banged in her chest because she ‘felt’. Her leg wasn't numb. It was very much healthy and responsive as before. "Aah! Use some spit, Vince! I'm sore from yesterday." It was Lucy's grip on Jasmine's ankle that tightened as she said those words. She was holding onto her leg while Jasmine's husband drilled into her. Although Jasmine's body fired up in indignation in realization that they were making out against the bed, she felt her heart swirl in gratitude and excitement. Her mobility was restored.It was probably because of the surgery she had. The doctor may have injected her with reversal agents after the surgery to weaken the hold of anesthesia so she could regain her mobility post surgery. And it also helped dissolve whatever was keeping her lower body from moving. It still felt unreal. Jasmine wanted to confirm it herself. Though she didn't open her eyes as that would have put her in risk si