At Southeast Aciatic…Lina, unable to sleep, tossed and turned in bed. She considered making a phone call to find out what was going on. The image of Zuko and Dave locking eyes replayed in her mind, causing her to burst into laughter.Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. Startled, Lina approached quietly and peeked through the peephole. To her surprise, it was Gia."Lina, are you awake?"Lina hesitated for a moment before deciding to open the door.Gia looked into her eyes and gave a weak smile. "Lina, can we have a proper talk?"Lina remained silent, sensing that Gia had changed. People would change, and she didn't hold it against Gia, but she wanted to know the reason.Gia continued cautiously. "Lina, let's find a quiet place to talk, okay?""Let's just stay here," Lina replied, leaning against the door frame, not inviting her in or showing any desire to accompany her. A few words would suffice to clarify things.Gia looked around hesitantly. "But this place...""It's q
Gia and Lina were startled by the sight of Violet striding over, carrying bags of various sizes in her arms. Her face had tanned a bit from spending the day under the sun at the palace, and despite the thick layer of makeup, signs of sunburn were still visible.Violet's eyes glared venomously at Lina when she spotted her."Such deep sisterly love!" Violet sneered sarcastically. "Gia, have you forgotten how we ended up sunbathing today? Your best friend here was strolling around the palace in her pretty clothes, but did she ever think about you being out in the sun?"Gia looked at Violet and spoke calmly. "This is between Lina and me. Please don't interfere."Violet gritted her teeth. "How dare you talk to me like that now, you little b*tch!?" Violet's attention was then drawn to the jar of facial cream in Lina's hand. Its packaging shimmered with the name of a certain expensive brand. Even though it was sold in duty-free shops, it still carried a high price tag. In high-end store
"Oh, it's just a minor issue," Officer Matthew apologized with a smile. "Mr. Irwin, there's no need to worry. I'll handle it promptly."Carter questioned, "Arresting someone in my hospital is considered a minor issue?"Officer Matthew paused briefly, choosing not to respond further.Lina observed the man in the white coat. Despite his friendly appearance, he exuded an aura of authority that commanded respect. His gentle voice carried an undeniable air of authority.When Carter looked at Lina, he too was taken aback. More specifically, his attention was captivated by the bangle on her wrist.Carter furrowed his brow. There was no mistaking it—the design and material of the Le Esse bangle were truly one-of-a-kind. His sister used to wear it frequently, but she had put it away after having children to prevent any damage.He never expected to see it on this girl's wrist today!Carter's assistant stepped forward. "Officer Matthew, Mr. Irwin has just finished performing surgery and is
Officer Matthew gave an honest reply, "Yes, based on Ms. Grist's identification, they are the primary suspects.""But Ms. Chapman purchased the facial cream, and she was the one who took it out. What does it have to do with Ms. Jenner?"Isn't this a subjective and arbitrary judgment based solely on one person's word?"Is this how the police academy teaches you to handle cases?"Officer Matthew felt sweat forming on his nose.Carter let out a light chuckle. "Of course, I'm just a doctor and shouldn't interfere with your police work. How you handle this case is entirely up to you, Officer Matthew. I only hope that the impact on our hospital can be minimized."Even if Officer Matthew were as dense as a block of wood, he could still sense the implications in Carter's words. He observed how Carter protected the girl named Lina behind him, taking a protective stance...Instantly, Officer Matthew straightened up and assumed a more respectful posture than when facing his superiors. He s
Lina regained her composure and decided to express her gratitude to the hospital director, the middle-aged man in the white robe who had shielded her from the police. She nodded and followed the nurse to the director's office.Just finishing his work, Carter greeted Lina with a gentle smile and gestured for her to sit on the couch. Before he could speak, Lina thanked him timidly for his help. Carter assured her that it was just a small favor and there was no need for formalities.Noticing Lina's bangle on her wrist, Carter commented on its beauty, which Lina revealed was a gift from her husband. Carter's gaze lingered on the bangle, understanding Zuko's actions from a few days ago. He briefly conversed with Lina, getting to know her better.During their conversation, Carter noticed Lina's slight discomfort and inquired about her well-being.Lina then realized a minor injury on her arm from the altercation with Violet and tried to downplay it. However, Carter insisted on a detailed
Jessie reacted swiftly, exclaiming, "So, Ms. Grist has mental problems, huh?"Carter was taken aback. He had only expressed concern and discomfort over Violet's earlier cursing of Lina. He didn't explicitly state that Violet had a mental problem."Mr. Irwin, I understand!" Jessie exclaimed joyfully, winking at him. "Ms. Grist has mental issues, and she must have applied something on her face and falsely accused our brand!"Carter was rendered speechless. "I didn't say that...""How can we trust the words of a psychiatric patient?" Jessie continued confidently.Carter widened his eyes, witnessing a unique display of medical logic."Thank you, Mr. Irwin! I'll report this right away!" Jessie bowed sincerely, smiling."No, wait..." Carter tried to interject."Don't worry, Mr. Irwin!" Jessie assured him, displaying her shrewdness. "I'll have a meeting with the PR department and ensure you and your hospital aren't involved."Carter closed the medical record quietly, feeling helpless
Renee felt nervous, and her back was drenched in a cold sweat. Confronting Melvin's ruthless gaze, she struggled to control her rapid heartbeat and calmly explained, "Mom... We don't have enough money for her medical expenses."Melvin's tense demeanor eased slightly. He gestured for the man in black to leave and led Renee into a room, retrieving a card from the drawer. "Use this money for now."Just as Renee reached out to take it, Melvin suddenly pulled the card back. "But first, tell me what you overheard.""I..." Renee gripped her clothes tightly. She had caught snippets of Melvin's rage, but the details eluded her. She had faintly heard the name "Gia," which reminded her of the person she had paid for information at the hospital. They had mentioned that Melvin's DNA testing sample was obtained from a woman named Gia.Could it be... Gia was the real Pamela?"Renee!" Melvin's patience wore thin as he stared at her with a cold gaze.Renee's heart pounded as she silently met his
Lina's thoughts turned to her lost friendship with Gia, and a sense of sadness washed over her.Keira noticed that something was amiss. "What's wrong? Don't you like this?" she asked.Lina shook her head and forced a smile. "It's not that... It's delicious, thanks, Keira. I'm lucky to have you around when I'm feeling down.""Hehe, don't say that!" Keira scratched her head. "Lina, I've always wanted to be your friend. I'm so happy to have the chance to get closer to you today!""Weren't we always friends?" Lina asked."No..." Keira's voice softened. "I mean friends like Gia and you."Lina's eyes darkened at the mention of Gia."Lina, I used to think you were extraordinary. An exceptional girl like you should have exceptional friends. I'm just... ordinary and average. I don't match up to you at all," Keira confessed.Lina smiled humbly. Her smile was pure and innocent, radiating a gentle star-like glow.But in Keira's eyes, Lina was a star beyond reach.Lina held Keira's hands.