CHAPTER 70- Previous Chapter -But seeing Rose's panicked and increasingly pale face, Williams could not bear it. He continued. "Maybe you've had a male friend close to you lately?"Rose's eyebrows knitted together. "Boy friend?"Diana smiled again to hide the laughter that was about to come out of her mouth. And this time, Rose realized it. She felt that what Williams was trying to tell her was sensitive. So she chose to remain silent rather than talk about Antonio or Nathan. Rose suddenly felt strange, why should she include Nathan in her list of male friends. They never even declared their friendship or anything. Nathan was just an assistant to her boss, and they happened to have a few conversations. Ah, just cracking a few jokes doesn't mean they're close, does it?Rose shook her head. She didn't want to think about Nathan right now. Thinking about just one man gave her a headache, so why bother involving Nathan at all. It was just too much trouble!"But what does this have to do
Chapter 71- previous chapter...Nathan gasped. He had no idea that someone would make small talk with him like this. And it was a woman. Nathan mumbled for a long time, wondering what he should say to Jessie to make her less suspicious."I'm... refreshing my mind here.""Boring job?" Jessie asked again. "Or did your boyfriend just dump you?""Sorry, miss." Nathan got up from his chair, preparing to move so that the woman named Jessie would stop interviewing him. "But I have to go now."Suddenly Jessie jumped up from the chair and grabbed the sleeve of Nathan's shirt. Nathan's eyes widened. But Jessie hurriedly explained. "I can give you something that will make you better."Nathan said nothing but looked at the short-haired woman who had removed her hand from the man. At first he didn't feel curious about the woman, until she finally took something out of a small pocket on the right side of her skirt. It was a small transparent package. Jessie smiled wryly as she held out the object
Chapter 72Rose drummed her fingers on her thighs as she waited for her name to be called by the nurse in front of the hospital's laboratory room. She had been feeling uneasy ever since Williams, Serra's attending physician, had attributed her poor condition to a special relationship with a man.Pregnant? Rose shook her head to dismiss her bad thoughts about pregnancy. If asked if Rose expected to bear Antonio's child, the answer was that she could. But not in this situation. Serra could have fainted, or worse, had a heart attack if she heard the shocking news. Come on, Rose and Antonio weren't even married yet. Their relationship was just... Ah! She couldn't even explain it.The sound of the door opening brought Rose out of her reverie. She looked up to find a stocky nurse coming out with a small board in her hand. Her eyes, adorned with square glasses and slightly drooping, tried to confirm the writing on the board. She was muttering a little when Rose observed her."Miss... Rose Ba
Chapter 73"Antonio, my relationship with her is not what you think it is!" Sydney exclaimed. "We just go out occasionally, have lunch together and talk about work. That's all. My relationship with you is still the best, just so you know. And I don't mean to hurt you or anything like that. This... this whole thing is just a misunderstanding.""There's no work to talk about in a hotel room, just by yourself, Sydney."After Antonio emphasized every word that came out of his mouth, Sydney couldn't say anything else. She even stuttered when she was about to make another excuse. The cold stare that she had never seen from Antonio made her nerves shrink instantly. Until the only thing Sydney could do at that time was to cry."I don't want to be made a choice, Sydney. If you love me, then leave him right now. But if you can't do it, that means you don't love me. I won't force you to stay with me anymore. I'll let you be. So, make your choice now.""I can't leave you, Antonio!""Why can't you
Chapter 74The loud ringing of the phone managed to disturb Nathan's few hours of sleep. His eyes were still heavy, finding the time on the wall clock pointing to six. He'd only slept for three hours because he'd struggled to close his eyes last night. The heroin he'd bought from someone called Jessie was really making him curious. But the cell phone's constant buzzing couldn't make Nathan go back to sleep, especially after his hazel eyes saw Antonio's name on the screen."Why is the boss calling me this early?"Despite his grumbling, Nathan tried to remain professional and loyal in serving his master. The man blinked his eyes, trying to gather the remnants of life that were still sleeping with him, before finally moving to sit up and pick up the call from his boss."Yes, boss? What's wrong, how come you're calling me so early?"Antonio cleared his throat, "You just woke up?""Sure. I couldn't sleep last night."The voice on the other side was silent for a while, making Nathan even mo
Chapter 75- Previous Chapter -"Do you know anything, Nathan?"And the man wearing a black T-shirt wrapped in a matching leather jacket just shook his head weakly. He pursed his lips and muttered. "But I regret leaving her there alone."Antonio nodded his head, signaling that he understood the situation and didn't mean to make his right-hand man feel guilty. "I understand.""Can we check on him? We need to see him even though he's... dead."Antonio looked at Nathan, then considered his words about seeing Carl.After all, they were teammates until last night. Antonio suddenly got a message from a mysterious number showing Carl's latest condition. His body was covered in blood while his face looked bruised and blue. Carl had been murdered by someone. His body had been left on a seedy street not too far from Jean's nightclub. Antonio had called the woman, but her number was disconnected. Suddenly, their communication was cut off and Antonio was struggling to get information. Antonio tho
Chapter 76-Previous chapter-Nathan immediately looked at Antonio. "What's wrong?""Calm yourself down first. You look shocked."The man sitting beside Antonio just turned his face out the window again. He let out a long sigh and the two ended up trapped in an awkward atmosphere for some time afterwards.---Rose couldn't stop her legs from trembling as her mother prepared for her surgery. She sat outside the room as the doctors came in with their suits covered. Complete with mouth masks and gloves, Williams was the last doctor to join her mother in the operating room.The woman accompanied Jasmine's journey from the hospital room to the operating room with anxious expectation. Williams didn't promise much for either her or Jasmine. Rose had to be prepared for the worst-or the most miraculous-at once.But it wasn't just her mother that was now occupying Rose's head, it was the double line that appeared on her testpack. Still staring at the little thing, Rose's mind wandered far and w
Chapter 77Chapter 77Antonio nodded his head. He understood the meaning of Nathan's question, but a moment later continued, "As you said ... she had a relationship with another man.""She confessed?""I suppose so."Nathan's face turned awkward. He widened his eyes in disbelief, but then turned his face as flat as he could. In an artificially cool manner, Nathan asked another question. "You're not angry?""Obviously, I'm angry.""But your face doesn't show it," Nathan said, looking at Antonio quizzically. "You're not disappointed in him?""Obviously, I was disappointed.""You... but you don't look it, Antonio!" Nathan raised his voice, but it didn't sound angry.And Antonio just shut his mouth tight."Wait, if she's been in a relationship with another man, how can you be so sure that the child she's carrying is yours, Antonio? Have you confirmed it?""No, I didn't. But she recognized the pregnancy as mine," Antonio said frankly. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, then lifted his
Chapter 86Chapter 86- Previous Chapter -"You'll be fine. I'll make sure you're safe."But suddenly, Rose jumped up and hugged Antonio, making him gasp. The woman buried her face in Antonio's chest."What's wrong, Rose? You don't have to worry. Ssh! Ssh! I'm here," Antonio said soothingly. "I'll ask Nathan to look after you too. So you-""Don't leave me, Antonio," Rose cut in.And Antonio was instantly silent. For the first time in his life, Antonio heard words of pleading that touched him deeply. Even when Sydney found out she was pregnant with Antonio's child, she never begged. Instead, Sydney blamed Antonio and aborted their child. The child Antonio had hoped for from the woman he had loved so deeply."I have no one and everything is hard when I'm alone."Rosepun's cries were heard in Antonio's ears. He finally knew how Rose felt when she set foot in the house again. The parting words he had spoken a few days back must have frightened her. Antonio had intended to end their relati
Chapter 85- Previous Chapter -"They'll be closed until the investigation is complete," Nathan guessed.But Antonio shook his head. He took out a cigarette from his pants pocket, as well as a lighter from the other pocket, and lit it. He took a long drag from the cigarette and the smoke evaporated into the air."And of course that would take forever!""Or...,"Nathan's brow furrowed deeply. "Or what?""Or Jean has secretly got another business."Nathan could no longer contain his shock at the opinion Antonio mentioned. His mouth gaped open, probably enough to fit a loaf of bread with a full meat filling. He swallowed saliva with difficulty afterwards. "Other bi-businesses? Does he have other businesses? She looks so rich with that prostitution business!""A woman like Jean wouldn't be satisfied with one source of currency. She must be hiding somewhere." Antonio brought his face closer to Nathan's. "Can you investigate? Try traveling around the north, or just send one of your men. I w
Chapter 84- Previous chapter -Antonio smiled slightly and leaned closer. "Are you sorry, Rose?"But Rose denied it. She shook her head and said, "No.""Are you sad that you got pregnant when I had just ended our relationship?"It took a while before Rose finally looked Antonio straight in the eye and said yes to his question. Her blue eyes glazed over again. There were so many things she wanted to say. Rose missed the man who was now standing there looking at her curiously, but it was all held back at the tip of her pale lips. She occasionally bit her lower lip because she couldn't say anything else.And Antonio was quite sensitive to the situation in front of him. He moved forward and immediately pulled Rose into his warm embrace. Then, Rose's tears completely broke out there. She cried as she hid her face into Antonio's broad chest, then hugged him back. While Antonio used his hands to gently rub the back of the woman who was now in his arms.If he could cry, Antonio probably woul
Chapter 83Putting a smile on his thick lips, Elliot walked into the hospital that was dominated by white and golden colors. It was not real gold, but without bothering to put gold on their walls, Golden Hospital was famous for their first-rate service. It's been years since the hospital was built and its reputation has always been good. As for the few problems and complaints received from the patients, they were responded well, so the hospital's reputation remained at the top until this moment.At first, Elliot was confused as to why Jasmine, who was technically still his wife, could be admitted and treated at a hospital as big as Golden Hospital. How could a sick and poor woman like Jasmine have the money to afford treatment at such a place. The insurance money that Jasmine's ex-husband had was all used for gambling and occasionally used to hire night women without Jasmine's knowledge. Jasmine was a good wife. Unfortunately, Elliot was not the kind of man who needed all the good in
Chapter 82The heat of the sun shining directly on Antonio's house made the owner feel uncomfortable. He took in as much oxygen as he could before saying, "Let's talk inside."Rose hurriedly held Antonio's hand as he turned to leave.It made the man in his all-black outfit turn his head. He looked at Rose's hand tugging on his jacket sleeve, then turned to her blue eyes. "What's wrong?""Nathan doesn't seem to like my presence. You guys are having a problem, aren't you?""It's... none of your business. It has nothing to do with you at all.""You're lying, aren't you?"Antonio shook his head. "Come on in. Nathan can wait in the living room."And after deliberating for a moment, Rose finally nodded in agreement. She went in ahead of him, while Antonio still looked around before actually entering, following Rose in and closing the door.Nathan turned around as Rose and Antonio stood in the doorway. He gave a short snort and lit a cigarette with the lighter he always carried in his pants
Chapter 81Nathan packed up some clothes and put them in a long, small tote bag. As well as clothes for everyday use, the now orphaned man also took a few other valuables with him. Anything that left his identity, Nathan tried to take with him, then some of it he threw outside the house and burned it."Are you done?"The man looked up to find Antonio standing in front of him. He nodded and said, "I did, but I'm going to wait for it to burn. I don't want to get caught a second time.""I'll wait in the car.""Okay, boss!"Nathan then stepped on the items that were a little far away to get into the fire. Making all his belongings burn in the flames that turned them into dust.The man then went back into his room. He checked once more. His house was indeed not that big because this place they bought was only as an escape. Their life after becoming fugitives was not easy. Coming and going, leaving and being left behind, meeting and parting became something very close to Nathan. He nodded h
Chapter 80Antonio's brown eyes rounded instantly. "This... what the hell?!"The scene in front of him was a sight to behold. An enthusiastic and excited Nathan continued to explain about the items he had found at Jean's nightclub during the trip. But as soon as they arrived and Nathan took Antonio to his room, which was right next to the living room, Antonio was shocked.Items like pillows, bolsters, blankets were scattered all over the floor. Not to mention a few items on the nightstand. Oh, and don't forget the mirror!All the items lying in front of him now seemed to make Nathan's room look like a crashing airplane. Antonio turned to Nathan with a confused expression, his face saying you-must-explain-everything-now.Instead of cleaning up his mess, Nathan forgot that his room had become an outlet for his frustration. He snorted in amusement and scratched the nape of his neck as he returned Antonio's gaze. The man who had covered his body with an old leather jacket from last night
Chapter 79Rose looked around, after Williams had left her. The hospital corridors were still very busy even though it was soon time for some doctors to go home. Rose's blue eyes found nurses chatting as they walked, small children crying as they were about to be examined by the doctor or even parents who looked confused looking for loans over the phone to meet the hospital fees. But through it all, Rose still felt sorry for herself with all this fate.The woman then made her way to the cafeteria located on the west side of the hospital. Her stomach felt very empty and her throat was dry. And when she got there, Rose immediately cast her eyes around."Is there anything I can help you with, Miss?" asked the vendor standing behind the counter.Rose looked at the large menu board hanging behind the man. There was a wide variety of menus available at various prices. But in the end, Rose remembered how much money she had left and decided to economize. She swallowed hard before finally sayi
Chapter 78Meningitis is an inflammation that occurs in the meningen, or the protective layer that covers the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can sometimes be difficult to recognize, as the disease has initial symptoms similar to the flu, such as fever and headache.Meningitis can also be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. Certain conditions, such as a weakened immune system, can also trigger meningitis. But in Jasmine's case, Williams wasn't just explaining things to Rose. He told her that she had a tumor that could aggravate her current condition, so surgery was necessary.After signing some paperwork, including completing the hospital administration, Jasmine was able to enter the operating table with Williams as the doctor in charge.Rose waited for about three hours in front of the operating room. Williams had already told her that the surgery would be performed under general anesthesia. The operation would begin by opening the skull bone (craniotomy) fo