Alanna gazed downward in response."Can you leave the ward for the time being, Mr. Florentine? I'd like to have a private word with Mr. Simmons."Hades chuckled coldly in return. "Oh? Can't you two chat while I'm around?"Jeff started shuffling the papers in his hands into a neat stack. "Of course, Mr. Florentine. But I hope you can stay quiet throughout the conversation."Whenever Jeff snapped into his work mode, his gentle demeanor would be replaced by his decisive personality. Even his gaze would turn razor-sharp.Alanna fell silent for a moment."Let's talk outside, Mr. Simmons."Jeff shot Hades a look. "I'm fine with that."Hades' expression became increasingly thunderous. Before Alanna could get out of bed, he finally relented by standing up immediately.Upon reaching the doorway, he added, "Eat your meal first before talking business with him."After that, he left the ward right away, making sure to slam the door behind him.Alanna pursed her lips firmly. As for Jef
"You've been waiting here for two hours?" Jeff remarked.Glancing at Jeff, Hades questioned, "You sure you want to help her?"Jeff raised a brow and asked, "Why shouldn't I?""Don't say I didn't warn you—she can't afford to pay you," Hades retorted with a sneer.A majority of the cases Jeff took on involved significant economic disputes or high-profile divorces among the wealthy elites.His fee for a single case was at least nine figures.Chuckling, Jeff declared, "I take on pro bono cases too sometimes."Hades' expression soured. "Are you sure you don't have any feelings for her, Jeff? Why do I find that hard to believe?"Jeff's expression wasn't all that pleasant either."Hades, do you realize you're acting like a cornered beast that's frantically lashing out? If you don't want her to leave you, you should focus on figuring out why she's adamant about doing so instead of taking your anger out on others!" Jeff rebuked.Hades narrowed his eyes. After a long silence, he finall
As she leaned weakly against the door, Alanna chuckled and said, "It's not because of you. The problem lies with me."Then, she looked at Hades, who was standing there with a stormy expression. The vein in his forehead started twitching."Go ahead, Alanna. Let's see if you can keep up with this stubbornness of yours for the rest of your life!" Hades snarled.Alanna simply laughed in response.At last, Margaret realized the two were fighting.Once Hades left, Margaret couldn't resist attempting to talk some sense into Alanna."You can't keep depriving your body of food like this, Ms. Jacinto," Margaret said.Alanna smiled weakly and said, "Don't worry about me. There's a reason why I'm doing this."Margaret frowned, but she didn't know what else to say.Alanna persisted for three days, and Hades' expression soured even more with each passing day.They seemed to be engaged in a cold war.Alanna was obstinately using her health to protest against Hades' domineering ways, but Ha
Alanna was dazed as she listened to him. Though she kept quiet, a tear silently rolled down her cheek. She got what she wanted, but she felt no joy.Their relationship left her with a heart covered with scars alongside several insignificant delightful moments.She had never expected them to end things this way. She thought they would part ways on a friendly note or that perhaps Hades would soon grow bored of her someday. This was the only outcome she had never foreseen.Hades' gaze fell on her tear, and he instinctively wanted to help her wipe it off. However, Alanna dodged him the moment he raised his hand. His fingers froze in mid-air.After several moments, he withdrew his hand. "I asked Margaret to cook you some chicken soup. You should at least take a sip."After a short pause, he continued, "You can stop taking that medicine. I won't pressure you to take it anymore."Then, he got up to serve her the soup. He wrapped his slender fingers around the bowl so tightly that his kn
Alanna's expression was taut. Truth be told, she was curious about Jeff's intentions as well.However, she could very well differentiate whether or not someone harbored ill intentions toward her. At least, she didn't sense anything of that sort from Jeff."And you think you're a gentleman, huh?" she retorted.Hades' eyes narrowed. "I'm far from being one, that I admit. But at least I don't have a fiancée or a girlfriend. I've only been intimate with you alone."Alanna, since the beginning, you're the only woman I've been in a relationship with. I've never even touched Melanie. I'm never one to show my affection to more than one woman."Alanna pursed her lips. She didn't know how to describe her feelings upon listening to his sudden confession.However, she refused to continue this topic. No matter who Hades would go to bed with or how many women he'd have in the future, it would no longer concern her."I'll follow through with the proper resignation procedures, and hopefully, yo
"Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I never regret my decisions." Alanna was dead-set.Hades felt even more upset, but he stayed silent. He merely stared at her. He waited for her bottle of IV fluid to finish before leaving the hospital with her.After having some food and the IV therapy, Alanna regained her strength. When Hades walked over to carry her, she declined. "I can walk on my own."Hades scoffed and yielded. After leaving the emergency department, he said, "Let's go home first. It worries me to let you roam outside in this state. Don't even think of blaming it on me if something else happens to you. Besides, Margaret cooked your favorite dishes."Alanna could sense that he was trying to make her stay. However, his attempt seemed ridiculous at this point."There's no need. Help me thank Margaret when you get back," she said as she lowered her gaze. Then, she went to the roadside to hail a taxi.Hades left fuming. After how low he'd stooped, Alanna didn't seem to acknowledge hi
Travis nodded. "Yeah, let's have something together. I have something to talk about with you, too."Alanna checked the time. She wasn't hungry, actually. And after starving herself for three days, a liquid diet was all she could take.Still, she agreed to their invitation. There was something she needed to discuss with them. So, she opened the door and got into the car.They decided on a restaurant that was well-known among the locals. The moment they entered, they saw Terrence walking out with a woman who resembled Alanna.Upon seeing Alanna, Terrence was stunned. Since the day he witnessed Alanna being rescued from the sea, his heart ached subconsciously. Not even he could understand why.He'd been thinking of her as a plaything and never expected that there would come a day when he'd actually feel sorry for her.He dropped the mocking attitude he'd always assumed whenever he met her. In a calm voice he rarely used, he asked, "Ms. Jacinto, are you alright?""I'm fine. Thanks f
Upon hearing the busy signal, Hades scoffed. Alanna's audacity was truly showing. Despite having yet to receive the termination agreement, she already had the nerve to block his number.Hades snuffed the cigarette and texted her, "Call me back."Then, he stared at his phone as he waited for her call. However, Alanna didn't end up calling him. His phone remained silent till the end, and his text remained the last sentence of their conversation.Hades grew increasingly frustrated. He could no longer suppress his anger. Though he'd convinced himself to stop pursuing what he wouldn't get, it was difficult to follow through.He clutched his phone in a firm grip and thought of going to see her. But on the other hand, he thought there was no reason for him to pester her.Why should he stoop so low? It would be unseemly, as though he couldn't survive without Alanna. He put his phone back down but picked it up again a few moments later. It was still as silent as a mouse.Frustrated, he sc