Nial felt excited and distressed altogether as he showed the two reports to Charmine and said, “Charmine, you and Faye are destined to be enemies.” Not understanding what Nial meant, Charmine took the report and went through it, frowning a moment later. “I’m a suitable donor for Faye?” “Yes.” Charmine was mystified. How ironic. Nial said, “Charmine, for this, you—” “I don’t allow it!” came an abrupt interjection as Anthony came in through the door. Charmine turned over to see him. Anthony said, “Charmine, this has nothing to do with you and me. We helped her because of Frank. This doesn’t mean I’m going to risk my woman’s safety in exchange for her health!” Charmine did not plan on agreeing anyway, so she nodded. “Yeah.” It was then Nial realized something. True, his brother was insanely in love with Charmine. He would not permit her to be a donor. “You’re right. I was just excited when I saw the data,” said Nial. “Let’s just call it off. Anthony and I will go bac
“If it wasn’t for you, my brother would’ve done the operation a long time ago. He’d feel better if you had me treated!” Anthony glared at her coldly. “Who gave you permission to speak to my woman like that?!” Faye parted her lips and whimpered, as though betrayed, “Brother Anthony, her kidney is a good match for me, but she doesn’t want to give it to me. She’s so evil! Why are you still so protective of her?” Anthony sneered at her as his thin lips parted, saying, “It was my idea that she won’t give you her kidney. I love her, no matter how evil she may be. Do you have a problem with that?” Though his words were ruthless, there was that undeniable tinge of adoration within them, causing Charmine to blink at his words. She was so used to being a lone wolf and faced everything on her own. All of a sudden, she found a safe haven in a person whom she—regardless of her actions and how terrible they were—would be right behind her, supporting her. With that, she had no regrets in
Frank said, “This isn’t Charmine’s problem. They’ve all been on a grind to find you a suitable kidney, so stop being so irrational! Nobody owes anyone anything!” “Brother!” Dazed, Faye then whined, “What kind of brother are you? Is this how you’re going to treat your sister?” An intricate web of emotions flashed across Frank’s eyes as he then muttered, “Alright, go back and rest.” He pulled her by the arm and left.Faye, however, resisted. “I’m telling you now, Charmine! If you don’t find me a suitable kidney by tomorrow, you must give me yours!” Charmine looked at their backs and fixed her eyes on the lonely Frank. It felt as though a bee had stung her chest as she blurted, “Frank…” Frank stopped, turning around as his clear eyes seemed to look in her direction. “What is it, Charmine?” Faye looked at Charmine blankly. Was Charmine agreeing to do the transplant? Nial was just as shocked as he looked at her. Why would Charmine call for Frank? Was she agreeing, after al
Gritting her teeth, Faye braced herself for the pain and lugged herself toward the bathroom. Her eyes widened as she stood before the mirror. Reflected was the image of a swollen woman who looked 68 kilograms! Her face was yellow with spots all over her face, too! Instigated by the sight, Faye’s chest began to heave as she struggled to breathe. She started choking and coughing…when she felt liquid rushing up to her throat. She tasted blood. “Urfh!” A mouthful of fresh blood splashed against the clear mirror. The sight did not faze the listless Faye, however. She quickly walked out of the bathroom, wanting to look for Charmine and force her to donate her kidney. Just as she got to the door, it opened from the other side as Frank walked in. “Brother…I’m dying…! Waa…!” The terrified Faye began to wail, “My whole body hurts, I can’t breathe, and I even coughed up blood… Waa…! Am I dying, Brother?” Worried, Frank urged, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to Nial for a checkup. L
Charmine quickly stood up and helped Frank to get to the operating room. The red light turned on as Nial worked on saving Faye. “Don’t worry,” Charmine assured Frank, “Nial is on the case.” “Okay.” Frank stood before the operating room, but he was gazing in Charmine’s direction instead. There were many instances when he desperately wanted to ask her to donate Faye a kidney… but he must not be so selfish. Charmine was not meant to. If anything happened during the transplant, she would be in pain. Furthermore, this matter had nothing to do with Charmine. It was all Faye’s fault! How could he use his resources to help Faye? Standing by the side, Frank’s expression crumpled desolately. A moment later, he recalled what Faye had said to him and began after a deep inhale, “Charmine…” Charmine looked at him. “What’s wrong, Frank?” ‘Could you help Faye?’ Those words were simple enough, yet he could bring himself to utter them. Finally, he sighed to himself and asked,
Frank had just laid down when blood rushed up to his mouth, and before he could react, he threw up all over the floor. Charmine quickly handed him a towel, all while she frowned. “Frank, how many days have you not rested? How can you endure so much pain?” “It doesn’t matter. Faye is more important.” Frank cleared up the bloodstains and was ready to go out, but Charmine stopped him, earnestly warning, “Frank White! You must rest! Your body—” Before she could finish, Frank, who had taken two steps, felt his legs soften. His weakened body collapsed. She hastily caught him, only to realize he was unconscious and blood seeping past his lips. She then placed him back on the bed and used tissue to wipe off the blood on his lips. “Listen to me, and don’t go anywhere! I’ll call for a doctor now!” Frank was already light-headed and sensed his body failing. He looked up at Charmine weakly. “Charmine, if anything happens to me, please save Faye. Take care of her for me, and don’t let
Charmine was speechless. Before she could react, Anthony hoisted her into his arms. “If that’s what you want, I can only satisfy you.” Terrified, Charmine hissed, “Put me down! There are so many people out there!” Anthony squinted as he glanced around calmly. “Who’ll argue about me carrying my wife?” While he seemed like he spoke to Charmine, it was meant for everyone else instead. Upon his bold declaration, he walked to the resting lounge and put her on the bed. Charmine looked at him speechlessly. So many people were in the hospital, and he dared pull such a move... Anthony’s eyes darkened as he met her own. “What are you hinting at?” “What?” she squawked. When was she hinting at him? Charmine wanted to continue when Anthony leaned in and kissed her lips. “Rest well. Don’t make me worry, okay?” Charmine knew what sort of character Anthony was, so she could only nod and close her eyes. Anthony stayed by her bedside, not wanting to leave. Charmine closed her eye
Yvonne cursed internally. Whatever. She should not be jealous of Charmine. Yvonne and Guy quickly got to the resting lounge where the latter saw the hurt-looking Charmine. His gaze held sorrow for her. He quickly went forward and took out his needle, pricking his arm accurately. Jennie, who stood in front of the ward, smirked at the sight of Charmine in agony. That woman deserved to suffer, seeing how she had hurt her precious son’s heart! She raised her chin coldly and walked off elegantly in her heels. Meanwhile, Charmine’s pain ebbed away after Guy pricked the needle into Charmine’s arm. With a pale, colorless complexion, she nestled into Anthony’s arms. Anthony knew why she was in pain, thus he looked at her with a steely gaze. “Don’t think about things that you shouldn’t be thinking.” She suffered enough; she must not donate her kidney to Faye! “Okay...” muttered Charmine and nodded, though her worry remained. She was the only person who could save Faye. Sure,
There was an unnoticeable glint in Sonia's eyes. She nestled herself further into Harry's arms as she added, "Let’s go to Pares. We'll come back after I give birth to the baby.""Alright."Harry stayed by Sonia's side as he watched over her, cared for her, and talked to her until she finally slept in his care.He stood up tiredly and walked out of the room to sit in the living room.Thuck!Something fell out of his pocket.He narrowed his eyes to the source of sound and spotted a USB.Since when did he have a USB in his pocket?With a small frown on his face, Harry curiously picked it up and noticed the front side of the USB glowing. Something was carved onto its surface, too.[Granger].Was it Dior’s USB? Why was her USB inside his pocket?Harry’s clear fingers held on the USB tightly. He thought for a moment before he took out a laptop, turned it on, and plugged in the USB.A moment later, the screen showed what seemed to be peculiar surveillance footage with a descriptio
Dior was still lost in her storm of thoughts when a shadowy figure zipped past her and ran toward Harry.When she spotted this familiar figure, she reacted quickly and held onto him."Let go of me!" growled Guy. "How dare he slap you and misunderstood you? I have to beat some sense into him!"Harry broke free and chased after Harry.Dior, despite having lost all hope and life in her, mustered the last strand of her will to chase after Guy and reeled him back. "Brother, don't," she muttered, "spare your energy…" Her sorrow clouded her eyes as she mumbled, "He’s the man I love. Even though he hates me, I won’t allow you to hurt him. As for the explanation…"Dior smiled ironically. "Whatever. That slap decimated every beautiful daydream I have about him, anyway."She no longer expected anything from him.He had no trust in her, so what would it matter if she finally got him? He did not even love her, and he did not trust her either.Dior smiled elegantly, but her eyes were fille
Dior looked forward to that new shift.She watched as Harry made his way into the restaurant silently, unable to deter her mind from the daydreams she had of him, of the new chapter of their story they would have.He would apologize to her, trying to redeem himself, and kiss her dearly as he embraced her. Later down the line, they would have a child of their own, too.Harry's long legs walked in strides, his dark gaze trained on Dior.The bright light shone on Dior’s delicately stunning face, and she also wore a red dress.He remembered her wearing this back in Mount Village.He could remember how alluring she looked back then, how they stayed in the same room, how she put down her ego to treat him with so much gentleness.Harry’s cold face mellowed down, but recalling a certain memory, the vague wistfulness in him vanished and he sat in front of her.Dior looked at him fondly, like she always would. "Long time no see."Her eyes burned brightly as if she wanted to drink in his
Dior examined the footage the moment she received it.True enough, it showed Sonia and George talking about their little deal. It also showed how Dior was telling the truth while they both ganged up on her.Dior’s frail heart felt as though it was rejuvenated once more, feeling as though blood was once more pumped into her heart. Her dull eyes devoid of hope regained their lost luster once more.Not thinking twice, she dialed Harry's number with this evidence, though he had to be busy, seeing as he did not pick up even after the phone rang for a long while.Just as she was about to hang up, Harry picked up the phone."What do you want?"On the other end of the call was the voice that she had missed for so long. His low, hoarse voice sounded so cold and emotionless.Hearing his voice brought Dior back to the image of his handsome face, and her heart skipped a beat.She tried her best to restrain her fluttering emotions as she tried to speak calmly, "Do you have time? I’d like to
At Mount Village…Inside the elegant bamboo house was Dior, dressed in a beige dress. She sat in the front yard as she took sips of her wine.The sunlight shone past the leaves and illuminated her, yet she exuded an air of loneliness.She swirled the glass and could not help recalling the moments she spent with Harry.In the beginning, she was attracted by his looks; he looked so gentle and elegant.She gave him money, kept him company, and continuously showed up around him in hopes of conquering him.Alas, she ended up in this state.The time she spent with him in Mount Village was the happiest time she had ever had. They had lived inside the bamboo house together, where he took care of her and claimed her to be his woman.They even laid inside the same room.Everything was so beautiful.Cursed was her luck, however, that it was just an illusion. He had been using her from the start, while he chose to stay with the woman who lied to him and even hurt him!No matter how mu
"Although Susan was unhappy, she should've voiced out her displeasure instead of bottling things. Cheating is wrong, regardless. Furthermore, if she wanted a career, she didn't have to stay home and depend on her husband."Grandma Bailey halted.Was that what Charmine truly thought of?Grandma Bailey thought Charmine would find Susan too aggressive unto herself.Charmine glanced at Susan again and apathetically commented, "She doesn't want to make money on her own, but she wants to be rich while complaining about her man not making time for her and taking care of her? If a woman has no ability of her own and also blames others for her miseries, all she's worth is to sit quietly at home and wait for her husband to come home. She also has no right to cheat! This is how the world works."Charmine patted Grandma Bailey’s shoulder and held Anthony’s hand, her words met with everyone's evidently surprised gazes and their silence.Grandma Bailey was shocked. Sure, Charmine sounded rathe
The colossal cruise started to drift away from the pier.Eric stood on the cruise and let the wind blow at him, loneliness and hatred still oozing from his being.He stared at the blue ocean ahead of him as Charmine's words rang in his mind unceasingly.'Will you really feel good after you've killed them?''You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?'"Forgive them and yourself.'Deliberating everything carefully, his lips curled into a bitter smile.It was true, after all, that Charmine understood him the most.Eric poured himself another drink and downed it with loneliness as he allowed the cruise to bring him wherever it would take him.…Susan was still inside the operating room when Charmine and the rest of the Baileys rushed into the hospital.Darryl stood before the room, his expression blank, his figure lonely and helpless.So many things had happened in half a day.He found out about his wife's inf
"No one's stopping you now. Eat!"Anthony clenched his hands tightly and took another glance at Charmine. He was more determined than before, and he was close to eating the pills in the bottle.Charmine, who was held hostage, gradually opened her eyes at that moment. Her gaze drifted toward Eric before she asked, her tone challenging, "Will you really feel good after you've killed them? You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?"Eric halted, and his eyes darkened.Charmine had just woken up, yet what she said…He cast a cold glance at Charmine. "It's my business, and it has nothing to do with you!"They were his family, and he did not want a family like this!Charmine looked squarely at him. "Eric, I don’t care if you used me or plotted against me all these years; I've treated you like a true friend, nothing more nor less. You were the only person who stayed by my side in the past five years, so I hope that you
Anthony's breath hitched when he saw Charmine.He clenched his fists and, without doubting himself, relented "I can agree to your terms, so let her go right away. This has nothing to do with her; you only hate me after all. As long as you let her go, I'll take the pill. Everything will end right away."Susan shook her head. "We'll die after eating the pill. I’m not taking that!"She had just reunited with Eric, and she did not want to die yet. She looked at Eric and begged, "Please let Anthony be, why don't you? He’s your brother, after all, and he doesn’t even know about your existence. If you’re really angry, just kill Charmine, and I'll make it up to you—"Anthony's expression contorted in sheer fury upon hearing Susan's plea, and he glared at her with murderous intent."This was all your fault, so what right do you have to make Charmine take your blame?!""What on earth are you going on about?" snapped Grandma Bailey. "Charmine has been kidnapped because of you, yet you want