A shiver of cold dread crept down Getty''s spine, her body rigid as she locked eyes with Quinn. Her expression was a kaleidoscope of emotions, shifting and changing with each passing second.


    After a moment, she turned around and shed a cunning smile at Alexander. "I was merely speaking without thinking-you know how I can be," she said, her voice light and airy.Alexander''s gaze was indifferent, his voiceced with a subtle warning.


    "It''s eptable to y the fool asionally, but one cannot afford to be perpetually foolish."Getty''s smile froze in ce, Alexander''s words cutting through her like a cold winter wind.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Are you insulting me?" she demanded, her voiceced with disbelief. The thought of Alexander speaking to her in such a manner was shocking. "I''m not insulting you," he retorted, his voice firm. "I''m reminding you."Getty''s eyelids twitched involuntarily.


    Though she often engaged in candid conversations with Alexander, this frankness did not equate to a desire to be humiliated in front of Quinn. Shooting Alexander a venomous re, she stalked out of the room, the click of her high heels echoing ominously.Once Getty had left, Alexander''s gaze shifted to Quinn.


    Quinn remained impassive throughout the exchange, deriving no pleasure from Getty''s reprimand. She understood the dynamics between them too well to assume Alexander was taking her side.


    To believe that Alexander was defending her would be an act of self-centeredness, a mistake she hadmitted more than once.


    Each time, he had proven that it was nothing more than her own wishful thinking. Without expectations, one wouldn''t overanalyze every word spoken by the other.


    Nor would one feel the sting of sadness from the other''s words or actions.Quinn handed the documents she was holding to Alexander. He held her gaze for a moment before epting the papers and exiting the room.


    A dull ache pulsed in Quinn''s lower abdomen. She leaned against the desk, taking a moment to catch her breath.


    After sipping some water, she slumped back into her chair, exhaustion etching lines onto her face. As the afternoon wore on, with no pressing matters to attend to, she rested her head on the desk. A sudden notification from her phone jolted her awake.


    Picking up her phone, Quinn saw a message from Alexander instructing her to head home, though he didn''t specify why.


    A nce at the time revealed it was precisely 5:30 p.m.She gathered her belongings, left the office, and hailed a cab to the hospital. Her supply of painkillers at home was dwindling, and this provided an opportunity to visit Juliet, whom she hadn''t seen in a while. Upon reaching the hospital, she was lucky enough to secure an appointment with her usual doctor. Being a regr patient-or a "dummy," as she jokingly referred to herself the doctor had a vivid memory of her. After retrieving her medical file, a look of concern crossed the doctor''s face. Preferring to cut to the chase, the doctor handed her a list of tests to be conducted before they could proceed further.


    After the necessary tests werepleted, the doctor scrutinized the reports with a serious expression. "The inmmation hasn''t subsided, and now you have cervicitis. Have you been taking the medication I prescribed earlier?" he asked. Quinn hesitated before shaking her head. She had forgotten when the doctor had prescribed her medication. The doctor sighed, seemingly at a loss for words.


    He quickly scribbled a prescription, instructing, "Go for your IV therapy, return for regr check-ups, and if you don''t want to end up with cancer, take your medication punctually.


    Abstain from sexual activity, or at the very least, take precautions if you can''t help yourself."Quinn had grown ustomed to these visits, and her skin had thickened. Though the doctor''s words were embarrassing, she no longer blushed. She nodded, epted the medication from the doctor, and made her way to the infusion hall. She handed in her form and waited in line, a routine she knew all too well. The hall was bustling in the evening, but most patients had apanion. Quinn, however, sat alone.


    Across from her, a couple sat together. The girl was receiving an IV, her boyfriend sitting beside her, massaging her stomach from time to time.Quinn pursed her lips and averted her gaze.Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message from Orion. Quinn picked up her phone to read it.