As the elevator climbed higher, an uneasy feeling gnawed at me. This scene felt oddly familiar as if I had experienced it before. Every time I was in a hospital, something bad seemed to happen. The hallway outside the ward smelt like a faint floral scent instead of the usual strong smell of disinfectant.


    The only other time I had encountered such an environment was in Daniel''s ward. Naturally, the hospital Nichs had chosen for his father was the best.


    "Ouch! I spent so much money, and you found someone this clumsy to give me an injection?"


    The ttering sounds of something falling to the floor and a shrill voiceing from inside a nearby ward interrupted my thoughts.


    "Miss, please. You can''t move around while I''m trying to give you the injection. I won''t be able to do it properly if you move."


    "Get out! I don''t need you. Find someone else! Look! You''ve already bruised my arm!"


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to."


    "Bring your director here! Now!"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    I stared intently at the door to the room. The next moment, a tearful young nurse came running out.


    As she brushed past me, I suddenly grabbed her hand. I asked almost in disbelief, "Is thest name for the person inside ''Cooper"?"


    The nurse was startled by me, trembling as she nodded. Tears kept streaming down her face. Stunned, I let go of her and stiffly walked toward the ward. In that instant, everything became clear.


    Rage surged through me, burning in my chest. Of all people, Jasmine should never have targeted someone close to me!


    Despite the conflict between Nichs and me, he had neverid a finger on Yasmine. What gave Jasmine the right to do so? I kicked open the half-closed door and immediately locked eyes on Jasmine. "You''re here already? Just look at this nurse. Is she deliberately trying to—"


    Jasmine thought the nurse had brought the director. She didn''t even bother to look up beforeunching into her tirade.


    Before she could finish, I stormed over, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her down to the ground. I


    they kicked her bandaged


    injury twice.


    Jasmine was so shocked by the pain that her usually bright eyes blinked as if they were unable to focus. Shey on the floor, struggling helplessly "Help! Somebody help!"


    She had just dismissed the nurse taking care of her, so no one was going to respond to her weak cries.


    I kicked her again, and only then did my anger begin to subside as I watched her writhing in pain.


    I pulled up a chair and sat down a short distance away. Shey on the floor, sobbing, her hair sticking to her tear-streaked face. It took her a while to pull herself up by clinging to the edge of the hospital bedo


    She red at me with gritted teeth. Her voice seethed with rage as she called my name.


    "Ariana!"


    However, I simply smiled at her. "Jasmine, you have to drop the charges."


    Jasmine let out a bitter, muffledugh. "Ariana, so you have people you care about too?"


    For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Everyone had a weakness.


    I frowned at her. She clutched her wound,ughing until tears streamed down her face.


    "Ariana, maybe you''ve probably never understood what it''s like to lose someone. Well, now it''s your turn. I will never drop the charges!"


    I abruptly stood up, grabbed


    whatever was within reach, and


    hurled it at Jasmine. The sound of


    the item shattering echoed through the room, plunging the wardinto chaos.