Put On a Show


    Lauren’s words left me feeling somewhat dazed.


    “The car waspletely wrecked. You were only saved because the airbags deployed and protected


    you. Plus, the truck hit the back of your car. You narrowly escaped a catastrophe!”


    Lauren continued, her voice filled with concern. “If the timing had been just a bit off… It’s horrifying


    even


    to think about!”


    As I listened to Lauren’s ount, I recalled that desperate press of the pedal. If the doctor’s


    assessment had been urate, a slightly dyed reaction could have left me paralyzed, or worse, I


    might never have seen my family again.


    It was shocking to see the ident report photoster. Ste visited my ward two dayster, and I


    admired herposure.


    Ste entered, apanied by a bodyguard, holding a big bouquet and carrying a basket of fruits. She


    walked in with the confidence of someone who owned the ce.


    I stared at her in disbelief, but she looked genuinely concerned as she quickly approached my bedside.


    “Chlo, are you feeling better?” Her tone was heartfelt.


    She grabbed my hand and asked me with tears in her eyes, “How did this ident happen? It scared


    everyone half to death.”


    My mother quickly fetched a chair. “Please have a seat.”


    On the other hand, Lauren wasted no time and shouted at the bodyguard, “Remove those items. She


    was just poisoned; we can’t have them in here!”


    I fixed my eyes on Ste’s face, closely examining her expression. She didn’t seem the least bit guilty.


    Ste instructed her bodyguard to take her gifts out, and the man left with the items.


    I nced at Lauren and smiled at Ste. “I hope you won’t mind!”


    “I don’t mind. We’re all friends, and you’re injured. It’s only natural to be agitated!” She gave my hand a


    was a close call indeed!” I replied warmly, putting on a little performance of my own. “I apologize


    for troubling you the other day?


    i


    deliberately brought up the fact that she had answered the phone.


    “Hey! No worries!” She responded calmly and turned the question back to me. “I didn’t know you two


    had


    ns.


    “It’s fine. We met at the hospital in the end,” I chuckled. “It’s all thanks to Mr. As’s quick thinking.


    When he couldn’t reach me on the phone, he had a hunch that something had happened.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    “I thought I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t answered the call that day, and he hadn’t arrived in


    time, if I had stayed in the car just a bit longer, it might have been a different story!”


    “Really? I only found outter from the news reports!” Ste appeared a bit uneasy.


    “Oh? Weren’t you two together? Didn’t you ask when he left? I teased, yfully giving her hand a


    gentle


    squeeze.


    Ste’s gaze flickered, and she managed a smile, though it held a hint of satisfaction. “He said he was


    stepping out for a moment. How could I have known about the ident?”


    My mother was getting confused by our conversation, but Lauren understood. Her face had darkened


    considerably, and she appeared on the verge of interrupting several times. However, I shot her a subtle


    nce, signaling her to hold back.


    I wasn’t sure about As’s intentions, but I didn’t want to fall out with Ste. Coincidentally, before


    Ste.


    could finish her act, As strode in…