Nina turned around and went to the dressing table. She popped the drawer open and took out a bottle. It was still half full withxatives.


    It was a kind of medicine that she usually prepared. It was designed to promote bowel movement in people with constipation. She had used it to pull a prank on John before. She had not imagined that she would have to use it on herself one day.


    It was necessary. She could not escape if she did not do this.


    Nina poured herself a ss of warm water and put threexatives in it. Feeling that three pills were not strong enough, she added three more.


    The six pills slowly sank to the bottom of the ss. One swirl dissolved them allpletely.


    Nina grasped the ss tightly. She took a deep breath, poured the solution into her mouth, and swallowed it.


    A few minutester, the pills started kicking in.


    Nina''s stomach grumbled. Then, difort bloomed in her stomach and radiated to her sides.


    Soon, all hell broke loose in her bowels.


    Nina did not eat anything all day. She just drank water, so thexatives took almost no time to take effect. Not for long, Nina was rushing to the bathroom.


    After squatting in the bathroom for half an hour, Nina felt her knees turn to jelly. Her face was as white as bone like no


    al." John carried Nina out of the bedroom, barking orders as he went for the front door. Outside, the car was already up and running for them. He carefully put her into the back seat, got in, and shut the door.


    Richard drove them straight to Kanner Hospital.


    On the way, Nina closed her eyes as little beads of cold sweat started popping out of her forehead. Nestled in John''s arms, she carefully reached into his pocket to find her watch.


    But her watch was not there.


    Feeling a bit pissed, Nina took away John''s invaluable pen instead.


    Upon arriving at Kanner Hospital, Nina was given an anti-diarrheal and put on IV fluids. Soon, she started feeling better although she was still very weak.


    Thinking that Nina had not eaten anything for a day, John asked someone to buy her a bowl of porridge. He sat by her bed, watching her as she slept.


    After a while, a nurse came in to check on Nina. At the same time, Nina''s attending physician walked in and asked to speak to John privately. Before John left, he told his bodyguard he posted outside Nina''s door to keep watch and never let Nina out of his sight. The guard dipped his chin in acknowledgement.


    Nina''s ears moved. As soon as John''s footfalls were out of earshot, her eyelids flew open.


    It was her chance.