“Sadie’s at the hospital. You might want to come.”
Jim believed that as Sadie’s husband, Noah should be there to provide support.
“I’ve already been there,” Noah replied flatly.
Jim was momentarily surprised.
Noah had been here? Why hadn’t he noticed him?
“Sadie’s grandmother just made it through a critical procedure, and Sadie’s quite upset…”
He was about to stress Sadie’s need for comfort when he was interrupted by a woman’s voice through the phone, complaining of pain.
“Ouch… it hurts…”
The flirtatious tone from the other end caused Jim’s thoughts to scatter.
He knitted his brows tightly.
Was that Kyla?
A wave of irritation surged through him.
“Noah,” Jim said coldly, “you may come to regret your choices today.” He ended the call abruptly.
Damn it!
Cursing under his breath, Jim slammed his fist against the wall. How could he have ended up being friends with someone so oblivious to matters of the heart?
On the other end, Noah was left listening to a dial tone, his expression clouding with confusion.
What had he done? Why was Jim so upset?
Kyla watched with barely concealed satisfaction, her voice tender but rough. “It hurts…”
She delicately touched her swollen ankle, feigning a grimace of pain. Noah dismissed his lingering doubts and moved toward Kyla, his voice filled with concern. “Are you still feeling pain?”
Kyla lightly shook her head, her eyes tinged red, portraying a visage of vulnerability and distress.
“Thank you, Noah. I feel much better now,” she murmured appreciatively.
In the meantime, Jim had changed his attire and made his way to the corridor, only to realize Sadie had left.
Sadie, unaware that Jim had sought her out, was preoccupied with the daunting thoughts of Laura’s hospital costs.
The harsh fluorescent lighting outside the operating room did little to brighten her desolate mood.
For Sadie, Laura was her last remaining relative, indispensable and irreplaceable.
The anticipated bonus from the Maple Group project was her final lifeline.
Regardless of Noah’s decisions concerning the bonus, Sadie was resolved to secure it.
She dried her tears, inhaled deeply, and called Roy.
“Mr. Dominguez, is now a good time? I’d like to discuss the project with you again.”
The voice that answered Sadie’s call had a sleazy quality, a far cry from Roy’s usual professional tone.
“Ah, another lady eager to make a deal! Why don’t you drop by the Night Owl Bar, Room 317? Impress us here, and the contract’s as good as yours. Hahaha!”
Laughter echoed through the line, the sound grating on Sadie’s ears.
Anxiety clutched her heart, a cold dread seeping through her.
Left with no alternatives, she conceded.
“I’ll be there soon,” Sadie replied, her voice quivering imperceptibly. As she left the hospital, the cold wind struck her, scattering her hair across her face.
Pressed for time, she bypassed the bus and dismissed the idea of a taxi due to cost.
Resolutely, Sadie headed for the subway.
The car was nearly empty, a relief given the hour.
She found a vacant seat and settled in, her tension easing momentarily. Yet, discomfort soon pricked at her as she felt unsettling stares from around the car.
Curious eyes lingered on Sadie, some intentional, others merely coincidental.
As she touched her face, Sadie questioned if her makeup was smudged.
“Hey, where did you buy that suit jacket? It’s quite chic and looks expensive. Could you tell me where I might get one?” Suddenly, a voice from a young girl pierced the quiet of the subway car.
It was only then that Sadie remembered she was still wearing Noah’s suit jacket.
Crafted from fine black cashmere, the jacket was luxurious yet subtle.
The urge to remove it came over her, yet she hesitated.
What would she do with it if she took it off? What if it disappeared?
This jacket seemed costly, and she couldn’t risk misplacing it. Smiling uneasily, Sadie said, “Actually, I don’t know where to buy this jacket; it’s not mine.”
The girl’s knowing glance and her slightly gossipy tone followed.
“Ah, did your boyfriend cover you with it to keep you cozy?”
With admiration in her voice, she added, “He must really care for you! Does wearing his jacket make your heart feel warm?” Sadie felt a sting from the girl’s words.
Warm? Perhaps it once was.
Now, all that remained was a cold and sharp ache.
If Noah truly cared, why would he leave her for Kyla?
Sadie tried to respond, meeting the girl’s expectant look, but she found herself torn between a lie and a truth too painful to utter.
Fortunately, the subway pulled into the station, and Sadie seized the moment to escape.
Inside the Night Owl Bar, the clash of loud music and vibrant lights overwhelmed the senses.
As she navigated through the crowded space, the mix of perfume and alcohol in the air unsettled her.
Upon reaching Room 317, Sadie paused, inhaling deeply to steady her nerves.
The door burst open just as she raised her hand to knock.
A disheveled woman was forcefully ejected, landing on the floor with a painful groan.
From inside, a man’s harsh, rough voice reached Sadie’s ears. “If you can’t handle the game, stay out of it. You’re just spoiling my fun!” A slight tension gripped Sadie’s frame as she pieced together the scene inside.
A wave of fear washed over her.
She was about to turn away when the man caught sight of her. “Hey there, pretty lady. First time here?” he inquired, eyeing her with evident predatory interest.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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