Chapter 45

Audrey & MIV

Inside, Astrid was leaning over the windowsill, gazing out.

I walked over in where Astrid stood and leaned against the window frame, following her gaze outside.

I raised an eyebrow. What are you looking at?

“God, you scared me! Astrid jumped, spinning around to face me. “Since when did you become so quiet?

Outside, an ambulance was slowly pulling away from the hospital, its taillights gradually disappearing into the night. Something about that scene sent an inexplicable chill down my spine.

“That’s Laurel and Blake in there,” Astrid said, her voice tinged with sarcasm. The nurses said Laurel kept insisting she was traumatized, claiming everything hurts – her head, her heart, everything.”

“And?

“Blake immediately arranged for her transfer to Mayo Clinic.” She pursed her lips. “They just left.”

“You know what’s funny?” Astrid couldn’t help but add, shaking her head. “Mayo Clinic is where they treat all the terminal cases and rare diseases.”

“Taking his precious Hollywood princess there…” She gave a cold laugh. Then, nudging my shoulder, she added, “Hey, does Laurel have some terminal illness?”

My heart skipped a beat. Mayo Clinic. Dr. Evans‘ phone call from this afternoon suddenly echoed in my mind – someone wanted to buy my experimental medication, claiming his girlfriend needed it immediately due to emotional trauma. The timing… could Blake be the buyer?

But I quickly dismissed the thought. Despite Laurel’s constant display of fragility, her complexion was rosy, her voice strong and clear. I knew too well what late–stage gastric cancer looked like; that kind of suffering couldn’t be easily faked.

“Audrey?”

I kept staring at the air, lost in thought, until Astrid waved her hand in front of me. “What are you thinking about?”

I snapped out of my daze and turned to give her a faint smile. “Nothing.”

pick up my bag, I asked, “Have you counted how much I won for you at the track

brightened. “Of course

thousand!” She exclaimed, almost bouncing with excitement. “All these years, I’ve lost

the exit. “And if Laurel hadn’t pulled that dirty trick, we’d have more than

on that thought. Instead, I glanced at her sideways. “So what’s

mysterious smile played across her face. “Oh,

high–end spa in New York. Through the floor–to–ceiling windows, I could see the elegant décor

up at The Underground again, I looked

through the door. “Besides, you’ve had a

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Chapter 45

didh i have appo

trainee Nalining the

profily, mading in walking

these look the love bitms to you? Lekantined the marka on my neck and arms

for a closer look, her expression suddenly serious. “They kind of do. You’ll need to cover

Tomorrow. That jerk might hecuse you of

affair? The words almost slipped out, but I swallowed them back just in

at a Southern restaurant. Astrid ordered a table full of spicy

air

used to love spicy food? It’s been

of spicy dishes in front of me made

spicy food felt like a lifetime ago. Looking back, maybe that was one of the things that made my

or his family’s cruelty became too much, I’d find myself here with Astrid. They say spicy food triggers

spicy food had become

thinking I needed comfort after today’s drama. The thought made something in

dig in!” Then, noticing my hesitation, “You okay?

I forced down a few bites. “Just not that

more mouthfuls, I pulled out my phone, pretending to check a

made it to the stall before the pain hit. Even after getting rid of the spicy food, the burning in my stomach only intensified. I doubled over, one hand pressed against my

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