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.”

up my bag, I asked, “Have you counted how much I won for

eyes instantly brightened. “Of course I

made exactly three million, five hundred and forty–eight thousand!” She exclaimed, almost bouncing with excitement. “All these years, I’ve lost about one or two million to

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

glanced at her sideways.

smile played across her face. “Oh, we’re going

we stood outside a high–end spa in New York. Through the floor–to–ceiling windows, I could see the elegant

we’d end up at The Underground

the door. “Besides, you’ve had

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Chapter 45

didh i have appo

trainee Nalining the rule var hrdinou zmy bar

profily, mading

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 these before meeting

hecuse you of having

slipped out, but I swallowed

Southern restaurant. Astrid ordered a table full of

air

used to love spicy food? It’s

of spicy dishes in

maybe that was one of the things that made my

became too much, I’d find myself here with Astrid. They say spicy food triggers pain receptors – I guess that’s

diagnosis, spicy food had become just another thing cancer had taken

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

on, dig in!” Then, noticing my hesitation, “You okay? You’ve barely

concern made my throat tight. I forced down a few bites. “Just

out my phone, pretending to check a

barely 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 chest,

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