Chapter 95



“Harold? Harold?” Belinda called softly, nudging him awake.

Harold opened his eyes and smiled when he saw her. “Belinda, you’re back.”

Belinda said to him in a gentle voice, “It’s late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“I must’ve nodded off watching TV,” Harold explained, though the truth was he had stayed up waiting for her.

After a pause, he asked, “Why were you out so late? Where did you go?”

Belinda sat down beside him with a smile. “I went to a bar with Bethany for a drink.”

At her words, Harold’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Was something bothering you? Did someone make things difficult for you? If anyone dares to, just tell me—I’ll make sure they regret it!” His protective words warmed Belinda’s heart.

Belinda nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Harold. I’m not the same as before. I won’t let anyone mess with me anymore. But if it happens, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Good.” Harold laughed, his worry easing. “Alright, it’s late. You’ve got work tomorrow. Go on, get some rest.”

Belinda said, “I will. Let me help you to your room first.”

“Alright, alright,” Harold said, chuckling.

After escorting Harold to his room, Belinda returned to hers. She showered and went straight to bed, not bothering to check if Lucas had returned. Sleep came quickly, the alcohol lulling her into a deep slumber as soon as her head hit the pillow.

The next day, at the Grand Plains General Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Department, Belinda resumed her routine. Kylee’s absence for the past two days hardly surprised her. Belinda shook her head and let out a cold chuckle in her heart.

She had just finished her rounds and returned to her office when her phone rang. Her eyes flickered as she looked at the caller ID. After a moment of hesitation, she answered.

The call was from Carola.

“Can we meet for lunch at noon?” Carola asked directly, getting straight to the point.

“Sure,” responded Belinda.

“Let’s meet at Happer Restaurant,” Carola said.

“Sounds good,” Belinda replied.

Carola didn’t say anything more and ended the call.

Belinda’s eyes lowered, her lips tightening slightly. She had detected coldness in Carola’s voice. It made sense, though. Given her recent actions towards Kylee, how could Carola, Kylee’s mother, not feel upset with her? With a bitter smile, Belinda put her phone away and focused back on her work.

At noon, inside Happer Restaurant, Carola sat opposite Belinda, her emotions complicated. After being quiet for a while, she broke the silence, saying, “I’d like to understand your perspective on the incident.”

Belinda raised her eyes to meet Carola’s. She had anticipated Carola would demand an apology from her right away.

Belinda described the incident calmly, sticking strictly to the facts.

As Belinda spoke, Carola’s expression became slightly puzzled. The story Belinda shared differed from what Baker had described to her. With no surveillance camera in the dining room and Carola absent during the incident, the truth relied solely on the accounts of those involved.

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