Chapter 128
Chapter 128: Kristopher took a drag of his cigarette with a cold chuckle. “I didn’t want to corner you like this; you left me no choice.”’ As he spoke, he unlocked the car. “Belinda, head upstairs and apologize now, or I’ll have these photos leaked immediately. The choice is yours.”’ Belinda bit her lip, her gaze drifting out the car window as she realized they had stopped at the hospital entrance. No wonder he chose this spot to smoke and make his threats. What was usually a thirty-minute drive from the Cox residence to the hospital, he had raced through in under fifteen minutes. His speedy drive was proof enough of how much Cathy meant to Kristopher. Taking a deep breath, Belinda faced Kristopher with a stern and icy look. “I’ll go upstairs now and apologize to Miss Miller. But”¦”’ Her eyes flicked to the phone in Kristopher’s hand. “I expect never to see these photos again in my life.”’ “No problem.”’ Kristopher put out his cigarette in the ashtray, satisfied. “You apologize, and I’ll delete them right away.”’ “It’s a deal then.”’ With those words, Belinda took a deep breath, opened the car door, and walked toward the hospital. Upon reaching the emergency room, she noticed the constant beeping of the machines and the flurry of doctors and nurses. Yet, despite the apparent activity, none carried any medical supplies or medicine; they just seemed to be pacing. Belinda scoffed. Lá´’tｅst chá´’ptєrs in Cathy, the darling of the entertainment world, always had a crowd willing to play her game. After another deep breath, Belinda pushed open the emergency room door and entered. On the emergency room bed, Cathy lay pale and frail, her body entwined with tubes and an oxygen mask covering her face. They say chronic illness breeds knowledge. Perhaps because her own cancer diagnosis had brought her face-to-face with many seriously ill patients, Belinda could instantly tell upon entering that Cathy was pretending to be sick. A truly sick patient wouldn’t look like she did. “Miss Nelson”¦”’ As Belinda approached, Cathy weakly reached out her hand and managed a strained smile. “You’re here”¦”’ “Yep.”’ Belinda stood beside the bed, sneering down at her. “I heard that Miss Miller, you weren’t feeling well and that your condition would worsen without my apology. So, I made a special trip just to see you.”’ Cathy’s face contorted unpleasantly. She frowned, about to speak, but then noticed the man standing in the doorway behind Belinda. Cathy clutched her chest, feigning severe pain, and coughed while trying to speak through tears. “Miss Nelson”¦ I never asked for your apology”¦ My mood is my own issue”¦ Cough, cough”¦”’ “Cathy!”’ Kristopher hurried over, worried, and took Cathy’s hand. “Do you need me to call a doctor?”’ “No, cough, cough”¦”’ Cathy gripped Kristopher’s hand, her expression one of frailty. “Kristopher”¦ Please step out”¦ I need to speak with Miss Nelson privately”¦”’ Kristopher’s brows knit together. “Is that really safe?”’ Belinda had always harbored a bias against Cathy, and now that he was leaving her alone with someone she disliked, how could he feel comfortable? “It’s alright.”’ Cathy managed a weak smile. “Miss Nelson isn’t unreasonable. I truly need to”¦ speak to her in private.”’ Convinced by Cathy’s insistence, Kristopher reluctantly let go of her hand and started to walk out. As he walked past Belinda, the man dropped his voice to a hushed whisper, meant only for their ears. “Remember, I still have those photos.”’ His words chilled Belinda to the bone. For Cathy, it seemed Kristopher would stop at nothing! Belinda clenched her fists, her voice tight as she almost forced the words through her teeth. “Don’t worry. I take my friend’s privacy seriously.”’ Only then did Kristopher relax and depart with purposeful strides. “Belinda.”’ As the emergency room door clicked shut, Cathy’s gentle facade vanished instantly. She removed the oxygen mask, elegantly rose from the bed, and with a mocking smile, she said, “See? Your husband, for me, is willing to do anything.”’…