Shane looked at Jackson disdainfully. “That’s enough. I’ve got something for you to do.”
He gestured towards Natalie.
Natalie nodded. She opened her bag and fished out several waterproof plastic bags.
Shane took them, then tossed them onto Jackson’s table.
Jackson glanced at the bags and sat down. “What’s this?” he inquired.
“Hair,” Shane replied shortly. Pulling Natalie along with him, Shane crossed over to another sofa and sat down as well.
Jackson rolled his eyes. “Of course, I know it’s hair,” he said testily. “What I want to know is—whose is it?”
“It’s Jasmine’s and the bunch,” Natalie quickly replied. With a few brief sentences, she outlined what had happened the night before at the news station.
Jackson listened carefully. Fiddling with his glasses, he said in a tone of mild surprise, “The Smith family is rather sensational, isn’t it? All right. I’ll process this for you. The results should be out in half an hour.”
“Thank you, Dr. Baker,” Natalie said politely. She stood up and extended her hand towards him in gratitude.
Shane grabbed her outstretched hand and yanked her back onto the sofa. He gave Jackson a vehement glare, then informed Natalie icily, “You’ve already thanked him.”
Shane was determined not to let Natalie give Jackson more credit than he was due.
Jackson gave a wry smile. He felt that he had been rather unfairly treated.
I haven’t even asked her for anything? What right does Shane have to look at me like I have done something wrong?
Jackson decided that if he couldn’t win this fight, so he wouldn’t even bother participating in it.
He thus said nothing, merely picked up the few bags strewn across his table, and strode out of the office.
Jackson hadn’t even gone long when a voice piped up from beyond the door, calling meekly, “Jackie, is Shane here?”
It was none other than Jacqueline.
Natalie clenched her jaw. She threw a glance towards the door and said offhandedly, “Shane, Ms. Graham is here.”
Shane patted Natalie’s shoulder as if to soothe her. “I’ll get the door.”
“OK, go ahead,” Natalie smiled at him reassuringly.
It was just a matter of getting the door. She wasn’t that prone to jealousy yet. When she had agreed to date Shane, Natalie knew that she would eventually have to face the problem of Jacqueline someday.
And here Jacqueline was. It would be just as well to clear any misunderstandings between them now. It would have been crueler of Natalie and Shane to let Jacqueline find out by watching them become intimate. The news might be unbearable for Jacqueline now, but it would be far more brutal for her to suddenly chance upon it later.
As Natalie pondered over this, Shane had already opened the door.
Jacqueline was wearing a hospital gown. She entered the room, supported by a nurse.
Her demure smile froze when she caught sight of Natalie. That was the last person Jacqueline had expected to see. “Ms. Smith, you are here too!” Jacqueline exclaimed.
Natalie acknowledged Jacqueline with a faint smile. “Ms. Graham.”
Jacqueline waved, dismissing the nurse.
The nurse nodded and turned to leave. She even shut the office door behind her considerately.
Shane helped Jacqueline over to the sofa facing Natalie. Crossly, he said, “Why aren’t you resting in your room? What are you doing coming all the way over here?”
Jacqueline clasped his hands in hers as she sat down slowly. “The nurse said that you were here, so I wanted to come over to see you. I haven’t seen you for quite a few days already.”
“I’ve been very busy lately,” Shane said curtly. He returned Jacqueline’s hands to her lap, then retreated to Natalie’s side. After he sat down next to her, Shane deliberately took Natalie’s hands in his.
Jacqueline watched them, stupefied. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Shane, are you and Ms. Smith…”
“We’re dating,” Shane announced firmly, gripping Natalie’s hands tightly.
Natalie only smiled and nodded in affirmation.
All the blood drained from Jacqueline’s face. Refusing to believe her ears, she shook her head and mumbled to herself, “No, it can’t be, how could you…”
Before she could finish, Jacqueline’s eyes rolled up into her head. She collapsed onto the sofa and fainted.
This turn of events left Shane and Natalie floundering.
“Jacqueline!” Shane immediately disentangled himself from Natalie and dashed over to examine her. He lifted her eyelids to check for signs of life, then pinched her in several places.
Natalie looked ruefully at the hand that Shane had flung aside in his distress. She then turned to watch Shane’s immense anxiety for Jacqueline. Natalie was a reasonable person, but dissatisfaction bubbled up within her on its own accord.
They were ultimately unable to revive Jacqueline and sent her to the emergency room.
