Natalie waited with Shane outside the emergency room.
Shane paced up and down, often glancing impatiently at the red light above the entrance to the emergency room. He’d pressed his lips together so tightly that they were barely a thin line.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Graham will be fine,” Natalie consoled Shane. Sensing his inner turmoil, Natalie pressed her hand against his and forced a smile onto her face.
Shane turned towards her, an unfathomable look in his dark eyes. He remained silent.
Natalie’s smile faltered slightly.
What’s Shane thinking? Doesn’t he believe me? Or is he blaming me for causing Jacqueline’s mishap?
Natalie bit her lip and released Shane’s hand. She walked off to the side, keeping a distance from him. Then she said dispassionately, “Mr. Shane, our relationship caused such a tremendous shock to Ms. Graham that she fainted. Perhaps it would be better for us to break it off.”
“What are you saying?” Shane asked wildly. He whirled around, looking menacingly at her.
Is she saying that she wants to break up with me?
Natalie found herself flinching in the face of Shane’s fury.
She refused to concede, however. Gathering up her courage, Natalie said bravely, “I meant that we should break things off between us. You may not have romantic feelings towards Ms. Graham, but she does towards you. That’s why she can’t accept the idea of us dating.”
“I’ll have a good talk with Jacqueline when she comes to. But I don’t want to hear you mention us breaking up ever again!” Shane declared, glowering at Natalie.
The strength of Shane’s assertion left Natalie speechless. She merely gaped at him, unable to summon a response.
Just then, Jackson raced over, clutching a set of documents. “What happened? Why was Jacqueline suddenly sent to the emergency room?” he asked frantically.
“It’s nothing. Have the profiling results come out yet?” Shane demanded, casting a glance at the documents in Jackson’s hands. He had intentionally omitted the reason for Jacqueline’s fainting spell.
Jackson thrust the documents at Shane rather peevishly. “It’s out. See for yourself. I’m going to check up on Jacqueline.”
Without another word, Jackson stormed into the emergency room.
Shane immediately handed the documents to Natalie, who opened it.
Upon reading its contents, Natalie’s lovely almond eyes narrowed.
“What’s wrong?” Shane asked.
Natalie massaged her temples, then spoke. “Jasmine is indeed Susan and Warren’s daughter, not Harrison’s.”
This meant that none of Susan’s children truly belonged to Harrison.
Harrison’s only two legitimate children were thus Natalie and Jared. Harrison had chosen another man’s daughter over his own flesh and blood. Is this retribution? Natalie wondered.
Shane jammed both hands into his pockets. “If Harrison knew about this, he’d surely devise all ways and means to get you and Jared back under his roof.”
“We can’t say for sure. He hates me to the core right now. How could he possibly bring himself to acknowledge me?” Natalie said, placing the profiling documents aside. “Things might be different for Jared, though. Harrison actually called me a few days ago to ask about Jared, intending to get him back home and inherit the Smith family legacy.”
“What’s there to inherit from the Smith family?” Shane scoffed, raising an eyebrow. He didn’t even bother to disguise his contempt.
Natalie shrugged. “That’s true. We all know that the Smith family has fallen, and there’s nothing left worth inheriting. Harrison, however, is of a different mind. He still firmly believes in the prosperity of the Smith family.”
Shane sneered, but said nothing.
After a while, the light above the door of the emergency room went off.
Jackson emerged from within, pushing Jacqueline on a hospital bed.
Shane stepped forward, keeping pace with them. “How’s Jacqueline?” he asked.
“She’s fine. She’s just in shock. Her heart rate was a little higher than usual. She’ll recover consciousness soon enough,” Jackson replied, his eyes remaining fixed on Jacqueline’s inert body. The tenderness with which Jackson gazed at Jacqueline shone through his glasses.
Natalie finally realized with a start that Jackson was in love with Jacqueline.
The three of them are a proper mess indeed! Natalie mused.
Jackson liked Jacqueline, while Jacqueline had eyes only for Shane. Shane, on the other hand, saw Jacqueline as nothing more than a sister. It was almost a love triangle.
Natalie took another look at Jacqueline.
Jacqueline’s face was white as a sheet. She lay on the hospital bed with both eyes tightly shut. Jacqueline wasn’t wearing her wig, and multiple scars crisscrossed, standing out in relief against her bald scalp. Each scar was at least five inches long. The horrible sight was enough to make one shudder.
