Chapter 101 Luke Wind almost stumbled, his hand flying to his chest.â(Alice), what are you saying?â
Iâm saying Iâm cutting you off. I hate how you always act like youâre doing whatâs best for me, dictating my life,â she spat, her voice tight with anger. Alice had never used the words âcutting you off before; sheâd only wanted to get away.âI should have said this sooner, so youâd stop acting like my older brother, interfering in everything and pretending itâs all for my own good. Itâs sickening!â
Her eyes were cold, glacial. She hadnât planned on unleashing this venom as she left the family, but theyâd pushed her too far.
Luke Wind gasped, his voice shaking. âAlice, I never thought you hated me, hated the whole. family, so much!â
âYes, now you get it,â she retorted.
He looked up at her, pleading.âIâll take that as you being upset. That school nurse, if he had any guts, wouldâve taken responsibility and gone to the hospital to apologize himself!â âYouâre taking this way too far!â she snapped.
âSo, will you come to the hospital with me now?â
Alice glared at her brother one last time before hailing a cab. She tried calling Jack, but he didnât answer. A memory from her past life flickered a similar situation with Garrett, where the other party was pressured by the Garrett family to apologize. Garrett had then humiliated and beaten the guy.
Rage boiled inside her. She texted Jack:âWhere are His reply came instantly: At the hospital.â
his car, my way She called immediately.âJack, donât go in yet. Wait for me outside. Iâm on âYouâre coming too?â Jackâs voice, slightly gruff, came through the phone. Heâd just gotten out of frown etching itself onto his face. That victory dinner was quick.â âDonât change the subject. Wait until I get there,â she said, and hung up. Jack looked at his phone, then at the imposing hospital building.
Garrett âGatorâ Casey pulled up and parked. âLittle Lemon called you?â
âYeah, she wants me to wait outside.â
âLittle Lemonâs protective, huh?â
Luke Wind had contacted Jack earlier, but the threats from the Wind family were meaningless to them. Their presence at the hospital was solely to deal with Garrett, primarily Luke Wind taking care of his little brother.
Jack stood at the hospital entrance. âYou go in. Iâll wait for her.â
âAlright, Iâll make it quick.â
Gator strode into the hospital, heading straight for Garrettâs highâend private room. Garrett was. lounging in bed, bandages still on, being pampered by Chloe Qin.
Chloe whispered softly, âGarrett, when Alice and the others come to apologize, give my brother a break, okay? Aliceâs still family, after all.â
Chapter 101 âI know. As long as Alice shows genuine remorse, I can let it slide. But that brokeâass nurse boyfriend of hers? Heâs gonna pay!â
Garrettâs voice was louder than he intended, a sharp intake of breath escaping him as the pain in his ribs flared.
A smug glint appeared in Chloeâs eyes. âThank you, Garrett. Alice was just manipulated by that nurse, thatâs why she ran away to live with him.â
âHow could I ever have been attracted to such a...liberal woman like Alice? Youâre so much better, Chloe,â Garrett sighed, despite his own promiscuous lifestyle. He still preferred a âcleanâ girl.
âWhoâre you calling liberal?â
Gatorâs voice cut through the air, startling both of them. Heâd walked in just as Garrett finished badmouthing Alice. Good thing Jack wasnât with him, or his cousin wouldâve been toast. Jack was fiercely protective of Alice now.
Garrettâs eyes widened in fear upon seeing Gator. He nearly dropped the apple in his hand.âYou...
you...
His cousin! Had his actions at the bar finally caught up with him? Was his cousin here to settle the score?
Chloe looked past Gator, seeing Î Î one.âItâs you? Whereâs that nurse?â
Gatorâs tone was calm.âIâll handle this. He doesnât need to be here.â He didnât need Jack to take down his bratty cousin. Killing a chicken with a butcher knife? Ridiculous.
Chloeâs voice dripped with sarcasm.âYou? Youâre not qualified. That nurse was so arrogant. Whereâs the coward hiding now?â
âShut up,â Garrett snapped at Chloe. âHow dare you speak to him like that?â He wouldnât dare talle to his cousin like that.
Î Chloe, deflated, mumbled, âGarrett, why do I have to leave? Iâm involved in this too.â She felt disrespected. Men were always like that; they didnât cherish you once theyâd won you over.
Garrett, exasperated, said, âJust go! Canât you understand simple instructions?â He didnât want Chloe to witness his humiliation at his cousinâs hands. He had pride, too.
Chloe stamped her foot, huffing out of the room.
Only the two cousins remained.
Gator pulled up a chair. âYouâre quite the player, arenât you?â
âI thought I heard your voice at the bar, but I thought I was wrong. Why didnât you just take off your mask back then, Cuz?â
Garrett asked, confused.
âIt doesnât concern you. This injury is your own fault. Donât drag anyone else into it. Understand?â Garrett was puzzled. âCuz, that nurse... is he your friend?â Why else would his cousin bet personally handling this?
âYes. So, you know what to do.â
âBut I have a broken rib! Youâre not even concerned! Who is this nurse? Why are you mediating this for him?â
Gator sighed, exasperated. âYouâre better off not knowing. Just keep this quiet, and Iâll talk to Mom about your exam scores.â
Garrettâs eyes lit up.âDeal!â His exam grades were his biggest concern. His cousin was a straightâA Chapter 101 student, and he was... well, not.
Alice practically leaped out of the cab upon arriving at the hospital. She was so focused on getting inside that she didnât see something on the ground, tripping.
âCareful, watch your step,â Jack said, catching her arm. His eyes held a touch of exasperation.
in?â Looking up at him, she finally relaxed. âYou didnât go âNo, I waited for you.â He hadnât felt the need to go in; Gator could handle it. But her frantic arrival, still smelling faintly of hot pot, changed things.
Relieved, she said, âGood.â
âSo, whatâs so urgent?â
âYou shouldnât listen to my brother. I already hired a lawyer. If the Garretts cause trouble, weâll fight them tooth and nail,â she said earnestly.
Jackâs gaze was fixed on her, on the determination etched on her face. Her anxious tone on the phone, her concern for him... his usually stoic heart stirred.
He gently tapped her forehead. âItâs not that serious. Iâll handle it.â
âYouâll handle what? Even with a rich friend like Gator, youâre nothing compared to the Garretts in this city. If they press charges, youâre completely outmatched.â
âJust me? Why not?â
âYouâre a school nurse! How can you possibly fight a powerful family like that?â she said, her voice rising in frustration.âBesides, itâs all my fault. You got hurt because of me, because of that stupid rich kid Garrett!â
to want you Hearing her call Garrett a âstupid rich kid, an unfamiliar warmth spread through Jack take responsibility?â He chuckled softly.
âWith your tiny frame, âIâm taking responsibility for âyouâ, whatâs wrong with that?â she retorted, her cheeks flushed.