Nicole quickly pocketed her phone and followed the nurse to Jamieâs ward.
Inside, Jamie lay on the bed, looking frail.
She had narrowly escaped death, and the ordeal had left her physically depleted.
After fleeing Jarrodâs control, her health had worsened significantly, compounded by the aftereffects of extensive plastic surgery, which had left her with various complications.
The situation was grim.
âJamie, who tried to kill you?â Nicole asked, cutting straight to the chase and using Melissaâs real name.
Perhaps because Jamie had been masquerading as Melissa for too long, she instinctively rejected the name.
âWhat are you talking about? My name is Melissa.
â
Nicole held up a damaged photo of her which she had found in Jamieâs apartment, pressing Jamie for the truth.
âHow long will you keep up this facade? If you are Melissa, why do you hate me? What grudge do you have against me?â
Jamieâs eyes flickered with guilt, yet her agitation obscured her true feelings.
âStop talking nonsense.
I told you, Iâm not Jamie,â she insisted stubbornly.
âYouâre not?â Nicole retorted, her voice tinged with incredulity.
âIf you werenât, why would I have saved you? I should have just left you to die there.
â
Nicole had rescued Jamie only to uncover the truth about her own fatherâs death and to determine if Jamie had colluded with Brett to harm her father.
Jamie shuddered at the memory of her ordeal before passing out in the bathtub.
âIf youâre not Jamie, then find someone else to cover your medical bills.
Iâm leaving,â Nicole declared, discarding the photo as she turned to leave the room.
âWait!â Jamieâs voice was tinged with desperation as she called out.
âWhat do you want to know?â
Nicole halted and turned to face Jamie.
âYouâve gotten smarter, havenât you, Jamie?â she remarked, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
Jamie snorted dismissively.
She was aware that Nicole needed something from her.
Otherwise, why would Nicole be so determined to confirm her identity?
Nicole got straight to the point.
âI want to know if you had contacted Brett before my father died.
â
Uncertainty flickered in Jamieâs eyes.
She hadnât expected Nicole to already be aware of Brett.
Discovering Brett would surely implicate her.
She and Brett were inextricably linked.
If one fell, the other would follow.
However, Jamieâs fear of exposure paled in comparison to her dread of the mysterious figure who had ordered her to get close to Jarro d.
Her failure to curry favor with Jarrod had led to brutal punishment.
She could still recall the chilling words of that enigmatic person as he took her blood.
âWhether you live or die is up to fate.
â
He had turned on a slow trickle of water and opened a vein in her arm.
As she hovered between consciousness and unconsciousness, her blood slowly drained while water enveloped her body.
Had she not been discovered in time, she would have perished.
Jamie harbored no gratitude toward Nicole since she was inherently selfish, concerned only with her own interests.
She knew the mysterious figure would not let go of her.
To survive, she had to fulfill the tasks assigned to her.
Jamieâs voice was raspy and unsteady.
âYou want information? Then youâll have to do something for me.
â
âWhat is it?â Nicole inquired.
âHere.
â Jamie shakily pulled out a small paper packet from her clothing.
It appeared to contain powder.
âPut this in Jarrodâs food or drink.
Anything he consumes.
â