Glancing at the sign hung above the corridor, Jacinta asked, “Winnie, I’m going to the restroom. Do you want to come along?”
Winnie refused since she had a feeling Nate might come out anytime. “I’ll pass. I don’t want Nate to come out and find no one around.”
“Okay, then I’m going. I may need a while. When I’m done, I’ll go straight to his ward to find you.”
“All right. If we settle things fast, I’ll wait for you outside the restroom. Go ahead.”
Jacinta agreed and soon reached the restroom.
After finding the innermost cubicle and confirming there was no one around, she immediately called someone.
Her call went through almost immediately, and she lowered her voice, “Hello, Stuart. I discovered something. Today, Winnie and I met that crazy woman. She wanted to kill Winnie because Xavier punished her for offending Winnie. I bet she resents Xavier, so I think we can use her.”
After a pause, she continued, “Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. However, you need to think of a way to release her. She has already been captured, but if there’s proof that she’s mentally disabled, she won’t need to go to jail… I know it’s tough, but we must try. I can’t possibly throw a flower pot again, right? He and Winnie have been inseparable lately, and I don’t want to hurt her accidentally… Okay, it’s settled then. I’ll inform you after I find out Xavier’s schedule.”
Meanwhile, Nate stepped out of his attending physician’s office. His face was horridly pale, but he still forced a smile upon seeing Winnie waiting for him in the corridor.
Glancing at him, Winnie commented mercilessly, “Don’t smile if you don’t feel like it. You look so ugly.”
She didn’t have a good impression of Nate, so her reply was curt. To her surprise, Xavier’s smile deepened despite her harsh words.
“Are you crazy? I said your smile is ugly, yet you’re still smiling?” Winnie asked with a frown.
“Yes.” Pursing his lips, Nate explained, “It’s been a long time since someone was honest with me. Even when I have dark eye circles and a horrible skin condition due to overworking, my fans and assistant will still praise me exaggeratedly for my charm. At home, I often argue with my dad, so my mom often says pleasant words to appease me. Even the woman I used to love only says pretty but empty words. What’s the use of all that? None of it is true. I despise those pretentious things. You speak the truth, making me feel like I’m not living in a fake world.”
Winnie frowned as words eluded her. He seems to be in a sorry state, but…
“I’m sorry, Nate, but I’m not interested in what’s going on in your mind. Don’t you have something to say to me? What is it?”
A bitter smile spread across Nate’s face as he spoke. “Seems like you still haven’t forgiven me, but I believe I’m not far from getting your forgiveness since you came to visit me. It’s not convenient for us to speak here. Can you come to my ward?”
“Okay. Lead the way.”
Winnie followed Nate’s lead, and soon, they reached his ward.
After closing the door, Nate cut straight to the point. “You’ve heard what the doctor said. There’s something wrong with my heart. Can I ask you for a favor?”
“All right.”
Seeing that Winnie was about to leave, Nate couldn’t help stopping her. “I don’t know who I can speak to, so can you hear me out? You can pretend I’ve never said anything after I’m done!”
Initially, Winnie was planning to leave, but she was suddenly interested in what he was about to say when she heard his tearful tone.
Turning back, she stared at him and asked, “Will I be happy listening to it?”
Nate’s lips curled up into a self-deprecating smile. “Since you hate me so much, you will be ecstatic to hear what I have to say.”
“Well, I’m all ears.”
Nate hummed in response before recalling that terrible memory. “Actually, my heart was fine a few months ago. There’s something wrong with it now because after Harold captured me in Manchernius, he electrocuted me. I thought I was going to die as I felt my heart stop, but I don’t know how I managed to survive. After that, my heart would often ache. I really regret everything! I shouldn’t have believed Yulissa and gone to Manchernius! I know telling you all this might make me look like a fool, but I really regret everything. To be honest, I was really scared when I realized there was something wrong with my heart after I got electrocuted, but I didn’t want to tell anyone, as everything happened because of my own foolishness. I deserved it. This is karma. But sometimes, I feel that it’s unfair. I was only too trusting of that woman. I was only… Sorry, I lost composure. You can forget everything that I said.”
Winnie didn’t say anything in response, for there was no way she would comfort Nate.
After a few seconds of silence, she turned and exited the ward.
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