Chapter 23
1 285 iVouchers
She was thinking… it wasn’t worth it.
Three years of love and loyalty-looking back now, it just didn’t seem worth it anymore.
Nancy frowned and helped her back onto the bed. “Seriously, what happened? Corinne called and told me you were pushed down the stairs?”
Lottie took a breath, her expression calm again. “Yeah. But I already got my revenge.’
“What?”
“I cracked Esther’s head open.”
She pointed toward the shattered IV pole on the ground. “That was the weapon.”
Nancy acted like she hadn’t heard a word. She grabbed an alcohol pad, wiped the blood off the IV stand, and tossed it in the trash. “Weapon? Please. Looks like it just broke by accident.”
Lottie gave a breathy laugh, her lips pale as paper. “If I ever murdered someone, would you help me get rid of the evi- dence this calmly too?”
“Nope.”
Nancy thought about it seriously. “I’d probably start with the body.”
”
‘…That’s… oddly professional.”
But the thing Nancy had feared most didn’t happen.
Days passed, and no police ever showed up. Esther didn’t report anything.
Alan, when he had free time, stopped by a few times to check on Lottie.
Each time, he gave her a few acupuncture treatments.
One day, after the doctor finished his rounds, he looked at her with mild surprise. “You’re recovering fast. Consider- ing how badly you were injured, you’re healing better than expected.
“You could be discharged in a couple of days. But still-sprains and fractures take time. Go easy for now. No intense activity.”
“I’d like to be discharged tomorrow,” Lottie said.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. I have something important I need to take care of.”
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Chapter 23
1288 Vouchers
She had spent over ten years studying medicine under her mentor. Both he and his wife had treated her like family.
And she’d made a promise-one she didn’t intend to break.
“…Alright.”
The doctor checked the stitches on her forehead and began to remove them. “Good thing your hairline covers this spot. Otherwise, you’d probably be stuck with a scar.”
Only a female doctor would worry about something like that.
Lottie smiled. “It’s fine. A scar doesn’t bother me.”
One, she didn’t care all that much. Two, she was good at getting rid of them.
“That won’t do,” the doctor replied, raising her brow. “With a face this pretty? What a waste.”
“Exactly,” a nearby nurse chimed in with a laugh. “By the way, your file says you’re married. But we haven’t seen your husband once. Doesn’t he believe in showing a little tenderness?”
Lottie gave a quiet laugh. “Him? He’s busy.”
Busy being attentive. Busy caring for the woman he actually loved.
A few days ago, when Nancy dropped by with afternoon coffee, she came in the door cursing Nigel up and down.
Why? Simple.
She’d walked past the VIP ward and caught Nigel personally tending to Esther-like he was her private nurse.
*****
The next morning, Lottie completed the discharge process without a hitch.
Alan, still worried about her, sent a message.
[Lottie, want me to pick you up from the hospital?]
[No need, Alan. Nancy’s taking me to the airport.]
She was replying as she stepped into the elevator.
Just as she reached the underground garage, she heard a familiar voice coming from the stairwell.
It was Nigel, on a call.
“… You think maybe I never really understood her? I just didn’t expect her to actually get physical with Esther.”
Whatever the other person said made him sound frustrated. “I never intended to let her take the fall for everything. And I’m not divorcing her.”
The person on the line suddenly raised their voice, half laughing, half shocked. “Damn-Lottie beat your lover bloody,
and you’re still not considering divorce?”
Then came a pause-followed by a teasing tone, “Don’t tell me… you’ve actually caught feelings for Lottie?”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Nigel snapped.
