Chapter 10 Accusation
Sarah bit back the pain and let out a soft, bitter laugh, no longer bothering to argue.
Maybe Shane noticed her silence–he spoke again, gently but piercingly: “Sarah, I brought Nora out tonight to meet a client. You really need to be more understanding this time…”
His tone was warm as ever, but the words cut like blades.
“I have to go now. I’ll be back later.”
Beep… beep…
As the call ended, Sarah stared blankly at her phone.
It was ridiculous.
All she wanted was to borrow a little money. She hadn’t even said the words before being labeled dramatic and attention–seeking.
“Miss, everyone else has paid. You’re the only one left. Are you going to settle the bill or not?”
The cashier’s voice called out again.
Just as Sarah was about to respond-
“I’ll cover her.”
A deep voice carne from her side.
She turned and was stunned to see that familiar, cold face.
Grayson.
Again.
After he paid, he glanced at her. “You’re here alone?”
“Yes.” Sarah reached out awkwardly for the bill. “Thank you. I’ll pay you back tomorrow.”
But Grayson moved his hand from the bill to her elbow and pulled her gently toward the treatment room. “Come with me.”
Before Sarah could react, she was already seated, watching as the nurse prepped her IV.
Grayson stood nearby the entire time, saying nothing, just quietly watching.
Sarah had always hated needles. Just the sight of them made her panic.
“If it scares you, don’t look.”
The low voice snapped her out of it.
She looked up to see Grayson’s face–calm, expressionless, his eyes darker than usual, his presence even heavier.
The moment he finished speaking, the needle pierced her hand.
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Chapter 10 Accusation
She flinched from the pain.
But once the IV began to drip, her body finally started to feel alive again.
“What brought you to the hospital today?” she asked, glancing at him.
“My assistant got hurt. I came to check on him.” Grayson looked down at her.
Then, after a pause, he let out a cold laugh with a trace of sarcasm. “You’re this sick, and Shane didn’t come with you?”
“He…” Sarah hesitated, then quietly said, “He had a client dinner tonight.”
“What kind of dinner matters more than his girlfriend’s health?” Grayson’s lips curved into a cold, thin smile. “Not there. No money either?”
Sarah didn’t want to keep talking about Shane. She shifted the topic. “Thank you again. I get paid tomorrow- can I get your bank info?”
“Phone.”
Grayson set the forms aside and held out his hand.
Sarah unlocked her phone and handed it over.
He scanned her payment code without a word.
When he handed it back, she noticed a new contact added to her WhatsApp.
Grayson’s voice was calm. “Save my name.”
“Okay.” Sarah gripped her phone a little tighter than necessary. “I’m feeling better now. You don’t have to stay. Really–thank you.”
He gave her a look, then turned and walked out of the room.
Sarah watched him leave, her heart heavy.
She never would’ve imagined that in her hardest moment, the one who helped her–again and again—was Shane’s longtime rival.
And the man she’d thought she was closest to had dismissed her pain as “acting up.”
By the time she finished her IV drip, it was close to 11 p.m.
She used her last few yuan to catch a cab home.
As soon as she stepped into the house, she saw Nora pacing around the backyard pool.
Clearly drunk, her cheeks flushed crimson.
Sarah lowered her gaze and walked past in silence.
But then Nora let out a soft laugh. “Sarah, you’re back so late tonight?”
Sarah frowned and turned to look at her, confused.
Nora reached out and gently held her wrist, her eyes flickering toward the shadows behind Sarah as she
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Chapter 10 Accusation
leaned close and whispered, “Tell me… who do you think Shane would believe?”
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The cold grip on her wrist sent a shiver down Sarah’s spine. The pain from her illness had left her too weak to
resist.
She tugged her arm free. “What are you talking about?”
“Ah!”
Nora suddenly leaned backward, following the force of Sarah’s motion.
She tumbled into the pool, water splashing high.
Sarah froze.
Then–hurried footsteps..
She turned.
Shane was running over, his expression panicked. He shoved past Sarah, nearly knocking her down, and jumped into the pool.
The shoulder he slammed into her with made her stumble.
Moments later, he pulled Nora out of the water. She clung to him, shivering and teary–eyed.
“Sarah! Why did you push me? I just wanted to talk…”
Finally, Shane looked back.
It was as if he’d just noticed Sarah standing there.
His eyes had gone cold, his fox–like charm dulled into something distant and hard.
“Sarah, what happened?”
Sarah frowned instinctively. “I didn’t push her.”
Shane’s voice was low and steady in the quiet night. “I saw what happened. Nora’s health isn’t great. No matter how upset you are, you shouldn’t have lashed out.”
Sarah fell silent.
After all this time, he still couldn’t trust her.
“I had no reason to push her,” she said quietly. “You know I’m not that kind of person.”
Shane stood up. The warmth in his tone was still there–but it felt ice–cold.
“You went too far this time.”
Sarah stared at him.
Her mouth opened, but the words turned into a bitter smile.
Enough.
In Shane’s eyes, she was always wrong.
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Behind him, Nora sniffled. “It’s okay, Shane. I get why Sarah doesn’t like me. You’ve been so good to her… it’s normal for her to act out.”
She leaned subtly into Shane’s shoulder, her voice full of soft self–pity. “She has the right to be upset. I have nothing left. My health’s not great anyway. So what if I die a few years early? It’s okay, Shane.”
Shane’s brows creased.
He looked up, his fox–like eyes now holding a rare seriousness.
“Sarah, apologize to Nora.”
