"I’ve got to be the one to see the guests off. You can count on , I won’t overdo it. I’ll be with you as soon as I can," Serena said, understanding his need for her presence. "I know you need right now,
and with by your side, things will seem a little easier."
"Serena." Martin’s eyes welled up with emotion, touched by her kindness.
"Just wait for ." Serena ended the call, instructed a team of stylists to help her into a more glamorous wedding gown and adorned herself with a fresh set of sparkling jewelry before taking the stage to deliver her speech.
The guests had finished their als and on their way out, each received a parting gift that was quite the token of appreciation.
Propped up by a support chair hidden beneath her wedding dress, Serena bid farewell to each guest.
Then, she had Dora help her into sothing more comfortable and set off for the hospital.
anwhile, Joyce was sharing her latest book obsession in a group chat with her besties.
"Ladies, I’m totally hooked on this novel ’Chasing Love with Regret’! It’s a must-read. If you’re not into following serials, maybe wait until February 29th – the author says it’s wrapping up then."
"I’m all caught up with the latest Chapter," Mya chid in. "The mastermind still hasn’t shown up. The author ntioned that nobody in the comnts has guessed it right. The real boss is going to be a total
shocker. Joyce, who do you think it could be?"
"I just hope it’s not soone close to the heroine, or I’ll cry my eyes out!" Joyce couldn’t help but say. "I wish the author would drop the remaining Chapters all at once. Two Chapters a day is such a tease."
"They probably have a rule about only releasing two Chapters daily. But imagine if Rose gave it a glance. With her smarts, she’d guess the mastermind in no ti. But with over a thousand Chapters, I
doubt she has the ti to catch up."
"Who says?" Kelly responded. "Rose can speed-read like nobody’s business. What takes you ten days, she does in less than one. But yeah, she’s been swamped lately, hardly has a mont to herself."
"That’s a sha. Hey Kelly, why don’t you give it a read and help analyze who the mastermind could be?"
Rosemary was just about to reply to the chat when her phone rang.
"Boss, we’ve located Stinger. He’s at the airport with a fake identity, heading to Baradocia. His flight takes off in an hour."
Catching him would be a whole lot harder once he left the country.
Rosemary stood up imdiately and said, "et at the airport."
"Roger that."
On the other side of town.
Serena had just arrived at the hospital when she received a ssage.
[I’m at the airport now.]
A triumphant glint flashed in Serena’s eyes as she replied, [Once the dust settles, I’ll let you know when to co back to the country.]
[Okay.]
She deleted the chat history and entered the ergency building.
Martin rushed forward to ask, "How’s my mom doing?"
He saw his mother’s bruised face, her eyes closed, unconscious.
In just a few days, she had beco so gaunt.
Elsewhere,
Watching his mother on the stretcher bed, Martin was lost in a tumult of emotions. Nevertheless, he managed to voice his gratitude to the doctor for the treatnt.
"Thank you, guys. I really appreciate the hard work."
For the past couple of hours, a team of specialists from various departnts had collaborated to perform a life-saving surgery on his mother.
"No need to thank us, it’s what we’re here for," replied the doctors with a nod before leaving.
The nurse wheeled Florence into the ICU for further observation.
"Martin."
Serena’s gentle voice called out to him from near the elevator.
Lifting his gaze, Martin saw her, poised and graceful, as Dora pushed her wheelchair toward him.
He quickly walked over to Serena and crouched beside her tenderly. "Did you hear? The doctors say Mom’s going to make it. But whether she’ll be back to her old self, well, that’s in her own hands now."
"It must be your devotion and our undying love that moved the heavens. That’s why she’s still with us."
"Your arrival seems to have saved Mom’s life. Does that an you’re our little lucky charm?" Martin ruffled Serena’s hair affectionately before taking over from Dora and pushing the wheelchair into the
elevator. "Now, let’s go see Diana. Maybe your charm can turn her luck around too."
"Putting it that way makes feel a bit pressured," said Serena with a light laugh.
But Martin failed to notice the strain behind her smile.
"How’s Diana doing? What did the doctors say?" Serena inquired from her wheelchair.
"It’s touch and go. The specialists are doing everything they can."
"And Dad?"
"Dad’s awake in the ICU, but he doesn’t want to see . He was really angry."
Martin pushed Serena’s wheelchair to the twelfth floor where the maid, Lana, was waiting outside the operating room.
Lana’s expression turned sour upon seeing Serena. Martin’s mother and sister were in trouble because of her, and here she was, showing up as if nothing had happened. Even if it was Martin’s wish, didn’t she have any self-awareness?
Setting aside whether she genuinely wanted to visit Diana, considering Diana despised her so much, what if her condition worsened from the shock of seeing her?
Lana couldn’t fathom what Martin was thinking by bringing Serena along.
Reluctantly, Lana greeted them nonetheless.
"Mr. Martin, Ms. Serena, Ms. Diana is still in surgery."
Lana muttered, her mood dampened, but to keep her job, she reluctantly corrected herself, "Madam."
Serena’s eagerness for the title ’Mada’ betrayed her blatant ambition, utterly unmasked.
Just then, the elevator dinged open and Fitch erged, looking frantic. His temper flared upon spotting Serena.
"What is she doing here?" Fitch challenged Martin, his voice thick with anger.
He couldn’t reach Diana all night long, and upon checking, discovered she had been in a car accident.
The vehicle was totaled!
"Serena is family to ," Martin clarified.
"I don’t care who she is. Diana doesn’t like her, doesn’t want to see her. Diana is in there fighting for her life, and you can’t do anything to help. The least you could do is not make things worse," Fitch said,casting an unhappy glance at Serena. "Just leave!"
"Martin, your friend doesn’t seem to like ." Serena said in a pitiful tone from her wheelchair, tugging at Martin’s sleeve, "If that’s the case, I won’t stay and be a burden."
"You know you’re a burden? Then why did you even co? I can’t stand your pretentious act. Don’t you feel disgusted with yourself? Do you think we’re blind and can’t see through your act? Just leave, we
don’t need you here, and don’t bother visiting Diana with your fake concern."
"Fitch," Martin said, looking at his friend with a warning in his eyes.
"If you don’t like what I’m saying, then don’t bring her around and Diana again. And about Diana’s accident, don’t you find it suspicious? If it was deliberate, whoever’s behind it, I’ll make sure they pay
dearly," Fitch said, his last words were almost spat out as he glared at Serena.
"I’ve checked the road surveillance where my sister’s accident happened. It was a truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel. It has nothing to do with Serena."
"A truck driver falls asleep on a mountain road? Have you lost your mind?"
"The road surveillance was unedited."
"And what if soone drugged the truck driver with sleeping pills beforehand?"
Fitch’s words sent a wave of panic through Serena’s eyes.
That flicker of panic was imdiately caught by Fitch. So, it truly was Serena?! Diana opposed Serena being with Martin, so Serena wanted to get rid of her?
Fitch looked like he wanted to strangle her, but in the next second, Martin stepped in front of Serena, glaring at his forr friend.
"Have you had enough?" He understood Fitch’s deep feelings for his sister and knew his friend was upset seeing his sister rushed into the ergency room, which was why he had been patient so far.
But that didn’t an he would allow his friend to keep slinging mud at his girl.
"It was her! Didn’t you see her face just now? She’s guilty!" Fitch was desperate to confront Serena.
"Martin, I’m scared." Serena clung to Martin’s sleeve from her wheelchair, hiding her face behind him,
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