After Timothy was rushed into the emergency room, She pulled out her phone and dialed Kane.


    "Kane, after we left tonight, Yates and Vince stayed behind in the lounge. Call Yates and find out why Vince wanted to meet with Jessica."


    Kane was still fuming over Timothy smashing a ss earlier that evening. "I really couldn''t care less about Timothy''s private affairs."


    He and She had always been close, and the thought of Timothy giving up She to marry a mute woman only made his anger worse.


    "Kane, could you please stop acting like a child? Something really bad happened after Timothy and Jessica got home—there was a huge argument. Timothy''s got a deep gash on his neck, lost so much blood he passed out. He''s in the ER right now. I have to know what happened."


    She''s plea softened Kane''s resolve. He couldn''t say no to her-especially now that Timothy was seriously hurt.


    A tantrum and a broken ss weren''t anything between childhood friends, not really. He wasn''t truly holding a grudge.


    "Alright, fine. I''ll call and ask. But I''m doing this for you, not for Timothy."


    "I know, Kane. You''re the most caring guy I know."


    She''s coaxing made him crack a smile. "Wait for my update."


    Not long after, Kane called back.


    Apparently, Larkin Zimmerman had a passion for collecting papercuts, and


    Jessica was surprisingly skilled at the craft. Vince had been interested in buying some of her work.


    She thought of that box of cash.


    Jessica''s piece, The Grand Canal, Venice, had indeed used papercutting techniques, which had impressed Ines immensely.


    But even if Jessica''s work was good, was it really worth that much money?


    Clearly, Vince was trying every trick in the book to stay in Timothy''s good graces.


    She waited outside the ER.


    Fortunately, Timothy''s injuries were only blood loss and aceration. Not long after, he was wheeled out.


    His wound had been bandaged and he''d received a transfusion. The doctor said he''d be fine after a night''s rest.


    She sat by his bedside, watching Timothy''s handsome face as he slept, her heart heavy with emotion.


    She used to feel so lucky to have been adopted by the Howard family. She''d be a cherished heiress with doting adoptive parents.


    But as she grew up, that very identity had be her greatest obstacle.


    That''s how Jessica managed to take advantage, bing Timothy''s wife and the mother of his child.


    The thought of Timothy and Jessica tangled together in bed felt like a knife twisting in She''s chest.


    She knew Timothy had never been with any other woman.


    Jessica really had struck gold, bing Timothy''s first and only lover.


    Being the first was already an unchangeable fact. But could she really just stand by and watch Jessica be the only one?


    The doctor had just said Timothy''s wound was caused by a bite-a blood vessel torn open.


    Jessica must havepletely lost her mind.


    She left the hospital room, stepped into the hallway, and called Mabel.


    Mabel didn''t recognize the number, but picked up anyway.


    "Mabel, it''s She. Your boss is in the hospital, unconscious from blood loss. Let Jessica know she needs toe care for him."


    "Ma''am just left the house a moment ago," Mabel replied, sounding hesitant.


    "She went out? What am I supposed to do? I have something urgent to take care


    of myself. Timothy''s alone in the hospital and I can''t rx. Could you find someone toe and look after him?"


    Thest thing Mabel wanted was for She-the notorious "other woman"-to stay by Timothy''s side. "I understand," she said stiffly.


    She hung up.


    She''d been staying at The Gilded Whisper Estates for days now and could tell Mabel didn''t like her.


    There was no way Mabel wanted her at the hospital with Timothy.


    With Jessica out and Henry still at home, Mabel would never leave her post-


    she''d have to stay and care for Henry. She was sure Mabel would find someone else to send to the hospital.