?Chapter 69:


    A figure burst into the room like a tiny torpedo, narrowly missing Katelyn. She quickly stepped aside to let the young woman pass.


    The woman had lovely wavy hair and spoke with a light foreign ent, immediatelyunching into a tirade.


    “It’s been ages since west met. How did you end up so badly hurt? I heard you took a bullet for a woman. Are you out of your mind? Don’t you value your own life?”


    Vincent, who was pinned down by her, furrowed his brows. “Get off! You’re on my wound.”


    The woman slowly stood up, looking aggrieved after his reprimand.


    “I was just worried about you. Why would you talk to me like that? You’re really hurting my feelings.”


    Vincent lost his patience and retorted sharply, “Talk properly. Watch how you speak to me.”


    Unexpectedly, the woman ignored hisment and stuck her tongue out yfully.


    Katelyn observed the scene in astonishment. Ever since meeting Vincent, he had always been guarded, his emotions unreadable. This was the first time she saw Vincent visibly express his annoyance. Despite this, it was clear from their interaction that they knew each other well. Katelyn realized they must be good friends who shared a yful bond.


    Before Katelyn could gather her thoughts, the woman noticed her.


    She eyed Katelyn intensely, sizing her up as she circled around her.


    “Is this the woman you took a bullet for? She’s quite beautiful. Now I see why you turned down Lucia.”


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    Feeling slightly ufortable, Katelyn stepped back and introduced herself. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Katelyn Bailey.”


    The woman tossed her curly hair and responded, “I’m Ate Pinch. I heard while I was overseas that Vincent had taken a bullet for a woman. Now that I see you, I can understand why. It’s quite an honor for him to have done that for someone as lovely as you.”


    Katelyn was baffled and turned to Vincent for assistance, speechless.


    The more she thought about Ate’sments, the stranger they seemed. She was still unsure about the nature of Vincent and Ate’s rtionship.


    Vincent leaned back against the headboard, sighed in exasperation, and massaged his forehead. “Just ignore her. She’s my cousin. She’s been like this since we were kids. Don’t take anything she says seriously.”


    Ate looked visibly hurt, ring at him. “Watch your words, Vincent! I traveled thousands of miles to see you after I heard about your injury.”


    Vincent’s eyes turned cold as he gave a half-smile. “Did you reallye back for me, or was it for someone else? You know the answer to that. By the way, I sent Samuel recently. He won’t be back for at least a while.”


    Ate’s face fell, and she said through clenched teeth, “You did that deliberately! It’s one thing not to support me, but actively hindering me—are you serious? We’re rted!”


    Vincent remained unruffled. “You might as well think of me as not being your cousin.”


    Ate was left speechless.


    As she watched them argue, Katelyn felt a twinge of envy. Meanwhile, the conflict between the two majorpanies was escting into outright animosity.


    Reading the harshments online, Lise began to sense that something was amiss. She realized that from the start, Katelyn had deceived her into a trap meant to pit her against Tricia. Katelyn’s amusement was clear—her sole intention had been to stir up a conflict between her and Lise and then sit back to enjoy the show.


    Once Lise grasped what Katelyn was aiming for, she hurried to the hospital to confront Tricia, but the Guerrero family barred her entry.


    Fuming with anger, Delmar shed with the Bailey Group, who seized the opportunity to publicize the Guerrero family’s wrongdoings.


    Already seething, Delmar found the perfect target for his anger when Lise showed up.


    “How dare you show your face here! Didn’t you learn your lesson fromst time? Believe it or not, I’m ready to p you again!”


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