Chapter 1918


    Boyd''s eyes trembled with suppressed emotion. "Don''t think you can scare me off with that talk."


    "You want to try me?" Yasmine''s gaze was icy as it met his, her expression devoid of any jest.


    In truth, there wasn''t a shred of room for humor in this situation.


    "Fine." With that, Boyd moved toward Serana. "I''ll wait for you to get those scissors ready."


    He bent down to lift Serana, but themotion had already drawn the doctor running over.


    The sight of Serana with a pair of scissors embedded in her chest made everyone gasp, and


    medical staff was quickly summoned to take her away. However, Boyd grabbed one of them,


    looking at Chloe, "Bandage her up."d2


    The doctor, familiar with Yasmine, nodded promptly, "I''ll get the supplies."


    As the chaos subsided, Boyd faced the defiant Yasmine, who wouldn''t let him near her. "Have you


    considered the consequences if she really gets hurt?"


    "I''m hoping she and the baby in her belly are all dead," Yasmine taunted with a twisted smile, her


    lips turning pale. "You all owe me that much."


    Them.


    Boyd clenched his fists tightly.


    But Yasmine continued, "You could call the cops on me. With her dead and me in jail, you''ll be left


    to struggle through life all by yourself. It''s the most fair and square ending one could hope for."


    Boyd watched her for a long moment before speaking softly, "I won''t let them arrest you."


    "Then take your precious Serana and beat it. And don''t you dare show your face to me again."


    Yasmine''s coldughter echoed, her lips now a stark pale.


    Boyd''s eyes lingered on her chest, his hands shaking with tension. "Is this something we''ll never get


    past?"


    Laughing, Yasmine suddenly began to peel off her hospital gown. Beneath it, she was bare. Her


    chest was still wrapped in bandages, as was her waist - but both were soaked in red. Blood from


    her chest wound trickled down her pale skin.


    Despite her pallor, Yasmine''s eyes didn''t even flicker as she ripped off the gauze from her chest.


    The healing wound was torn open again, blood and flesh exposed.


    Boyd''s eyes shook uncontrobly, and he gulped hard. Yasmine, with a twisted smile, tossed the


    bloody bandages to the floor. Then she ripped the bandages from her waist as well.


    "We can get past this," she said coldly to Boyd. "if these two wounds on my body leave no scars,


    and the baby that died inside mees back unharmed."


    As the two stood opposite each other, Yasmine wouldn''t let Boyd get any closer.


    When the doctor returned with the bandages, she found Yasmine standing there, half-naked and


    bleeding before the man. Their expressions and the tension between them sent a shiver down her


    spine.


    Finally, Boyd noticed her and with a nce, she hurried to tend to Yasmine''s wounds.


    Yasmine wasn''t so self-destructive as to refuse medical attention. But what did it matter? The scars


    were inevitable.


    The sight of her raw wounds was chilling. Boyd stood by, his body tense, watching her injuries being


    tended to, trembling involuntarily.


    As the doctor applied the medicine, Yasmine''s face turned ghostly pale, beads of sweat formed on


    her forehead and nose, and she bit down hard on her teeth. The pain was hers alone to know.


    By the time the bandaging was done, almost half an hour had passed. The doctor heaved a sigh of


    relief, wiping the sweat from her brow. "The repeated tearing of the wound is even more painful than


    the initial injury. You must be careful."


    "Thank you, doctor, I understand," Yasmine cut her off, her voice weak as shey back on the bed,


    her pallor and exhaustion evident.


    Before leaving, the doctor nced at Boyd, "The patient needs rest now."


    Boyd, fists still clenched, watched Yasmine for a long time before finally following the doctor out of


    the room.


    Yasmine hadn''t opened her eyes once since the ordeal began. Even with her wounds reopened,


    she harbored no regrets.


    After enduring half a month of grief over her lost baby, why should they think she could remain


    indifferent? When had she ever been so magnanimous and saintly?


    If Serana had been so persistent in delivering her vengeance, why would Yasmine ever let it go?


    Too bad she was recovering too slowly. Half a month was not enough. Otherwise, she felt she might


    have ended the life of Serana right then and there.


    --


    As it turned out, Serana''s life was tougher than most. The initial attack in the graveyard had only


    scratched her, and now, despite this assault, she had been saved again. Her faulty heart persisted


    within her, and the baby, whose parentage was unknown, remained unharmed.


    What a pity.


    After Yasmine stabbed Serana, Aliza, upon hearing the news, went weak at the knees. She


    immediately called Bryson and Derek over.


    Yasmine had missed lunch, and the ensuing weakness had her passing out until the afternoon.


    Learning that Serana had been saved, she just coldlyughed. "She''s got a bad heart, yet she''s


    healthier than most normal people."


    Bryson felt a pounding headacheing on as he sat on the couch, his face a mask of tension.


    Yasmine turned to him, "Bryson, I see today''s events as necessary as eating and sleeping daily. I


    don''t think I did anything wrong."


    Bryson was silent for a moment before looking back at her, a look of helpless resignation on his


    face.


    "I know your temper, and I knew you wouldn''t let this go easily. But couldn''t you have waited until


    you were fully healed to discuss a solution?"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Wait for my wounds to heal? Two months, three, half a year? Time is very tricky. Perhaps by then,


    my hatred wouldn''t be as strong, and I might not strike at her again."


    Aliza silently prepared soup beside them, never interrupting their conversation.


    Yasmine''s words seemed logical, but they left an uneasy feeling. Hatred was a dangerous thing, all


    too capable of destroying a person.


    "It''s just a shame that you can''t have it both ways. If my wound had healed, she wouldn''t be alive


    anymore."


    Opportunities were fleeting.


    After Aliza helped Yasmine finish her soup, she and Bryson went back, leaving Derek behind.


    "I got the lowdown on what happened at the cemetery," Derek began. "Instead of a bullet ripping


    through Serana''s head and killing her instantly, you got a non-fatal shot. Maybe, just maybe, it was


    the best shot at saving both of you. Plus, he had no idea you were pregnant. I bet if it wasn''t Serana


    that day, he''d have made the same call."


    Yasmine shifted slightly on the bed, each movement tugging painfully at her wound.


    "True," she admitted. "But I also know that he shot me instead of Serana because he didn''t want to


    give her the chance totch onto him for life, always there, impossible to shake off. Better to let his


    own girlfriend take the hit than deal with an eternity of trouble."


    Derek raised an eyebrow. "He probably did think it through. You''re so fixated on Serana, and she''s


    definitely trouble. Keeping her away, isn''t that better for you too? I mean, if he had shot Serana,


    wouldn''t you be even more annoyed afterward?"


    Yasmine''s lips twitched. "Sure. But what can I do? In the end, I''m the one bearing all the pain. No


    matter how many excuses he has, he caused this, and that''s enough reason for me to hate him,


    never enough to forgive."


    Derek asked, "Who are you really fighting with?"


    "Myself, I guess."


    "Since when did you be so keen on self-destructive behavior?"


    "Seeing the person I hate worse off than me, that''s the only way I find bnce."


    Derek chuckled. "You sure have a wicked sense of humor, not even trying to hide it."


    A slight smile yed on Yasmine''s lips. "Nice guys often finishst."


    Derek was silent for a moment before asking, "So you and Boyd are really done?"


    "You hoping I kick the bucket soon so you can inherit my shares in thepany?"


    Derek rolled his eyes. "Do me a favor and keep a tight grip on yourpany for a long, long time."


    Yasmineughed silently.


    With everythingid bare, Derek decided to station a couple more guards outside Yasmine''s


    hospital room. Through a month of recovery, other than visits from Bryson, Aliza, Derek, and the


    medical staff, she didn''t see anyone else.


    On the day she was discharged to recuperate at home, Boyd was waiting outside for her. She


    caught a glimpse of his figure but didn’t give him a proper look.


    Aliza''s opinion of Boyd had plummeted. She called Derek to help Yasmine out, shielding her from


    Boyd.


    Yasmine''s voice was light and airy as she spoke to Derek, "Have you put on weight recently?"


    "What the—really?"


    "Yep. Looks like you''ll have to start pulling your weight. Any heavier and thedies will start to


    comin."


    "I could hit the gym."


    "Gyms are where you pay others. Working harder at the office means others pay you. I''ll keep you


    busy, make sure you slim down real quick."


    "Heh, always the sharp one."


    Their banter was casual and natural, but for Boyd, it was a luxury.


    "Mr. Boyd," Aliza addressed Boyd with a hint of contempt. "Ourdy has always been firm in her


    ways, and for you, she''s broken her rules countless times. I thought love made exceptions, but not


    this time. The moment you chose to hurt her, you should''ve known the consequences. Don''t be as


    shameless as before, clinging on for dear life. She''s serious this time. If you still can''t take a hint,


    remember the incident a month ago when she nearly stabbed that woman with scissors. Take care


    of yourself and stay away from us."


    After her speech, Aliza shot him a disdainful nce and turned to follow the others.


    Boyd stood frozen for a moment before following them to the underground parking lot. As Yasmine


    was about to get into the car, Boyd approached.


    Aliza protested, "Hey, you—"


    Boyd gently rested his hand on Yasmine''s shoulder, and finally, she looked at him.