Warming

Chapter 3

Mack couldn’t help feeling confused on the way back to the company. Spencer never stuck his nose into anyone else’s business. Why had he done so today? Could he have fallen for Lucille at first sight and was finally starting to act like a normal man?

He had to admit that Lucille was pretty–a little too pretty, in fact. But people who could fall for someone at first sight were usually just interested in a person’s looks. Spencer couldn’t have been pretending to be celibate all these years, could he?

Mack felt like he’d discovered a huge secret. He looked at Spencer, who was exuding a cold presence, and said cautiously, “I swear I’ll keep whatever happened today a secret, boss.”

Spencer narrowed his eyes at him. “Have you had too little to do lately?”

A chill ran down Mack’s spine. He hastily said, “No, of course not.

with Understanding the truth was one thing, and saying it aloud was another. He’d worked for Spencer for long enough to know when to keep his mouth shut. It was a trick he’d picked up to keep himself alive.

Lucille drove back to her apartment instead of heading to work. Her head ached a little after she took a shower, so she decided to take a nap and get some rest.

When she woke up,

the room was shrouded in darkness. She fumbled around for her phone and found it underneath her pillow. She checked the time and saw it was already 7:30 pm.

Then, she saw she’d received a text that had been sent around 4:00 pm. The number was one she’d committed to memory. She didn’t read the text. Instead, she got out of bed to get something to eat. She was starving.

The nap had helped alleviate her headache. She found a bag of bread in the refrigerator. It was expiring in a few hours. She also grabbed a bottle of milk and settled on the couch with her food. When she was alone, she was happy enough if she had something to sustain her.

Lucille bit on a piece of bread before grabbing her phone and absent–mindedly checking the text from earlier. She quickly scrolled through it before deleting it. When she was done eating, she changed and left the apartment.

1/5

Half an hour later, she showed up at Central Hospital again. This time, however, she found a relatively hidden spot in the garden and took a seat there Then, she tapped

on her phone a few times

Ten minutes later, a pretty, frail–looking wormian appeared before her. She looked so pitiful and fragile that any man would feel the need to protect her. It was no wonder Harold had fallen hook, line, and sinker for Sabrina’s act.

Lucille narrowed her eyes slightly and quirked an eyebrow. She smiled and asked, ” Are you here to get on your knees and apologize to me?”

Sabrina wore a hospital gown, and her face was still pale from her ordeal. She stood before Lucille, and her eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred. She glared at Lucille and snarled, “What right do you have to make me get on my knees?”

Lucille tucked her hands into her pockets and leaned back lazily. She looked up at Sabrina and savored how the latter looked like a scorpion, ready to attack. Sabrina would only reveal her true colors when no one else was around.

Lucille chuckled. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want your precious Harry anymore?”

Sabrina recalled what Harold had told her earlier in the day. She smiled smugly. “He didn’t agree to your stupid request.”

Lucille tutted. “Looks like you don’t love him that much, after all. Is it that hard for you to sacrifice just a little bit for your and his sake?”

“Shut up, you bitch! You know nothing about my love for Harry! Can’t you tell that he’s unwilling to see me go through that for him?” Sabrina’s face twisted with venom.

Her words grew ever more acrid as her tone was colored by smugness and contempt. “Harry and I are genuinely in love. He doesn’t have any feelings for you! So what if you met him first? He still fell head over heels for me, didn’t he?

“You’re not getting anything out of this, Lucille! I told you that I’d take everything and everyone you cared about. You’re no match for me. The Johnson family can only belong to me!”

She stopped to catch her breath. Then, she continued, “If you know what’s good for you, you’d better leave the Johnson family and Harry! If you don’t, I’ll wreck your reputation and make sure you won’t ever hold your head high in Whiteloop City!”

Sabrina’s venom and threats didn’t faze Lucille. She chuckled disdainfully and raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? I can’t wait to see how things go.”

Hepre

+20 BONUS

The one thing Sabrina hated about Lucille was how she always looked so cold and unruffled. It was as if nothing got to her. It seemed nothing would ever take her down

Still, she couldn’t help feeling smug at the thought of how Lucille had never beaten her at anything since they were children. So what if nothing bothered her? She was still despised and hated. Sabrina was the one who had everyone’s favor.

She said, “Why don’t you ever learn, Lucille? You can’t defeat me. Everyone knows you’re a murderer now. You forced your sister to commit suicide over a man.”

Sabrina smiled contemptuously. It seemed particularly creepy in the dark of the night.

Lucille’s eyes gleamed coldly as she watched Sabrina. She lowered her voice and asked, “Is that so? Wouldn’t I be doing that accusation an injustice since you’re still alive, then?”

Sabrina stiffened. “What are you up to?”

Lucille swiftly stretched out a leg and swept Sabrina off her feet. Sabrina screamed and collapsed on the ground with a loud thump. Her shoulder landed first and let out a crisp crack. It hurt like hell.

Then, a sharp pain jolted through her, starting from her head. She couldn’t help lifting her head to try to alleviate it.

Lucille had crouched before her and grabbed her by the hair. The pain made Sabrina even paler than before. She scrunched up her face while looking fearful.

“Since you’re so eager to see me become a murderer, I’d be wasting your carefully orchestrated act if I didn’t actually do something.” Lucille smiled coldly.

Her words made Sabrina shudder. She suppressed the pain and snarled, “You wouldn’t dare!”

Lucille’s smile grew. She retorted, “Why wouldn’t I? I’ve had it up to here with you!”

Sabrina screamed, “Ouch, it hurts!”

Lucille had dragged Sabrina to her feet while keeping a strong grip on her hair. Sabrina felt like her hair was being pulled out by the roots. It hurt more than her shoulder did. She felt like someone was sawing her head in half.

Lucille dragged Sabrina to the nearby pond. At that moment, she wanted to thank Central Hospital’s architect for including a pond in the garden. She looked down at

3/5

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#25 BONUS

Chapter 3

“Don’t be scared, Bree! I’ll save you right now!” Harold quickly took his suit jacket off and jumped into the murky pond without a second thought.

Lucille clucked her tongue and watched them coldly. Sean quickly summoned some medical personnel and security guards. Two minutes later, everyone worked together to get the couple out of the pond.

A nurse immediately gave them towels so they wouldn’t catch colds. It wasn’t winter yet, but it was already fall. The night breeze could get quite chilly.

“Bree? Bree! Wake up! Don’t scare me!” Harold cried urgently as he held an ashen Sabrina in his arms.

A nurse said worriedly, “Let’s take Ms. Johnson back to her hospital room so that the doctors can check on her, Mr. Quall.”

Something like this had happened at their hospital, and Harold and Sabrina were the children of affluent families. She could only pray they would both be fine.

Just then, Sabrina came to. She coughed and opened her eyes weakly. Then, she said, “Don’t… don’t blame Lucy for this, Harry. She has nothing to do with this.”

Then, she fainted. Lucille narrowed her eyes and watched things play out without a hint of concern.

There it was–Sabrina’s ultimate move. It worked like magic each time.

Only then did everyone notice Lucille standing at the edge of the crowd. She was dressed in black and had remained silent through the whole ordeal, so she’d blended in perfectly with the night.

Harold’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared daggers at her. He said coldly, “I need to talk to you about something later.”

Lucille merely scratched her nose carelessly. She didn’t say anything.

Harold hurriedly carried Sabrina back to her hospital room.