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“It’ll be alright,” he said in a calm, reassuring tone. “You’ve suffered so much. Let her help you.”

Astra stepped forward, the syringe ready, but just as she was about to pierce Esther’s skin, Esther shoved her away with force.

Astra stumbled back, and the syringe slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.

Lorenzo’s brows furrowed in frustration. He caught Esther’s arms. “What the hell are you doing? What’s wrong with you?”

Esther’s whole body shook. She clung to him, voice trembling. “Lorenzo, last time Astra treated me… I already felt better. I don’t have clots anymore.”

Lorenzo’s face hardened. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m cured,” Esther whispered, eyes cast down. “I’m not sick anymore. I lied, Lorenzo. I’m sorry…”

His fists clenched, veins taut with rage, but he didn’t yell. He turned his head slowly, locking eyes with Astra.

“You had treated her,” he said through gritted teeth. “If you knew she was already cured, why the hell did you insist on giving her the injection?”

Astra picked up the syringe, and casually sprayed some of the liquid onto her own palm. Lorenzo stepped forward in a panic.

“Are you insane?!” Lorenzo stepped forward, grabbing a bottle of water to pour it over her hand. “That’s poison!”

But Astra held up her hand calmly, showing him her palm. “It’s just water.”

Esther’s eyes widened. “You lied to me?!”

Astra gave her a cold, deadpan look. “How else was I supposed to get the truth?”

Then she turned to Lorenzo. “I’ll expect the rest of the payment in my account by this evening, Mr. Moretti.”

Then she turned, grabbed her box, and walked away. But Lorenzo stood there frozen. His heart beat erratically.

‘Why does she smell like that?’ He stared after her, something in him unraveling. ‘That scent… it’s the same. Exactly the same as the woman I slept with two years ago.’

He spun on his heel and bolted out of the room.

“Lorenzo, wait! Please!” Esther scrambled to her feet, chasing after him, but he was already gone.

Outside the ward, Xander had been leaning against the wall, watching everything unfold. As Astra passed by, he muttered under his breath, nose wrinkling, “If Mrs. Moretti were half as smart as this woman, she wouldn’t have ended up getting played by a scumbag like my boss.”

The very next second, Lorenzo stormed out of the room.

Xander nearly yelped in surprise, stumbling back, barely catching himself before falling.

“Where did that woman go?” Lorenzo barked, glaring at him.

“Th-that way, sir!” Xander stammered, pointing quickly.

They both took off in that direction.

Lorenzo ran out of the hospital, scanning the area, but Astra was already gone. He sighed in frustration and turned back inside.

But as he turned the corner, he came to a halt.

There she was.

Krystal.

Walking straight toward him, completely distracted, eyes glued to her phone. She didn’t see him. Didn’t notice how frozen he was, how his breath caught in his throat.