Chapter 2
Even though Jasmine had a deal with Matthew, she still had a marriage certificate with Carl, so his signature was still needed for the divorce.
agreement.
She knew where to find him.
She got in a taxi and headed to the hospital. Just as she stepped near Whitney’s ward, she heard loud laughter coming from inside.
“Carl, come on, tell us how she tried to hook up with you. Let us have a good laugh.”
“She’s still not giving up? Makes sense, though. Carl is handsome, but everyone knows his heart belongs to Whitney. Now that Whitney’s back and single again, are you two getting married soon? When’s the wedding?”
Whitney’s pale face turned red. She gave Carl a shy glance and lowered her head sadly. “Don’t joke around. I’ve been married before. I’m not good enough for Carl anymore. Besides, my depression could come back anytime. I can’t drag him down.”
Through the crack in the door, Jasmine caught the emotion in Carl’s eyes. He quickly stepped forward, took Whitney’s hand, and said. seriously, “You’re not a burden to me. I’m a doctor. I know how to take care of you.”
Cheers erupted in the ward. “Together! Together!”
At that moment, the sound of Jasmine opening the door instantly
16040
shattered the cheer inside the ward.
All eyes turned toward her, full of mockery.
Carl pulled his hand away calmly and asked coldly. “Why are you here?”
His distant tone stung. Jasmine clenched her palm tightly, ignoring the stares. “I came to ask for your signature.”
Carl didn’t respond, so she walked in.
As she moved forward, someone stuck out a foot and tripped her on purpose. She lost her balance and hit the edge of the bed hard, making a loud thud that startled Whitney, who was drinking hot water.
“Ah-”
The glass spilled all over Whitney’s arm, leaving red blisters. Seeing that. Carl shoved Jasmine aside and checked Whitney’s injury in a panic.
Jasmine fell to the ground. Her arms were burning, and her forehead. throbbed from the impact.
When she touched her forehead, her fingers came away bloody.
But no one even glanced at her.
Seeing how miserable Jasmine looked, Whitney pretended to be generous and said, “Carl, don’t worry about me. I’m alright. Don’t blame Ms. Mendoza. I’m sure she didn’t mean to do it.”
Carl looked annoyed and turned to Jasmine. “Why are you always so quick to act? Don’t you know Whitney’s condition can’t handle any
Chapter 2
11
stimulation?”
Their friends nearby chimed in.
“I bet she did it on purpose, just to look pitiful and get attention.”
“She’s so cruel. Whitney just tried to commit suicide because of depression. What if she gets worse from this scare?”
Even though Jasmine was the one hurt the most, people acted like she brought it on herself.
Her husband, Carl, didn’t say a single word in her defense.
Holding her aching forehead, Jasmine refused to let things stay misunderstood. She looked at Carl and tried to explain. “Someone tripped me on purpose. That’s why I fell.”
Whitney bit her lip and spoke in a fragile voice, sounding wronged, “Ms. Mendoza, I know you dislike me, but you can’t blame my friends like that. They came all this way just to see me. Why would they try to hurt you?”
“For-”
Jasmine had just started to speak when Carl cut her off sharply. “That’s enough. Stop being so unreasonable.”
She stared at him in a daze.
He looked at her with distrust. It felt like a blade slicing into her heart, over and over again.
She clenched her hands so hard that her nails broke the skin of her palms. Swallowing the pain, she forced herself to say, “Alright. I won’t
act unreasonable anymore.”
She would no longer have any expectations of him.
