“I almost forgot to mention, the organizers are investigating the accident and should have results by tomorrow. Don’t worry about medical expenses–they’ll cover everything. Compensation will follow legal standards, too. As for a caregiver, I’ll request one from the organizers tonight.”

Alaricka Huston chuckled softly: “Alright, thank you, Ms. Wyatt. Please attend to your duties. I’ll be fine here.”

“Okay, I’ll take my leave then.”

After Paloma Wyatt left, Alaricka remained alone in the hospital room.

She shifted cautiously, reaching for the lunch box. Taking small bites of rice, she ate slowly.

Recent events had stolen her appetite. She only managed to eat a layer of the meal before sipping some Golden Milk.

Just as she set down her fork, the door swung open. A familiar voice rang out:

“Eating so little–are you dieting?”

It was Kieran Argent.

Alaricka set down her fork, her voice icy. “You sent the housekeeper without asking me. This has nothing to do with me.”

Kieran stepped closer, his dark eyes sweeping over her cast-encased ankle propped on pillows. “Not satisfied? We’ll find another,” he stated flatly. “We’ll keep replacing them until you are.”

“I told you,” Alaricka insisted, “I don’t need one.”

Kieran brushed off her words entirely. “A new housekeeper arrives tomorrow.”

Alaricka frowned. “Kieran, do you even realize what you’re doing?”

He picked up the medical chart from her bedside table, flipping through its pages. “What did the doctor say?”

Her gaze remained detached. “The doctor said I’d recover faster if certain annoying presences stopped appearing before me.”

Kieran seemed to huff a near-silent laugh before returning the chart to the table.

A knock sounded at the hospital room door.

Kieran answered with the ease of someone in charge. “Enter.”

“Mr. Argent.”

His assistant entered, struggling under the weight of an overstuffed backpack Alaricka recognized instantly. Books bulged against its seams.

“Mr. Argent, Ms. Huston’s study materials are here. And her mother has arrived as well.”

Kieran gave a brief nod.

The assistant placed the heavy backpack near Alaricka’s feet and exited.

Alaricka stared at the doorway. “My mom’s here?”

Footsteps echoed almost immediately, and Tamika Coldberg hurried into the room.

Alaricka called out, “Mom? Why did you come?”

Tamika’s eyes locked onto Alaricka’s elevated leg, her face twisting with distress. She rushed to the bedside, her voice tight with worry. “If Mr. Argent’s assistant hadn’t come for your things, I wouldn’t even know you broke your leg! You’re grown now, huh? Planning to keep something like this from your own mother?”

“How could you break your leg just going to a competition?” she continued, the questions tumbling out. “How serious is it? Does it hurt? What did the doctor say?”

Alaricka took her mother’s hand, guiding her to sit. “Mom, it’s nothing. I just hadn’t had a chance to tell you yet. It’s not serious. The doctor says it’ll heal fine with rest.”

Tamika shot her a reproachful look. “The National College Entrance Examination is in three months! Can’t you give me peace of mind? Tell me honestly, how did this happen?”

Alaricka glanced at Kieran, then carefully picked and chose what to tell her mother.

“The metal frame on stage collapsed suddenly. I didn’t see it coming and got hit.”

Tamika gasped, her expression scornful. “Wasn’t this supposed to be a major competition? How does a metal frame just fall? Shoddy workmanship! What about the organizers? Medical bills? Compensation?”

Alaricka reassured her. “Don’t worry. The organizers have already spoken to me. They’ll take responsibility. Everything owed will be handled.”