Chapter 276
The nurse gasped, instinctively stepping forward. “Her ankle’s fractured! Don’t-”
The director’s heavy glare cut her off mid-sentence.
Words died in her throat. She bit her lip, retreated a step, and fell silent.
Gritting her teeth, Alarieka swung her arm toward the woman’s face. The woman laughed coldly, catching her wrist while stomping on Alarieka’s uninjured right leg.
Eyes gleaming with malice, she taunted, “Run! Go on, run! Why’d you stop?”
Alarieka had one leg injured, the other pinned under the woman’s crushing weight. With one hand trapped in the woman’s grip, only her free arm could prop up her upper body while constant, throbbing pain radiated from her fractured ankle.
Immobilized completely, her unbound hair cascaded beside her face. The hospital gown, tugged and pulled during the struggle, gaped open to reveal a stretch of snow-white skin at her waist.
Her face was deathly pale, yet her obsidian eyes burned with fierce, unyielding defiance, locked onto the woman’s gaze.
The hospital corridor stood deserted in the late hour. No one else remained besides Alarieka and this group—no hope of rescue.
“Down with the wicked woman!”
The boy cheered, pumping his fist before darting to the woman’s side. He lifted his foot and kicked Alarieka hard in the stomach.
A pained groan escaped Alarieka. Her pallor deepened as her gaze slowly, deliberately shifted to the boy. Her eyes held a chilling, resolute darkness—like the green glow of a wolf’s eyes in shadows—making the boy stumble backward to hide behind the woman.
The woman couldn’t bear her precious son subjected to such a stare. “What are you looking at?” she snapped. “Scare my son again, and I won’t let you off.”
“Enough,” the Director finally interjected from nearby.
The woman blinked. “Uncle?”
Adjusting his cuff, the Director said, “I have research to review. I’ll take my leave. Mind your actions.”
The woman smiled. “Thank you, Uncle. I’ll bring Victor to visit you soon.”
The Director gave a noncommittal hum, his gaze lingering briefly on the exposed curve of Alarieka’s waist with an unreadable look.
Before leaving, he glanced at the nurse, his eyes sharp, his voice detached. “Coming?”
The nurse flinched, hesitating as she looked at Alarieka.
The Director tugged at his collar. “Suit yourself.”
“I’m coming!” the nurse blurted, scrambling after him.
The nurse lowered her head, clutching her uniform at the sides, silently apologizing to Alarieka in her heart before turning to follow the director.
“Wait. Not so fast.”
The woman’s voice froze the nurse mid-step.
The director adjusted his glasses with a frown, impatience flashing in his eyes. “What now?”
The woman cooed, “Uncle, this nurse hasn’t apologized to Hanghang and me yet.”
Understanding dawned on the director, who shot the nurse a pointed look.
The nurse bit her lip, hesitating before murmuring, “I’m sorry… It was my fault…”
Pleased, the woman waved dismissively. “Go on then. Next time, watch who you’re messing with.”
Tears welled in the nurse’s eyes as she hurried away, her hunched figure radiating humiliation.
The director’s voice turned stern. “This is a hospital. Don’t overdo it.”
The woman beamed. “I know, Uncle. Trust me, I’ve got this.”
As the director turned to leave, Alarieka’s low voice cut through: “A hospital director dares act like this?”
The woman whirled around, furious. “Shut your mouth! Pay up now!”
A calculating gleam entered the director’s eyes. “If you can’t pay…” His gaze slid over Alarieka’s exposed waist, lingering with disdainful suggestiveness. “…I could be persuaded to help.” His chuckle was low. “Such a pity case.”
Alarieka’s eyes narrowed to slits.
Every fiber of her being screamed to slap the leer off his face.