Chapter 1

Jasmine Booth was well-known in circles for being quite the seductress, with lightly curved crimson lips and eyes that seemed to hook your soul.

Meanwhile, Caesar Snee was the most outstanding heir of a wealthy family—an unattainable gem that sat atop a high mountain, cold and self-restrained.

No one knew that these two would get entangled in the back seat of a Maybach at midnight, passionately crash against each other in a restroom of a charity gala, or collapse against the floor-to-ceiling windows of a private winery.

Each time, Jasmine's legs would go weak as Caesar gripped her waist and entered her.

After yet another night of indulgence, the sound of water trickled from the bathroom.

Jasmine leaned against the headboard and dialed Roderick Booth, her father. When the call connected, she said, "I can marry the dying Mr. Schuman of Southmere in a wedding that would drive out death, but I have one condition."

On the other end of the line came an uncontainable sound of delight. "Say it! As long as you're willing to marry him, I will agree to anything!"

Despite her cold gaze, Jasmine responded with a gentle voice, "I'll explain when I get home."

Jasmine hung up and was about to get dressed when Caesar's laptop on the side caught her eye. His WhatsApp screen was lit up, and the latest message was from a girl saved as "Sabrina".

It said, "Caesar, it's thundering. I'm really scared…"

Jasmine's fingers trembled as she read the text.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened, and Caesar walked out. Water dripped down his collarbone, and his shirt was casually unbuttoned at the top. The sight blended his usual cold abstinence with a touch of laziness.

"Something came up at the office. I need to head out," he said distantly as he picked up his suit jacket.

Jasmine's lips curled up faintly as she questioned, "Is it really something at the office? Or are you going to see your first love?"

Caesar, who didn't catch what she said, responded puzzledly, "What?"

"Nothing."

She stepped off the bed barefoot, and her fair feet sank into the soft carpet.

Caesar's gaze darkened slightly, and his thumb brushed across her swollen lips. "Behave. Don't cause trouble," he coaxed before leaving.

The moment the door shut, the smile vanished from Jasmine's face. She hailed a cab and followed him.

Half an hour later, the car stopped outside a hotel. Through the rain, Jasmine saw Sabrina, who wore a white dress, run out from the hotel entrance.

Caesar quickly walked up, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulders. He then scooped her up in his arms.

"It's cold out. Why'd you come out without a coat, hmm?" he asked gently.

His movements were so practiced, like he had rehearsed them hundreds of times.

Jasmine clenched the car door handle so tightly that her nails had dug into her palms. She stared at Caesar's back as he carefully carried Sabrina into the hotel.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of the first time she ever saw him.

…

Back then, things were tense between Jasmine and Roderick. After she had smashed something over his head yet again, he sent her to be disciplined by his close friend's son, saying she needed to have her arrogant temper worn down.

When Jasmine first met Caesar, he was sitting in the top-floor office of Snee Group, his gaze as cold as ice behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

Of course, she didn't want to stay there. So, she tried every way she could to cause trouble.

On her first day, she spilled coffee all over his million-dollar custom suit. Caesar merely glanced at her and said, "Ritalix air-shipped cashmere. Put it on the Booth family's tab."

The next day, she deliberately fed the meeting documents into the shredder. Caesar remained calm and recited the entire agenda from memory, leaving the executives in the room stunned.

On the third day, she drugged his coffee and set up a camera, ready to catch him in a compromising state and use it to threaten him. Instead, she became his antidote.

The next morning, Jasmine woke up sore all over. She was seething with rage and ready to kill, only to be pinned against the window by Caesar for another round.

"Jas," he murmured hoarsely as he bit her earlobe. "Be good."

That one nickname completely broke her defenses. No one had called Jasmine that since her mother died.

From then on, their relationship changed.

Every time she caused trouble, Caesar would just carry her into his office. Outsiders thought he was disciplining her, but he was actually bending her over the desk until her legs went weak.

Little by little, Jasmine realized she was becoming addicted. Was it because Caesar was so good at it? Or because she was just that lonely?

She didn't know the answer. She only knew that she had fallen for him.

Thus, on his birthday, she spent the whole day decorating the villa—complete with roses, candlelight, and music. She had even prepared an engagement ring.

Jasmine waited all night, until the candles burned out and the roses wilted, and still, he didn't come.

At three in the morning, her phone suddenly buzzed with a news alert.

The headline read, "CEO of a Wealthy Family Picks up First Love at Airport in the Dead of Night."

In the photo, Caesar was gently helping a girl in a white dress into a car. His gaze at her looked so heartbreakingly tender.

The comment section went nuts.

"Aw, a powerful CEO and a sweet young lady! Just kill me now!"

"Holy crap! Isn't that Mr. Snee and campus belle, Sabrina Harding? Back in school, they were the golden couple!"

"I went to the same school, so I can confirm! Mr. Snee was cold to everyone except Sabrina. If she hadn't gone abroad for health reasons, they would've been married already!"

Jasmine's phone hit the floor with a loud smack. She couldn't believe what she read.

If Caesar already had feelings for someone, then what was she? An on-call fuck buddy?

With shaking hands, she tried to call Caesar, hoping to hear anything from him, but the call never went through.

After the final failed attempt, Jasmine put down her phone and walked into Caesar's study—a room he had never let her enter.

The moment she opened the door, it felt like lightning struck her.

The room was full of photos of Sabrina—graduation photos, travel snapshots, and even secret pictures of her sleeping.

So, the always cold and restrained Caesar was actually capable of this.

Whether Jasmine got an answer or not suddenly seemed irrelevant. She suddenly laughed, the sound echoing harshly in the empty room.

As she laughed, scorching tears poured down her cheeks and splashed onto the floor. She then tore apart the entire villa in a frenzy.

When Caesar returned the next day and saw the mess, he calmly instructed the staff to clean it up. He didn't even spare Jasmine a glance, as if this kind of thing was expected from her.

She watched helplessly as the housekeeper swept away the engagement ring she'd so carefully prepared, as though it were trash.

Caesar didn't know what was in that box. He didn't know she once wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

And he would never know that the moment the ring hit the trash, she decided she would never love him again.

…

The driver's voice pulled Jasmine back to the present. "Ms. Booth, where to?" he asked.

"Home," Jasmine said with an ice-cold voice as she opened her eyes. "Back to the Booth residence."

As soon as she arrived, Roderick rushed to greet her. "Jas, have you really agreed to marry the man in Southmere?"

Upstairs, her stepmother, Elvira Harding, was also watching her with hopeful eyes.

Jasmine looked at Roderick with a slightly cold gaze. "Yes. But didn't I say I had a condition?"

"What condition? Say it!" Roderick urged.

Jasmine enunciated each word as she said, "I want to sever all ties with you."

The air seemed to have frozen in an instant.

Roderick's expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you're saying?"

"I'm well aware. You cheated during your marriage, and to make way for that woman, you drove my mother to jump off a building. From that day on, I stopped considering you my father," Jasmine responded icily.

She stared at Roderick's ashen face. "Now, the dying Mr. Schuman of Southmere is offering 50 billion dollars for a bride. You've been pressuring me for three months. If I hadn't agreed, were you planning to tie me up and deliver me?"

Jasmine sneered as she continued, "If that's the case, what's the difference whether we cut ties or not? It's perfect timing to bring your mistress' daughter back and make her the Booth family's young lady."

Roderick trembled with anger. "Fine! Cut ties then! But Mr. Schuman is said to have only until the end of the month. You must marry him before then!"

He then laughed coldly. "As for Elvira's daughter, she returned from abroad a few days ago. She's been staying at a hotel. Since you're giving up your place, she'll move in tomorrow!"

Jasmine chuckled, the pain she felt in her chest making her tremble. "Throwing yourself at another woman and neglecting your own daughter—you really are one of a kind."

She turned to leave, but Elvira stepped forward with a fake show of concern, saying, "Jas, how can you speak to your father like that?"

Jasmine suddenly stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned around, and years of buried hatred flooded her gaze. "What? You think once I'm married and gone, you can finally act like the real lady of this house?"

She took a step forward as she spoke each word. "Elvira, listen carefully. My mother may be dead, but it doesn't change the fact that you're a homewrecker everyone despises! Even if your precious daughter becomes Ms. Booth, she will never erase the stain that her mother is a mistress!"

Elvira's face turned ghostly pale as she stumbled back two steps.

Jasmine turned and walked away, each step she took feeling as sharp as walking on a blade.

Only when she returned to her room and shut the door did she collapse as if she were drained of all strength. She sank to the floor with her face buried in her knees.

…

The next morning, sounds of movement and excited chatter echoed from downstairs.

"What's going on?" Jasmine yanked her door open. "Some of us are trying to sleep!"

The butler stammered, "Ms. Booth… the other missus has moved in…"

Before he finished, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs—Sabrina, dressed in a white dress, stood there looking delicate and pitiful.

At that moment, Jasmine felt all the blood in her body freeze.

Chapter 2

Jasmine never expected that the daughter of her stepmother, the one who had been "recuperating" abroad for years, would turn out to be Caesar's first love.

God really had played a cruel joke on her.

The next second, Sabrina walked toward her with a sweet smile and said, "Jasmine, I'm sorry. Did we wake you—"

Before she could finish, Jasmine slammed the door shut in her face with a loud bang.

"Jasmine! Do you have any manners at all?" Roderick roared from outside. "Clear out your room! Sabrina likes it, so this will be her room from now on!"

Jasmine let out a cold laugh and went straight to the closet to start packing her suitcase.

Outside the door, voices could be faintly heard.

"Roderick, is Jasmine upset?" Sabrina's voice sounded sweet enough that it seemed honey dripped from it.

"Don't worry about her. She's been spoiled since birth," Roderick replied.

"But…"

"Rest easy. She'll be off to Southmere soon. This house will be yours and your mother's."

Jasmine's hand paused for a second, then her sneer deepened. She quickly booked a one-way ticket to Southmere for the end of the month and resumed packing.

Half an hour later, she walked out of the room, dragging her suitcase.

In the living room, Roderick, Elvira, and Sabrina were sitting on the couch watching TV. Paired with a spread of fruits and desserts on the table, they looked like a picture-perfect family.

Jasmine didn't spare them a glance as she headed straight for the door.

"Stop right there!" Roderick barked. "What kind of stunt are you pulling now? Don't forget your promise!"

Jasmine didn't even bother turning to reply, "Relax. I said I'd do it, so I will. But for the next half month, I'm not staying in this house and getting disgusted."

After that, she headed straight to the most expensive hotel in the city and booked a presidential suite.

…

In the days that followed, Jasmine went on a shopping spree.

She purchased the most expensive wedding gown and spent a ton of money at auctions on antique jewelry as her wedding gift.

Even if she was going to be married off as a bride, she would marry in style.

Her phone vibrated nonstop in her bag, but Jasmine didn't check it until she had purchased her final diamond necklace.

38 missed calls—all from Roderick.

The moment she swiped to answer, Roderick's furious voice exploded from the other end. "Are you out of your mind? You blew through three billion dollars in a day! Are you trying to bankrupt me?"

"Why the worry?" Jasmine sneered. "Once I'm married, you'll be getting 50 billion dollars."

"But that money hasn't arrived yet! At this rate, the company will go bankrupt tomorrow!"

Jasmine laughed coldly once more. Exactly—she wanted Roderick to go bankrupt.

She had long decided that she would have the Schuman family transfer the 50 billion dollars straight into her personal account after the wedding.

At that point, she'd like to see if Sabrina and her homewrecker mother would still be so devoted to a broke old man.

Did everyone think she was as foolish as her mother was, staying with Roderick when he had nothing, getting hospitalized and coughing up blood, and ending up being forced to jump off a building?

At the thought of her mother, Jasmine felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Her phone vibrated again. This time, it was a text from Caesar.

"Why are you throwing a tantrum again? Why didn't you come to the office today?"

Jasmine stared at the message for a long time.

Over the past year, because Caesar was "disciplining" her, Jasmine had to report to the company almost every day.

But now she was about to get married, so why should she bother letting him discipline her?

She returned to the hotel with more than a dozen shopping bags, only to find her luggage piled up in the lobby.

"What's going on?" she asked coldly.

The receptionist explained awkwardly, "Ms. Booth, your card… has been declined. According to hotel policy…"

Jasmine's phone buzzed at that moment, and a message from Roderick popped up.

"Since you want to sever ties, then stop using my card. I've frozen all your accounts."

Jasmine stared at the screen for a long time until her eyes burned.

In the end, she only replied with, "Fine."

Then, Jasmine dragged her luggage through the streets. Her flight wasn't until the end of the month, and she had nowhere to go now.

Where would she live for the next half month? What would she eat? What would she use?

Her suitcase was filled with wedding gowns and gifts—not a single item could be sold.

As for lending money… She would rather sleep on the streets than bow her head to that circle of people just waiting to laugh at her downfall.

The park bench nearby could barely pass for a bed, and just as Jasmine was setting down her luggage, a drunken man staggered over.

"Hey, pretty lady, you all alone?" he leered.

"Get lost!" Jasmine shouted.

"Why so mean? Come keep me company…"

Just as the sleazy man's hand touched her shoulder, Jasmine raised her hand and got ready to slap him when a shriek rang out.

Caesar had appeared out of nowhere and twisted the man's wrist with a clean snap.

Before Jasmine could even react, she was yanked into a car with her luggage and all.

She struggled, twisting her body as she demanded, "Let me go!"

Caesar grabbed her flailing wrist. "What are you fussing about this time?"

He added in a low voice, "You're homeless, and you still won't come looking for me?"

Chapter 3

Jasmine felt her nose sting when she heard that sentence.

Back when she used to run away after fighting with Roderick, Caesar would always drive around the whole city looking for her, then carry her home on his back.

He also always asked, "What are you fussing about this time?"

She would lie on his back as she breathed in the crisp scent of cedar on him, foolishly thinking that maybe he liked her, even just a little.

Now that she thought about it, no one was more of a bastard than Caesar!

He clearly didn't like her, and yet he still slept with her. Then, after sleeping with her, he'd even go back to his study and gaze affectionately at Sabrina's photos.

Jasmine didn't understand what she lacked compared to Sabrina. Whether it was family background, looks, or body, how did she lose to her?

Out of all the women in the world, why did he have to like Sabrina? It just had to be her.

"Let go!" Jasmine's eyes were reddened as she bit down hard on Caesar's hand.

He frowned but said nothing and simply started the car.

…

Caesar drove them back to the villa and carried her luggage inside after they reached.

"Same as before," he said as he rolled up his sleeves, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Stay until you want to go home."

Jasmine stood at the entrance. Her fingers dug into her palm as she said, "I'm only staying for half a month. After that, I'll leave. I'll pay you rent, and I won't bother you again."

"Won't bother me again?"

Caesar slowly looked up at her, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses looking like an abyss. "You think you can do that?" he questioned,

Those words plunged into Jasmine's heart like a knife, causing it to twist with sharp pain.

So, he'd noticed it all along. He saw her go from being confrontational to helplessly obsessed with him.

He knew she had fallen hard for him.

And Caesar? He just coldly watched her spiral deeper and deeper, all while having feelings for his first love.

"Sabrina…" Jasmine suddenly spoke. "She's my stepmother's daughter. Did you know?"

Caesar's hand paused as he loosened his tie. "I only found out today," he replied.

After a moment of silence, Jasmine couldn't help asking, "You and her—what's your relationship?"

"She's a junior of mine."

Caesar poured a glass of water and took a sip unhurriedly. "We worked together in the student council. She saved me from a car accident once and has been abroad for treatment ever since."

He looked at Jasmine with a warning gaze and said, "I know you have issues with your stepmother, but this has nothing to do with Sabrina. Don't take it out on her."

Everything Jasmine wanted to say got caught in her throat when she heard that. She originally wanted to ask if he liked Sabrina, but now, she only found it ridiculous.

With how protective Caesar was being, what was the point of asking?

She turned and went to the guest room, slamming the door shut.

That night, for the first time ever, Caesar didn't come looking for her.

Jasmine lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Of course, his first love had returned, so why would he still think about her?

…

The next day, Jasmine deliberately slept until noon just to avoid seeing Caesar.

But when she opened the door, she was surprised to see he was still home. He sat on the couch, flipping through a finance magazine, with his gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose bridge.

He didn't even look up as he asked, "You're up?"

"You're not going to the office?" Jasmine asked back.

"It's the weekend."

Jasmine let out a hum in acknowledgment and grabbed a few pastries from the fridge, planning to head back to her room.

But Caesar suddenly said, "Get changed. You're coming with me to a gathering later."

Jasmine was about to refuse, but then she thought about it. She figured going out to get some fresh air was better than being stuck in the same room with Caesar.

So, she changed her clothes and went with him.

But once they arrived, Jasmine realized that it was a welcome banquet for Sabrina.

She immediately turned to leave, but Sabrina warmly took her arm and said, "Jasmine, I'm so glad you came. Don't fight with Uncle Roderick anymore. After you ran away, he was so worried that he didn't eat for a whole day."

Jasmine laughed coldly. "So you do know he's just an uncle to you. Then what does my leaving home or arguing with him have to do with you? You live far away or something? Why are you all up in my business?"

She flung Sabrina's hand off and walked into a private room. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sabrina's eyes redden with tears as she looked pitifully at Caesar.

Caesar gave Jasmine a dark look, his gaze filled with warning.

Then, he gently ruffled Sabrina's hair and said something that made her giggle through her tears.

Jasmine felt her heart throb with pain, so she lowered her head and downed a glass of champagne.

Chapter 4

Inside the private room, clinking glasses and noisy chatter filled the atmosphere.

Jasmine sat in a corner, watching Caesar surrounded at the center. Despite that, his eyes always followed Sabrina's every move.

When Sabrina reached for a drink, he would open the cap for her before she even touched it. When her dress got a slight drop of wine on it, he immediately handed her a handkerchief. Even when she coughed lightly, he quietly turned up the air-conditioning temperature.

Jasmine had never experienced a single one of these small, gentle gestures. She numbly downed another glass of alcohol, feeling her heart getting slowly shredded as though it was carved at with a dull knife.

Over the past year, when she and Caesar did nothing but sleep together, she'd never seen him lose control even at the most intense moments.

"The bottle has landed on Mr. Snee!" someone suddenly called out. "Time for your punishment!"

Laughter filled the room as someone handed him a tablet. "Everyone says Mr. Snee is the purest-hearted and with the fewest desires in the industry, so we won't make it hard. We'll show you two pictures, and you just need to quickly pick the one person who makes your heart race!"

The first set of pictures showed a popular female celebrity and Sabrina.

Without hesitation, Caesar glanced at the tablet and said, "Sabrina."

The room erupted in cheers. Sabrina lowered her head with a flushed face, unable to hide the smile on her lips.

Jasmine's fingers dug into her palm.

One pair of photos after another flashed by, and Caesar chose Sabrina every single time without hesitation.

Unable to take it anymore, Jasmine got up and headed to the restroom. But just as she took a few steps forward, another round of loud cheers erupted behind her.

She turned and saw her own photo displayed next to Sabrina's on the tablet.

"Woah!" The crowd got excited. "Now this is interesting! Ms. Booth is the most beautiful in the industry, and no actress can compare to her! If Mr. Snee still picks Ms. Harding, that really says something."

Everyone turned to look at Caesar, but he remained unusually silent.

Jasmine froze where she stood, feeling her heart thundering in her chest.

A few seconds later, she heard Caesar say in a low voice, "Sabrina."

Jasmine felt as though her world had collapsed in that moment. Amid the roaring cheers in the room, she stumbled into the restroom, turned on the tap, and splashed cold water on her face. Still, it couldn't douse the searing pain inside her.

After a long while, Jasmine looked up at her reflection. The girl in the mirror was breathtakingly beautiful, yet she had suffered a crushing defeat.

When she came out of the bathroom, the hallway lights were dim. Just as she turned a corner, she was blocked by several drunken men.

"Hey, beautiful, can I get your number?" The lead man reeked of alcohol as he reached out to touch her face.

Jasmine stepped back, her back hitting the cold wall. "Get lost!" she shouted.

"Why are you acting all high and mighty?" Another man grabbed her wrist. "With you wearing this, aren't you begging for it?"

As she struggled, Jasmine's gaze pierced through the crowd and met Caesar's, who was standing at the door of the private room.

She saw him frown slightly, and just as he was about to step forward, Sabrina's sudden cry came from behind.

"Ah!"

Caesar immediately turned around and asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"I think I twisted my ankle…" Sabrina said, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm fine. You should go help Jasmine first."

Caesar squatted down to check her ankle. "Don't bother with her. She can handle herself."

That one sentence seemingly pierced through Jasmine's heart like a knife.

The ruffian's hand had already reached her waist, and his disgusting alcohol breath hit her face. "Come play with me…"

Jasmine grabbed a wine bottle from the hallway console and smashed it against the wall.

"If you don't want to die, get lost!" she shrieked.

Shards of glass cut her hand, and blood dripped down her fingertips. Then, while taking advantage of the man's dazed state, she quickly fled.

…

After the gathering ended, Jasmine didn't want to get into Caesar's car, so she stood alone by the roadside waiting for a taxi.

With her high heels stepping into a puddle, Sabrina walked over holding an umbrella. "Jasmine, you don't have a car? How about I take you home?"

Jasmine looked at the car key in her hand—the latest model sports car—and suddenly smiled.

Roderick really was generous, gifting such a nice car to a stepdaughter.

"No need." Jasmine curled her lips into a dazzling smile. "It feels dirty to ride in a car of a mistress' daughter."

Sabrina's expression instantly darkened. Finally, she dropped her act and grabbed Jasmine's wrist. "Jasmine! Say that again!"

"Will saying it again change the fact that you're a mistress' daughter? Let go!" Jasmine retorted.

In the midst of their argument, a pair of blinding headlights suddenly shone in their direction. Jasmine turned her head and saw an out-of-control car speeding straight toward them.

In a split second, Jasmine saw Caesar dash forward and yank Sabrina into his arms.

Meanwhile, she was knocked to the ground with a deafening thud.

Chapter 5

Jasmine lay in a pool of blood as her vision blurred. She watched Caesar carefully shielding Sabrina in his arms, and countless memories flashed through her mind.

The first time they met, his gaze behind those gold-rimmed glasses was as cold as ice.

When they clashed, she poured salt into his coffee, yet he drank it without flinching.

The first time he pinned her to the desk, she bit his shoulder so hard that it bled.

Afterward, she fell deeper in love with him—enough to decorate the entire villa for his birthday—only to be greeted by rumors of him and Sabrina.

There was another time—she walked alone for three miles to visit her mother's grave. Her eyes were reddened from crying, and her high heels rubbed her feet until they blistered and bled.

It was Caesar who found her. He silently removed her bloodied heels, carried them in one hand, and carried her on his back the whole way home.

Back then, her tears soaked his neck, and she had a foolish thought—if life could always be like this, it wouldn't be so bad.

After her mother passed away, someone was finally walking her home again.

But in the end, all those memories were overwritten by the scene of Caesar holding Sabrina protectively in his arms.

…

The sound of medical equipment brought Jasmine back to reality. She slowly opened her eyes and heard Sabrina's tearful voice from the adjacent room.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have argued with Jasmine in the middle of the road… I just wanted to drive her home…

"Caesar, why did you save me first? If she finds out, she'll be upset…"

Caesar reached out to wipe away Sabrina's tears. "It's not your fault."

His ever-gentle voice was a tone Jasmine had never heard from him.

"If I had to do it over, I'd still save you first," he said softly. "You have a frail constitution. You can't afford to get hurt."

After a pause, he added, "Besides, she has no reason to be upset."

Jasmine suddenly felt her chest clench as if an invisible hand were twisting her heart.

Right, who was she to Caesar? What right did she have to be upset? He had the freedom to choose whom he wanted to save.

"Don't cry anymore. Go home and rest well," Caesar coaxed gently.

He comforted Sabrina softly for a long while before she finally left.

When the hospital room door closed, Caesar turned back, only to find Jasmine had been awake the entire time and was quietly watching him.

There wasn't the slightest hint of guilt on his face as he said indifferently, "It's just superficial injuries. However, knowing you care about appearance and dislike pain, I've brought in the best medical team. There won't be any scars."

If this were before, Jasmine would've thrown a fit and questioned why he saved Sabrina first.

But now, she only said calmly, "Got it. Thanks. I'll repay the medical expenses in half a month."

Caesar frowned slightly, seeming somewhat surprised that she would thank him. Besides, why did Jasmine constantly mention "half a month"?

However, he didn't ask further, assuming it was just her being moody and sarcastic.

…

In the days that followed, Caesar, in a rare moment of kindness, postponed all work to stay at the hospital with Jasmine.

Strangely, Jasmine no longer clung to him or made scenes like she used to.

She quietly accepted treatment.

She ate, she slept. But the silence pressed down on him like a heavy fog.

"Still mad?" he finally asked while accompanying her for an IV drip.

"What would I be mad about?" Jasmine retorted.

"Mad that I didn't save you that day."

He paused before adding, "It's understandable why I saved Sabrina. She and I—"

Before Caesar could finish his sentence, a sudden commotion erupted in the hallway.

"What's going on?" a young nurse asked as she hurried past.

"I heard the Booth Group CEO's stepdaughter fell down the stairs," another nurse whispered. "She just came into the ER. Mr. Booth was so anxious that all color drained from his face. He even carried her in himself.

"Honestly speaking, being that good to a stepdaughter? It's rare to see such a decent man these days…"

Jasmine lifted her gaze to Caesar. Sure enough, she saw his expression shift ever so slightly.

"I have something to take care of." He stood up, his movements noticeably more hurried than usual.

"I'll come check on you later," he said before dashing away.

Jasmine watched his back as he hurried away. There was no need to guess where he was going.

She closed her eyes, feeling utterly exhausted, as though her heart had been hollowed out.