bChapter /bb10 /b

Jade snapped out of her panic bat /bYana’s voice, her words spilling out fast. “Mrs. I

Lambert, it’s not what you think.”

bShe /bstammered, “bShe /bbattacked /bme first; I was just defending bmyself/b”

She knew Yana held bSkr /bin high regard for saving Carlos.

Remembering her father’s warningsb, /bJade backed off, her earlier boldness bgone/b, breced /bby a cautious, almost timid act.

But ming Skr only stoked bYana’s /banger.

“I’ve got eyes. Yana said, her voice sharp. “bI /bsaw what went down.”

She fixed Jade with a cold re. “Someone with yourck of skill and morals is a danger to this hospital. As of today, you’re done bat /bChestbee.”

“And Jaxon,b” /bshe went on, her tone firm, “he’s not fit to lead if he’s covering for you. Both of you–out.”

Jade grabbed bYana’s /barm, desperate, “Mrs. Lambert, no! She’s lying about me!”

Yana shook her off her eyes icy.

“bWant /bme to list every mistake you’ve made?” she asked. “Keep pushing, and you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

Jade’s vision blurred, her legs buckling as she sank to the floor, her world falling apart

“Get her out,” bYana /bordered, her voice steady

Two bodyguards stepped up, grabbing Jade by the arms and pulling her toward the hospital ext.

“Ms. Lambert, help me!” Jade cried, her eyes pleading with Freya, clinging to herst hope. “I did this for you!”

Freya looked away, meeting bYana’s /bsharp gaze with forced calm. “Mom, I’ve got nothing to do with her,”

Yana nodded. “Good, Stay away from people like that.”

Freya lowered her head, ying obedient. “Yes, Mon

Vana turned bto /bSkr, her face sohening with worry “Skr, don’t be scared. Mo… I am here; no one’s going to hurt you.”

Skr paused, her guarded look easing just a bit at Yana’s words.

With the Stones, no one had ever taken her side, always quick tobel her the problem..

The punishments had left marks–faint, but still there, carved into her skin.

Yana noticed Skr’s quiet and gently touched her shoulder. “Skr?”

bSkr /bblinked, pulling herself back. “Sorry,” she said quietly.

“It’s okay.” Yaha said, giving a warm smile.

bSkr /bmet Yana’s kind eyes, and for the first time in years, her cold heart stirredb, /bba /bfaint pulse breaking through the ice

“Mrs. Lambert, thank you,” she said sincerely, then turned and hurried off.

She needed to get out before that brief warmth pulled her into another trap.

b1/2 /b

She needed to get out before that brief warmth pulled her into another trap.

Freya’s expression tightened as she watched Yana defend Skr without even hearing her side.

She knew her ce was shaky–crossing the Lamberts now would be a mistake.

“Mom, let’s head back,” she said, linking her arm with Yana’s as they returned to the ward.

After a short visit, Freya left, her mind racing.

Yana told Carlos about the incident, her voice urgent. “We have to bring Skr home soon. I can’t bkeep /bwatching her struggle out there, beyond our

reach.”

The next day, Skr showed up at the hospital as usual to check on Louis.

After spending some time in his room, her phone rang. It was Yana.

“Skr,e fast,” Yana’s voice shook, thick with tears. “It’s your father. It’s really bad now.”

Skr’s heart tightened. “I’ming.”

She kept her voice steady, calming Yana as her feet raced through the hospital halls in minutes, she reached Carlos’s room.

Carlos slumped against the bed, his face pale. The trash can beside him was stuffed with blood–soaked tissues, some scattered on the floor.

A smear of dried blood clung to his lips.