Chapter 99
Chapter 99
“Daisy,” Hazel called excitedly as she stepped into the ward.
“You can go to school now,” she announced with enthusiasm. “The nurses just told me the hospital
management has a new school.” Hazel had overheard excited conversations about it when she
returned from work. A school within the hospital was a welcomed development, especially given
Cleveland’s high percentage of inpatient children.
Daisy, however, only nodded and continued playing with her dolls. Hazel was taken aback by her
uninterested demeanor. She had expected Daisy to be thrilled, to inquire about the details eagerly.
Hazel had imagined her daughter’s eyes lighting up with joy as she rushed to share the news with her.
Instead, Daisy’s reaction was unexpectedly’cool, leaving Hazel puzzled by the subdued response.
Unbeknownst to Hazel, her daughter was already well–acquainted with the news of the school. In fact,
it was Daisy who had actively participated to the project, she had known from onset. She was also
involved in the renovations, from selecting what paint colors to be used to adding her handprints to the
mural. So the news about the school wasn’t a surprise to Daisy; it carried her creation, her artistic touch
adorned various corners of the space. Hazel, however, remained blissfully unaware of Daisy’s
involvement.
Hazel studied her daughter, curiosity etched on her face as she pondered the peculiar expression on
Daisy’s face. Despite Hazel’s enthusiastic announcement about the new school, Daisy’s response was
noticeably bored. A wave of relief washed over Hazel, however, as she noted that Daisy hadn’t brought
up Ethan in recent times. Even Liam, who tended to express his discontent more openly, appeared
content and hadn’t been whining as usual. Little did Hazel know that her children were rendezvousing
and meeting with Ethan himself, which explained their satisfaction and apparent lack of yearning for his
presence.
“Hey,” Jasmine greeted, a soft laugh escaping her l*ps as she scooped up the puppy. The two of them
had seamlessly settled. into a daily routine, commuting to work together and returning home in each
other’s company. With Axel consistently by her side, Jasmine found herself less frightened and jumpy
than before. His reassuring presence had become a constant in
her life.
One morning, to Jasmine’s surprise, she discovered the adorable puppy securely strapped into the car
seat as she settled into. the car. “You’re taking him to work?” she asked, giving the puppy affectionate
scratches.
“Yes,” Axel replied with a casual smile.
“How come?” she inquired, a playful chuckle accompanying her question.
Axel merely shrugged lightly.
That day marked the beginning of a routine. The children at the hospital were excited meeting the
puppy. And Ethan insisted that Axel bring the puppy along every day.
Soon enough, it became a familiar sight–every morning, Axel, Jasmine, and the puppy embarked on
their journey to work, returning home together at night. The trio settled into a comfortable routine.
Driving together everyday they would have small talks and had short stops at shops sometimes.
That morning, as Jasmine was being dropped off, they encountered Nathan at the entrance of the
company. He had observed this routine for some time–the consistent presence of the same man
dropping her off and picking her up.
“You always go home with someone,” Nathan observed, directing his attention to Jasmine.
“Ohh, that’s my neighbor, Axel,” she explained casually, absorbed in her activities, oblivious to the
discomfort that flickered across Nathan’s face.
Later that evening, when Axel arrived to pick her up, Nathan found himself right next to her. Axel
stepped out of the car and approached where she stood.
“Are you done?” he asked calmly.
“Yes,” she replied, giving him a warm smile. Unbeknownst to her, Nathan stood there, still lingering,
throwing questioning looks in Axel’s direction. The unspoken tension hung in the air, creating an
undercurrent of curiosity and unease.
“Ermm, Axel, this is Nathan. Nathan, Axel,” Jasmine introduced the two men. Axel acknowledged the
introduction with a nod; he was familiar with Nathan, having crossed paths briefly before. However,
Nathan’s gaze lingered on Axel, a silent intensity marking his scrutiny.
“Well, goodnight.” Jasmine finally said, breaking the momentary silence. She then walked with Axel
toward the car, leaving Nathan standing there, still fixated on Axel.
As they made their way to the car, Axel asked quietly, his watchful eyes glancing back at Nathan,
“Would you be stopping by the store?”
“No,” she replied lightly, a sense of ease evident in her demeanor. Jasmine had adapted well to Axel’s
presence. Despite his quiet and reserved nature, she wasn’t anxious being around Axel like she was
with other males. He made her feel safe.
In the dim evening light, they embarked on their journey home. The car’s engine hummed softly as
Axel navigated the streets, and Jasmine found solace in the familiar companionship. Meanwhile,
Nathan stood there watching as they drove off.
“It seems you’re quite close with your employer,” Axel observed, noting the dynamic between Jasmine
and Nathan. Their relationship transcended the typical boundaries of boss and employee, revealing a
closeness that piqued Axel’s curiosity.
“Oh, yes, I guess,” she acknowledged. “I’ve known him for some years now. I suppose it’s because of
how we met,” she added, and with that, they arrived home. Jasmine tenderly brought out the sleeping
puppy, exhausted from a day of play with the kids at the hospital.
Axel’s intrigue deepened. “How did you meet?” he inquired.
“College, Jasmine replied with a single word, leaving a pause that lingered in the air. Axel found himself
momentarily puzzled by this revelation. College? That couldn’t be right.
“College?” he questioned, seeking clarification.
“Yes,” Jasmine affirmed. “He was a year ahead of me at college,’ she explained, accompanied by a
smile. “His late wife as well. Although I don’t really remember her,” she added, trailing off with a sigh.
“You see, I suck at remembering some things,” she admitted with a small smile.
Axel’s face furrowed in thought. Something didn’t add up. He had conducted some background
research on Nathan, as Ethan had requested. Axel watched Jasmine walk away, contemplating the
inconsistencies. “You coming?” she asked, already standing in the elevator waiting for him.
As Axel stepped into the elevator with her, his mind raced. She wasn’t lying to him. Her bright eyes met
his, genuine and open. She truly believed she had met Nathan while at school? Axel blinked, then
looked away. Slowly, he acknowledged that he needed to delve deeper into Nathan’s background.
Perhaps he had missed crucial details, either that or that man Nathan was lying.
“You’re here early,” Nathan noted when he saw Axel the next day. Axel had arrived earlier than usual, a
deliberate deviation. from his routine of picking up Jasmine.
“I came to talk with you,” Axel stated.
“With me? About?” Nathan asked, visibly surprised.
“I don’t believe we have anything to talk about,” Nathan dismissed, his puzzlement evident at Axel’s
unexpected visit.
“It’s about Jasmine,” Axel clarified, his tone serious.
Nathan’s eyes narrowed a little. “What about her?” he asked. NôvelDrama.Org content.
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“She’s been watched, Axel revealed, a gravity underscoring his words. Despite being around her, Axel
could sense an unexplained presence, a watchful gaze lingering most times when they pulled into the
driveway of their apartment.
“Is it you?” Axel asked, his expression stern.
“What?” Nathan replied, taken aback.
“Why would I do that?” Nathan countered.
“I wouldn’t put it past you, considering the fact you’ve been manipulating and lying to her,” Axel replied,
his gaze unwavering. Nathan’s eyes widened.
“What are you talking about?” Nathan demanded in a low, defensive tone.