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.