Chapter 12: How is that hard to understand?
Arwen hadn’t expected Delyth to be so vicious. Her pupils dilated as she tried to grab onto something to keep herself from falling, but there was nothing around. “Ah–” she screamed in fear, while bracing herself for the pain that would be coming next.
But just in time, a hand reached out and caught her. Arwen sighed in relief, closing her eyes, and taking in a deep breath. The fall had been so close that, even though she didn’t hit the floor, her heart felt the dread of the potential pain.
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“Are you fine?” A concerned voice asked, and Arwen looked up to find Dr. Clark, worry etched on his brows.
Arwen nodded to him. “I am fine. Thank you, Dr. Clark,” she said as the doctor helped her back into the chair. Once she was settled, he turned to Delyth, his gaze cold and piercing.
“Could you tell me what you were trying to do, miss?” His voice was even colder than his eyes, making Delyth flinch.
Swallowing her fear visibly, she looked at him before darting her eyes towards Arwen. Her brows furrowed in faux concern as she apologetically explained, “I–I am really sorry, Arwen. I didn’t mean to push you. You were struggling, so I just wanted to help you. You believe me, right?”
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Arwen didn’t respond but her gaze didn’t hide the condemnation. She might not know Delyth very well, but she surely knows that the woman was not as innocent and sweet as she always pretends to be.
“A help that’s unasked doesn’t benefit anyone. At your age, shouldn’t you know this already, miss?” Jason didn’t know who the woman was but he had clearly seen her deliberately trying to harm Arwen.
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Delyth felt cornered. She just wanted to teach Arwen a lesson; she didn’t expect someone to appear and save her. “I truly didn’t mean to harm. Arwen is my friend —why would I deliberately do that to her?” Jason looked handsome, and Delyth didn’t want him to misunderstand her.
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“That’s for you to figure out if you don’t know.” Jason replied without much interest and then turned back to Arwen. “Shouldn’t you be resting, Ms. Quinn?”
“I was a little bored in the room, so I asked Sister Ambrosina to get me downstairs. She had an emergency suddenly, so I was just getting back on my own,” Arwen explained.
Jason nodded and then walked around to hold her wheelchair. “It’s fine. I will take you back then. I had come for you anyway.” Luckily, he was there. Otherwise, he didn’t know what kind of disaster might have occurred if something had happened to her.
Arwen smiled and then nodded gently. They both ignored Delyth as if she weren’t even there. Delyth felt embarrassed. She turned to leave as well, but then she caught sight of Ryan coming out of the doctor’s office.
Instead of turning away, she rushed towards Arwen, grabbing onto her arms. Arwen had barely looked up to ask what was wrong, but before she could even utter a syllable, Delyth fell backward on her own.
While Arwen frowned, not understanding what she was up to, Jason rolled his eyes at her act. He neither stepped forward to help the woman, nor he cared to figure out her plan. He just stood behind Arwen, waiting to wheel her inside the elevator.
Delyth had expected Ryan to see Arwen push her, which he did, but she hadn’t expected Jason to ignore her completely. So, she fell hard on the butt, wincing in pain.
Ryan immediately came forward to help her, noting Arwen’s presence as well. “Delyth, are you fine?” he asked but his gaze darted to Arwen, glaring as if she were to blame.
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Arwen was about to defend herself, but before she could Delyth spoke in a tone that made her appear frail and feeble. “Ryan, it’s not Arwen’s fault. Don’t blame her. I just wanted to explain to her but she was in a hurry, I guess. She didn’t mean to do it to me.”
But her words only served to enrage Ryan further. Looking at Arwen, he said, “Arwen! How could you be so vicious? Delyth is already weak and in hospital, yet you are trying to harm her?”
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Arwen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Really? After not seeing her for half a month since the accident, this was what he had to say? Blaming her for something she hadn’t done?
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“Ryan, can you see it clearly?” she huffed, no longer able to take his unfounded accusations. “I know you care for her, but could you not be blind for once? How am I to be blamed for this?”
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Ryan was taken aback for a moment. Arwen had never spoken to him like this before. “If not you, then who? I saw you push her. Do you want to lie and say you didn’t?”
Arwen’s gaze turned sharp as she repeated his accusation. “I pushed her? Do you really think I am capable of pushing her so hard, Ryan? Can’t you see my condition?”
Ryan had noted her sitting in the wheelchair. He wanted to ask her about it, but after what he believed he had seen, he couldn’t just let it go.
“Your condition has nothing to do with Delyth. Don’t blame her for it. She was in the accident too and had suffered injuries. Unlike you, her injuries are-internal. Can you understand her pain? She —” Before he could say more, Jason had enough of the absurd show.
Interrupting him, Jason said, “Ms. Quinn meant that she is not in the position to push anyone. She is sitting in a wheelchair. She doesn’t have strength to push someone, especially not with enough force to knock them over. How is that hard to understand?”
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Ryan frowned and asked, “Who are you?”
Jason didn’t want to respond but, to make things clear, he said, “I am her doctor. I have been treating her since the accident I know her condition, which is why I am telling you it’s impossible for Ms. Quinn to push someone with such force.”
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Ryan’s brows furrowed and he looked down at Delyth, who was still weak in his arms. “Delyth, what’s happening?”
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