She wondered why Dylan Eve had come to the hospital at this time.
“Why did I come? I came because I wanted to see you.”
Even if it was a lie or just empty words, Lola found it pleasant to hear, and she couldn’t help but break into a beaming smile. Seeing her smile made Dylan’s earlier unpleasant feelings melt away in an instant.
“I heard a suspect was admitted to your hospital’s emergency room.”
As Dylan spoke while walking with Lola down the hallway, she widened her eyes in surprise.
“How did you know that, Dear?”
“It’s not important how I know.”
Dylan stopped abruptly, facing her, and grabbed Lola’s shoulders, asking,
“Is it a dangerous patient?”
“He’s a patient who attempted suicide while undergoing a prosecutor’s investigation, but he’s still in a coma.”
“Everything about you is mine, so don’t get hurt. If you do, I won’t forgive you.”
“Everything about you is mine too, so you can’t get hurt either.”
Seeing Lola respond immediately, unlike usual, made Dylan’s eyebrows twitch.
“Lola Dax, you’re not backing down anymore. Since when did you start talking back like this?”
“You told me to say everything I want, right? You said that.”
As Lola shot back once more, Dylan gently pinched her cheek.
“Don’t mess around. Still, listen to me.”
When Lola pouted her lips in annoyance, Dylan couldn’t help but hug her and repeated the same words.
“Be careful not to get hurt.”
“Yes, dear.”
As they gazed at each other with tender eyes, they were completely unaware that someone was watching them and had fled with a dazed expression.
That someone was Nina, the daughter of Professor Xavier, who had come looking for Lola.
*****
Standing in the hospital hallway, Nina’s legs were still trembling, and her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.
She had no idea what state of mind had led her to rush here.
‘Did I just see something that wasn’t there?’
As Nina thought this, she shook her head.
Why were her father’s attending physician and that Dylan hugging each other?
Even though she had a rough idea of their relationship, Nina couldn’t believe it.
Or perhaps she strongly wanted to deny that what she saw was the truth.
Her father had a good reputation for his attending physician, and he was always grateful to her.
Although she wasn’t particularly close to Lola Dax, she had a good impression of her. She seemed like a nice person, warm-hearted, and sometimes felt like an older sister.
But suddenly, an indescribable sense of betrayal surged within her.
Why had they hidden it?
Why had they pretended to be nothing?
Feeling as if she had suddenly become a fool, Nina’s muscles stiffened, and her whole body trembled.
“Oh my! Nina, what’s wrong with your face?”
Nina didn’t even notice when a woman had come close to her, so great was the shock she had received.
Slowly lifting her head, Nina looked at the elegantly dressed woman with unfocused eyes.
‘This woman also came to see my dad often.’
Since the woman seemed to know the friends who frequently visited her father, Nina asked directly.
“Sister, what’s the relationship between my dad’s attending physician and that man? What are they to each other?”
Nia, though she understood Nina’s question, pretended to be puzzled and tilted her head.
“That man?”
“His name is Dy, Dylan….”
“Oh. You mean Dylan Eve.”
“Yes. What’s the relationship between Dylan Eve and Lola Dax?”
Nia knew very well, unlike others.
Having seen Nina blush shyly at the sight of Dylan Eve several times, she had long since noticed that Nina had feelings for him.
Seeing Nina like that, Nia couldn’t help but smirk inwardly, but she was determined not to miss this good opportunity.
If she could make Lola Dax unhappy, and in turn see Dylan Eve crumble because of it, she was already resolute in her mind to do whatever it took.
“Oh my! You really didn’t know, did you?”
Nia exaggeratedly exclaimed, covering her mouth in mock surprise.
“Didn’t anyone tell you? Surely Lola Dax didn’t keep it from you? That’s just too much.”
“…….”
“But Nina, did you really not know?”
Nia repeated the same question deliberately, amplifying Nina’s hatred towards Lola.
“I really don’t understand either. What kind of secret is it that they’re trying so hard to hide?”
While speaking, Nia carefully observed Nina’s changing expressions, not wanting to miss even a single one.
“I didn’t want to say this, but Lola Dax has a bit of a reputation. She pretends to be all nice on the outside, but she’s not really like that. So, it’s better to be cautious. I’m worried. Your father has been hospitalized for quite a while; I wonder if he’s getting proper treatment.”
Nia knew very well that Nina was short-sighted and naive.
Having long since discarded her conscience, Nia didn’t hesitate to lie.
“By the way, how are you going to deal with being upset, Nina?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Nina began to sob. Nia embraced her, inwardly pleased with herself.
