Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 433

Chapter 433: Reality Check (2)
“… if you are sure,” Cole said to her with his brows furrowed. “However, if you are still feeling sick then you can wait for my shift to get over. I can drop you off?”

“There is no need,” Ari shook her head as she crumpled the tissue and threw it in the trash can. “Like I said, I am feeling alright.” She raised her head and turned to look at Cole, “I will be fine.” There was no way she was going to collapse in front of anyone again.

She couldn’t take the risk anymore —if she lost control here then…

Ari didn’t even wish to think about it. As her mother said, no one wanted a flawed product and it was only when her flaws were perfectly hidden that would she be accepted by others.

‘No matter how foolish you..you cannot be besotted enough to think that anyone will accept you just the way you are?’ Ari gritted her teeth as the words that her mother had said to her years ago rang in her head like a poisonous melody.

“Alright,” Cole nodded when he saw that Ari was especially reluctant about the thought of someone escorting her to her home. “Then I will see you tomorrow, Doctor Harlow.”

“I am afraid that you will,” because she had no intention of losing herself or this opportunity that she had gotten through sheer luck and hard work.

Ari flashed a polite smile at Cole before turning around and walking out of the room. Her expression however swiftly changed as she stepped out —why now? Why of all times?

She used to have hallucinations in the past as well, there were times when she saw things that never existed or sometimes Ari would have dreams of places where she had never been. Her mother told her that she was going crazy and locked her up in the room.

Imagining and seeing things that were never there was something that had happened to Ari almost all the time but this was her first time —where she saw something so vividly. It was as if it was real.

‘Was it really something that I imagined?’ Ari thought as she stepped out of the hospital. However, no matter what she thought—the truth remained as it was supposed to be —there was nothing. If there was then the surveillance cameras would have recorded it.

“Doctor Harlow?”

Ari paused in her stride with an annoyed expression. She lowered her hand and twisted her head to look behind her.

“Miss Ashford,” she greeted the woman warily while eyeing her surroundings, fortunately, it was crowded.

“Oh please don’t look at me like that,” said Penelope with a small smile on her face. Her expression was sweeter than ever as she said, “I was panicking the last time as I just could not find a perfect heart that would suit my body which is why I did something so strange.”

“It was a crime,” corrected Ari with a stoic and calm expression. She closed her eyes and released a sigh before commenting, “But you can call it whatever you want.”

Penelope’s smile stiffened ever so slightly as she looked at Ari who was looking back at her with a calm look on her face.

“Anyways, what I wanted to say was that I am sorry. If you think it is not sincere enough then I can treat you to dinner?” Penelope said to Ari who raised a brow in question. She suddenly had a feeling that there was something wrong with Penelope.

This woman planned to kill her and take her heart for herself. It was simply beyond her understanding why Penelope was suddenly so nice to her.

Did she think she could cross everything out by offering an apology and dinner? Maybe she did, thought Ari to herself. After all, the rich had a different thought process than her and the rest.

“What is it that you want?” Ari asked. Her voice was unusually stern as she looked down at the woman in front of her. “You can be straightforward with me, you know? There is no way you can clear the past which has already been written.”

Penelope stared at her as if she couldn’t believe that Ari had refused the opportunity to shake hands with her when she was the one who had tried reaching out to her.

“Ah, seriously,” her expression turned slightly annoyed. “This is why I don’t like you,” Penelope raised her gaze and glared at Ari sideways. “You act as if you are way too smart.”

“I don’t think I need to act,” Ari remarked cordially before saying, “If this is what you wanted to say then I think…”

On seeing that Ari was trying to shake her off, Penelope’s face turned malevolent as she questioned, “Did you take the pill?”

“What?” At first, Ari did not understand what the woman was saying but that was until Penelope let out a derisive snort and said to her, “There is no need for you to act as if you do not understand what I am saying, you know? What else can your position be other than a whore in front of Nico?”

She shook her head and then said to Ari, “It is not that I want to be the bearer of cruel news but it seems like you are living in the lala land and as I cannot watch you acting so besotted… I think I should tell you the truth. In case Nico didn’t tell you.”

“Surely he must have not told you this but…” Penelope stepped forward and said to Ari, “He and I were engaged to marry when we were kids, you see? I don’t mind him sleeping with women but they are clear on their position…you on the other hand,” she raised a shoulder and arched a brow at Ari proactively.

“You seem to be one of those fools who will foolishly start dreaming that she can marry Nico just because he slept with her..which is why I am here to give you a reality check.”