Chapter 5

Julian's smug expression froze:

"What ashes?"

The nurse shot him a puzzled look:

"Ava's mother passed away two days ago because she couldn't afford the medical bills."

Julian was speechless, finding his voice only after a long moment:

"How could this be? Ava, didn't you use the money I gave you for your mom?"

I lowered my head to sign the ash claim form.

Seraphina frowned, then suddenly spoke:

"Julian, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Could you ask the doctor to check me? Ava and I are both women, maybe I can comfort her properly."

Julian hesitated, then finally called out to me:

"Ava, stay right here! Wait for me to get the doctor, then we can talk properly!"

The moment he left, Seraphina's eyes filled with malice. She swept her hand across the table, knocking over my mother's urn.

She whispered mockingly:

"Ava, you really are a persistent ghost. It was me who deliberately told HR not to give you the funds. Your mom died because you didn't know your place. And Julian said he's going to give your old position to me. If you're smart, you'll get lost!"

My pupils constricted.

So, my mom's death was her doing!

Filled with fury, I didn't hesitate to slap her.

She immediately crumpled to the floor, shrinking into the corner, groaning in pain, begging repeatedly:

"Ava, don't kill me! I'm so sad your mom died too!"

Bystanders, unaware of the full story, all assumed I was just venting my anger.

They had all seen Julian and Seraphina's public announcement video, and now they were indignant:

"Her own mom died, and she's taking it out on another patient? Where's security? Get this person out of the hospital!"

"Don't you know that's Mr. Sterling's fiancée? The Sterling family is loaded; you've messed with the wrong person! It's not too late to get on your knees and apologize now!"

My face was numb as I knelt to pick up the shattered ceramic pieces of my mother's urn.

The sharp edges of the fragments cut my fingers, leaving streaks of blood, but I felt no pain.

As everyone condemned me, Julian finally rushed back with the doctor.

They spoke over each other, trying to take credit:

"Julian, your fiancée is being bullied! Aren't you going to stand up for her?"

Seraphina, looking smug, weakly cried out:

"Julian, I'm fine. Ava didn't mean to hit me. I was just kindly helping Ava with her mom's ashes, and I accidentally dropped them. She didn't intentionally push me or slap me. I'm okay; I probably didn't break anything."

Julian took three steps and was suddenly in front of me.

I didn't even lift my head, just gathered my mother's ashes.

He'd probably just say a few words to me, nothing more.

But to my surprise, the next second, he knelt directly in front of me, carefully cradling my hands and asking:

"Does it hurt?"