STEPHAN
"Don't ever think of taking me to that stupid sister of yours again!" Jasmine yelled the moment we stepped inside the mansion.
She stormed ahead, yanking off her backward cap and tossing her bag onto the nearest chair with so much force it slid across the marble floor.
Her shoulders were rigid, cheeks flushed with anger, every step sharp and furious. I could see the anger emitting from her body the way her hands clenched at her sides, the way her jaw tightened like she was biting back more words.
I stopped in the foyer, watching her as my chest felt tight. No matter how many times she hurt me, no matter how many times she pushed me away, the moment I looked at her, this weak, helpless feeling always crept in. There was always that invisible bond pulling me toward her, even when my mind screamed to stay away.
"Why?" I asked, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was racing.
"She is so annoying and isn't even doing her job well. She is so rude!" Jasmine snapped, spinning toward me. Her eyes flashed with frustration, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Hmmm… well, you both suddenly became enemies, so I really can't tell what was going on between the two of you," I replied, my tone calm but my mind spinning and she paused.
I knew she would as I expected that reaction from her. She has acted so weird these days. I understood she was trying to act nice, or maybe she was really trying to change. But the Jasmine I knew from before was so different from the Jasmine now. Not only did she not recall that the two of us were never on good terms, but she also couldn't remember the very good and very loving moments she had with Henry, moments she might regret if her old self ever switched back.
The whole thing I never expected was how she would clash with my sister. The two of them used to be best friends. And her dressing… I didn't even want to start with that one. Seeing her in my oversized hoodie and joggers made something possessive stir in my chest.
"Are you saying the two of us were best friends before?" she asked, giving me a curious gaze. Her head tilted slightly, eyes searching mine like she was trying to read every hidden thought.
"Of course. Everything went down the line the moment you changed and suddenly fell for Henry. Or more like you got married to me just to be closer to Henry," I said.
She stared at me like she was trying to see if I was lying. Her brows furrowed, lips parting slightly in surprise.
"Hmm…" she murmured.
Then suddenly her stomach growled loudly. The rich aroma of dinner from the kitchen hit our noses at the same time as warm butter, crispy bacon, and fresh waffles.
The girl who had been thinking deeply switched to full foodie mode in a heartbeat. Before I could even calm her down, she was already bouncing toward the dining room, her steps light and eager.
"I am hungry, Elena!" she called out, dropping into her chair and instantly pulling a plate toward herself.
She started dishing food like she hadn't eaten in days piling golden waffles high with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs flecked with chives, and a handful of mixed berries.
She attacked it with zero grace, tearing into a waffle with her fingers, syrup dripping down her wrist, shoving half a strip of bacon in her mouth at once, and moaning around a mouthful of eggs like it was the best thing she had ever tasted.
I could only stare at her weakly, a strange mix of amusement and confusion twisting in my chest. This wasn't the Jasmine I knew the one who ate with perfect poise, never a crumb out of place.
She was about to spoon the first bite when Elena stopped her as she dropped the plate of food she had just brought.
"What are you doing? You don't usually go into the dining room without cleaning yourself up first."
She paused for a second, staring at Elena as she had just spoken a foreign language. Her eyes widened, head tilting in genuine confusion.
"Excuse me? I… Well, I am famished and can't wait. Besides…" She stared at Elena, then shrugged.
"It seems I have lost my memory after the so-called accident that I had. And currently, I prefer being the new me. I would like you all to stop trying to correct me on things. So please, whatever I do now, I wouldn't like you guys to disrupt it. Just let me be."
Elena swallowed, staring at her in shock, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
She was about to speak when I stopped her. "Let her be," I whispered, my voice low.
Then I moved toward the stairs, about to climb them when I saw Jaden walking down. The moment he saw me, he stopped in shock, shoulders hunching.
"D… D… Dad."
"What are you doing downstairs?" I yelled once, frustration and worry mixing in my tone. But another voice was louder than mine.
"Ma'am!!" Elena yelled, rushing toward her.
At once I rushed back. "What happened?" I asked, heart pounding.
Then I saw the way she had suddenly turned pale, completely different from a few seconds ago. Her face had gone ghostly white, her lips trembling, one hand clutching her throat.
"What is wrong??" I asked, fear gripping my chest. Jasmine stared at me, eyes wide with panic. "I d… do… don't know."
She struggled to speak. Suddenly Jasmine grabbed her neck, coughing violently.
"Wh… why… can't I have peace in this…" She began coughing harder.
Just then a glass cup fell from her hands and shattered on the floor, juice spilling everywhere.
"What is wrong with me…" she struggled to say, voice raspy.
I rushed toward her at once, dropping to my knees beside her chair. "What is wrong? What did you just eat? Why are you suddenly reacting to it?" I asked in fear, my hands shaking as I touched her face.
The last time I felt this way was during her accident. The memory hit me like a punch, her lying unconscious, machines beeping.
"I… I…" she struggled, but she couldn't breathe properly, chest heaving.
Then I turned to Elena, voice harsh with panic. "What happened here!"
"She… she drank the apple juice Jaden left."
My hands trembled at once. I didn't have time to talk much. Fear and fury surged through me. I picked her up from the chair in one swift motion, cradling her against my chest as I stormed outside.
"Where are you going?" Elena asked worriedly behind me, but I was too furious to even look her way and give her a piece of my mind.
She knew how much Jasmine had always wanted to leave, yet she made the mistake of letting her take that juice.
I bit my lip so hard it almost bled. "To the freaking hospital, of course!"
My heart pounded as I carried her to the car, her body limp and trembling in my arms. I held her tighter, whispering against her hair, "Hold on… just hold on."