“Why the outcry?” The question came from Davey, his eyes sparking with an icy warning, sending a wave of intimidation crashing over Jimena.


    “I…” Jimena’s words faltered, trapped in her throat.


    Davey’s gaze followed Jimena’s,nding on a solitary drop of blood on Casey’s finger.


    “Did you harm her?” His voice, thoughced with worry, demanded an exnation.


    “It was because…” Jimena barely began before a sudden movement interrupted.


    Smack! Davey’s hand connected sharply with Jimena’s face.


    “Ah!” Jimena was sent tumbling to the floor with a startled cry.


    ‘s BunnyBookery


    The p resounded sharply, leaving its mark.


    Jimena cradled her face, now swelling and partially numb, as a trickle of blood edged its way from her mouth, a stark testament to Davey’s harshness.


    “Jimena… Davey’s voice softened, adopting a calm and gentle tone, his lips curving in a semnce of a smile.


    Yet, the warmth of his voice belied the coldness of his words, sending a chill through Jimena.


    “This is the first time,” he stated, a simple phrase heavy with ominous implication.


    Jimena felt as though she had been seared by hot iron.


    The memory of Davey uttering these words before lingered with haunting rity.


    The individual he had warned previously vanished after a second misstep, only to be discoveredter by fishermen, a nameless victim of the sharks.


    The chatter among the bodyguards by the door had revealed the fate of the unnamed.


    Swollen and disfigured from the water, yet still recognizable.


    In a silent act ofpassion, the bodyguards had managed to secure half of the remains, ensuring a respectful burial.


    Davey’s words, thus, carried a grave finality, a deration that there would be no tolerance for a repeat offense.


    Ovee with fear, Jimena stifled any words she might have had, her gaze fixed away from Davey.


    “Get out!” Davey’smand was terse.


    Scrambling to her feet, Jimena stumbled in her haste to leave, her exit clumsy yet quick.


    Despite her disarray, she made sure to close the door behind her, a small act of propriety in the midst of her turmoil.


    As the door shut behind her, Jimena caught a glimpse of Davey on his knees, cradling Casey’s delicate fingers as though they were treasures, tenderly removing the dried blood.


    His expression, a blend of gentleness and sorrow, sent a shiver down Jimena’s spine.


    With her heart racing, Jimena made her way downstairs, her mind racing over the events that had just unfolded.


    During the needle removal, Jimena had noticed Casey’s fingers twitch, a sign of life from someone who had been in aa since a tragic fall five years prior.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Davey had exhausted every possible remedy with no sess, eventually turning to acupuncture under Jimena’s hand.


    Despite theck of progress over the years, Davey’s hope never waned.


    It seemed Casey was on the brink of awakening.


    Yet, Jimena hesitated to raise her hopes or speak of it to Davey.


    The fear of what might happen if this were merely a fleeting moment of consciousness was too great.


    The fate of the man who had erred twice and met his end in the jaws of sharks lingered in her mind as a grim warning.


    Meanwhile, at the office, Nicole sat at her desk, closely watched by the observers Jarrod had sent over.


    As she reached for her coffee, a slip of her hand sent it sprawling across her white suit, leaving a conspicuous stain.


    Muttering a curse, Nicole stood up and headed for thepany’s lounge, hoping to find some way to clean the mess.