Fati sprang up, jumping from his lap and standing unsteadily for a moment before regaining her balance. She stood with sudden firmness and said in a sharp voice that shook the room,
- Don't touch me
She rubbed her hair nervously, and at that moment, the past flashed before Jaguar's eyes. He bitterly remembered pulling that same hair on that fateful night; he remembered her cries of "You're hurting me!" and how he had closed his ears to her moans, refusing to let her go.
Jaguar reached out his hand slowly, a silent attempt to apologize and touch her shoulder, but she stepped back quickly. Without realizing it, a hot tear escaped and ran down her cheek. She looked away instantly, putting on her icy mask again as she asked in a deadly formal tone,
- Did you call for me... sir?
Facing her firm stance, Jaguar forgot everything he wanted from her. He kept looking into her eyes, which were carefully avoiding his, realizing how much of their sparkle had been lost because of him. He had hurt her so much, forcing her to flee for six years. He was the primary reason for her grandfather's death; how could she forgive him so easily when she had begged him that night not to do it? He realized that from now on, he had to be much more careful with her.
When he didn't answer, she said in a mechanical tone,
- Since you don't need me, I'll go back to my work.
- Wait,
He said, with a hint of shame in his voice.
- I need your phone number.
He felt ashamed that it took him six years to ask for his wife's number, something that should have been the very first thing between them. She stood in place, pulled out her phone coldly, and said,
- Give me your number.
He gave her the digits; she saved them and gave him a missed call so he could have her number too. As she turned to leave, he called out to her, terrified that she would walk out while still angry,
- Aren't we having breakfast together?
Fati remembered his health condition, so she turned back carefully and said with a weak smile,
- Of course... but don't ever do what you did again.
- I won't. I promise,
Jaguar replied sincerely. He wasn't afraid of her; he just didn't want to hurt her any further or lose her for any longer. Six years of their lives apart was more than enough. He smiled weakly and added,
- I'm hungry.
Fati approached and pulled the tray table in front of him, saying firmly,
- You have to eat all of it, or I will leave.
Then, she picked up a small piece of bread and went to sit far away on the sofa. Jaguar watched her and asked,
- Is that all you're going to eat?
- Yes,
She replied briefly.
- I have to get back to work quickly.
Jaguar quickly sent a message to his secretary, ordering a full breakfast to be delivered to the hospital. Within fifteen minutes, a young man entered the suite carrying a bag of fresh, delicious food. He placed it in front of Jaguar, but Jaguar gestured for him to place it on the table directly in front of Fati.
Jaguar got up, dragging the IV pole behind him, and sat on the sofa next to her, leaving enough space for her to feel comfortable. Fati began taking out the food and opening the containers, and a delicious aroma filled the room. Without thinking, she picked up a small piece with her fingers and popped it into her mouth. As soon as she tasted it, she closed her eyes and murmured,
- Mmm... delicious
In a completely spontaneous move, she licked her finger, then picked up another piece and placed it directly into Jaguar's mouth.
- Taste this! What do you think? Isn't it amazing?
She asked excitedly. Jaguar froze. He was stunned by her bold, unexpected gesture, especially after seeing her lick her finger right in front of him. He wasn't repulsed; instead, he felt a surge of desire more intense than anything he had anticipated. He smiled, chewing slowly, and said,
- Delicious... it's truly delicious.
He struggled to restrain himself from grabbing her hand and licking her finger himself, even though the thought was racing wildly through his mind. At that intense moment, the sudden ringing of her phone broke the silence. He jolted and asked in a tone that suddenly turned guarded,
- Who is this?
Fati answered quickly, stepping away from him to regain her composure.
- Yes... yes, of course! Prepare the operating room, I'm coming right now.
She stood up and didn't give him a chance to respond; she hurried out without looking back, grabbing one more piece of food on her way. At the door, she paused for a moment and peeked back in, saying in a sweet yet warning tone,
- You have to eat everything in front of you. I'll be back later to check!
In the hallway, she ran into Jaguar's secretary, Dan Dam. He greeted her with his usual coldness, but she stopped him.
- Are you the one who researched the servants in my grandfather's house before I was born?
- Yes, Madam, it was me,
He replied in a robotic tone. She looked at him, trying to read his expression.
- Are you sure you didn't miss anyone? Please check again, at least a year before my birth.
- Very well, Madam. I will search again,
Dan Dam replied briefly.
- Also make sure that he will eat all the food, that infront him
- Okay mam
She left him and headed straight to the operating room for an emergency, but her mind was racing with questions. Who was "Rosie" the servant? Why wasn't her name on the list? Did her father deceive her? Why is he hiding her identity and keeping her real mother away? Is he ashamed because she was just a "servant"?
Dan Dam entered the suite to find Jaguar standing. He spoke in his usual professional tone,
- Sir, I have carried out your instructions. Kylo has been hired at the mountain branch, about seven hours away. His first day is tomorrow.
- Was he hesitant?
Jaguar asked, his eyes still on the door.
- At first, yes,
The secretary replied,
- But he couldn't turn down the exceptional benefits we offered.
Jaguar nodded.
- Good. Now, show me the file. What's on the agenda for today?
Dan Dam quickly hid the file behind his back.
- I met Madam Fati, and she requested that I do not discuss work with you until you have finished your meal.
Jaguar sighed; his appetite had vanished the moment Fati left.
- Then sit down and eat it for me,
He muttered.
- I already had breakfast before coming,
The secretary replied coldly. Jaguar had no choice but to sit and eat against his will, fearing Fati's "spy" (the nurse) or her new "guardian" (the secretary).
As he ate, the secretary added,
- Madam asked about the list I sent you yesterday. She mentioned there is a name missing.
Jaguar stopped eating, his interest piqued.
- Did she mention the name?
- No, she only asked me to double check the records.
Jaguar was lost in thought. Who was Fati looking for? Why was she keeping the name so mysterious? He decided then and there to ask her directly as soon as she returned from surgery.
Fati emerged from the operating room, exhausted. Her only thought was the sofa in Jaguar's suite, where she could finally collapse. But she was surprised to find Kylo waiting for her. She gave him a weary smile and asked,
- You know, seeing you in the hospital scares me. Is someone in your family sick, or are you the patient? Why are you here?
- I came to see you,
Kylo replied quietly.
- I'm leaving tonight for the new city where I'll be working.
- Did you get that job?
She asked, surprised.
- No, this is a different offer a higher position, a tempting salary, plus free housing and transportation.
- That's wonderful!
Fati commented.
- Yes... it's good,
Kylo whispered, looking at the floor,
- But I'll miss...
Fati interrupted him with a wise tone,
- Kylo, did you study all these years just to sit at home? You must be wise; opportunities like this don't come every day.
He nodded, hiding his urge to ask her to come with him, deciding to wait until he was settled.
At that moment, Fati spotted the secretary, Dan Dam, watching her while talking on the phone. The secretary quickly turned away as soon as he recognized Kylo's face, fearing Kylo might realize Jaguar was the one who orchestrated this "successful exile." Meanwhile, Fati hid herself, terrified that the secretary would report to Jaguar that she was sitting with a strange man, sparking a storm of torture will begin that would never end.