Chapter 8 Pei Jingnian dragged her into the ward

Katherine's face flashed with shock and embarrassment.

Before she could react further, Vincent grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the patient room.

The door closed, and Katherine found herself pressed against the cold door panel by Vincent.

With a click, his hand brushed past her slender waist and locked the door.

"Are you following Kate?" His penetrating gaze, close enough to scrutinize every feature, seemed to mock her as they gazed at Katherine's slightly flustered face.

"I didn't... "

Her denial was silenced by a kiss.

Vincent kissed her passionately.

Katherine tried to struggle, but both her hands were pinned against the door.

Soon, she was breathless, and Vincent lifted her in his arms, moving her to the hospital bed.

Vincent leaned over her, continuing to kiss Katherine.

As his hands roamed, Katherine realized what he intended to do in the room and quickly pushed against his chest, trying to fend him off.

Just then, the door handle rattled.

"Huh? Why won't it open?" Kate's voice came from outside, followed by the sound of knocking.

"Vincent? Vincent, are you in there? You need to go for your medical examination."

Interrupted, Vincent was clearly displeased. He took a few deep breaths while resting in the crook of Katherine's neck before finally pulling away from her.

"If you don't want Kate to find out you're following her, hide well."

With that, Vincent turned and left.

Katherine couldn't argue back at that moment, so she stood blushing in a corner out of sight.

Vincent unlocked the door and left, not giving Kate a chance to enter.

Katherine leaned against the cold wall, her earlier passion slowly cooled.

She checked her watch a few times, waiting a full five minutes before hurriedly leaving Vincent's room.

Fortunately, she arrived at the large conference room on time, not missing the pre-surgery meeting held by multiple departments.

After a fifty-minute meeting, Katherine finally emerged from the conference room.

This time, she didn't take a shortcut but instead circled around the medical department building to return to the rehabilitation department building.

Back in her brother Nolan's hospital room, she briefly relayed the meeting's content to Emily and Nolan.

Learning that if the surgery succeeded, Nolan had a high chance of walking again, both Emily and Nolan were delighted.

However, Emily soon worried about the costs.

"Mom, don't worry about the money."

Emily asked," Where did you get so much money?"

"I received a large year-end bonus, don't worry." Katherine smiled as she told a harmless fib, feeling a bitter self-mockery inside.

She certainly didn't have that much money, but she was Vincent's kept woman.

Vincent was generous with her, not only giving her a supplementary card but also depositing money into her account monthly.

This money was more than enough to cover Nolan's surgery expenses.

Katherine didn't stay long in the hospital room and soon left.

She didn't mention to Emily that Kate had come to the city of Sacford.

Emily had suffered from her husband's infidelity and her son's car accident, leaving her in a fragile mental state.

Especially during the years before Katherine turned eighteen, she was depressed and manic, once contemplating suicide with Katherine and Nolan, or returning south to confront the unfaithful man and Kate's mother.

Katherine held together this broken, incomplete family.

In recent years, Emily had mostly recovered and no longer needed medication, but doctors warned that she couldn't endure strong emotional shocks, or her condition might relapse or worsen.

Leaving the rehabilitation department, Katherine was about to pass through the medical department toward the hospital entrance when she saw two all-too-familiar figures.

It was Vincent and Kate; they hadn't left yet.

Was this what they called a destined confrontation?

Kate was the first to notice Katherine.

Her smile froze momentarily before she brightened it further, affectionately linking arms with Vincent.

Katherine watched coldly from a distance as Kate said something to Vincent.

Vincent turned to look at her, his gaze nearly indifferent, before quickly looking away again, as if she were a stranger.

Katherine's breath hitched, her slender figure swaying slightly in the breeze.

She watched as Kate, arm in arm with Vincent, descended the steps, the pair heading toward a waiting car without looking back.

Before the car drove out of Katherine's sight, her phone chimed with a message.

Out of habit, Katherine immediately opened it.

It was from an unknown number, but the content made it clear it was from Kate.

"Sister, what a coincidence to meet you at the hospital."

"I just asked Vincent to give you a ride, but he was in a hurry to take me home to rest, so we had to leave first."

"I'm sorry for saying something that upset you today."

"I'd like to invite you and Auntie for a meal, is that okay?"

Katherine read the message, which was ostensibly an explanation and apology but was actually full of boasting and insincerity. Her expression remained indifferent as she turned off the screen, ignoring it.

Katherine continued walking toward the hospital entrance.

Suddenly, a voice called out," Miss Gill!"