She pulled the door closed behind her and turned to head for the discharge desk.

But after just a few steps, a sharp, furious voice sliced through the air. Linsey Brooks!

Linsey spun around instinctively, barely registering who it was before a sharp slap cracked across her face.

Her head jerked to the side, a vivid red mark blooming on her delicate left cheek. The sting burned, laced with a numbing prickle that seared through her. The woman wasn t done. She raised her hand again, poised to deliver another blow.

Linsey s sharp reflexes kicked in as she caught the flicker of movement from the corner of her eye. She dodged swiftly, seizing Kylee s wrist mid-swing with pinpoint accuracy.

Ah! Kylee yelped, stomping her foot in pain. Let go it hurts! Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fin?novel.net

Evie and the nurses froze, stunned by the sudden clash.

Evie recovered first, stepping forward. Miss, let s settle this calmly, all right?

Linsey shot her an icy glare. If someone slapped you out of the blue, could you just stand there and play nice?

Evie faltered, rendered speechless.

Linsey s lips curved into a cold smile as her gaze shifted back to Kylee.

As Dolores had described, Kylee s face was marred a jagged scar slashed from her right brow to the left side of her cheek, stripping away her once-stunning beauty.

Linsey s brows knitted at the sight.

She felt a pang of pity for Kylee s misfortune, but that didn t erase the sting of the unprovoked slap.

Apologize! Linsey demanded.

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You don t deserve it! Kylee spat, her eyes blazing with fury. If it weren t for you, Collin would never have turned on me!

What are you talking about? Linsey snapped.

Kylee yanked her wrist free and shoved Linsey hard. Don t play dumb! Do you know how much I ve sacrificed, how many women I ve quietly pushed aside to keep Collin by my side all these years? And you you destroyed it all!

Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch. You shameless thief! You stole Collin from me, and now we re done for good!

Her rage consumed her, drowning out all reason.

Her eyes darted wildly, then locked onto something. She lunged forward.

What s she doing? Linsey muttered under her breath, bewildered.

Then she saw Kylee at the water dispenser, filling a paper cup with steaming hot water.

A chill of realization hit Linsey, her eyes widening in disbelief.

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