Trouble in Paradise

After witnessing what just happened, I shook my head. I knew Pete wouldn't show any mercy, even to a beautiful woman, I signaled to Alex to assist Gabriela. Soon, the hospital corridor was left with just Pete and me.

"Go on. If you have something to ask me, hurry up. My time is valuable. I don't want to waste here with you," Pete said, his voice dripping with impatience.

As he finished speaking, I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes. He seemed quite comfortable in his seat.

There was a time when I felt some remorse, wondering if I had inadvertently hurt him, especially since heContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I had shown me moments of genuine sadness in the past. But with Nicholas denying any involvement in Neal's case, Pete was the only one left as a suspect.

If Jay Caldwell & Co. was his business consideration, I couldn't judge. However, Neal had to be his malicious revenge.

I asked softly, "Was Neal's suspension your doing?"

After a brief pause, Pete's soft laughter came from beside me. "I expected you to ask about Yasmine, or your job, or maybe even Silas. I never expected you'd start with that Steele guy." Pete had always been lazy and indifferent, often showing a hint of sarcasm when interacting with people. But now, as he spoke seriously, his demeanor was different.

His face was expressionless, and his eyes were filled with hostility. They lacked the usual amusement he had shown before. It was as if he were looking at a corpse. But I wasn't afraid of him. Perhaps it was because we had grown up together. I knew he wet the bed as a child, ate his boogers, and even played with hardened bubble gum he pulled from his mouth and soaked in the toilet. Knowing all these foolish things he did as a kid, I couldn't bring myself to fear him. I knew that people wouldn't just become evil for no reason.

"Pete," I called out softly. "To be honest, even if you were behind Neal's situation, I know it was out of anger and not true malice.

"I want to ask if I plead for him, would it improve your mood a bit? Could you show some mercy and stop making things difficult for him?"

"You're... pleading... for him?" Pete's words came out in intermittent bursts. As if he had heard something amusing, he actually started laughing, with a low, resonant hum coming from his chest. "So what if I did it?" He continued to laugh.

Suddenly, his laughter stopped. "Ariana, I've never seen you plead for anyone in all these years. What can you do for him? Sweet-talk me? Or offer something I can't refuse?"

I replied softly, "What would make you feel better?"

Pete's eyes flashed with sharpness. "How about you get on your knees?"

Hearing this, I steadied myself by holding onto the chair and slowly stood up. My gaze grew cold as I

looked at him. "Pete, do you mean there's no room for situation?"

Seeing me stand up, Pete immediately rose to his feet. kneel, and roughly shoved me back into my chair.

He pointed at me in exasperation. "Yes, Ariana. Let me

With that, he ignored Gabriela, who was still having her

looked at him. "Pete, do you mean there's no room for negotiation on Neal's and Jay Caldwell & Co.'s situation?"

Seeing me stand up, Pete immediately rose to his feet. He glared at me as if fearing I might actually kneel, and roughly shoved me back into my chair.

He pointed at me in exasperation. "Yes, Ariana. Let me tell you. No matter what you do, it's all pointless!"

With that, he ignored Gabriela, who was still having her X-ray, and stormed off on his own.