Tossing the phone aside on the bed she starts to pull off her clothes then heads to the bathroom and returns in a few minutes.
With her towel wrap tightly around her waist, she grabs the cream to rub it on.
"Jasmine…"
She jumps, spinning around. Julian is right there in the doorway.
"What are you doing?" he asks calmly, as if barging in uninvited is totally normal.
"Good morning to you too!" she snaps, grabbing a nearby dress and hugging it to her chest.
"Oh my God! Get out!"
She yells seeing he makes no attempt to leave.
Julian smirks, completely unbothered.
"Why are you so embarrassed?" he asks and Jasmine scoffs.
"GET OUT!" she screams, cheeks burning as he wheels himself out, chuckling to himself.
Jasmine glares after him.
"Smug jerk…" she mutters and throws on her clothes.
Back in the living room, she's surprised to see someone else waiting.
"Doctor Song?" she blinks.
"Good morning, Miss Jasmine."
"Good morning."
Julian appears behind her.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, his question directed at Song.
"To check on your progress. Actually, I think you no longer need—"
"I know what to do," Julian cuts him off, then glances at Jasmine.
"What's for breakfast?"
Jasmine stares at him. He just barged into my room, mocked me, and now he's asking for food?
He is not even ready to apologize about last night
"I don't know," she says stiffly.
"I'm going out with a friend and will be back in time. If you're hungry, call Gabriel. Sam's on a date."
Jasmine storms out, resisting the urge to slam the door behind her. Maybe that was harsh, she thinks, but she can't bring herself to apologize.
Doctor Song watches her go, stunned with words to describe her action.
He has been working with Julian for a long time and never as anyone disrespect him or talk back
"She's the first person I've seen talk to you like that and live to tell the tale," he jokes gently.
Julian only smiles faintly, eyes still on the door.
"She reminds me of someone."
Doctor Song's lips curve upward. It's good to see him living again.
"Shall I make you something to eat?"
Julian shakes his head.
"You are here because of grandfather's complains aren't you?"
"Let's start the session." he says.
He stands slowly, steadier than before. He hold on to whatever is in his way to support himself.
Doctor Song watches with quiet pride as they head to the rehab room.
---
"Should I call Miss Jasmine again?" Gabriel asks for the umpteenth time, his voice tentative as he glances toward Julian—and quickly looks away.
The man's expression is a storm waiting to break.
Dr. Song left a long while ago, and he was happy but then as the day starts to fade his mood dampens.
He tries to do all he can to place him in a better mood, but his effort prove futile
Usually, Jasmine would be around to absorb the brunt of his anger or calm it with her presence. But she's been gone for many hours, and the silence is starting to feel like a vacuum.
Gabriel sighs, retreating to the kitchen to brew fresh coffee.
When he returns, he sets the cup gently on Julian's desk.
He wants to ask—Why are you still using the wheelchair when your legs are fine now? But one glance at his boss's face tells him: Not today.
Instead, he clears his throat to remind him of the phone conference that is scheduled for five but it's six now.
"Would you like me to connect the call now? The directors are calling to ask if it's been canceled."
Julian doesn't respond. He simply takes the coffee and scrolls through his phone, irritation flickering across his features.
For some reason, nothing feels right.
His eyes narrow when he realizes something—he doesn't even have Jasmine's number.
"Gabriel."
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you have her number?"
Gabriel blinks, caught off guard.
"I do, yes."
Julian hums a low, unreadable sound and sets his phone down with a dull thud on the table.
"Connect the call," he says quietly, then stands up gently.
Gabriel smiles and set up the camera for it.
---
Jasmine's phone rings just an hour after she arrives at Seline's apartment.
She almost doesn't answer it—but when she sees the name Mrs. Chen, her heart skips.
She's surprised.
Even more so when the older woman requests to see her.
Dressed in a simple, long beige gown, her hair only half-combed, Jasmine grabs her bag and heads toward the door.
"Where are you off to again?" Seline queries coming out of her room, dressed.
Jasmine sighs.
"I have to meet someone important" she replies.
Seline raises a brow, the word important piquing her curiosity.
"Who?"
"A… colleague." Jasmine answers.
The lie rolls off her tongue too easily.
It stings a little, especially lying to Seline and she finds that she has been lying to them a lot these days But what else can she say?
Seline narrows her eyes.
"You've been acting so weird lately. Eric said some strange man picked you up from the bus stop. And the car? It's not something a colleague our age would drive."
Jasmine stiffens.
Seline stands.
"Wait—are you dating an old man?" she blurts with a concern look on her face.
Jasmine bursts into laughter, swatting Seline's arm playfully.
"What nonsense are you thinking? Of course not."
Though technically, Julian is older… but definitely not old enough to be called that.
Still, the idea makes her laugh.
"It better not be," Seline mutters, hand over her chest in mock horror.
"Hurry up and meet us at the restaurant when you are done."
---
"Mom," Jasmine says with a polite smile as she arrives at the house—but she's met with the usual chilly silence.
Mrs. Chen gives her a once-over, frowning at the dress she's wearing.
Without a word, she waves a servant over and orders them to bring a more suitable outfit then ask her to sit.
Jasmine's confusion deepens.
"Can I ask why I'm here?"
"We're attending a gathering. You also need to behave appropriately when we arrive." Mrs. Chen answers, sipping the coffee in her hand slowly.
"Do not disgrace me later." she murmurs.
A few minutes later, a servant holds up two dresses against Jasmine's frame, then decides on a pastel blue one, and leads her to another room.
Her hair is combed and straightened. A bit of makeup is applied, and a pair of sky-blue heels are set before her.
Jasmine hesitates. The last time she wore heels, her stepsister humiliated her at a school party.
She'd fallen—right into a plate of food.
Still uncomfortable by the memory, Jasmine says nothing now.
She swallows the discomfort and follows Julian's mother quietly.
---