Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Belinda took a deep breath, fighting the impulse to confront Cathy and reveal her deceit. “No one understands this better than you,”’ she stated calmly. With a resigned sigh, she collected the shattered remnants of her phone and stowed them in her bag. Lifting her head, Belinda fixed Cathy with a frosty stare. “Do you really think you’ve solved anything by destroying my phone? What if I have everything backed up?”’ Cathy’s self-satisfied expression wavered, her face losing color as doubt crept in. She gnawed on her lip, casting a resentful gaze at Belinda. Time seemed to stretch before Cathy finally narrowed her eyes and accused, “You’re lying to me.”’ She was convinced Belinda had no backup. Cathy had been watching Belinda closely from the moment she mentioned the recording. Even when Belinda had stepped into the corridor, Cathy kept an eye on her from the periphery. Not once had Belinda checked her phone; how could she have possibly backed it up? Furthermore, if Belinda truly had a backup, she wouldn’t have been so visibly upset over the loss of her phone. Clearly, Belinda was merely bluffing. Cathy grinned and declared confidently, “You have no backup plan. You’re just bluffing.”’ Belinda returned a subtle smile and replied, “You’ll see if I’m bluffing or not eventually. I hope you can stay as composed as you are now when that time comes.”’ Lá´’tð’st chαptÑrs in With those words, Belinda turned and walked away. The exchange baffled Kristopher. Noticing Belinda’s intention to leave, his brow furrowed, and he reached out to stop her, asking icily, “What did you back up? Photos of Cathy?”’ His eyes narrowed, an icy edge to his gaze. “Didn’t you claim you never took any photos of Cathy?”’ He was unaware of the recording, believing they were discussing some compromising photos of Cathy. “I don’t waste my time taking pictures of her,”’ Belinda retorted, frowning and giving him a cold glare. “As for what I have backed up”¦”’ She paused and then scoffed. “Why don’t you ask your Miss Miller? I have no intention of explaining anything to you.”’ With that, she turned and made her way toward the exit. However, her recent leg injury, compounded by her agitation, betrayed her. Her first few steps felt unsteady, as though she were walking on soft padding. Determined not to appear foolish in front of Kristopher and Cathy, she focused all her effort on maintaining her balance and composure. Things didn’t go as planned for her. Just a few steps in, she tripped and plummeted straight to the floor. She was so screwed. By the time she realized she was falling, it was already too late to catch herself. Belinda shut her eyes and braced for the impact. Out of nowhere, strong hands gripped her waist, pulling her into a familiar embrace. The scent of snow pine from the man enveloped her, leaving Belinda momentarily dazed. Regaining her composure, she swiftly extricated herself from his arms and muttered in a raspy, awkward voice, “Thank you.”’ She then turned and hurried away. “Belinda.”’ Kristopher, with a furrowed brow, caught her wrist and glanced at her legs, now outlined by her trousers. “Are you hurt badly?”’ “It’s nothing serious. Just a clumsy fall.”’ Belinda, her face set in a stoic expression, shrugged off his hand and walked out with determined strides. Now, cautious from her near fall, she moved with greater care. Though she was no longer as frail as before, it was obvious from her gait that she had been hurt. Watching her retreating back, Kristopher exhaled deeply. He glanced over at Cathy and said, “Her legs are injured. I need to check on her.”’ With that, he turned to leave. Cathy paused briefly, then her lips trembled, and she started to cry again. “Kristopher”¦ Are you really going to leave me here all by myself?”’ She clenched her lips tightly, her voice quivering. “I’m scared of being alone”¦”’ Kristopher, his brow furrowed, looked back at Belinda’s distant figure and then at Cathy’s tear-stained cheeks. He replied gently, “Stay calm. We’re in a hospital. There’s nothing to worry about here. Doctors and nurses are just outside. If you need anything, just use the call button.”’ As Kristopher made to follow Belinda, Cathy inhaled sharply, her voice cracking as she spoke. “In your heart”¦ am I less important than Belinda?”’ Her question rang out loudly. Belinda, having reached the corridor, stopped dead in her tracks upon hearing this….