SWNOVELS Chapter 242
When Jocelyn called Yasmine, the blood had already been drawn and she was pale as a ghost.
The housekeeper had whipped up a hearty beef and vegetable stew to help her recover, concerned by the ashen look on Yasmine's face.
Casting a glance at Delphine, who sat by Mr. Turner's bedside shedding crocodile tears, the housekeeper couldn't hide her disdain. The only one who truly cared for Mr. Turner was his wife.
These young girls didn't know the first thing about hardship, tagging along with a man like Mr. Turner for nothing but a good time.
"How's Mr. Turner doing?"
Sipping on the stew, Yasmine replied, "He's not kicking the bucket yet."
"That bad?" Jocelyn sighed. 'Not kicking the bucket' meant it was serious.
"Yeah." Yasmine said, "Did you call Melvin?"
"I did. He said he's fine," Jocelyn replied, but still worried, "Isn't he with you now?"
"No." Yasmine heard the anxiety in Jocelyn's voice and reassured her, "Don't worry, Melvin's tougher than Zachary. Zachary's getting on in years. He's not as strong as Melvin."
Jocelyn didn't know how to respond to Yasmine speaking so candidly about her ex-husband.
When Delphine heard Yasmine talking about Zachary like that, she immediately came to his defense, "How can you speak about Zachary that way?"
"Who's that?" Jocelyn could hear another voice on the line.
Yasmine chuckled, "Zachary's little fan girl."
Jocelyn immediately got the picture.
Frowning, she asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. A girl fancies a man who's out of her league, kind of like someone craving a designer dress but can only afford to hunt through thrift shops for a second-hand one. It's normal." Yasmine glanced at the pouting Delphine and said, "Don't worry, I've seen my fair share of drama. I can handle it."
Jocelyn couldn't see for herself what was happening on Yasmine's end, and she certainly couldn't just hop on a plane and fly over. She felt useless, worried she might just get in the way if she followed. "Just look after yourself," Jocelyn reminded her.
"Of course," Yasmine laughed, "These days, I'm my own favorite person. Don't fret, all's well."
After they hung up, Yasmine had nearly finished her stew.
The housekeeper asked if she wanted something else. Yasmine shook her head, "See if Delphine wants something. All those tears must've depleted her. Poor thing, she's not cut out for roughing it."
The housekeeper shot Delphine a look, puzzled by the priorities of young women these days. Why be a mistress when you could be out there making something of yourself?
Delphine was on the verge of tears. She claimed she had lost her appetite.
"Don't be like that. What if he doesn't wake up? Are you going to starve yourself? We don't know how long he'll be out. If you faint from hunger, what then? You need to keep your strength up if you're going to take care of him," Yasmine said, sounding like a caring elder sister giving life advice to her young sibling.
Delphine glared at Yasmine, unable to comprehend her magnanimity. Was it all just an act? It didn't seem fake.
After all, they were once husband and wife. Didn't she care at all?
"Go get her some soup and a bite to eat. Can't have her wasting away. If Zachary wakes up and sees his darling has lost weight, he'd be heartbroken," Yasmine instructed the housekeeper, who then went to the kitchen.
Feeling somewhat rejuvenated, Yasmine looked at Delphine with her puppy dog eyes fixed on Zachary, her devotion almost touching.
"Even if you burn holes into him with your stare, he won't know you've been here. Better to get some rest, have a meal and come back in a couple of days. Imagine how moved he'll be when he wakes up and finds you by his side."
Delphine snapped back, "I don't need your advice. If you have nothing else to say, better you leave."
Yasmine simply smiled.
"Can I ask you something? Have you and Zachary slept together?" Yasmine asked bluntly.
Delphine's cheeks flamed like ripe apples instantly.
"So innocent," thought Yasmine, knowing well how men always had a soft spot for such naivety. Flustered, Delphine stammered, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Yasmine laughed, "Haven't got that far, huh? What are you after, then? His age? Or his wealth?" Delphine's blush deepened, whether from the question or a hit to her vanity, it was hard to tell.
Yasmine leaned back, "When I was with him, I was even younger than you. Look at us now. How long do you think your time with him will last? He'll find someone younger than you soon enough." "You're quite the looker. Why not find a decent guy to fall in love with?" For Yasmine, it was a moment of leisure, genuinely curious about the young girl's perspective on life. Delphine was ungrateful, "Mind your own business."
Yasmine raised an eyebrow, "Suit yourself. But you're not the only woman in his life. You might stand up to me, but other women won't be as kind."
Seeing Delphine was like looking into a mirror of her past, which was why she couldn't help but say more than she should have.
But if advice fell on deaf ears, why bother?
Once Yasmine felt better, she left the room and didn't stick around the mansion.
Her chauffeur drove her back to her own estate, and all the way, Yasmine's expression was serene and untroubled.
Catching sight of her in the rear-view mirror, the chauffeur reassured, "Mrs. Turner, the boss will pull through."
"Ha," Yasmine chuckled lightly, her voice laced with a touch of nonchalance. "It's not like I'm worried about him. After all, the estate we had to divide has already been settled."
The chauffeur was suddenly at a loss for words.
As Yasmine returned to the manor, a car pulled up just in front. The man who emerged seemed poised to dash inside, but he paused when he heard another vehicle approaching. Seeing Yasmine safe and sound, the tension in his features eased somewhat.
"What brings you here?" Yasmine asked, genuinely surprised.
"Who told you that Zachary was in trouble?" The man's displeasure was evident.
Yasmine took a step forward but suddenly felt dizzy, her footing unsteady.
Soren reached out to steady her, his concern palpable. "Are you okay?"
Shaking her head as she touched her forehead, Yasmine admitted, "The debt I owed Zachary has been paid in full now."
Soren's expression darkened. "If he knew you had risked yourself like this to save him, he'd be heartbroken."
"Ha," Yasmine let Soren guide her inside, her tone a mix of humor and bitterness. "Do you really think he'd still care enough to be heartbroken over me?"
"Of course," Soren insisted eagerly. "His divorcing you and driving you away from here was all to keep you safe."
Yasmine stopped and faced Soren with a grave look. "Soren, if I were still a naive teenager, I might be moved by his protective stance. But I'm not that girl anymore."
Soren's brow remained furrowed with concern.
"If you're back now, you should go see him." Yasmine's voice was firm. "I don't need anyone here."
Seeing her still pale, Soren knew he couldn't just leave her aside.
She moved as if floating, a ghost of her former self, and Soren couldn't stand it any longer. "Forgive me, Yasmine."
Before Yasmine could fully comprehend his words, she was lifted off the ground, her instincts kicking in as her arms wrapped around his neck to prevent a fall. "You..." Yasmine's pupils dilated in shock.