He was trailed by Yelena and Quincy, who made it rather obvious that their visit wasn''t merely to "check in on the sick."


    Calista felt the urge to speak, yet the sharp pain in her throat prevented any words from forming. She could do nothing but listen attentively to Benedict''s chastising tone.


    "I can''t believe you, you know. You were supposed to be rxing on vacation, and yet somehow you managed to get injured and tumble off a cliff? You absolutely scared me to death!" I fell off a cliff?


    The realization that Benedict was oblivious to her recent perilous adventures caused Calista to exhale a sigh of relief. The implications of anyone discovering her escapades in Lostaria were dire; it would make her a prime target for any remaining viins, ending her peaceful days once and for all.


    However, Quincy seemed less than sympathetic, her voice tinged with acrimony as she remarked, "You''re finally awake. Had you slept any longer, Mr. Kallum would have surely ended up with someone else!"


    Calista fixed Quincy with a piercing stare, her eyes aze with intensity.


    "Quincy! Stop spouting such nonsense, your sister has just awakened!" Benedict interjected with a tone of concern.


    Yet, it was evident that Quincy was agitated. Far from holding back, she only raised her voice further.


    "Am I really speaking nonsense? It''s the talk of the town! Everyone is buzzing about how enamored Mirabelle is. Despite Lostaria being at war, she rushed to see Mr. Kallum as soon as she got back. And when Mr. Kallum got injured, she was the only one allowed to care for him, no one else was permitted near him. If that doesn''t tell you something, what will?"


    A sudden stab of pain pierced Calista''s heart.


    "You said... Mirabelle went to... Lostaria?" Calista''s voice was raspy and strained, each word carefully enunciated.


    "Exactly! Just a week ago, Mirabelle went to Lostaria! Then she returned alongside Mr. Kallum! Now, with Mr. Kallum injured, she''s the one tending to him. I''m telling you, your fiancée title is in jeopardy!" "Quincy!" Benedict eximed, attempting to halt her tirade.


    But it was toote for Calista.


    Seven days prior, the very day she had been captured and when Kallum had abandoned her. Had he left her to fend for herself against life-threatening dangers while he was romancing Mirabelle?


    This thought had scarcely crossed her mind when suddenly, she spat out a mouthful of blood.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Kallum betrayed me!


    Once this idea took root, Calista found herself grappling with a depth of hatred she had never known; a bitterness that even surpassed the resentment she harbored toward Quincy.


    How could he let me down?


    "Callie!" Benedict cried out in shock. He quickly summoned a doctor. The doctor arrived promptly, first ensuring that all the rtives were ushered out before he began to examine Calista, carefully wiping away the blood. Calista sank back onto the bed, and in that brief respite, her thoughts regained a semnce of rity.


    No, something must have been


    overlooked. Kallum isn''t one to y games. He''s forthright, driven by his


    likes


    10 dislikes, and exceedingly


    1.n


    tenacious. He pursued me so relentlessly before, and I find it hard to believe that his feelings could''ve shifted so abruptly. Perhaps there''s something I''m unaware of...


    Regardless, I''m sure I''ll find out the


    truth once I confront him!


    "Ms. Stafford, your current condition is quite precarious. We urge you to steer clear of any severe emotional disturbances. Should you fail toply, your condition might deteriorate further,plicating our efforts to assist you," the doctor advised with a stern tone. Calista looked at him, her icy gaze briefly causing the doctor to falter, a rare urrence in his career.


    "I understand," she responded, her voice still hoarse but significantly steadier than before. "Thank you, Doctor. I will cooperate fully with the treatment."


    She shifted her gaze away, allowing the doctor to breathe a sigh of relief, feeling as though he had narrowly averted a crisis. He promptly gave some instructions, left a nurse in charge, and made a hasty exit.


    Calista cast a puzzled look at them. Why do I sense this eerie feeling of being feared?


    What she did not realize was that her aura had grown markedly more intense after personally taking multiple lives. Her cold, detached gaze now carried an unmistakable sense of danger, instilling deep-seated fear in anyone itnded on.


    At that moment, Benedict re-entered, his face marked with concern.


    Calista tolerated his chatter for a while before finally speaking up. "Dad, it''s nothing serious. I just coughed up some blood, that''s all. need to rest now. When you leave, please inform the doctor that only Mrs. Stafford to attend to me. There''s no need for a nurse to be present constantly. If anything arises, I''ll ring the bell."


    Initially, Benedict was hesitant to agree, but recognizing it was the first time Calista had sought to be closer to Yelena, he saw it as a positive development. After all, they were family and there was no need to perpetuate any strife. Upon hearing this, Yelena''s face lit up with a smile. "Absolutely, I''ll take good care of Callie. Oh, Callie, you''ve had me so worried!"


    Recently, after Yelena''s return from


    the Langley residence, she had kept a modest profile. Benedict felt a tinge of quilt since the Langley family had returned their shares. His attitude toward her had noticeably softened. When Yelena realized


    there was an opportunity to enhance their rtionship, she eagerly


    agreed, fearing Benedict might reconsider.


    Quincy had departed earlier. School was already in session and she still hadn''t secured a mentor.


    Eventually, Benedict consented. "All right, Yelena, please ensure you take meticulous care of Callie this time, understood? If she bes a bit irritable, as an elder, you need to demonstrate some patience!"


    Yelena internally scoffed. Calista''s tantrums are minor? Thest incident at the Langley residence was a significant debacle, yet Calista had emerged unscathed! Managing this cunning b*tch is bing increasingly challenging! Despite this, she replied with a confident grin, "Don''t you trust me to manage things? Didn''t you mention that work is piling up at the office? Go ahead, I''ll handle everything here!"


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