Chapter 98
Chapter 98:
Johnny raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you come with your driver? Wasn’t it your delay with the car that made Rylie late to begin with p>
Johnny’s bluntness caught Paola off guard, making her flush with embarrassment. “I wasn’t trying to make things difficult. Are you blaming me p>
Johnny shook his head. “That’s not it. Just a reminder to be considerate next time. Working late isn’t an excuse to keep people waiting.” He saw straight through Paola’s intentions—she was never just thoughtless.
Clearly uninterested in further entanglement, Johnny simply said, “I’m heading out p>
The whole evening had left Paola simmering with frustration. Not only had she failed to embarrass Rylie, but she also ended up humiliated in front of every guest.
Back in her room, she flung her pillow onto the bed and exclaimed, “She’s so infuriating! Always playing the innocent, and everyone falls for it. How does she manage to show up and eclipse me every single time p>
Percy stood by the door, watching his sister’s wounded pride with a troubled frown, his own sense of injustice growing on her behalf.
“Rylie’s just coasting on her brothers’ affection,” Percy said, hoping to calm her. “One banquet, and she’s already walking off with some stranger. Sooner or later, everyone will see her for who she really is.” He took a seat beside her. “Forget about her. Your focus now should be finishing that composition for Spencer. That international festival isn’t going to wait. Let her dig her own hole. I’ll help you show people who she really is p>
Paola turned to the pile of blank sheets on her desk. Her fingers tensed around her pen. “You’re right. Rylie can’t match my talent in music, not now, not ever. I can’t afford to waste energy on her p>
Rylie was unaware that she had inadvertently motivated Paola to work through the night with renewed determination, writing music. By dawn, with dark circles under her eyes, Paola was ecstatic as she held her completed work.
After a quick review, she delivered the finished score directly to Spencer’s hands.
Explore magic at gα ℓ ησ ν𝒆 ℓs, com
That same morning, Rylie had gotten plenty of sleep. After breakfast, she made her way to the community near the military compound, offering free check-ups to the elderly there. As she went from one patient to another, she sensed an odd heaviness in the air. They looked at her with troubled eyes but didn’t speak up.
Rylie tried to coax them into talking, but they only gave vague smiles and shook their heads. Most left quietly after taking their prescriptions, leaving her uncertain and curious.
Rory was tending to the plants that day. Once he learned that Rylie was around, he stopped by and used the chance to bring up a few medical concerns. During a short pause, she lowered her voice and asked, “Did something happen? Everyone seems off today p>
“They’re all on edge,” Rory answered with a sigh. “It’s the drills at sea, the rising tension. War seems closer by the day. And most of their families are serving right at the front. They’re scared, and rightfully so p>
Rylie frowned, still uneasy. “I get that, but I could tell they wanted to say something more. It wasn’t just fear. What aren’t they telling me?” Seeing that Rory seemed to know more, Rylie urged, “Tell me directly p>
Rory looked away, speaking carefully. “Things have been rough these past two years. Military doctors are stretched thin, and some districts have no coverage at all. They’re planning to draft civilian doctors from local hospitals, but the pay is low, and the risks are high. Few are willing to go.” He hesitated before adding, “Your name came up. They p>