Chapter 9

The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the hospital room, and Shawn's left cheek swelled up instantly.

"H-How dare you hit me?" Shawn glared at Cassian in disbelief.

All along, he thought of Cassian as nothing more than a useless loser, but now…

"Don't assume I've been tolerating you just because I'm afraid of you," Cassian retorted icily.

"I'm going to kill you!" Shawn raised his fist.

"Go on. I dare you to see what happens if you hit him," Serena said coldly. "Hurt him, and I'll end you."

Shawn looked over and saw Serena's frosty, emotionless gaze. She wasn't kidding.

"Just who are you?" Shawn questioned darkly.

"Someone you can never afford to offend," Serena shot back with a glare. "Get out!"

She sounded extremely commanding.

After hesitating for a moment, Shawn unfurled his fist reluctantly. Before finding out who Serena was, he dared not do anything rash. What if she really was someone he couldn't afford to offend?

"Don't think I'm letting you off the hook so easily, Cassian. Just you wait!" Shawn threatened before leaving the hospital room.

At last, peace returned.

"Thanks, Serena," Cassian said gratefully.

He was moved that Serena had come to his defense earlier.

"It's nothing. Don't be so courteous," Serena said with a smile. "How do you feel after slapping Shawn?"

"I feel great!"

Cassian felt as though he had managed to release all of his pent-up anger and frustration with that one slap.

He proceeded to ask Serena, "Do you think I'm weak?"

"No, you're not weak. You're just too nice," Serena replied. "You've just joined the workforce. You don't want to cause trouble—you're too scared to cause trouble. You know you have no money, no power, and no influence. That's why you keep backing down whenever something happens. You'd rather put up with the humiliation than offend someone. I can understand how you feel, but it's not something I approve of."

She continued, "It's just like what I said earlier. Give someone an inch, and they'll take a mile. You won't be resolving the situation just by constantly giving in. Remember this. For a man to stand tall and hold his ground, he needs to know when to be ruthless."

Chuckling bitterly, Cassian said, "I know all of that, but…"

"But you think that since you're a nobody, you can't afford to offend them?"

"That's right," Cassian said with a nod.

Serena laughed. "Why don't you see it from a different perspective? You're the one who's got nothing to lose. If you toughen up and stand your ground, do you think they'll dare to risk everything to go up against you?"

Cassian froze.

"In this society, the richer and more powerful someone is, the more they fear for their lives. They'll back down if you make it a fight to the bitter end," Serena declared. "In any case, you're not completely without support either."

"What do you mean?"

"From this day onward, you have me in your corner. I'll get rid of anyone who bullies you."

While Cassian didn't know if Serena meant what she said, he still felt touched.

"Thanks, Serena."

"I don't like it when people thank me with words. Why don't you give me something more substantial?" Serena suggested as she eyed Cassian flirtatiously. "Kiss me."

What the heck?

She was being so forward!

Much to Cassian's embarrassment, he turned red again.

Laughing, Serena remarked, "What a cutie you are. Okay, I'll stop teasing you. Give me the contract."

Cassian quickly handed over the contract and a pen, and she signed it without even going through the terms first.

Since that was settled, Cassian exhaled in relief. This meant that the hospital no longer had a valid reason to kick him off the nursing assistant team, and he could carry on working at the hospital. As long as he remained, he would have a chance to return to the surgical department.

"By the way, can you use your Madiora enchantment to treat my leg?" Serena asked.

Shaking his head, Cassian explained, "There is a bone-mending technique, but I haven't learned it yet. In any case, you've already completed your surgery. All you need now is bed rest."

"But I don't like lying on the hospital bed all day."

"I'll take you down to the garden for some fresh air later."

"Really? You're so thoughtful, Cassian. If only you were my boyfriend," Serena remarked as she stared at him, her large, soulful eyes looking both seductive and mischievous.

There it was again. It was starting to be a bit too much for Cassian. Why did Serena enjoy teasing him so much?

"I'm going to get you some food from the cafeteria. Stay in bed, and don't move!" Cassian said before fleeing the hospital room.

…

For the past few days, Jasmine kept worrying about Cassian's future marriage. Since she had the day off and had already finished the housework, she decided to head to the hospital. She wanted to talk to Lydia and discuss arranging a meeting between the two families to finalize the marriage between Lydia and Cassian.

Just as she arrived at the entrance to the inpatient wing, she saw Lydia coming out while supporting a young male doctor. The doctor had one arm around Lydia's waist, and the two looked very close.

Jasmine, who was a rather traditional woman, felt a flicker of displeasure when she saw this.

Lydia, who also spotted Jasmine, frowned and asked, "What are you doing here, Ms. Chandler?"

"I came to see you, Lydia," Jasmine replied.

"See me? What for?"

"I wanted to talk to you about setting a date for both families to meet, so that we can discuss you and Cassian getting married."

Lydia's frown deepened. "Didn't Cassian tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Jasmine asked, confused.

"Looks like he really didn't," Lydia replied. "Cassian and I have broken up."

"You two broke up?" Jasmine was stunned. "When did that happen? Why didn't he tell me?"

"Well, I'm guessing he also didn't tell you that he got caught plagiarizing a patient's medical record that Dr. Goff Jr. wrote. He's been demoted to become a nursing assistant."

"What?"

Jasmine's face went pale. As a mother, her greatest fear was her son's future being ruined.

"Will Cassian still be able to get a full-time position?" she asked nervously.

"Get a full-time position? Stop dreaming! He's about to lose his job completely!" Shawn scoffed. "You sure raised a fine son, you old hag. Not only did he plagiarize my work, but he even had the audacity to hit me. The nerve of him!"

"Cassian hit you? That's impossible," Qian Jinglan said, not believing it. "He's always been kind and respectful. There must be some misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding, my ass." Shawn pointed to his swollen left cheek. "Take a good look for yourself. This is what your precious son did to me."

Lydia chimed in coldly, "I was a witness, Ms. Chandler. Cassian really did hit him. And by the way, Shawn's father is the hospital's vice president. Cassian will never get a full-time position here.

Jasmine's face turned ashen. Cassian was her pride and joy, but now…

No. She couldn't let him lose his job.

Bowing slightly, she forced a humble smile and said to Shawn, "Dr. Goff Jr., Cassian was completely wrong for what he did. I promise I'll give him a good talking-to when he gets home. Could you please be gracious and give him another chance for my sake?"

"Give him a chance? For your sake?"

Shawn spat directly in her face and said with contempt, "Who the hell do you think you are? Who are you to expect me to do you any favors?"

"Please forgive him just this once, Dr. Goff Jr. Cassian has behaved very immaturely. I apologize on his behalf—"

Before Jasmine could finish speaking, Shawn slapped her across the face.

"What makes you think a nobody like you can ask me to show mercy?"

Clutching her face, Jasmine turned to Lydia with pleading eyes.

"Lydia, you and Cassian used to date. Please help me plead with Dr. Goff Jr."

Lydia responded coldly, "I've completely cut ties with Cassian. I don't care what happens to him."

Jasmin stared at her in disbelief.

Just then, Shawn sneered darkly and suggested, "Hey, old hag. If you get on your knees and apologize to me, maybe I'll consider giving your son another chance."

Jasmine dropped to her knees without the slightest hesitation. Her pride and dignity meant nothing to her if doing this meant that she could salvage Cassian's future.

Unexpectedly, Cassian emerged from the inpatient ward and came across this very scene. Immediately, his eyes turned red.