A PANTHER

📌 Extra Characters:

1. Eunice Lacroix - the bride / a friend

2. Alice Tan Lacroix -the bride's mom

3. Antoine Lacroix - the bride's dad

4. Eloisa Tan - the bride's aunt / Alice's younger sister

5. Lucille Wang - the wife of Antoine's best friend.

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Eloisa Tan and Luo Jingyi moved through the crowd. But instead of hunting for men, Aunt Eloisa snatched a bottle from the wine rack and they made their way to the open-air deck surrounded by railings. Jingyi occupied one of the lined sunbeds, lounging lazily. There was a quiet whoosh of the waves hitting the ship.

Aunt Eloisa poured champagne into the two glasses that magically appeared out of nowhere. Jingyi deduced that Aunt Eloisa had been drinking in the deck alone earlier.

"Cheers!" The clink of glasses echoed to Luo Jingyi's ears.

Luo Jingyi quietly gulped the content of her glass before Aunt Eloisa filled it up again.

"What happened to Director Choi's son?"

Luo Jingyi tilted her head to face her, studying Aunt Eloisa's expression. Director Choi is Yun Jian's father. Yun Jian was the teenager who got shot and was dying when he was wheeled into the trauma bay.

Luo Jingyi never discloses her patient's cases to other people, especially to the media. Aunt Eloisa owned a media company called Zine Media Inc. However, Jingyi was well aware of why Aunt Eloisa wanted the information. It was to calm her troubled heart. The other woman appeared to have moved on from her scandalous past but in reality, what people see is a mask and only in front of Jingyi that she dared to take it off.

"He's recovering well. He was transferred to another hospital." Jingyi heard the CEO let out a sigh of relief before she looked at a distance, feeling lost.

Jingyi stayed silent and let the other woman on her own. She gazed up in the sky. Above her was like a black river that stretched endlessly and what's keeping it ablaze were a speck of stars scattered across its vastness and the moon that was hanging full and hazy.

'It would have been a perfect sight for lovers on a date.' Jingyi thought.

"One day, I'll be your stars and your moon so that you'll never be alone. I'll be the light in the darkness to keep you safe." A husky voice whispered.

Then her eyes suddenly widened. Huh?

What is that? Where did that come from? It suddenly popped out of her memory but she has no recollection of it all.

Strange. She thought.

Maybe it's the original's memory?

"How's the hospital doing?" Aunt Eloisa's question woke her up from her trance. Jingyi tilted her head to answer the other woman who seemed to have recovered from her melancholy and put on her shield again.

"Chaos." She summarized it in one word. With the Chen family under investigation and the CEO stepping down, the management was shaken up. The VP was assigned the interim CEO while everything was being sorted out.

"You made it that way. You're a bad woman." She blamed her.

Jingyi's mouth curved up and muttered, "I am."

Eloisa Tan studied Jingyi and pondered that Jingyi would have made a career as a strategist if she didn't become a doctor. Jingyi planned every step so she could trap Minister Chen before the man could circumvent his crimes like he'd been doing over the last 15 years. Utilizing the Zine Media's resources, the shocking exposé about him was revealed on every outlet at the same moment the police knocked at his door. So by the time he knew of it, everything about him spread like wildfire. Hence, he couldn't do anything. Even the Chen Family's patriarch succumbed to her.

"Don't you feel afraid? What if the people behind him will retaliate?"

Jingyi crossed her arms and said confidently, "Let them bring it on."

Eloisa Tan always wondered where does Jingyi's fearlessness come from. The doctor never seemed to flinch at all. You can never attach the word 'meek' next to her name.

"Thank you." Jingyi murmured suddenly. Eloisa let out a slight laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't forget our agreement. You need to keep your promise." The woman agreed with all her plans, not for the unprecedented fame her company will obtain, rather it was because Eloisa Tan wanted her to be a regular guest on one of her company's tv shows.

In an instant, Jingyi's lips were set in a grim line. She told the woman repeatedly that it was a bad idea to put her on tv. But like Aunt Alice, Aunt Eloisa doesn't take no for an answer. The woman was set on the idea of adding her to that the medical talk show.

'That's why you should never make a deal with the devil.'

"By the way, I heard from a reliable source that TFC wanted to buy GM General Hospital. Is it true?"

Instantly, a smile dangled at the corner of Jingyi's lips as she questioned her, "Are you trying to squeeze info from me? Or is aunt interested in the healthcare industry?"

The woman laughed with disbelief at her jab. "Jingyi, stop doubting everyone. I was just curious. Why TFC is suddenly making this move?"

She was referring to Terra Firma Corporation which is a top global conglomerate. The real estate developer just started 10 years ago. But, it grew prominence in a span of a year, defying all odds especially that there was the economic crisis that affected industries worldwide. At present, TFC has varied interests that include financial services, fashion, hotel and tourism, sports, retail, manufacturing, and entertainment. No one has seen the CEO but everyone knows that behind this giant was a cold-hearted and cunning capitalist who dominates the business world with a flick of his finger.

Jingyi scoffed inwardly. It's true that TFC sent their proposal to buy all the shares. But even if the company paid ten times or more, she would never sell the shares. To her, the owner of TFC was just another businessman who wanted to turn the healthcare system into a money-making machine. But she kept her opinion to herself.

Noticing her quietness, Aunt Eloisa bobbed her head to face her. "Aren't you curious at all?

"About what?"

"Of how he looks like. I wanted to feature him in one of my magazines but it's damn difficult to make an appointment with his assistant. Even his employees are tight-lipped. He's like a panther: mysterious and powerful. Rumor is that he's handsome—no—he has a godlike appearance."

Jingyi rolled her eyes. "Or he could be an old man with a receding hairline, rotting teeth and skin stretched over knobby bones."

"Or what if he's the opposite? A perfectly sculpted Adonis with perfect genes... My-my-my-that's yummylicious." The CEO who runs her company with an iron fist licked her lips as though she was salivating for food.

"You are unbelievable aunt."

Seconds later, she castigated Jingyi, "Stop being a cynic, will you? Give the person a benefit of the doubt since you haven't met him yet."

'Why does everyone think I'm a cynic? I'm not.' A line appeared on her forehead with this thought.

Even if she wanted to refute, it will just lead to endless discussion so she chose to zip her mouth and poured the two of them a drink.

The next second, she heard Aunt Alice's voice behind them.

"Eloisa! How many times did I tell you not to let Jingyi drink?" She snapped.

"Sister, it's just champagne."

Jingyi stood and explained to Aunt Alice, "I just had a glass, Aunt Alice. There's nothing to be worried about."

Aunt Alice gave her sister a sullen look as though telling her, you-are-dead which, the other woman just shrugged off.

"Let's go. There's someone I want you to meet. He's the son of my best friend." Aunt Alice beamed with a smile as she pulled her away. When they reached the hall, Aunt Alice excitedly craned her neck to find the person. When Aunt Alice saw him, the curve on her mouth widened.

Luo Jingyi followed the other woman's line of sight. However, terror instantly overtook her face upon seeing that familiar face. At the same time, chill permeated her entire body.

====Extra====

Jinghan : Why did you make her hate me already?

Author: You want to know?

Jinghan: (nodded his head)

Author: (gestured him to come closer)

Jinghan: (leaned closer)

Author : (whispered )😈😈😈 I don't want to tell you.

Jinghan : 😑😑😑