Chapter 3
1302 Words
Six months later...
It was a span of time sufficient to utterly dismantle an empire and transform a powerful CEO into a figure barely recognizable. The prison gates groaned open, releasing Eidelweiss Quinzel into a freedom that felt cold and alien. She stepped out, no longer in her tailored blazer and high heels, but in faded, humble clothes—a mere shadow of her former self.
Heavy rain greeted her. The downpour washed over her pale face, as if nature itself was mourning her downfall. She walked aimlessly down the wet pavement, each step heavy, reflecting the crushing weight of the humiliation and betrayal she bore. Her hazel eyes now seemed hollow, as though her entire spirit had been extinguished.
Under the flimsy shelter of a dilapidated bus stop, her gaze fell upon a tiny, huddled creature. A kitten, its fur soaked and dirty, looked gaunt and trembled. A wounded leg bled faintly, and its eyes were tightly shut in pain. The helpless being, alone in the storm, was a perfect reflection of her own fragile soul.
Eidelweiss stopped. She stared at the kitten for a long moment. Without a second thought, she took off her jacket and carefully wrapped the kitten inside, shielding it from the cold. The kitten slowly opened its eyes, looking up at her with an expression of genuine gratitude.
Eidelweiss hugged the small animal to her chest. A low, barely audible murmur escaped her stiff lips.
"Poor little cat," she whispered, her voice laced with bitter irony. "You lost your shelter. Just like me. I... I've lost everything too."
She closed her eyes briefly, accepting the truth: the company, the power, the husband, even her good name—everything had been stolen from her.
Her aimless steps now found a destination. About a hundred meters ahead, amidst a row of quiet shop houses, a rusty sign was faintly visible. A heart logo enveloping an animal silhouette was painted above the words: MANCHINEEL VETERINARY CLINIC.
Eidelweiss stepped into the Manchineel Clinic. Warmth enveloped her, a stark contrast to the cold rain she left behind. She inhaled deeply; the air was filled with the distinct aromas of antiseptic, animal shampoo, and a thin layer of faint coffee—a composition that was strangely soothing.
She walked up to the empty reception desk, clutching the kitten, which was no longer trembling.
From the examination room behind a vinyl curtain, a man emerged wearing a worn green scrub top. The man, who exuded an unhurried calmness, had simple, dark hair.
But what instantly stole Eidelweiss’s focus were the pair of brilliant violet eyes that now stared directly at her. The man’s handsomeness was sharp and intelligent, completely different from the corporate standard she was used to.
Eidelweiss, known for her unmatched composure, was suddenly frozen.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" the man asked gently, a slight smile curving his lips. He took in Eidelweiss’s fragile appearance and the cloth bundle in her arms.
Eidelweiss quickly snapped back to reality. She stepped forward and handed over the kitten with care. "Please. He’s injured and seems very cold," she pleaded, her voice slightly hoarse.
The man immediately took the kitten with professional ease. Pinned to the left chest of his scrubs was a name tag that read: Julian.
Julian carried the kitten to the examination table, his hands deftly checking the wound and the poor animal's pulse. He turned back to Eidelweiss, his violet gaze now shifting into a serious focus.
"He's severely malnourished, Miss. The wound isn't too bad, but he's very dehydrated and cold. He needs treatment and an IV immediately," Julian explained, his voice calm and informative.
Eidelweiss took a deep breath. The bitter reality struck her. "I... I understand. But I have to be honest, Mr. Julian. I have no money right now. I can't pay for his treatment."
A look of understanding washed over Julian's face. He turned back to the kitten, which he was now preparing for an IV drip.
"This isn't about money, Miss," Julian replied. "It’s about a life. Thank you for bringing him here. Your actions are more than enough."
Julian began inserting the IV tube into the kitten's small body with practiced ease, entirely on his own. Eidelweiss watched his skill with surprise.
"Are you here alone?" Eidelweiss asked, amazed by Julian's speed and self-reliance.
"My assistant is on leave today," Julian answered, not looking up from his work. "So, today it's just me and the patients."
The intimate and unusual situation created a need for a formal introduction.
"I am Eidelweiss Quinzel," Eidelweiss stated, uttering her name after six months of being called only by a number.
Julian nodded, finishing the insertion of the needle. He looked up, his violet eyes meeting Eidelweiss's gaze without judgment.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Quinzel," he responded. "I'm Julian Manchineel. Welcome to my clinic."
Eidelweiss merely nodded, not intending to return the welcome.
"The world is cruel," Julian began, his voice soft and reflective. "So unjust, isn't it? A kitten this small having to struggle so hard to survive on the vicious, unforgiving streets."
Eidelweiss nodded, her reply tinged with bitterness. "Extremely unjust," she repeated.
Whether due to exhaustion, the honesty radiating from Julian’s violet eyes, or a combination of both, Eidelweiss suddenly felt an urge to share her burden. She decided to pull back a corner of the darkness she was hiding.
"I understand that feeling of injustice," Eidelweiss stated, pausing briefly. "I was just released. The sentence I served, the accusations they threw at me, it was all a lie. I had to languish behind bars for six full months for a crime I never committed."
Julian listened carefully. His brow furrowed. "Six months? For white-collar crimes like embezzlement and data falsification? Legally, your pre-trial detention shouldn't have lasted that long, especially if your evidence was weak and there was legal counsel."
Eidelweiss looked at him in surprise. "You understand law?"
Julian offered a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "A bit. Just to fill the spare time," he replied. "But I know this: six months of detention was a deliberate move to cripple you. Whoever framed you, they were highly calculating."
Before Eidelweiss could answer, Julian, perhaps bored with the silence of the clinic, grabbed the remote and turned on the small television in the corner of the waiting room. He quickly flipped the channels, searching for the evening news.
Moments later, the screen displayed a news report that instantly made the air in the clinic thin.
A breaking news headline flashed: "New CuraMedica CEO, Joy El Nostra, Set for Lavish Wedding with Beloved Sweetheart!"
A photo of Joy El Nostra was plastered across the screen, his face beaming, standing intimately next to an elegant blonde woman. The anchor cheerfully announced, "Mr. El Nostra, who recently assumed full control of CuraMedica following a scandalous divorce, is reportedly set to marry his fiancée, Arinra Olyxton, a renowned litigation attorney."
A sharp hiss escaped Eidelweiss's lips. She had just confided her misfortune, her husband's betrayal, and now her ex-husband hadn't just stolen everything, he was getting married!
Eidelweiss instantly recognized the woman. "Arinra Olyxton," she said coldly, uttering the name with pure venom. "The lawyer Joy brought me, who convinced me to sign all those damned 'release' documents!"
But Eidelweiss's rage was arrested. She looked over at Julian.
The veterinarian was no longer looking at the television. His face was deathly pale, his beautiful violet eyes glistening with unshed tears, but filled with a burning fury. Julian's hands hung by his sides, clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. The rage radiating from him was far more intense and personal than Eidelweiss's own.
Julian stared at the image of Arinra Olyxton on the screen as if she were a long-sought enemy.
- Writer
