Chapter 901

The car jerked to a stop with a teeth-rattling screech.Hamilton shot Carol a sharp look. "We're not there yet.Why are we stopping?"

Without answering, Carol pushed open her door and stepped out into the rain. "Stay put."

A moment later, she swung back in and hurled something onto the back seat. After a brief pause,Nikolas spoke up, his voice uneasy. "You know what?I've been thinking-maybe you shouldn't go to the hospital after all. Mason isn't easy to deal with. If he's in a bad mood, he could make things ugly."

At that, Carol twisted in her seat to study Nikolas, her lips curling into a cold, almost predatory smile. Her perfect teeth flashed, sharp in the dim light.

Something about that smile made Nikolas shiver. An invisible hand seemed to grip his spine, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

"What did you just go pick up?" he asked.

Outside, rain battered the car, drumming furiously against the glass. Carol tore back onto the nearly empty road, accelerating like she had a score to settle.

"Flowers," she said, her voice as frigid asthe downpour. "You said Mason's a tough one to deal with, right? Thought I'd soften him up wvith some flowers."

Hamilton twisted around to check. Sure enough, a pristine bouquet sat on the seat behind him. But then his eyes widened in alarm. "White lilies? Who brings white lilies to a hospital visit? Carol, maybe you don't realize-white lilies are only used for fuInerals here in Oiscoll."

His warning had barely left his mouth before Carol slammed on the brakes, jolting the car to a stop just outside the hospital entrance. She slipped on her raincoat, grabbed the bouquet from the back seat, and stepped out with the flowers cradled in her arms.

A relentless downpour battered the city, but inside the sleek private hospital, the world felt eerily muted and still.

Nikolas lingered by the door, unease prickling along his skin as he watched Carol step into the hospital room. She didn't have the look of someone here to make amends; in fact, the hard set of her jaw suggested she'd come to settle a score.

"What are you doing here, Nikolas?" Mason asked as he lounged against the pillows, hands encased in fresh bandages. Two impeccably dressed women lounged beside him.

His eyes flicked up, locking onto Carol with sudden focus. Instantly, his expression sharpened with irritation. "You just stroll in here in a raincoat? Do you even know where the hell you are? This is the VIP ward, not a bus stop for lost strays. Nikolas, who is this? Get her the fuck out of my sight right now!" Carol slipped off her raincoat.

Mason's words died in his throat. For a split second,his eyes widened, surprise flickering across his face.

She lacked Daniela's striking glamour, but something in her steady gaze-unyielding, wild, honest-threw him off balance. Suddenly, Mason found himself mesmerized.

His anger melted away, replaced by a reckless curiosity. He let his gaze linger, unashamed, tracing the curve lines of her figure.

Nikolas, gripped by a wave of regret, silently cursed himself. He hadn't realized Mason could stoop this low.

With a tense set to his jaw, he stepped between them, subtly blocking Mason's view.

He shot Carol a look, his voice low but urgent."Forget it. There's no need to apologize. Let's just leave."

Carol,momentarily thrown, stared at him. Wasn't he the one suggesting they should apologize?

She squared her shoulders and thrust the bouquet at Mason, holding his gaze with icy composure. "We're already here, so we might as well see this through.Leaving now would just be rude."

The instant Mason spotted the white lilies, his expression soured, shadows gathering on his face.

He bit back his anger, letting out a derisive huff."Good thing you're pretty damn good-looking.Otherwise, I wouldn't even waste my breath. Daniela and Cedric really screwed up this time-don't think I'll just let it slide. But..."

Mason's stare roamed over her, hungry and unashamed. Nikolas immediately stepped forward again, blocking Mason's view with a protective glare.

Mason only laughed, eyes glittering with lewd intent."But if you and Daniela both spend the night with me,maybe I'll think about forgiving her."

Nikolas was livid, words already on the tip of his tongue.

But Carol shot him a sideways grin, her tone light and wicked. "Is that so? Well, I might need to give your offer some thought."

Nikolas whipped around, stunned. "Carol, what are you saying?"

She tilted her head, her smile never faltering. "Here's an idea. How about you let Daniela off the hook?She's not cut out for this sort of thing. How about l step in for her and see if I can give you what you really need?"

Mason's eyes brightened, greedy anticipation replacing his sour mood. His hands were useless,but the rest of him was more than ready for action.Letting someone like her slip through his fingers?Now that'd be a damn shame.

"Deal!" Mason barked, waving off the two women sitting at his side. Then he fixed Nikolas with a look of open hostility. "You too. Get lost. Don't ruin my fun." Nikolas tightened his grip on Carol's hand, refusing to move. "You're coming with me, Carol."