Chapter 5 Saving Nicola

Once Rylie and Laurence disappeared, Aimee's smile brightened with the kind of charm that caught even Vicki off guard. Still, knowing how much Andreas respected Aimee, she figured that Aimee was no ordinary person.

"I'll pay for everything that got damaged. Please wrap it all up for me," said Aimee, her tone brisk and certain.

The sales associates nearly glowed with delight. The store manager hurried over, handing Aimee a steaming towel. "Are you hurt at all? Your hand looks a little red."

"It's fine." Aimee accepted the towel and asked, "I'm looking for someone named Nicola Gibson. Does she work here?"

The manager's expression lit up. "Yes, she does! Is she a friend of yours?"

"She's actually an old classmate," Aimee replied, glancing around.

Just then, a startled gasp came from a corner of the shop. All eyes turned as one of the salesgirls suddenly crumpled to the floor.

"Nicola! Are you okay?" someone called out, rushing over.

A short time later, a sleek black Maybach screeched to a stop outside the city's top hospital. Aimee didn't waste a moment, lifting Nicola into her arms and striding into the lobby. She barely broke stride as she addressed Jonny Wells, the hospital director, who met her at the entrance. "I want your best doctors on this. Leave nothing to chance."

Inside the hospital's private lounge, Jonny handed Aimee a fresh cup of coffee, his famously rigid attitude softening for once. "Everything's arranged just as you asked. The specialists I called in are the best in the business."

"Thank you, Jonny. I knew I could count on you," Aimee said with a faint smile.

"My pleasure. If there's ever anything else you need, you have only to ask." Jonny hesitated, then added, "Forgive me, but are you related to that young woman?"

Aimee didn't reply. She simply shot Jonny a look that shut down any more questions.

Outside in the hallway, a pair of nurses gawked at the scene in disbelief.

"Did you see that? That's Jonny, the guy who acts like royalty even around politicians. Now look at him! I've never seen him so humble."

"No, humble isn't even the word. He's practically bowing!"

Even Vicki, who had weathered years with the Reid family, found herself caught off guard by the unfolding drama.

In the hallway, an elderly physician adjusted his spectacles and leaned toward a colleague. "Do you remember the hospital mess a few months ago? If that woman hadn't passed us intel from her cell, we'd have been ruined for good."

A collective gasp rippled through the staff.

Reflected in the glass, Aimee toyed with a medicine box, her expression unreadable - a mix of beauty and mystery.

Back in her last life, she'd crossed paths with the doctors while locked up and learned the ugly truth. After the hospital closed its doors, it was finally revealed: everything had been orchestrated. Patients and their families had invented so-called accidents just to extort money, bringing the hospital to its knees.

This time around, Aimee had tipped Jonny off as soon as trouble brewed, handing over evidence and quietly buying herself favor with the nation's top hospital - a trade she'd make any day.

While Jonny tried to keep his composure in the face of Aimee's quiet power, a nurse peeked in with a gentle knock. "Dr. Wells, the patient's awake."

Aimee was already on her feet, hurrying to the recovery room, Jonny trailing close behind.

"How are you feeling?" Aimee asked, her voice soft. Even so, Jonny looked uneasy at her side.

"I'm alright, really. This place looks fancy. You shouldn't waste resources on me. I can go home," said Nicola, offering a small, embarrassed smile.

Aimee's gaze dropped. "If I hadn't caused that commotion in the store, you wouldn't have fainted in the first place."

A young doctor, eager to please Jonny, spoke up for Aimee. "Miss Bennett, that's not your fault. Miss Gibson has had asthma since childhood. She never took proper care of it. It's become a chronic condition now."

Nicola nodded. "He's right, Aimee. My asthma's been acting up for ages," she replied, trying to ease the tension.

Just then, Nicola's phone rang. "Hey, Ricky, don't worry. I'm alright. I'm at..."

The mention of the name caught Aimee's attention. Her eyes brightened.

Noticing Nicola's confusion, Aimee leaned closer and spoke into the phone. "She's fine. She's resting at Crestview Medical Center. And if you're wondering who's with her, it's me - Aimee Bennett."