Frozen, she shook her head and shed her tears. "Mitchel, I can't believe this! How can you be so heartless toward me? I've been with you for five years, right by your side. Don't I deserve an explanation?”

“Have we ever truly been together?" Mitchel's words caused Katie's face to lose all color. "Simply because you visit me with my mom, do office work, and share a car with me for business activities doesn't mean we're close. If that were the case, I'd owe Matteo an explanation since he's been by my side for a decade, right?"

His reasoning immediately shattered Katie's illusions. Indeed, it was all in her head.

In Mitchel's view, Katie was merely an assistant stuck to him amid business activities. Yet, Katie had fooled herself into thinking she was vital to him. Her obsession with this notion grew. She believed she was indispensable to him. But in reality, she had never been anything special to him.

Glancing at his watch, Mitchel worried that Raegan might get the wrong idea if Katie lingered any longer. He had no desire to continue their conversation. With a cold tone, he said, “You may leave now."

The self-esteem Katie had clung to for so long felt like it was being crushed. Suddenly, her face went white, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

Gripping the thermos tightly, Katie bolted from Mitchel's ward, tears streaming down her face as she ran, nearly colliding with Raegan, who was carrying soup.

Raegan managed to avoid Katie just in time, but the soup spilled on the floor, scalding her feet.

“Are you blind?" Katie snapped at Raegan, her eyes red and teary.

She then stormed off, only to be stopped in her tracks by Raegan.

Facing Katie without a hint of fear, Raegan demanded, “Say you're sorry."

Despite being the one at fault for the confrontation, Katie refused to apologize to Raegan who was under the disguise of the medical attire.

With all the anger and sadness simmering in her heart, Katie decided to lash out at Raegan, whom she assumed was a nurse.

Her fury boiling over, Katie dropped her facade and snapped, “Who do you think you are?"

In a fit of rage, Katie raised her hand to strike Raegan.

But before her hand could connect, someone firmly caught her wrist.

Looking up, she was met by Mitchel's stern gaze.

“Bang!" Suddenly, Katie was sent sprawling to the floor.

Katie stared up at Mitchel in disbelief, unable to fathom why he would treat her like this just to defend a nurse.

Mitchel barely glanced her way, his attention fixed on Raegan's slightly red fingers, his gaze filled with concern. “Are you okay?