Mitchel didn't want to release his grip on Raegan but respected her wishes. He fought the tightness in his chest and let go of her hand reluctantly, murmuring, "Alright, I'll be here."

"Alright."

Raegan and Henley didn't go far, the spot for their talk outside Mitchel's ward.

Mitchel could pick up their conversation with the door open.

Having well aware of Mitchel's tendency of being jealous, Raegan deliberately did so for him to hear them.

Henley found this thrilling, his mind racing as to how to further piss Mitchel off. Gazing at Raegan with a look of affection, he asked, "Raegan, what was it you wanted to say?"

Next, a sharp sound echoed. Raegan struck Henley firmly across the face.

Henley was taken aback as Raegan enunciated each word clearly, "That was my message!"

Henley was left dumbfounded.

The corridor became eerily quiet.

The confident smile vanished from Henley's face, replaced by a grim look. "Raegan, is this some kind of jest?"

“Mr. Brooks, you're the one who began this farce," Raegan retorted.

This formal address immediately darkened Henley's expression. Raegan refused to use his first name or recognize him as part of the Dixon family.

“What do you mean by our past? I'm clueless." Raegan crossed her arms.

Henley's lips curled into a thin smile. "Raegan, do you need me to spell it out? Wouldn't that make Mitchel jealous?"

"Please go ahead."

“Raegan, we were once quite close, right?"

"Interesting!" A scoff escaped from Raegan. “Mr. Brooks, are you suffering from some delusion? We were never close."

Raegan felt she had been too naive in the past. Back then, she always assumed the best in people and failed to see through the facades.

Raegan eyed Henley's crumbling facade and stated icily, “Are you alluding to your orchestrated efforts to befriend me, to drive a wedge between Mitchel and me, and your switch to intimidation when your advances were rebuffed? Is that your definition of ‘closeness'?"