Chapter 11 Found You!
The screen jolted.
It was Elsa’s memory–seen from her point of view.
She was hiding in the fire escape, clutching a medical report.
“Patient: Quinn. No structural damage to the ankle.”
A chilling voice rang out above her.
“Oh? Found you.”
Quinn leaned on a crutch, blocking the exit. Beneath the cast, her toes twitched with perfect ease.
Elsa suddenly snatched the crutch.
In Quinn’s horrified gaze, Elsa raised it high–and slammed it down on her own knee.
“You’re insane!” Quinn screamed.
“Now it’s real,” Elsa said with a soft laugh, sitting in a pool of her own blood.
She looked up. Her eyes burned with a fury Quinn had never seen.
“What? Wanna see who’s better at acting now?”
The courtroom went dead silent.
The screen froze–Elsa’s knee a bloody, mangled mess.
Quinn pounded the projector in hysteria. “It’s fake! My leg really was injured! You all saw it!”
In the blink of an eye, the memory shifted again.
They were back in the dance studio.
A soft fragrance hung in the air.
Elsa stood on tiptoe near the wall.
Knock knock knock!
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Elsa paused and looked toward the sound.
Johnson stood outside, beaming, and when she noticed him, he lifted something in his hand.
It was her favorite: strawberry shortcake. The simile behind his gold–rimmed glasses made her heart flutter uneasily.
Elsa instinctively stepped back.
“What’s with the retreat? Wasn’t it you who fainted last week from not eating?”
“I–I brought crackers…” Elsa mumbled, her voice trailing off
Johnson walked in and stood leside her.
His fingers brushed the bruise on her wrist, making her jolt and nearly knock over the barre.
+8 Pearls
“Don’t he to me.” Johnson leaned closer, his breath brushing her reddened cars. “If I remember right, someone still hasn’t raten today.”
Like magic, he pulled a steaming box of dumplings from behind his back,
Chapter 11 Found You!
“Here. Open wide.”
“You can’t eat in the studio.” Elsa said instinctively.
If the smell lingered, Quinn would definitely come after her later.
Johnson only smiled, taking her hand.
“Then let’s go somewhere else.”
Before Elsa could protest, he’d already led her away.
“Here. No one’ll bother us.”
They stopped in the fire escape.
The dim lighting made it hard to see, but Elsa felt the warmth of his hand still clinging to hers.
She looked down and saw he’d slipped a food container into her arms.
Johnson unwrapped a fork and handed it to her, that faint smile still on his face.
“While it’s still hot–eat up.”
“I…
Before she could decline, she met his gaze.
+8 Pearls
Embarrassed, Elsa ducked her head and quietly began eating, clearing the dumplings like a chipmunk stuffing her cheeks.
“Slow down!” Johnson laughed, watching her puffed–up face.
He pulled out a bottle of orange juice from a nearby bag and twisted the cap open.
“Drink something. Don’t choke.”
Elsa accepted the bottle with a soft, “Thanks.”
Meanwhile-
Outside the fire escape door-
A pair of cold, hateful eyes watched everything unfold.
Quinn clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. Her face contorted in rage.
Why?
1
Why does she always get everyone’s attention?
Half an hour later.
Elsa returned to the dance studio.
Quinn was already there waiting.
The moment Elsa saw her, she froze
Quinn smiled sweetly and slowly walked over.
“Elsa, where’d you go?”
“Nowhere Just grabbed a bite,” Elsa replied casually.
12:25 PM P
Chapter 11 Found You!
Suddenly, Quinn collapsed right in front of her.
Clutching her stomach, she grimaced. “It hurts… it really hurts. Can you take me to the hospital?”
Elsa saw the sweat beading on her forehead, the veins bulging on the back of her hand.
There was no time to hesitate.
Elsa dropped to her knees and caught her in her arms. “Hang on, I’ll call someone to take you.”
At that moment—
Johnson had just reached the parking lot when Elsa’s name lit up on his phone.
He answered with a smile. “What? Miss me already?”
“Johnson, can you come back? I really need your help.”
He paused–her voice sounded urgent.
No time for questions. “Where are you? I’m on my way.”
“The dance studio.”
Thirty seconds later-
Johnson burst through the door, grabbing Elsa’s hand.
“What happened?!”
Elsa pulled him toward Quinn.
“My sister’s in pain. Can you take her to the hospital?”
Only now did Johnson notice the girl curled on the floor.
Seeing it was Eisa’s sister, he didn’t hesitate. He scooped Quinn up into his arms.
“Let’s go.”
Elsa followed close behind.
He placed Quinn in the backseat, then jumped into the driver’s seat and floored it.
At the hospital, Quinn was rushed into emergency care.
Thirty minutes later-
A doctor in a white coat emerged and removed his mask.
“She’s stable now. Family can go pay the bill.”
Elsa turned to Johnson. “I’ll go handle that. Could you stay with her for a bit?”
“Sure. Leave it to ine.”
Johnson entered the room.
Quinn was lying back against the pillows, pale and exhausted.
When she saw him, she tried to get up-
-but he gently stopped her.
+8 Pearls.
12:25 PM
When Technology Proves the Wronged Heiress Innocent