Chapter 536 - 532: A Chance Encounter at the Hospital

That day, Jasmine Sterling brought the gifts Cecilia had bought for Zelda Warner and Phoebe to the hospital.

"Miss Sterling, you’re here."

Upon seeing Jasmine Sterling, Zelda Warner quickly sat up. Beside her, Mrs. Yates also rose to her feet reflexively, looking quizzically at the elegant woman before them.

"Mom, this is Miss Sterling, Cecilia’s mother," Zelda Warner hurriedly explained. "Miss Sterling, this is my mother-in-law."

"Oh, so you’re Cecilia’s mother! Hello, hello." Mrs. Yates stepped forward enthusiastically. She went to shake her hand but noticed Jasmine Sterling was carrying several bags, so she said instead, "Why did you bring so much? Please, put them down. They must be heavy."

Jasmine Sterling smiled. "Hello. I’ve been so busy at the office these past few days that I haven’t had a chance to stop by. Cecilia just started her school term, and she bought these things for me to bring over when I had a moment."

"I have everything I need here, really," Zelda Warner said with a sigh. "Please don’t let Cecilia spend her money like this."

Mrs. Yates chimed in, "Exactly! That Cecilia is such a thoughtful child."

Jasmine Sterling placed the bags on the floor by the windowsill, then walked closer. "How are you doing, Zelda? Are you recovering well?"

"I’m doing great, so please don’t worry. My mom is here with me all day, and Duane also hired a caregiver from the hospital."

"That’s good to hear."

"You’re so busy with your company, you really didn’t have to make a special trip," Zelda Warner said. "If I need anything, I’ll let Cecilia know. I can’t be relying on Cecilia and troubling you at the same time. I feel too guilty."

"That’s right. Our Jeb really found himself a wonderful younger sister. She’s so considerate about everything." Mrs. Yates chimed in, then turned directly to Jasmine Sterling. "Sister, I was thinking of making Cecilia my goddaughter. What do you think? That way our families can be even closer."

The moment she said this, Zelda Warner’s eyes went wide. Her mother-in-law had never mentioned this to her before, yet here she was, bringing it up directly in front of Jasmine Sterling.

’Was this a spur-of-the-moment idea?’

’This is so blunt!’

Fortunately, Jasmine Sterling had a very calm demeanor. She didn’t have any exaggerated reaction to Mrs. Yates’s words, simply maintaining a faint smile as she replied, "I’m afraid I can’t be the one to decide that. Anything concerning Cecilia is ultimately her own choice."

"You’re her mother, and you can’t make the decision for her?" Mrs. Yates looked incredulous. "I made a point of waiting to see you to bring it up."

But Jasmine Sterling just nodded gracefully. "That’s right. I prefer to respect my child’s wishes. If she agrees, then I won’t object."

"Oh, I see. Well, I’ll ask her next time, then. She values her sibling-like bond with Jeb so much, I’m sure she won’t say no, right?"

Jasmine Sterling smiled but didn’t reply. In truth, she had no idea if Cecilia would agree.

After chatting with Zelda Warner for a while, Jasmine Sterling decided it was time to leave.

As soon as she was gone, Zelda Warner turned to Mrs. Yates. "Mom, why didn’t you tell me you wanted to ask Cecilia to be your goddaughter?"

Mrs. Yates was dismissive. "What was there to tell? She’s Jeb’s honorary little sister, so isn’t it perfectly normal for me to make her my goddaughter? I really like that girl, Cecilia. She’s kind, smart, beautiful, and dependable. And she took care of you for so long! It’s obvious she already thinks of you and Jeb as family."

Zelda Warner was speechless and pressed her lips together. But then she remembered the doctor had told her to avoid getting too emotional, so she took a few deep breaths and forced her heart rate to settle.

’Whatever,’ she thought. ’I’ll just give Cecilia a heads-up about it later.’

Jasmine Sterling took the elevator from the inpatient wing directly down to the underground parking garage. She hadn’t had anything else planned for the day and had wanted to spend more time with Zelda, but her mother-in-law was so loud and boisterous. After forcing herself to stay for an hour, she felt like her head was ringing.

After exiting the elevator, she started back toward her car. But as she looked up, she saw a black Bentley with its headlights off. A familiar figure was getting out.

Jasmine Sterling looked closely to make sure she wasn’t mistaken, then called out instinctively, "Mr. Jennings?"

Randall Jennings locked his car and turned around at the sound of his name. He was clearly taken aback to see Jasmine Sterling. "Ms. Sterling?"

Realizing they were in a hospital, Randall Jennings’s expression tightened, and he asked out of instinctual concern, "What are you doing at the hospital? Are you sick?"

He was already walking toward Jasmine Sterling as he spoke.

Jasmine Sterling shook her head and explained she was visiting a friend. Then she asked why he was here.

Randall Jennings gave a small smile. "I have a bit of a fever. I came to get an IV."

"A fever?" The poor lighting in the underground garage made it hard to tell if Randall Jennings’s face was flushed or pale, but if he had to come to the hospital for an IV, it must be a bad one.

Jasmine Sterling glanced around instinctively. "Are you by yourself?"

Randall Jennings nodded. "It’s nothing serious. No need to make a big deal out of it."

"That won’t do. It’s always better to have someone with you. I’ve been to this hospital a few times, so I know my way around. I’ll go up with you." Without giving Randall Jennings a chance to refuse, Jasmine Sterling looked at a nearby sign. "The elevator to the outpatient clinic is over there. You parked too far."

Randall Jennings looked at her, and not for a single second did the thought of refusing her cross his mind.

So he just said, "Thank you."

Jasmine Sterling replied, "It’s a coincidence. I’m completely free today."

Once they were in the outpatient clinic, Jasmine Sterling led Randall Jennings through the whole process: registration, waiting in line, seeing the doctor, picking up the prescription, and finally, heading to the infusion room to get his IV started.

Randall Jennings simply followed behind Jasmine Sterling from start to finish.

Once Randall Jennings’s IV was started, Jasmine Sterling finally had a free moment to send a text to Megan Nash.

Megan’s reply arrived almost instantly: "Jasmine, I’m out of town. Sorry to trouble you, but could you look after him? Thanks so much!"

Jasmine Sterling stared at the message, speechless. She couldn’t quite figure out what the relationship between the two of them was.

"If you have something to do, you can go. I’ll be fine," Randall Jennings said, noticing her sigh at her phone.

Jasmine Sterling looked up and said softly, "Your fever is almost 40 degrees Celsius, and you still say you’re fine? You’re just good at pretending nothing’s wrong."

As she spoke, she pulled over a nearby stool and sat down. Looking at Randall Jennings, she said, "You don’t have to act so indestructible. Everyone gets a little vulnerable when they’re not feeling well. It’s nothing to be ashamed of."

Jasmine Sterling was being serious, but Randall Jennings just looked at her and smiled, then nodded. "I know."

"Have you eaten anything?"

"No, but I don’t feel like eating right now."

"You have to eat. It’s even more important to watch your diet when you’re sick." Jasmine Sterling started to get up. "There are food stalls outside the hospital. I’ll go see what they have."

"Don’t go," Randall Jennings said, stopping her. He looked at her earnestly. "Weren’t you the one who told me last time that I should eat out less?"

Jasmine Sterling looked at him. ’He remembers that so clearly,’ she thought. ’That means he took it to heart. That’s a good sign.’

"How about..." Randall Jennings began, hesitating, "when I’m done with my IV... you come over to my place and cook something for me?"