Chapter 262: Something Shifted
Georgia’s POV
We got to the police station early because I wanted to get into the office ahead of everything—there was a mountain of work waiting for me.
Nick’s announcement later today would make my company responsible for hiring crews for the new ships added to his fleet; that alone meant schedules to rearrange and meetings to run.
I still had to interview candidates for the operations manager role Irene left behind, shepherd the merger along, plan the wedding, and... if there was any spare breath and sort out details for the new house. My chest felt full just thinking about it.
"Why is Reagan’s car here?" Nick muttered as we pulled up. He also pointed it out to Oliver before we all went inside the police station. I frowned; "Reagan wouldn’t show up at places like this unless something was wrong," Nick added.
We hadn’t even reached the front desk when a commotion ripped through the station. The desk officer’s face went tight; "That’s your suspect, Mr. Morris. Looks like her energy is full again," then the officers started running down the corridor. My pulse stepped up with them.
We followed, breath shortening, and when they slammed the door open, I nearly stopped cold. Sarah was on the floor, and Nancy was on top of her, pulling her hair, scratching, attacking with a ferocity that made my stomach drop. It looked like a nightmare unfolding in real time.
"What is going on here?!" Oliver barked, hands on his hips, stunned. Nick stood beside him, unreadable, but I felt him tense like a pulled wire.
Reagan was struggling to pry Nancy off, and officers joined to finally separate them.
"You two will regret this!" Nancy screamed at the top of her lungs while struggling in the officer’s arms. "I will bring you down with me, I swear to God! Your secrets will be revealed, Reagan! You will say goodbye to that family that you hate and to that life that you are protecting, even though it’s fake!"
When Sarah stood up, I saw scratch marks on her collarbone and even on her cheeks. "You’re bleeding," I said. "I’ll find some betadine and ointment. I’m sure the police have a first aid kit. If not, I’ll send the bodyguards to get one. Don’t go yet, I’ll be back." I didn’t wait for her reply, and I stormed out of the room immediately.
As soon as I stepped out, I nearly bumped into a female police officer carrying a first aid kit.
"Let me handle that, please. She’s a family friend," I said quickly, reaching out my hands. The officer studied me for a moment before nodding and handing it over. Relief bloomed in my chest.
Just as I was about to go back in, Nick’s voice rang out from the room, sharp and clipped. "What are you two even doing here?" His anger was enough to make me pause right in front of the door.
Reagan’s voice followed, calmer but edged with something firm. "We just came to check on her, to see if she needed anything after last night. I just pitied her; she was all soaked up. But it looks like she doesn’t need help, and is quite feral to her visitors. We’ll be leaving."
"Not so fast," Nick cut in, his tone skeptical. "Why are you so concerned about her? Don’t tell me Sarah asked you to come along, because this feels more like your decision. So why? Because I’m not buying your excuse."
I could almost picture Reagan’s expression as he answered, steady but faintly defensive. "What? You think I’m up to something illegal? Nancy was my friend, Nick—at least until today. But after what she just did to Sarah, that’s over. She’s done. Consider her erased from my life for good."
I decided to step back inside before they could walk out. No matter how complicated things were between Sarah and me, her wounds needed to be cleaned. Infection didn’t care about pride or grudges.
Reagan and Sarah had just reached the door when I entered. They both stopped short, their eyes landing on me.
"Let me disinfect and put some ointment first, before you go," I said softly.
Reagan gave a small nod and looked at Sarah. She, however, frowned, hesitation written all over her face.
"Go on. It won’t take long," Reagan coaxed gently.
With a sigh, Sarah relented and sat back down on the chair. I pulled one across from her and opened the first aid kit.
"Reagan, let’s talk. Outside," Nick’s voice came, firm and deliberate. Sarah and I both glanced up at them.
Reagan nodded and stepped out, Nick following close behind. Oliver trailed after them, and in seconds, the room was quiet again—eerily quiet. The only sounds left were mine: the rustle of packaging, the snap of the bottle cap, the small clinks of metal against the plastic kit.
"You don’t have to do this. Why are you even being nice to me?" Sarah’s voice broke the silence, sharp with defensiveness.
"Because the world’s already cruel enough," I replied, keeping my eyes on the cotton swab I was soaking with betadine. "One small kindness can make things lighter. And besides—I have no reason to hate you. You’re hurt. The least I can do is help, don’t you think?"
I dabbed the antiseptic gently against a scratch on her collarbone. She flinched, hissed softly, but didn’t pull away.
"This one looks like the worst," I murmured, focusing on the deep cut. "That woman is insane. She should be locked up somewhere, put in a straitjacket even." My irritation slipped out, and to my surprise, Sarah let out a small chuckle.
I looked up at her, startled. For just a moment, I caught a glimpse of the woman I first met back on the ship—the beauty that had struck me then. But now... something about her seemed different. Softer. Brighter. Happier.
"You’re really so pretty, Sarah," I found myself saying. "You should see a dermatologist after this, or it might scar."
She froze and stared at me, eyes wide with surprise.
"I mean it," I insisted gently. "You are beautiful. Maybe that’s why I’m being so insistent about treating these wounds. I don’t want that beauty to go to waste."
Her lips slowly curved into a smile. "Thank you, Georgia. I wasn’t expecting this from you. I appreciate it. And... you’re beautiful too. Inside and out. That’s why Nick fell in love with you."
I tilted my head, studying her. If she had said those exact words before, I would’ve dismissed them as sarcasm. But right now, she felt sincere. The edge in her was gone. There was no hostility, no bitterness. Just warmth.
Something had shifted in her. I could feel it. But what exactly had changed in Sarah?