The next day, even though her body was still sore from yesterday’s incident, Wulan was determined to return to work. She refused to give up so easily, especially with her grand plan still unfinished.
“Sri, are you sure you’re still up for working today?” Lina asked worriedly when they met in the cleaners’ changing room. “You still look pale.”
“I’m fine, Lina. Thanks for worrying about me,” Wulan replied with a faint smile, trying to hide the pain in her lower back.
“Today we’re assigned to clean the basement parking area. Hopefully we won’t run into Bella again,” Lina whispered as she picked up the cleaning supplies.
But Lina’s hope went unanswered. As they were cleaning the area near the basement elevator, a familiar voice that made the hairs on the backs of their necks stand on end rang out again.
“Oh my God, where are my car keys?!” Bella cried out in a panic, rummaging through her bag repeatedly. “I put them in here earlier, and now they’re gone!”
Several passing employees turned to look, but no one dared approach. Bella grew even more frantic, her eyes darting around the parking area until they finally settled on Wulan and Lina, who were cleaning the floor not far from her car.
“You two!” Bella pointed at them with an angry, trembling finger. “You took my car keys, didn’t you?!”
“Ms. Bella, we didn’t take anything,” Wulan replied calmly, though she was beginning to feel uneasy.
“Liar! You must have taken them! Who else is here besides the two of you?!” Bella stepped closer, her face flushed with rage.
“Ms. Bella, we’ve been cleaning the floor this whole time. We never went near your car,” Lina tried to explain.
“Shut up! I don’t believe you!” Bella snapped, then glared at Wulan. “You! You caused trouble yesterday, and now my car keys disappear while you happen to be here. Don’t tell me you’re getting revenge because you were thrown out of the office yesterday!”
“Ms. Bella, I’m not like that,” Wulan answered, her voice trembling as she held back her anger. “Please check your bag or pockets again. Maybe they slipped somewhere.”
“I’ve checked them over and over!” Bella became even more enraged. Her hand suddenly seized Wulan’s arm roughly as she searched the pockets of Wulan’s work uniform. “Where are they? Where did you hide my keys?!”
“Please let go! I didn’t take anything!” Wulan struggled to free herself, but Bella only tightened her grip.
“Bella, please stop!” Lina tried to intervene, attempting to pull Bella’s hand away. “Sri didn’t do anything wrong!”
“You’re just as bad! Maybe the two of you planned this together!” Bella shoved Lina to the ground, then turned her attention back to Wulan.
Unwilling to let herself be accused any further, Wulan tried to break free. She yanked her arm hard, causing Bella to stagger for a moment.
“How dare you fight back!” Bella shouted furiously. In her panic and rage, she shoved Wulan with all her strength.
The shove sent Wulan off balance. Her foot caught on a bucket full of water that hadn’t been moved yet, and her body slammed onto the hard basement floor, her head striking the edge of a concrete pillar.
“Sri!” Lina screamed hysterically, immediately rushing to Wulan’s motionless body. A thin trickle of blood began to seep from her temple.
Bella fell silent for a moment, her face paling as she watched what had happened. But instead of guilt, she felt fear over the consequences she might face.
“This isn’t my fault! She fell on her own!” Bella muttered in panic, taking a step backward.
“Please help me! Sri passed out! Her head is bleeding!” Lina cried desperately as she gently shook Wulan. “Sri, wake up! Sri!”
“I-I... I have to go,” Bella stammered, backing away in fear as her eyes fixed on her handbag. Suddenly, she remembered something—the car keys were actually caught between the inner zipper folds of her own bag. But she chose to remain silent, unwilling to admit her mistake.
“Don’t go! Please call an ambulance!” Lina pleaded desperately.
“I... I have something important to do,” Bella hurriedly snatched up her now-found car keys and ran toward her car without looking back. “You deal with her!”
“Bella! Please!” Lina shouted, but Bella had already sped away from the parking area, as if she didn’t care that someone’s life might be in danger because of what she had done.
Lina looked around in a panic, then quickly pulled her phone from her pocket. “Hello? Please help! Someone has passed out in the basement of Sentosa Corporation, and her head is bleeding! Send an ambulance right away!”
While she waited, Lina carefully cradled Wulan’s head in her lap, tears beginning to fall. “Sri, hang in there. You’re strong—I know you are.”
A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived. The medical staff swiftly examined Wulan, fitted her with a temporary breathing aid, and took her to the nearest hospital, with Lina insisting on riding along inside the ambulance.
“Ma’am, are you family?” one of the medical workers asked.
“No, I’m... I’m her coworker,” Lina stammered, her eyes never leaving Wulan’s pale, weakened face. “But she doesn’t have anyone here. I have to stay with her.”
Throughout the trip to the hospital, Lina held Wulan’s cold hand tightly, hoping with all her heart that the woman she had only recently met—but had already come to regard as family—would regain consciousness soon.
“Sri, you have to stay strong,” Lina whispered softly, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “I’ll stay right here with you, no matter what happens.”