Chapter 33

The hospital’s back garden was quiet in the evening.

Owen stood alone, his tall, lean figure effortlessly commanding attention.

There was something about the way he carried himself–an air of quiet solitude.

A few nurses lingered nearby, their shifts technically over, yet none of them were in a hurry to leave.

After all, no one would willingly walk away from such a handsome man.

From a short distance away, Hailey watched him, pressing her lips together in a small, hesitant gesture.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself before stepping forward.

She had almost reached him when his phone rang.

Pausing instinctively, she decided to wait until he finished his call before approaching.

“I’m at the hospital,” Owen said in that deep, steady voice of his. “Something came up, but I’ll be home soon.”

“Just take care of Grandma. No need to worry about me.” He hesitated for a beat before adding, “Oh, by the way, Jeanie- there’s a coffee shop near the hospital entrance. Do you like that sort of thing?”

The name sent a sharp jolt through Hailey’s chest.

Her throat tightened as if she had swallowed something too large to go down. Suddenly, standing there felt foolish, as though she were an uninvited spectator in someone else’s life.

She thought bitterly, ‘So, he’s like this with everyone!

A sharp, inexplicable pang hit Hailey’s chest, dragging her mood down in an instant.

The feeling came so suddenly–this dull, aching kind of disappointment–that she didn’t even know how to react. She was like a child caught off guard by emotions too big to handle.

She had no right to question him and no reason to be upset.

After all, she was the one who had turned him down.

If he had moved on, she had no right to care.

Still, despite all the logic she threw at herself, the unexpected sting of it all was undeniable.

heel and walked

frowned at his phone, confused. “What are you even talking about? Who’s Jeanie? I mean, I don’t even like

Owen

line went dead.

phone, baffled. “What

and turned, catching sight of a familiar figure disappearing into the shadows.

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Chapter 23

on his lips

Laude coward. She could’ve

time Owen returned to the hospital room, Christopher was already

he’d be staying with Owen for a few days and that there

for details. Instead, she had merely

learning that Dorian was spending time with Owen, they had assumed Owen saw potential in

take at least a

Quilla ever found out how badly Christopher had been treated under the Calhoun roof, the decades–long friendship between the two families would be in serious jeopardy.

some deliberation, they reached a decision–Christopher would stay at one of Owen’s private estates to recover. To case any suspicions,

doubts, she ultimately trusted Owen’s judgment and didn’t push the

enough that even Christopher, who had been visibly uneasy at first,

areas that still had a chance of recovery. However, attempting to restore

fails,” she told him, her voice even, “then there’s no coming back from it. You’ll lose whatever chance you have

his lips. “Honestly? I’ve got nothing

me, she

the only

moment of consideration, Christopher

she continued. “Would you rather have the first procedure done here or back at the

it’s not too much trouble, I’d prefer to do it here–if that’s

at the back of his

providing the space for it. No matter

calculating, the kind of man who never ended up on the losing side—just made things even more

stood

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Chapter 33

stretched between them before Owen finally

Christopher swallowed.

curved, just slightly. His voice was smooth, almost amused.

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