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.

looked terrible, she turned on her heel and walked away before he could

Who’s Jeanie? I mean, I don’t

lost,” Owen replied.

line went dead.

baffled. “What the hell did

pocketed his phone and turned, catching sight of a familiar figure disappearing into the shadows. A slow, knowing

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Chapter 23

on his

coward. She could’ve just asked

to the hospital room,

with Owen for a few days and that there was nothing wo

hadn’t pressed for details. Instead, she had merely told him

was spending time with Owen, they had assumed Owen saw potential in Dorian and were

would take at least a week to

found out how badly Christopher had been treated under the Calhoun roof, the decades–long friendship

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

had her doubts, she ultimately trusted Owen’s judgment and

week, Hailey examined Christopher’s injured leg. Her movements were steady and professional, enough that even Christopher, who

of the nerve damage was irreversible, she discovered a few areas that still had a chance of recovery. However, attempting to

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

wry smile tugging at his lips. “Honestly? I’ve got nothing to lose. Either way, I’m stuck like

she said simply.

the only reassurance she offered.

of consideration, Christopher nodded.

here tomorrow,” she continued. “Would you rather have the first procedure

then glanced toward Owen. “Mr. Calhoun, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d prefer to do it

at the back of his

another man, and he was the one providing the space for it. No matter how he looked at it,

ended up

stood motionless, his

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Fri, 28

Chapter 33

brief silence stretched between them before Owen

Christopher swallowed.

stretched a little too long before Owen’s lips finally curved, just slightly. His voice was smooth, almost

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