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.

knew probably looked terrible, she turned on her heel and walked away

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

lost,” Owen replied.

line went

stared at his phone, baffled. “What

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

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Chapter 23

on his lips

Laude coward. She could’ve

the hospital room, Christopher

telling her he’d be staying with Owen for a few

she placed in Owen, she hadn’t pressed for details. Instead, she had merely told him to take care and enjoy

that Dorian was spending time with Owen, they

least a week

the Calhoun roof, the

reached a decision–Christopher would stay at one of Owen’s private estates to recover. To case any suspicions, they would simply tell Quilla that Christopher had made some new friends and

doubts, she ultimately trusted Owen’s judgment and

steady and professional, enough that even Christopher, who had been visibly uneasy at first, finally began

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

through with this and it fails,” she told him, her voice even, “then

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

me, she said

the only reassurance she

a moment of

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

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

something was gnawing at the back of his mind.

providing the space for it. No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t

who never ended up on the losing side—just made things even more

Owen stood motionless,

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Chapter 33

stretched between them before Owen finally

Christopher swallowed.

little too long before Owen’s lips finally curved, just slightly. His voice was smooth, almost amused. “Of

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