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.

probably looked terrible, she turned on her heel and walked

“What are you even talking about? Who’s Jeanie? I mean, I

lost,” Owen

went

stared at his phone, baffled. “What the hell

a

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Chapter 23

played on

She could’ve

returned to the hospital room, Christopher was already asleep.

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

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

Owen had personally handled the conversation with his parents. Upon learning that Dorian was spending time with Owen, they had assumed Owen saw potential in Dorian and were more

bruises would take at least a week

been treated under the Calhoun roof, the decades–long friendship between the two families would be in serious

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

trusted Owen’s judgment and didn’t

leg. Her movements were steady and professional, enough that even

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

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

“Honestly? I’ve got nothing to lose.

she said

was the only reassurance she offered.

moment of consideration,

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

not too much trouble, I’d prefer

something was gnawing at the back of his mind.

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

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

stood motionless, his

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Fri, 28

Chapter 33

silence stretched between them before

Christopher swallowed.

long before Owen’s lips finally curved, just slightly. His voice was

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