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 see the

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

lost,” Owen

went dead.

baffled. “What the hell

a

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Chapter 23

on

Laude coward. She

time Owen returned to the

had called Quilla to reassure her, telling her he’d be staying with Owen for a few days and that there was nothing wo worry

much trust she placed in Owen, she hadn’t pressed for details. Instead, she had

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 than eager

take at least

how badly Christopher had been treated under the Calhoun roof, the decades–long friendship between the two families would be

recover. To case any suspicions, they would simply tell Quilla that Christopher

had her doubts, she ultimately trusted Owen’s judgment and didn’t

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

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

him, her voice even, “then there’s no coming back from it. You’ll lose

a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Honestly? I’ve got

she said

only

a moment of consideration,

you rather have the first procedure done here or back at

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

the

one providing the space for it. No matter

Owen was powerful, calculating, the kind of man who never ended up on the losing side—just

doorway, Owen stood

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28

Chapter 33

stretched between them

Christopher swallowed.

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

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