The Wrong Woman

Holding her phone and bag, Sienna rose from her seat. Her voice grew softer. "Okay, I'm heading out."

She lowered her head and walked past Daniel as she left.

Daniel watched Sienna leave the ward, feeling increasingly downcast. He thought she didn't want anything to do with him anymore.

The last time he tried to assert his authority over her, it had frightened her. That had been a big mistake. Since then, he had been overwhelmed by feelings of regret and guilt. After a while, Felix approached Daniel while carrying his luggage. "Dan, let's go."

Daniel shook himself from his reverie and took Felix's bags. "I'll take those."

Felix was delighted, his eyes shining with admiration. "Thanks."

As Daniel started the car and drove out of the hospital, he spotted Sienna in his rearview mirror, riding her electric scooter. He slowed down, his attention momentarily fixated on her. Felix picked up on his distraction. "You don't have to wait for Sienna. She takes this route daily and knows it like the back of her hand.

"She'll probably take a shortcut at the next intersection and get there faster than us."

Daniel refocused and nodded in response. "Okay."

glance at Daniel before speaking sincerely, "Sienna might seem fierce sometimes, but she's mostly sweet and caring. "She's

responded with a faint

Dad fell ill while I was in college, she handled everything-medical bills, debts-all on her own."

know how great she is, why did

a hint of sadness. "Sienna believes I don't

was taken aback. He

always thought it was my mom who was against you two being together. But now

your mom disapprove of

against it. She even talked about suicide once. I'm not sure if it was because of

as he

the car pulled up to his apartment building. Glancing at the screen, Felix turned to Daniel and said,

Daniel looked surprised. "Sienna?"

double-checked the message and then handed his phone to Daniel. "Actually, it's my

took the

discharged from the hospital, so invite him over for a meal to thank him