?Chapter 690:

    As Elliana traveled to Blehstin, doubts crowded her mind. Had her unexpected call given away Dobbs’s location? If so, then she had a hand in what happened to him, and the weight of that guilt pressed heavily on her. Was it possible those assassins were sent by her biological father? Could he really hold that much hatred for her mother, even after she had given birth to his child?

    Tormented by a storm of anger and guilt, Elliana finally arrived at the hospital where Dobbs was by the time morning broke.

    Yesterday, Dobbs had feared he might never wake up again and missed the chance to see Elliana onest time. So, when the surgery began, he refused anesthesia and sedation altogether. No matter the pain, he was determined to stay awake in case she came.

    Elliana hadn’t forgotten Dobbs’s instructions. Disguised as a nurse, she made her way into his hospital room, unnoticed among the staff. The moment she stepped inside, she gently shut the door and locked it behind her. Pulling off the nurse’s cap and mask, she stepped toward the bed and whispered, “Dobbs…”

    At the sound, Dobbs stirred slightly. His skin was ghostly pale, exhaustion etched into every line on his face, but his eyes lit up instantly. He squinted through the dim light, trying to focus. “Is that… Ms. Marsh?” he asked, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

    Elliana nodded, her expression gentle. She wore no makeup to hide her natural beauty. “It’s me, Dobbs. Elliana.”

    For a moment, he looked like a man who had just touched a miracle. He tried to push himself upright, emotions surging. “You came… You really came,” he whispered. But his body betrayed him—he was far too weak. Even lifting his arm was a struggle.

    “Don’t move,” she said quickly, stepping closer. “Let me check how you’re doing first.” She leaned over to examine him, her hands steady and precise.

    Dobbs gave a weak chuckle, though it came with a wince. “Please don’t waste your efforts on me, Ms. Marsh. I already know my body’s giving up. The truth is, I was supposed to die fifteen years ago from cancer. But your mother… she saved me with her exceptional medical skills. Gave me all this extra time. Now, my borrowed time is finally running out.”

    Elliana didn’t respond right away, her fingers still working with focus and care. She couldn’t deny it. His body had nearly given out. If not for the recent beating, he might have had a few more years left. But the injury had pushed his already weak system past its limits. If not for his sheer willpower, he wouldn’t have made it through the previous night.

    Dobbs studied her face, a faint warmth in his eyes despite the pain. “You don’t look much like your mother,” he said softly. “I suppose you take after your father.”

    Elliana didn’t attempt to argue. Her mother had possessed a beauty that turned heads wherever she went—a presence so striking that it could silence a room.

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    Elliana, however, had inherited something quieter. Shecked that same dazzling allure and had never quite seen herself reflected in her mother’s mirror.

    Dobbs looked at her with a tender smile that softened the weariness on his face. “Your features may not match hers,” he said, studying her closely, “but your eyes… They’re just like hers—clear, bright, full of life. The moment I saw them, I knew who you were. No questions needed.”

    It made sense now why he hadn’t demanded proof or doubted her identity.

    A fragile silence settled between them as Elliana took his hand in both of hers, her fingers trembling as they wrapped around his. Her eyes shimmered, heavy with unshed tears. “Dobbs,” she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of guilt, “thank you for everything you’ve done for my mother and me. I’m sorry… I never meant to drag you into danger. If I hadn’t called you, perhaps none of this would’ve happened.”

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