Felix pressed his fingers to his temples, a faint tremor running through his control. “This is dangerous, Chole. You’re not

thinking straight. Do you realize what you’re doing-

endangering not only yourself, but us?”

Chole’s attention snapped back to him, intense and singr. “bI /bknow exactly what I’m doing”

A hush fell across the room. Felix realized his attempts to reason with her were fracturing against something more dangerous than simple denial. This was obsession. Delusion. He watched, helpless, as a veneer of confidence cracked across her face.

Felix called the nurse back in. “She needs sedation. No more visitors for now!” His voice was steel.

The nurse moved toward Chole with a deal–calm injections, rest. Chole fought her off, screaming about love, rights, destiny -to which Felix stood by helplessly.

When the nurse left, Felix made eye contact with his sister onest time. He saw no trace of the sister he once knew–only a

raging storm of determination and denial.

His voice pained. “Chole… let me help you. But not like this.”

Chole sneered. “You don’t know what byou’re talking /bbabout /b

Felix swallowed and nodded. “I do.””

He left the room before she woke again, closed the door softly.

In the hallway, Felix’s knees wavered for a moment, but he grounded himself with a slow breath. Then he walked to the waiting room.

Olivia’s POV

A hectic day had turned into a restless evening. The police investigation had wrapped up the nursery in my mind. They

traced the ck–d man back to Chole’s inner circle–friends

of hers all along. Chat logs revealed nothing illegal: flirting,

crushes, vague statements but no direct orders or payments.

Legally, it would be difficult to prove she’d hired him. Still, the

intent was obvious.

That worry lingered, refusing to leave me.

Late that evening, after a drained but pointed meeting with Ethan’s legal team, I decided to visit Alexander. He’d been discharged earlier and was resting in his penthouse. My motivations were mixed–gratitude, unresolved tension, and a silent need to finally be with someone who’d proven to stand by ollime. /li/ol

I called Mike first.

“He’s in the bedroom, reading” Mike said, his voice neutral enough. “You can go up. I’ll be in the kitchen”

I thanked him and gripped the fruit basket–apples, grapes, a few peaches. He opened the door to the private hallway.

I paused just outside the door, heart pounding. Something felt awkward. Yet the warmth from inside, the calm stillness Alexander exuded, urged me forward.

I stepped in.

Alexander sat in a plush leather armchair, his robe draped neatly, book in hand. Eyelids lowered. No surprise. He’d always beenposed–even in the hospital, bandaged and bruised. He looked up slowly, unreadable for a moment.

“You’rete.”

I hesitated. “I–I wanted to give you space, You’ve been surrounded by people for days. Reporters, doctors… I thought

you might want some quiet.”

He closed his book and set it aside. “I was fine.”

I offered the fruit again. His jaw tightened, but he reached out

and took the basket, cing it carefully on the bedside table.

“I-“I swallowed. “I thought hospitals are weird ces to stir

rumors. People assume things.”

He nced down at the fruit, then looked back at me,

expression unreadable. “Rumors?”

“Yeah.” My voice came out softer than I intended. “I didn’t want

anyone saying you were feeding your secretary grapes in the middle of the night, or whatever.”

He gave a quiet chuckle. Not warm, but not mocking either. “That’s… considerate.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You think me–easily embarrassed?”

“Maybe not.” My shoulders loosened a fraction. “But I didn’t want to give people something to gossip about.“”

He leaned back, folding his arms. “Either you don’t think they care–or you’re wrong.”

I stared iat /ihim. “You said–I mean, you said I shouldn’t think my presence would give people impure ideas about our

rtionship.”

His mouth quirked, “Yes. I said that. Because–no–look, Olivia,

focus on me. Do you think sharing hospital space with me

makes you special? Makes people assume… what?”

I swallowed, heart pounding. “I–didn’t want to distract you.”

He sighed, softer. “You’re not a distraction.” He paused, as if choosing his next words. “But your worry–your

overconfidence–is dangerous.”

I flinched. “Overconfidence?”

He met my eyes. “You assume you’re important enough to

matter that way. To be judged or wondered about. Most people

don’t even notice.”

Olivia’s POV

I walked out of Alexander’s room with my spine straight, but every step felt heavier than thest. My cheeks burned, not from anger but from the raw, familiar sting of humiliation.

I had brought fruit. Thought it’d be a small gesture. Thought maybe it mattered that I showed up at all.

Apparently, it didn’t.