?<strong>Chapter 264:</strong>


    Belinday beside her, staring up at the ceiling.


    Sleep eluded her as her thoughts tangled and spun in circles.


    She couldn’t even recall when exhaustion finally overcame her and she slipped into a restless sleep.


    At the rk family’s residence,


    The clock neared midnight, and Belinda still hadn’t returned.


    Lucas sat in silence, the weight of her absence pressing on his thoughts.


    He knew she had chosen not to return here again tonight.


    But he didn’t call her to ask about it.


    Just as he was about to turn in for the night, his phone rang in the quiet room.


    His eyes flickered briefly, and he reached for his phone, his face calm and unreadable.


    But when he saw the caller ID, his brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of disappointment crossing his gaze—he didn’t even notice this himself.


    He swiped the screen and lifted the phone to his ear. “Hello.” His voice was even, almost detached.


    “Lucas, you need toe to the Grand ins General Hospital right away! Verena…


    She identally hit her head.


    Her wound is bleeding heavily, and she is unconscious!”


    Ryan’s frantic voice came through the line, tight with urgency.


    Lucas’ brows knitted tighter as he processed Ryan’s words.


    After a pause, he asked in a low voice, “What happened?”


    “I’m not sure of the details,” Ryan replied in an anxious tone. “Juste to the hospital right away!”


    Before Lucas could respond, the line went dead.


    Ryan had already hung up.


    Lucas stared at the screen for a moment before putting his phone away, his face darkening.


    He didn’t know how to describe his emotions now.


    Irritation stirred within him, a sense of unrest he couldn’t quite ce.


    He hesitated briefly, his fingers gripping the edge of the covers.


    Then, with a sharp exhale, he tossed the covers aside, swung his legs off the bed, and headed to the wardrobe.


    Moving efficiently, he got changed quickly and strode out of the house to head to the hospital.


    At the Grand ins General Hospital’s VIP ward,


    Lucas arrived just in time to catch the tail end of the doctor’s update to Ryan.


    “She had a couple of stitches and has a mild concussion.


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