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    Henry shot Alicia a sharp, warning look, then shoved the fruit basket he’d been holding into her hands.


    “Alicia came to see you. I ran into her at the hospital entrance–she was too shy toe in at first,” said Henry. “She doesn’t me you, and you’ve done nothing wrong. So stop overthinking, okay?”


    Tiffany’s face twisted as she watched the basket being stuffed into Alicia’s arms, looking like she was about to choke on her own expression.


    Alicia, on the other hand, nced at the basket that had been forced on her, and without hesitation, loosened her grip.


    tter! The basket hit the floor, apples and oranges scattering across the hallway.


    Henry’s eyes red. He ground his teeth and muttered low enough for only Alicia to hear.


    “Listen, Tiffany’s too kind, and you are not to hurt her again,” he demanded. “Ever since you left the Lawrence family, she’s been drowning in guilt. Are you seriously going to wound her twice?”


    Alicia stepped back, putting distance between them, and fixed Tiffany with a cold stare. “Is that so?” she raised her voice. “My sweet little sister feels so guilty she had to steal my ward?”


    Tiffany’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice trembling as she whispered, “Alicia…”


    “Cut the act, Tiffany. Your performance disgusts me.” Alicia couldn’t stomach it anymore. She snapped the words out, spun on her heel, and marched back into her ward.


    Watching Alicia leave, Henry froze. “Wait… why’s she going into that room?”


    Tiffany hesitated. She bit her lip, having choice but to answer. “She’s also hospitalized.”


    “She’s sick?” Henry blinked. “What happened?”


    “I have no idea,” Tiffany’s gaze flickered, but she lowered hershes demurely. “Word is… she copsed in front of someone’s car after leaving home. He brought her here, and even arranged the best ward for her.”


    Henry’s brows drew together. “Someone? Who was he?”


    Was Alicia really pulling stunts to make him jealous? Henry was unsure. If so, the more she yed games like this, the more disgusted he felt.


    “I don’t know.” Tiffany shook her head, keeping her tone airy.


    She knew better than to say too much. A single hint was enough. Men didn’t need the full picture–they’d fill


    in the nks themselves.


    And once the seed of suspicion was nted in Henry’s mind, Tiffany knew Alicia would never again have a chance to stand by his side. With Henry’s background, Alicia didn’t even have the right to dream of being with him.


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    20


    Unable to identify the man’s name, Henry had to drop it. He had no intention of coaxing Alicia, because he believed that once she found out who he really was, she’d be the one crawling back, begging to reconcile.


    “Let’s go inside,” he said simply. Then the two of them walked into the ward together.


    By the time Charles wrapped up at the office, it was already past five in the evening. He’d been swamped all day, hadn’t even touched lunch.


    Kevin got his call and drove straight to the entrance. Once Charles slid into the back seat, he closed his eyes, leaning back as though he could finally steal a moment’s rest.


    Kevin stole a nce at him through the rearview mirror, then another, hesitant.


    Without opening his eyes, Charles asked, “Spit it out.”


    “Well…” Kevin coughed lightly. “Mr. Yates, Miss O’Hara called me today–the caregiver you arranged for Miss Lawrence. She said the Lawrence family showed up at the hospital and gave Miss Lawrence a hard time.”


    Charles’s eyes opened slowly. No one could read what he was thinking.


    Kevin sneaked another look at him, baffled. ‘Strange, thought Kevin. ‘Mr. Yates clearly cares about Miss Lawrence. But she’s being bullied and he just… sits there? Shouldn’t he be furious?‘


    He couldn’t wrap his head around it. Charles didn’t seem to like Alicia. But if he did’t, there was no reason he’d kept tabs on her. And if he did, why this cold front?


    It was just a mess. Kevin sighed. He really couldn’t figure it out.


    “All right. Drive to the hospital,” Charles said suddenly after a long pause.


    Hearing that, Kevin finally lit up with a grin. Knew it. He does care.


    He whipped the steering wheel, making a turn toward Maplewood General Hospital.


    But when they pulled up outside, Charles didn’t get out. Instead, he asked tly, “How exactly did they bully her?<b>” </b>


    “I’m not sure,” Kevin faltered. “You’ll have to ask Miss O’Hara or Doctor Johnson. Miss O’Hara only said they caused trouble. I called you right away, but you were in a meeting.”


    Charles’s eyes narrowed. “A meeting? If I was in a meeting, who answered the phone?”


    “Ms. Shepherd did. I told her it was urgent, but she said the project you were handling was too important,” replied Kevin. “I had no choice but to tell Miss O’Hara to find Doctor Johnson instead.”


    Kevin swallowed, suddenly remembering. Yesterday Charles had warned Doctor Johnson not to make a move on Miss Lawrence. And now he’d sent the man straight to her rescue. He was afraid that Charles would blow a fuse at him.


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    “I swear I wasn’t trying to shove Doctor Johnson at Miss Lawrence,” quickly, he exined in a rush. “But what else could I do? You couldn’t exactly swoop in mid–meeting, and I couldn’t just let her be bullied, right, Mr.


    Yates?<b>” </b>


    He’d barely finished when Brooke came jogging out of the in–patient wing, food carrier swinging from her hand. Kevin squinted. It was Noble Leaf Bistro delivery.


    “Mr. Yates,” he said quickly, “there’s Miss O’Hara now. Should I call her over to exin?”


    Charles gave a single nod, so Kevin waved Brooke down. “Miss O’Hara, over here.”


    Seeing him, Brooke broke into a grin and hurried over with the dinner box. “Hello, Mr. Quinn!” she chirped.


    Kevin nodded back. “About what you told me earlier–the Lawrence family bullying Miss Lawrence. How did it end?”


    Brooke puffed up proudly. “Miss Lawrence was amazing. They didn’t get the better of her at all.”


    “She didn’t get hurt, did she? No fights broke out?” Kevin pressed.


    “Nope,” Brooke shook her head. “Though Mrs. Lawrence’s wrist ended up bruised when Miss Lawrence grabbed her. You should’ve seen it! Miss Lawrence was a total badass<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Kevin nced toward the car, then continued, “All right, walk me through it. Start from the beginning.”


    Brooke beamed. “Well, it started this morning. After breakfast, the rain cleared, so I dragged Miss Lawrence out for a walk…”


    “Good. Start from there,” Kevin said, settling in.


    So Brookeunched into a dramatic retelling, hands flying, voice rising and falling with excitement.


    By the end, Kevin was fired up too, smacking his thigh. “Now that’s how you handle them! But wait–aren’t those wards soundproof? How’d so many people show up?”


    Brooke grinned slyly. “Miss Lawrence told me not to shut the door. And Mrs. Lawrence was yelling so loud it drew attention.”


    Kevin frowned. “But the other patients wouldn’t hear her with their doors closed, right?”


    “Well, I knocked for them,” Brooke admitted, eyes sparkling with mischief.


    Kevin burst intoughter. “Smart girl.”


    The two of them stood there, cackling, retelling the scene like they’d won a small war. But inside the car, Charles sat in silence, his chest tight, as though something heavy was lodged in it. It hurt more than he could


    admit.


    <b>15:39 </b>Wed, Oct 1


    Chapter 28 <fn430c> For more chapters visit f?ndnovel</fn430c>