The sound of approaching footsteps snapped Ethan Sullivan out of his thoughts.

A nurse pushing a medication cart paused in surprise upon seeing him standing in the hallway.

Ethan handed her a bouquet of lilies. "Please give these to Aunt Evelyn."

Taking the flowers, the nurse smiled. "Mr. Sullivan, visiting again?"

He gave a slight nod.

The hospital room door cracked open slightly.

Vincent Laurent's gaze slipped through the gap, landing on the pale, emaciated figure in the bed.

His fingers unconsciously brushed the velvet box in his pocket.

Its edges had faded from years of being carried close to his heart.

At seventeen, he'd clutched that ring, mustering all his courage to confess to the gardenia-sweet girl.

She'd smiled and shaken her head, saying he was too young.

Later she married another, bore children, then endured the agony of losing a daughter.

While he remained alone all these years.

The elevator dinged open.

Theodore Valentine emerged with Victoria Windsor on his arm, both freezing at the sight of the two men in the corridor.

"What are you doing here?" Vincent's voice turned glacial.

Theodore frowned. "Do I need your permission to visit my ex-wife?"

Ethan stepped forward. "I've been covering Aunt Evelyn's medical bills. How many times have you visited in all these years, Uncle Theodore?"

Victoria tittered. "We're here now, aren't we? Seeing her ex-husband might help her recover faster."

Vincent's eyes darkened. "You know exactly what you've done."

"What do you mean by that?" Victoria feigned shock. "Don't tell me you're still hung up on my sister?"

She deliberately drawled, "Too bad she's just a lun—"

A sharp slap echoed through the hallway.

Victoria clutched her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.

Vincent calmly wiped his fingers. "My apologies. I lost control."

"You—" Victoria started to lunge, but Theodore held her back.

Ethan addressed the nurse. "Ban these two from visiting."

The nurse hesitated. "But..."

"I'll reconsider next year's equipment donation." Ethan's tone remained even.

Theodore scoffed. "I can donate too."

Victoria yanked him toward the elevator. "Let's go, darling! Who wants to see a madwoman anyway!"

As the doors closed, Vincent sighed. "Back then she thought me too young and chose someone older. Never realizing maturity has nothing to do with age."

Ethan thought of Isabella's actions and silently agreed.

Before parting, Vincent said gravely, "Don't tell Sophia the truth. Until the killer is caught, she's safest as my daughter."

Returning home, Ethan found Sophia Laurent in the art studio.

She was painting a self-portrait before a mirror.

"Sudden inspiration?" He embraced her from behind.

"Dad says I look just like Mom." She turned with a smile. "I wanted to capture her likeness."

Ethan's chest tightened.

He turned her to face him, searching her eyes deeply.

"What's wrong?" She seemed puzzled by his intensity.

Suddenly he bent down, gently nipping the tip of her nose.

Something he'd wanted to do twenty years ago.

"Never let me go." He crushed her in his arms.

Sophia laughed. "I wasn't going anywhere."

"Sophia, I love you." He whispered against her ear.

More than he'd ever imagined.

This love had spanned decades.