Alexander was immovable.

"No. You are not going."

He believed Theodore would seize any opportunity.

A simple request to apply ointment was a trap.

The man would undoubtedly use it to get closer to her.

His jealousy was a palpable force in the room.

He would not permit it.

Evelyn found his possessiveness both frustrating and endearing.

A jealous man could be so unreasonable.

She reached out, a playful smile on her lips, and pinched his cheek.

"Is my husband feeling jealous?"

Alexander scowled, not amused.

"Absolutely. You are my wife. Theodore's intentions are unacceptable."

"Alright, fine," she conceded, noticing Daniel's anxious presence behind her.

The assistant was hanging on their every word.

She feared Theodore's impatience might lead to legal action against Alexander.

"There are nurses for that. I would never agree to it. Just relax. I will check on him and come straight back. Trust me this time. No arguments."

After a prolonged back-and-forth, she finally persuaded him.

Evelyn left the room with Daniel in tow.

She entered Theodore's hospital room.

His voice, laced with complaint, greeted her from the bed.

"What took you so long? I was moments from calling William Sterling if you'd delayed any further."

She suppressed a surge of irritation.

Her reply was cool.

"You don't require a lawyer of his caliber for a matter like this."

Theodore had only been teasing.

His mood lightened visibly upon seeing her.

"Don't be angry. It was just a joke." He grinned, gesturing to the chair beside his bed.

"Evelyn, sit."

Evelyn remained standing, her expression unreadable.

"State your business. What do you need?"

She was neither a nurse nor a caretaker.

Did he genuinely expect her to tend to him?

Her disinterest was plain, but Theodore seemed unaffected.

He smiled, a knowing look in his eye.

"Evelyn, has it really been so long that you've forgotten your promises to me?"

Still calm, he pointed to a jar of medicine on the bedside table.

"Apply this for me."

Her refusal was immediate and firm.

"No. That is not appropriate. I lack the qualifications and the skill. I might cause further injury."

Theodore's expression darkened into a frown.

"So you will just stand there and do nothing?"

His frustration mounted as he watched her detached posture.

Why did she remain so distant?

In his agitation, he tried to push himself up.

The movement was abrupt.

It aggravated his wound severely.

A sharp gasp escaped him.

His face lost all color, turning a ghostly white.

Daniel, alarmed, rushed to the door.

"Nurse! We need a nurse!"

Several nurses hurried into the room to attend to him.

This urgent care had been needed sooner.

Theodore's insistence on waiting for Evelyn had caused the dangerous delay.

Evelyn watched from a distance.

Her expression remained neutral as the nurses worked efficiently.

The metallic scent of blood soon filled the air.

A glimpse of Theodore's shoulder made her own frown deepen.

She felt her muscles tense.

A deep gash had reopened.

Blood flowed freely from the wound.

A nurse spoke with urgency.

"Page the doctor immediately! He needs stitches, now!"

For a long moment, Evelyn was frozen in place.

How had his injuries become this severe?