Isabella lunged forward on pure instinct.

Her legs, numb from hours of anxious waiting, gave out beneath her.

A strong, warm hand shot out, catching her arm firmly.

It was Daniel.

“My grandmother?” Isabella’s voice trembled, thick with emotion.

She searched his face, watching his every micro-expression.

“She’s stable,” Daniel replied, his tone heavy with fatigue but laced with relief. “She’s in isolation. No visitors allowed yet.”

A wave of profound relief crashed over Isabella.

Tears of pure joy streamed down her cheeks as the crushing weight on her chest finally lifted.

Daniel looked away, visibly uncomfortable witnessing such raw vulnerability.

“I need to make a call,” he muttered abruptly.

He strode quickly toward the sterilization room.

He stripped off his gloves and coat before dialing Ethan.

“Isabella is at the hospital. You should be here.”

As her husband, Daniel believed Ethan’s presence was non-negotiable.

“I was already there,” Ethan replied, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

Daniel was taken aback.

Ethan had been here? How had he missed him?

“Her grandmother just survived a critical surgery. Isabella is distraught…”

He was about to emphasize her need for support when a woman’s pained whimper cut through the phone.

“Ouch… it really hurts…”

The overly sweet, flirtatious tone from the other end shattered Daniel’s train of thought.

His brow furrowed deeply.

Was that Sophia?

A sharp surge of irritation shot through him.

“Ethan,” Daniel said, his voice turning icy. “You will regret this.” He ended the call without another word.

Damn it!

He cursed under his breath, slamming his fist against the sterile wall. How was he friends with a man so utterly blind?

On the other end, Ethan stared at the dead phone line, confusion clouding his features.

What had he done to provoke such anger?

Sophia watched him, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes she quickly masked. “It hurts…” she murmured, her voice a delicate blend of tenderness and pain.

She gingerly touched her bandaged ankle, feigning a wince. Ethan pushed his lingering doubts aside and moved toward her, his concern shifting entirely. “Is the pain still severe?”

Sophia gave a slight, brave shake of her head. Her eyes were rimmed with red, perfectly portraying fragile distress.

“Thank you, Ethan. I feel so much better now,” she whispered gratefully.

Meanwhile, Daniel changed and returned to the corridor.

Isabella was gone.

Preoccupied with the daunting reality of Eleanor’s medical bills, she had left, completely unaware Daniel had been looking for her.