Isabella’s eyes were cold as they met Ethan’s. “Do you honestly believe you deserve my concern after everything?”

Ethan looked away, guilt flashing across his features. He clenched his jaw, drew a sharp breath, and stood. His tone was firm, distant. “We’re going to the trauma department.”

The brief vulnerability he’d shown vanished like it was never there.

Isabella watched them move toward the door, a bitter smirk touching her lips. Her marriage felt like a cruel joke. She wished she could erase them both from her life completely.

Just as she settled into the quiet, a familiar voice cut through. “Isabella, I’m here. It’s time for your IV. I’ll watch it closely—just like I promised.”

Her gaze snapped to the doorway where Ethan, Sophia, and Lucas stood frozen. Ethan and Sophia were about to leave as Lucas tried to enter.

The air grew thick with tension. Isabella sighed wearily, remembering yesterday’s clash between Ethan and Lucas. She worried Ethan might lose control again.

“Come in, Lucas,” she called, urgency threading her voice.

Ethan’s expression darkened, brows furrowing in clear annoyance. He was still her husband, yet she dismissed him so openly. His pride stung deeply.

As he opened his mouth to retort, Lucas stepped inside and slammed the door shut with a loud thud, narrowly missing Ethan’s face. The sound echoed sharply.

Ethan’s anger flared. He reached for the handle, but found it locked from the inside.

The door was sealed shut, a deliberate barrier. Rage boiled within him.

Sophia tugged gently on his sleeve. “You’re injured. Let’s get that looked at.”

Her voice was soft but suggestive. “This is a hospital, always crowded. Even if they were overcome with desire, they wouldn’t dare cross the line here.” She subtly threw shade at Isabella.

Ethan’s face hardened. “Isabella wouldn’t act inappropriately,” he stated firmly.

He didn’t believe she would. What truly bothered him was how differently she treated Lucas compared to him.

Sophia hadn’t expected his quick defense. Jealousy surged through her. Her nails dug into her palm, though her smile remained gentle. “Maybe I overstepped. I’m sorry.”

They continued toward the traumatology department. With each step, Sophia’s resolve hardened. She shifted tactics. “It might not be Isabella, but Lucas is another story. I’ve seen how he looks at her,” she murmured, planting doubt.

This time, Ethan fell silent. Her words pricked at his heart. He recalled confronting Lucas just yesterday, spurred by the same suspicions. The memory of Lucas’s tender, longing gaze toward Isabella resurfaced. It was the look of a man deeply in love—a look Ethan knew all too well.

Sophia watched him carefully, her eyes narrowing slightly. “When a man is in love, he’ll use any opportunity. Isabella’s vulnerable after the accident. Don’t you think Lucas might seize this chance to get closer?”