As Noah carried Kyla away, Sadie watched, her heart sinking into deep bitterness. Overwhelmed and drained, she couldn’t afford to ponder their situation any further.
Alex, who had been quietly observing for some time, noticed Sadie’s forced strength, and his heart went out to her.
He gently suggested, “Sadie, it’s alright to cry if that’s what you feel like doing.”
“I’m okay,” Sadie replied, shaking her head while her eyes lingered on the operating room’s newly illuminated red light.
She sat back on the bench, silently waiting for the surgery to be over.
Time seemed to blur until Noah and Kyla appeared again.
Noah noticed Sadie from afar, her figure small and delicate on the bench, like a leaf that might be swept away by the wind.
“What’s on your mind?” His voice, cool and detached, reached her. Sadie offered him a brief glance before diverting her eyes, offering no response.
Despite being ignored, Noah didn’t react with his usual irritation. Instead, he chose a spot nearby to sit down, clearly intending to stay. Seeing this, Kyla became anxious. She snuggled closer to Noah, her voice tender. “Noah, it’s really cold. Can we go?”
He nodded briefly, but his gaze landed on the tightly closed doors of the operating room. “I’ll get the driver to take you home,” he responded without emotion.
Kyla’s smile froze, the tension visible in her expression.
Was he planning to stay here with Sadie?
A flare of jealousy ignited within her, but it was quickly concealed as she rose with practiced elegance, her posture unsteady as though she might faint.
“Then, I’ll head back now. It’s cold here. Look after yourself,” she said softly.
Her light coughs added to the fragile illusion she projected.
Noah offered a noncommittal “Hmm,” his gaze never wavering from the operating room’s doors. Reluctantly, Kyla turned to leave.
Sadie, absorbed in her own thoughts, overheard every word they exchanged.
She couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
Their open discussion unfolded as if she didn’t exist, as though she were just part of the background.
Her hands clenched into fists, fingernails digging into her palms, yet this physical pain was trivial compared to the emotional turmoil within.
She stroked her abdomen gently, a soft warmth spreading under her fingertips.
In her mind, she hoped her unborn child would understand that their father was not the man they should look up to, and she resolved to leave him before her pregnancy showed.
Catching a glimpse of Kyla lingering in the corridor, Sadie finally broke her silence. “You should go with Kyla.”
Noah’s expression tightened, his eyes flicking to Alex with a derisive edge. “Am I disrupting your moment with your beloved?”
Sadie’s emotions flared, a surge of irritation flooding through her.
“Noah, I’m not at fault here. I called-” she began.
“OUCH!” Her statement was abruptly interrupted by a sharp cry. Kyla had stumbled and fallen, her palm scraping against the floor, turning bright red from the abrasion.
Her ankle had twisted, and tears promptly pooled in her eyes, naturally drawing sympathy.
Noah quickly moved to help her, scolding, “Why weren’t you more careful?”
“It stings a bit, but I’ll handle it. I’ll just use some ointment when I get home…” Kyla managed a weak smile through the pain.
Kneeling beside her, Noah checked the injuries on her palm and her ankle.
His brow furrowed in confusion.
What had caused her sudden fall?
While he considered this, Kyla’s gentle voice floated to him. “Noah, don’t be concerned. The doctor did say that the stress on my heart has been causing insufficient blood flow, which leads to dizziness now and then…”
Noah’s doubt faded after he heard her explanation, replaced by feelings of responsibility.
He recalled that Kyla’s heart issues stemmed from a time when she had saved him.
He felt a debt of gratitude.
“I’ll drive you home,” he suggested gently.
Kyla put on a remorseful act, saying, “I’m sorry, Noah. You were supposed to spend time with Sadie. My clumsiness has caused this…” She subtly bit her lip, tears filling her eyes, casting a pitiable figure.
Noah’s gaze darkened as he instinctively looked toward Sadie. Their eyes connected, and Sadie felt a tight clutch around her heart, her breathing stifled.
Determined to avoid being let down by Noah again, she quickly interjected, “You should leave with Kyla.” Her delivery was even and detached.
Noah’s expression tightened, a spark of annoyance flickering.
But considering Kyla’s injuries, he didn’t think twice and said, “Alright.” His reply was brief and cold, lacking any emotional warmth.
Before departing, Noah unexpectedly removed his suit jacket and placed it over Sadie, after smoothly taking Alex’s coat off her shoulders. Sadie’s expression tightened slightly, but she remained silent. With a tender manner, Noah assisted Kyla to the car, his actions gentle, and his look filled with care.
Kyla, supported weakly by Noah, allowed a sly smirk to cross her face. Once settled in the car, Noah pulled out his phone and sent a quick text.
Shortly after, Alex’s phone buzzed.
He checked the message, his expression changing slightly.
“Alex, what’s wrong?” inquired Sadie.
“My grandfather needs me back home immediately,” Alex explained. He hesitated, throwing a concerned look back at Sadie, but he left nonetheless.
Sadie scanned the deserted corridor, feeling a deep sense of solitude envelop her, as though there was no one left in the world she could lean on.
Just when she felt she might give in to despair, the doors to the operating room swung open.
Sadie surged forward instinctively, but her legs, stiff from long hours of sitting, nearly buckled beneath her.
Just in time, a strong, warm hand grasped her arm.
It was Jim.
“How is my grandmother?” Sadie asked, her voice shaking heavily with barely contained emotion.
She fixed her gaze on Jim, observing his every gesture and expression.
“She’s out of immediate danger,” Jim responded wearily, his voice conveying relief. “However, she needs to stay in the isolation ward for now and cannot have visitors.”
When Sadie received the update, relief washed over her, tears of happiness streaming down her face as she felt a burden lift.
Jim found it difficult to witness such raw emotion.
He averted his eyes, seemingly pained by the sight.
“I need to make a call,” he muttered.
He walked briskly towards the sterilization room.
Jim removed his gloves and coat before he called Noah.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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