Kane stepped into the hospital lobby, the automatic doors closing behind him with a soft hiss. He held a small duffel bag—Rowan's clothes neatly folded inside.
The staff nurses at the register counter wore bright grins as they greeted him cheerfully.
"Good morning, Mr. Prince," they said in unison.
"Morning," he replied, stopping by them. "Looks like someone's in a good mood."
He perched his Ray-Bans on top of his head, his handsomeness impossible to miss.
"Bringing something to Mr. Pierce?" one at the left asked.
"Yep!" Shifting the duffel strap higher on his shoulder. "And I figured I'd brighten your morning too."
He let the charm linger just long enough to make them blush.
One of the nurses laughed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well, mission accomplished."
From a distance, Chloe watched them with a sour look. As she approached, she let out a sharp snort. "Seriously? Flirting already? It's not even nine."
The nurses' cheer vanished.
"We were still getting our work done," one of the nurses replied, exchanging a glance with the others.
Chloe's eyes narrowed slightly, and she crossed her arms, her expression making it clear she wasn't impressed by their exchanged glances.
"Hey there, smiling's not a crime—how about putting a little one on that face?" Kane teased, winking at Chloe.
The nurses couldn't stop themselves from bursting into giggles, while Chloe shot Kane a sharp glare, huffing as she stormed off.
One of the nurses nudged her friend, nodding toward the staff and guards sprinting after someone who'd tried to slip into the patient ward. Their gaze followed the chaos.
She leaned in, eyes wide, and whispered, "No way—that's Dr. Ashford's ex, isn't it?"
Her friends gave small nods. Kane, who was still there, quietly observed the situation, raising his brows in surprise.
"Isn't his brother discharged this morning? Didn't he know?"
"He never came by while his brother was in the ward. Must be he's looking for—ahem," she said, giving her friend a knowing look.
…
Lucas was incensed when the staff at the registry office said he couldn't process the marriage license. Lyra, they claimed, was already married. He didn't believe a word of it. He was sure she must have paid them to say that.
Every call went unanswered and then he realized—she'd blocked him.
Then, when he came to find her, the guard wouldn't even let him in!
His anger simmered as he yanked his tie loose and strode out of the hospital. He flung himself into the driver's seat, slammed the door shut. Drove off.
"Bullshit!" He slammed his hands against the steering wheel, took a deep breath, and let the anger drain out. Slowly, he began to feel a little calmer.
But his thoughts raced. They'd been together for three years, there was no way Lyra could've changed her heart overnight.
His fingers tapped, thinking of what to do next. He had to see her—no matter what it took.
…
The elevator chimed. Lucas stepped out as soon as the doors slid open, heading straight for his secretary's desk.
"Into my office," he said.
Nadia, who had been focused on her work, quickly left her desk and followed him.
Walking close behind him, her gaze lingered on his tall, slender frame and neatly trimmed silver hair. She made no attempt to hide it.
She breathed in softly, catching the faint scent that lingered on him.
Just imagined—how nice it would feel to wrap her arms around him from behind.
The fact that he was three years younger didn't stop her from wanting him all the same. After all, who could resist a young CEO with a face too perfect for a man?
Lucas pulled out his chair, and sat down with calm. His fingers intertwined as he gestured for Nadia to take a seat.
"I'm bad at this… so, how long does a woman stay upset?" he asked, unsure how to phrase it, though he needed her help.
Nadia tilted her head, suppressing a grin. This was her chance to poke a little fun.
"It depends on how she feels about you," she said, trying to sound like a love expert.
Lucas leaned back, eyes narrowing. "Meaning?"
"Um…" Nadia tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to think. "A woman won't stay upset for long if she really loves you, maybe not even a day."
Lucas frowned. It had been almost a week, and Lyra was still upset.
"So what if it's been more than a day?"
"Oh," Nadia mumbled, scrambling for an answer. "If it's more than a day, it probably means… she's seeing someone else. You know, she doesn't care enough to miss you."
SLAM!
Lucas's palm hit the desk, the sound making Nadia jump. She clenched her fists under the table, realizing she might've said too much, but it was too late now.
"Maybe you should send her flowers, it could make her heart soften," she said, regaining her composure.
Lucas stared at her for a beat.
"Okay," rose from his chair, and walked out—leaving Nadia alone.
But as he pressed the elevator button, Nadia called out, "Wait! May I come with you? I can help suggest the flowers that suit her."