Willow Grant was Kyle Grant's maternal grandmother.

Sophia Laurent had lived next door to them as a child and received much kindness from the elderly woman.

When Kyle had gently declined her initial offer to visit, she now readily accepted Willow's personal invitation.

After hanging up, she explained the situation to Ethan Sullivan.

Ethan pressed his lips into a thin line. Matters of life and death were not to be questioned, but this was Kyle's territory, and Willow was unpredictable.

After a long silence, he said gravely, "Take Natalie with you."

"Natalie barely knows them. I'd rather have my mother accompany me."

Ethan tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. "Very well."

Grace Langley agreed immediately when her daughter called.

The next morning, mother and daughter flew to California with their bodyguards.

The airport pickup sign reading "Welcome Sophia" stood out prominently.

Willow greeted them personally at the estate entrance.

Her eyes red, she embraced Sophia. "Thank you for coming to see my mother."

Sophia took a subtle step back. "It's the least I could do."

As the two old acquaintances hugged, Willow's tears fell freely.

Once settled, Sophia went straight to the hospital's oncology ward.

The corridor smelled of disinfectant mixed with despair, the iron-barred windows stark and unyielding.

The elderly woman on the bed was emaciated, her silver hair sparse, like a dying oil lamp.

Sophia's throat tightened. "Grandma."

The old woman's bony hand trembled as it grasped hers. "Call me Grandma."

"Grandma," Sophia whispered.

A faint light flickered in the old woman's eyes.

The door suddenly opened.

Kyle stood in the doorway in black, surprise flashing in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Aunt Willow said Grandma was seriously ill—"

Kyle's gaze turned icy as he pulled Willow out of the room.

In the fire escape, he rolled up his sleeves. "What are you playing at?"

Willow wiped her tears. "Your grandmother keeps asking about your marriage. I had to invite Sophia—"

"Ridiculous!"

"What's the harm in pretending? She owes you her life!"

Kyle smirked coldly. "Ethan saved me in that plane crash. We're even."

Willow turned away. "Stubborn fool!"

Their argument drew a nurse's attention, and they parted on bad terms.

Sophia stayed behind to care for the old woman with meticulous attention.

She fed her liquids and changed her bedding with practiced ease, earning more of the old woman's affection than the nurses.

By the next day, the old woman would only allow Sophia near her.

Lillian Yates rushed over upon hearing the news but clumsily knocked over a medicine bowl.

The old woman waved her away angrily. "Out!"

In the hallway, Lillian grabbed Willow. "Are you playing me?"

Willow brushed her off. "The old woman doesn't have much time left."

"So I'm just a backup?" Lillian stormed out, slamming the door.

On the third evening, Kyle called Sophia to the rooftop.

"Go home," he said, gazing at the sunset. "Your being here complicates things."

Sophia smoothed her wind-tousled hair. "Just a few more days."

"I'll arrange for someone to take you back tomorrow."

As he turned, his white shirt billowed in the wind like a crane with broken wings.

Willow appeared moments later. "Is this how you repay a life debt?"

Sophia watched the setting sun. "I want to stay with Grandma until the end."

That night, back at her lodgings, Ethan's call came as expected.

"When are you coming back?"

Sophia gazed at the moonlight outside. "I'm not sure."

A pause on the other end. "I'll come get you."

"Don't..." Her fingers traced the cold windowpane. "I miss you."

Ethan's voice was hoarse. "I hate how reasonable I'm being right now."

Moonlight spilled over the bed as Sophia curled up in the foreign night.

A day apart felt like an eternity.