The ICU corridor was bathed in sterile white light.

Kyle Grant blocked Sophia Laurent's path. "Ethan Sullivan was just here. He paid the five million medical bill for your mother."

Sophia's fingers trembled. "I'll repay him," she said hoarsely.

"Did you break up?"

Sophia gazed through the glass at her unconscious mother. "Victor Sullivan has been threatening me with my mother's life. Now that he knows I'm not a Laurent, he's trying to kill her." Her voice was feather-light. "I can't sacrifice the woman who raised me for love."

Kyle's Adam's apple bobbed.

This fragile girl carried too much weight.

"What do you want to eat? I'll get something."

Only then did Sophia notice the burning pain in her stomach. "Just a burger."

Kyle left a bodyguard behind and strode away.

Outside the hospital, he dialed Victor's number, his voice icy. "Did you orchestrate Grace Langley's condition?"

"Absolutely not!" Victor roared through the phone. "Why would I do such a thing?"

"Find the perpetrator within a week, or I'll put you in a hospital bed myself."

"Preposterous!" Victor slammed the phone down.

In his office, he took a furious drag of his cigarette, coughing violently.

First Sophia's threats, then Ethan cutting ties, and now this bastard dared speak to him like this!

He grabbed the intercom. "Bring me Ethan's itinerary!"

As his trembling assistant retreated, Victor glared out the window. "Choosing a woman over the family empire—what kind of son did I raise?"

He snatched another phone to call Ethan.

The call was rejected instantly. When he redialed, the line was busy.

At the other end of the hospital corridor, Ethan stared at the darkened screen, his lips twisting into a bitter smile.

Carrying a thermal food container and a shoebox, he nearly collided with Kyle.

"Her favorites," Ethan said, offering the containers. "And shoes."

Kyle didn't accept them. "Why not deliver them yourself?"

"She doesn't want to see me," Ethan rasped.

Kyle finally took the items. "There might still be hope once we catch the culprit."

"We were betrothed as children," Ethan suddenly said. "If not for the accident, she would've been my bride."

After a pause, Kyle replied, "She only sees me as family. I know that."

The aroma of hot soup filled the air when the container was opened.

Sophia sipped the broth carefully. When she learned it was from Ethan, her spoon stilled.

"Tell him to go home," she whispered. "His presence only makes things more dangerous."

Late at night, Sophia dragged her exhausted body toward the hotel.

Among the shadows, she sensed someone following.

When she turned, a tall figure melted into the darkness.

Suddenly, Sophia covered her face and crouched down.

Footsteps rushed toward her. Ethan frantically touched her forehead. "Are you hurt?"

Sophia looked up, her eyes red-rimmed.

Flustered, Ethan wiped her tears. "I'll leave right now. Don't cry."

"Go back to the country," Sophia pushed him away. "Everyone will be safer once you're gone."

She ran off without looking back.

Under the streetlamp, Ethan's shadow stretched long and lonely.

A week later, Kyle handed Sophia his phone.

The news showed a mangled limousine and a bloodied Victor being loaded into an ambulance.

"Is this...?" Sophia's fingers shook.

Kyle said calmly, "Finally did what needed to be done."