The soft hospital lights fell on Jenna Roland.

She sat on a blue plastic chair, her fingers just brushing an apple in the fruit basket when her phone vibrated in her purse.

Jenna set the apple down and pulled out her phone.

"Dr. Melford will arrive in Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon," Ethan Roscente's voice came through the receiver. "The consultation is scheduled for evening, surgery the day after."

"Really?" Jenna's voice trembled.

"Yes."

"Thank you so much!" She gripped the phone tighter. "Once Milo's discharged, I'll properly thank you."

She mentally planned to cook all her signature dishes.

"We'll see." Ethan's tone remained flat.

"I'll be caring for Milo these days, so I might not cook on time."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Jenna grabbed Milo's hand.

"Dr. Melford himself will operate on you!" Her eyes sparkled. "Happy?"

Milo had already researched Liam Melford's credentials.

Top cardiac surgeon at Mayo Clinic.

A 99% success rate legend.

"Sis, I'll definitely recover." Milo grinned. "I'll get into Harvard, make big money to take care of you."

Jenna patted his hand.

"Just stay healthy." Her voice softened. "That's all I want."

"Mom and Dad will watch over us."

Jenna picked up a fruit knife.

Apple peel spiraled down in ribbons.

"Here."

Milo took a huge bite.

"So sweet!"

"I'll peel another if you like."

Jenna rose with a smile to wash her hands.

The hallway lights glared.

Shaking water droplets from her fingers, she looked up and collided with Lucien Valois.

A fashionable woman clung to his arm.

Her makeup flawless, she whispered intimately against Lucien's shoulder with a tinkling laugh.